One of the more absurd developments during the Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini scandal has been the lack of coverage of the topic. Even though the internet has been glued to the story, most networks have shied away from it.
Chief among them has been ESPN, which has turned a blind eye to the situation. For one former player, that is a bizarre choice, as he accused them of favoritism, given their history with other scandals and affairs.
ESPN Saving Face With Lack of Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel Coverage
Since the first photos went viral, the entire NFL world has been glued to any new developments in this scandal. Right off the bat, Russini tried to play off their being at the same place as a coincidence.
But she stepped down from her role at The Athletic, while Vrabel admitted to having tough conversations with his family and the New England Patriots organization, essentially confirming the story’s validity.
As a result, any new development, from alleged Spotify playlists to old videos and even boat rentals, has become a seemingly everyday development. But, through it all, mum has been the word for ESPN.
However, former ESPN radio host and sports media analyst Max Kellerman believes the public’s interest has been “disgusting.” Going so far as to call the ethics a “bulls**t excuse,” he hasn’t liked the commentary on the situation.
But for former Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko, the situation exposes a hilarious double standard. Taking to X, he directly called out Kellerman, hoping to give him a history lesson.
“Lol, Max Kellermann, ESPN ran week-long segments on Tiger Woods after his affair, actually interviewing him for specifics,” Fehoko wrote. “Let alone you guys had months of trolling and segments of Rex Ryan’s foot fetish.”
A lot of people think ESPN is avoiding this because the NFL now owns 10% of ESPN through the NFL Media deal, and because Russini used to be an ESPN reporter (and was allegedly dating Vrabel while she worked there, based on the kissing photograph and boat rental).
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It remains to be seen whether the coverage ramps up in the coming weeks or whether the continued discoveries lead to dramatic effects. Already, the reigning Coach of the Year had to miss the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft to enter counseling.
If the story continues to be a distraction or forces Vrabel to step away from some of his responsibilities, the Patriots could look to make a change in the head coaching ranks. At that point, the entire scandal might be too big to avoid entirely.
