While the 2026 NFL Draft should be at the forefront of the conversation during all three days of the event, that can’t be said for the New England Patriots on Day 3. After being in the Patriots’ draft room for the first three rounds of the NFL Draft, head coach Mike Vrabel announced beforehand that he would not be in attendance on Day 3, as he would seek counseling amid the scandal involving reporter Dianna Russini.
However, during the draft coverage, Peter Schrager shared on the ESPN broadcast that while Vrabel was away from the team during Rounds 4 through 7 for counseling, he remained in “constant contact” with the Patriots about what was happening in the NFL Draft. The revelation drew some criticism around the NFL world.
NFL World Critical of Patriots HC Mike Vrabel Amid Dianna Russini Scandal
In April 2026, photos surfaced of Vrabel and Russini together at a hotel, including them in a hot tub, holding hands, and hugging.
The two initially downplayed the nature of the photos, claiming they are out of context; however, since the release, Russini has stepped away from her position as an NFL reporter for The Athletic due to the public pressure, despite her employer’s support.
It took Vrabel a bit longer to address the media, but he did so on Wednesday before the draft, revealing that he would miss the third day of the NFL Draft to seek counseling, as a promise not only to the organization following the incident, but also to his family.
However, his distance from the team seems much closer than many thought, given that he was reported to still be in “constant” contact with the team on Day 3.
People were quick to call out the organization and Vrabel, with Shaun Morash posting on X: “That’s typically not how therapy works.”
ESPN Radio’s Matt Jones chimed in as well after hearing the news with a sarcastic response: reposting Schrager’s report, saying, “All good family counseling days require ‘constant contact’ with your employer during them.”
Still hilarious that Vrabel is in “therapy” during day 3 of the NFL draft when he’s a rich guy and can have a therapist come see him at whatever time he wants. https://t.co/Ka6bMrUSOE
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) April 25, 2026
NFL reporter Mike Freeman gave thoughts on the situation after the report was made, explaining, “You do realize the ‘counseling’ was a way of getting him out of the limelight during one of the busiest times of the NFL calendar, right?”
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“When I think of therapy I think of being on my phone the whole time and telling the therapist to hang on a second,” wrote Tyler Brooke to take a dig at the unseriousness of the situation.
Vrabel relapses. https://t.co/Wwk3T6Y8el pic.twitter.com/4FALzXauzP
— Boston Radio Watch®️ (@bostonradio) April 25, 2026
However, Schrager would later walk back the original report a bit, posting on X, “Following up on the Vrabel report, it was my understanding that Coach Vrabel was going to be in contact with the staff via phone/text, but I’ve learned that in the end, both Vrabel and the team ultimately chose not to interrupt him and his family during Day 3 of the Draft.”
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No matter what actually happened, with more photos coming out its evident there is still a lot left to unfold in this situation. Counseling is an admirable start and a proactive step by Vrabel, but the outcome of this scandal has yet to be determined.
