New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is seeking counseling and will miss Saturday’s NFL Draft Day 3, according to a new report.
The decision to attend counseling comes after photos were released of the coach with longtime NFL reporter Diana Russini at an Arizona resort.
“As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I would give them the best version of me that I possibly can. To do that, I have committed to counseling this weekend,” he said, according to ESPN.
“It’s something I’ve given a lot of thought to and if I was giving advice to any player I would advise them to do it,” he said.
Revealing the motive behind this decision, Mike Vrabel said, “I’ve always wanted to lead by example, and I believe that’s what I have to do to be the best husband, father, and coach I can be. This isn’t an easy thing for me to admit, but I know it will make me a better person.”
According to the New York Post, photos of Vrabel with Russini surfaced this month. The photos were reportedly taken before the NFL’s annual meeting in Phoenix on March 29.
Less than a week after the report became public, Diana Russini resigned from her position as The Atlantic, a sports outlet owned by The New York Times, launched an internal investigation.
Conversely, the NFL said last weekend that it is not currently investigating Vrabel’s conduct in connection with the matter.
On Tuesday, Vrabel broke his silence on the matter for the first time and acknowledged the personal toll of the situation. “He’s had tough conversations with people I care about,” the coach said.
Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, tried to clarify their positions through written statements in which they downplayed the story depicted in the photos released.
