Overnight before the NFL Draft takes place, reports surfaced that indicate head coach Mike Vrabel won’t be with the New England Patriots on Saturday of the NFL Draft for Day 3.
That’s because Vrabel is enrolling in counseling on Saturday and will be with his family outside of Massachusetts.
“I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be,” Vrabel said.
Just hours before this news became public, the New York Post published more photos of Vrabel and recently-resigned NFL insider Dianna Russini at the same private, adults-only resort in Arizona before the annual league meetings.
In a press conference ahead of the NFL Draft, Vrabel told reporters that he was appreciative of the time to speak directly with his family, loved ones and players before addressing the controversy publicly.
At that point, it somewhat seemed like water under the bridge. In many ways, it felt like the story was dying down. Russini resigned from The Athletic after being unable to provide evidence that she was on a girls trip – her original story. Meanwhile, Vrabel, the coach that took the Patriots to the Super Bowl in his first season on the job, might’ve had some extracurricular activities with a top NFL insider but wasn’t expected to face any repercussions, at least from a professional standpoint.
Already, Vrabel is facing criticism about the performative nature of enrolling in counseling.
“Is the counselor not available to see him after the NFL Draft?” some online have already questioned.
“So, he doesn’t need counseling on Thursday and Friday, the two important nights of the draft, but he can’t make it on Saturday?” others have complained regarding the timing of this counseling.
Vrabel will be in attendance when the Patriots submit their important picks. But on Day 3? When teams are throwing darts at developmental projects? The 50-year-old will be working on his personal relationship with his family after a tremendously public scandal.
Regardless of innocence, guilt, or any grey area between, it is hard to fathom what Russini and Vrabel have faced. If something nefarious happened, a massive mistake was shared with the entire planet.
If nothing honestly happened? Nobody believes that anyways. Especially not after the reporter resigned and the head coach is skipping one of the most important weekends of the offseason to enroll in counseling.
