Patriots quarterback Drake Maye expressed strong support for coach Mike Vrabel during a recent event, responding to the ongoing controversy surrounding Vrabel’s affair with former NFL insider Deanna Russini. Maye noted that, despite the distractions, Vrabel is fully committed, stating that “things going on off the field” shouldn’t overshadow their work together.
As Maye prepares for the Super Bowl in February and his second season with Vrabel, he emphasized the team’s loyalty to their coach at a Best Buddies event in Massachusetts, a nonprofit that advocates for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “We came here for the coach,” he remarked, adding, “Words can’t express what he’s done for us this past year.”
Maye went on to highlight their gratitude, saying, “I know he’s doing things off the field, but we’re here for him, and I know he’ll be back.” This statement followed an article by Page Six on April 7 that revealed photos of Vrabel and Russini, who are both married to other people, appearing cozy at a luxury resort in Arizona.
Additional images captured the pair enjoying each other’s company on a private deck and in a hot tub. In the wake of these revelations, Vrabel addressed the media ahead of the NFL Draft and shared that he had communicated with his players about the issue internally.
After the photo surfaced, both Vrabel and Russini downplayed its significance, with Vrabel calling it “funny” and Russini suggesting it didn’t truly represent the group depicted. Initially, Russini had the backing of The Athletic; however, an internal inquiry has since been initiated by The New York Times, which owns the publication.
Russini, who has two young sons with her husband, Kevin Goldschmidt, a Shake Shack executive, saw Goldschmidt resign from The Athletic shortly after the affair became public. More details emerged when it was reported that they were seen kissing at a bar in Manhattan back in March 2020, a time when Vrabel was coaching the Titans and Russini was an ESPN insider.
Stephen Ginsburg, The Athletic’s editor-in-chief, informed staff during a meeting that the ongoing investigation led by the editorial director would be extensive. He acknowledged that clearer communication could have been beneficial.
As the situation develops, the Patriots continue to stand by Vrabel. He chose to miss the third day of the draft to pursue “counseling” and focus on personal well-being. Discussing the matter with reporters, he described it as a “personal and private” issue, mentioning that he had engaged in “difficult conversations” with those he cares about, all while noting that these discussions were “positive and productive.”
Despite not directly addressing the scandal, Vrabel received a standing ovation from Patriots season ticket holders during a recent event.
Drake Maye comments on Mike Vrabel following the Dianna Russini incident
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye expressed strong support for coach Mike Vrabel during a recent event, responding to the ongoing controversy surrounding Vrabel’s affair with former NFL insider Deanna Russini. Maye noted that, despite the distractions, Vrabel is fully committed, stating that “things going on off the field” shouldn’t overshadow their work together.
As Maye prepares for the Super Bowl in February and his second season with Vrabel, he emphasized the team’s loyalty to their coach at a Best Buddies event in Massachusetts, a nonprofit that advocates for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “We came here for the coach,” he remarked, adding, “Words can’t express what he’s done for us this past year.”
Maye went on to highlight their gratitude, saying, “I know he’s doing things off the field, but we’re here for him, and I know he’ll be back.” This statement followed an article by Page Six on April 7 that revealed photos of Vrabel and Russini, who are both married to other people, appearing cozy at a luxury resort in Arizona.
Additional images captured the pair enjoying each other’s company on a private deck and in a hot tub. In the wake of these revelations, Vrabel addressed the media ahead of the NFL Draft and shared that he had communicated with his players about the issue internally.
After the photo surfaced, both Vrabel and Russini downplayed its significance, with Vrabel calling it “funny” and Russini suggesting it didn’t truly represent the group depicted. Initially, Russini had the backing of The Athletic; however, an internal inquiry has since been initiated by The New York Times, which owns the publication.
Russini, who has two young sons with her husband, Kevin Goldschmidt, a Shake Shack executive, saw Goldschmidt resign from The Athletic shortly after the affair became public. More details emerged when it was reported that they were seen kissing at a bar in Manhattan back in March 2020, a time when Vrabel was coaching the Titans and Russini was an ESPN insider.
Stephen Ginsburg, The Athletic’s editor-in-chief, informed staff during a meeting that the ongoing investigation led by the editorial director would be extensive. He acknowledged that clearer communication could have been beneficial.
As the situation develops, the Patriots continue to stand by Vrabel. He chose to miss the third day of the draft to pursue “counseling” and focus on personal well-being. Discussing the matter with reporters, he described it as a “personal and private” issue, mentioning that he had engaged in “difficult conversations” with those he cares about, all while noting that these discussions were “positive and productive.”
Despite not directly addressing the scandal, Vrabel received a standing ovation from Patriots season ticket holders during a recent event.
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