Mike Vrabel was unaffected by the Dianna Russini scandal at the Patriots’ first training camp press conference

The drama that shrouded coach Mike Vrabel during the offseason over his relationship with NFL reporter Dianna Russini was nowhere to be seen Friday when New England Patriots players reported to training camp.

Vrabel must feel as if he not only survived but moved forward in this matter because, this matter is no longer a public matter as his team prepares for its first practice on Saturday.

PATRIOT COACH MIKE VRABEL PRESENTS PHOTOS OF DIANNA RUSSINI THAT LEAD TO ‘HARD CONVERSATIONS’

Vrabel, in his second year as the Patriots’ coach, met with reporters for more than 14 minutes Friday for the start of camp.

And he didn’t ask a single question about the Russia scandal or anything to do with it.

It was a full ball – which Vrabel caught as deftly as Ted Williams did fastballs back in the day.

Vrabel was asked about the status of unsigned second-round pick Gabe Jacas. Reporters focused six of their 20 or so questions on Vrabel on the Jacas article.

How are contract negotiations?

How is his health?

Football stuff.

But, again, there is nothing about the coach about the main issue he has faced since April 7 when the New York Post published photos of him and Russini, then working for The Athletic, enjoying private time in the pool, and in the hot tub, and holding hands and hugging in the Arizona lounge before the annual meeting of the NFL.

Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini, via Getty. (Getty)

Those photos started a steady stream of coverage that sometimes comes across as cringey — including some photos of couples at bars or other events while their spouses are away. They also led to some trouble in the Vrabel family.

Vrabel, in fact, took himself out on the final day of the NFL draft to be with his family and said he is taking time to seek counseling.

But on Friday, no one asked whether the counseling sessions were over or ongoing.

One would think that if the coach of a Super Bowl contender is in counseling, which he does publicly, someone might wonder if the sessions continue during a busy training camp.

Or possibly bleeding during the season.

One might want to know whether Vrabel thinks the counseling was successful. Even if it failed. Like, what has changed for Vrabel because of those times he publicly announced he was about to face?

There was no question to Vrabel on the podium about any of that or anything else related to the Russian saga.

We already know that Vrabel will not be fired, or disciplined, for being a part of the embarrassment and unwanted attention he brought to himself, the Patriots, and the NFL because of this story.

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel stands on the field before the 2026 AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., on Jan. 25, 2026. (Photos by Ron Chenoy/Imagn)

But Friday’s presser glossed over the fact that Vrabel successfully avoided a major setback to start training camp.

That’s actually his first win of the season.

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Russini, on the other hand, clearly lost. He has resigned from his job at The Athletic and the media company has replaced him with a new person who is said to be an insider. He is at the center of an internal investigation by The New York Times, which owns The Athletic, the results of which have not yet been published.

So to prevent more facts from coming to light, such as the publication of the investigation, Vrabel skates. If he isn’t asked at his family counseling sessions on Friday, the possibilities of what’s happening going forward are diminishing every day.

So, yes, Vrabel is already 1-0 to start training camp.

Follow Armando Salguero on X: @ArmandoSalguero