New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel will not be present for the final day of the NFL draft on Saturday, citing a commitment to seeking counseling. This decision follows the recent publication of photographs depicting Vrabel and former NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort.
Vrabel stated he is seeking counseling to provide "the best version of me" to his family, the organization, and the team, acknowledging that his actions should not negatively impact the team. He intends to be with his family outside of Massachusetts over the weekend. While absent from the draft room, Vrabel is expected to remain in contact with team personnel.
Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden will manage the Patriots' draft strategy in Vrabel's stead. New England is slated to make eight of its eleven picks during the final four rounds of the draft.
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The photographs, published earlier this month by the New York Post and Page Six, show Vrabel and Russini, both married to other individuals, embracing and holding hands at a resort in Sedona, Arizona. Vrabel's initial public comments on the matter were brief, and he did not address questions directly about Russini. He has reportedly had "difficult conversations" with his family and Patriots organization members in the wake of the photo's release. Vrabel’s absence from the tail end of the draft marks a notable departure from his usual involvement in the team's personnel decisions.
