Mike Vrabel to Miss Patriots Pre-Draft Press Conference

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel won’t attend the pre-draft press conference on Monday, a team spokesperson confirmed. This decision comes amidst scrutiny following a photo that surfaced recently. In that image, he was seen quite close to NFL reporter Deanna Russini.

Interestingly, the Patriots had already informed reporters last month that Vrabel would skip the pre-draft meeting. Reports state that he plans to remain silent until the draft, which is set for April 23rd. In the meantime, Elliott Wolf, a Patriots executive, will handle the pre-draft press conference scheduled for 2:00 pm ET.

The NFL Draft is just over a week away, and the Patriots hold the 31st pick in the first round.

The Athletic initially supported Russini, but sources indicated that she is currently under investigation regarding the matter. Reports suggest that an investigation was launched right after the photo was shared with her for comment. The situation raises questions about the context of the image, especially since it includes a larger group of friends.

Meanwhile, further details from an ongoing six-page report are surfacing, which seem to deepen concerns. The investigation is still in progress, and Russini’s reporting is undergoing review, which may take some time. During this period, she will not be contributing to the outlet.

Notably, photos depicted Vrabel and Russini holding hands and hugging on a rooftop in Sedona.

In response, Vrabel clarified to Page Six that the images represent a harmless interaction. He found any alternative interpretation to be frankly laughable.