The Athletic is reinvestigating NFL reporter Dianna Russini’s coverage and the nature of her relationship with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel amid questions raised about the two this week, sources familiar with the matter told ESPN on Friday.
The New York Post on Tuesday published photos that appeared to show Russini embracing and interlocking fingers with Vrabel on the roof of the adults-only Ambiente resort in Sedona, Arizona. Other photos appeared to show Russini and Vrabel together in and around the resort’s pool.
The Athletic’s executive editor, Steven Ginsberg, initially issued a public defense of Russini and said the matter had been taken out of context.
Front Office Sports first reported Friday that The Athletic decided to reinvestigate.
A source familiar with the matter at The Athletic told ESPN that the Post’s coverage “raised additional concerns that are now being further reviewed,” including her reporting of Vrabel and the nature of her relationship with the coach.
The source said the investigation is ongoing, and “that process is expected to take time. She will not be reporting in the interim.”
Russini could not immediately be reached for comment.
Eliot Wolf, the Patriots’ executive vice president of player personnel, will hold the team’s predraft news conference Monday afternoon. Vrabel is not expected to address reporters until the draft later this month, sources familiar with the matter told ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Ginsberg initially said a review of the photos published by the Post lacked the proper context that a larger group of friends was present with Russini and Vrabel.
“These photos are misleading and lack essential context,” Ginsberg told the Post. “These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at the Athletic.”
Russini, who is married, told the Post this week that the photos “don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day,” and Vrabel, who is also married, was quoted as saying the photos “show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.”
Sources at The Athletic have said Russini, who formerly worked at ESPN, is among the highest-paid reporters at The New York Times Company, which owns The Athletic. Her contract is set to expire this summer.
