New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel won't be with the team for the third day of the NFL draft on Saturday.
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel announced on Wednesday that he won't be with the team for the third day of the NFL draft on Saturday.
Vrabel is seeking counseling amid the Dianna Russini scandal.
"As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend," Vrabel said Wednesday night, via ESPN. "This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.
"I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result."
Photos showed Vrabel hugging and holding hands with Russini at an adults-only hotel in Arizona. Vrabel and Russini, who are both married to other people, told the New York Post that the photos didn't accurately reflect their interaction.
However, after initially receiving support from The Athletic, Russini announced last week that she was resigning from her role at the outlet.
Vrabel, 50, won three Super Bowls as a player with New England. He is preparing for his second season as head coach of the Patriots after leading them to a 14-3 regular-season record last season, which ended with a Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
In her resignation letter last week, Russini said that she covered the NFL with "professionalism and dedication throughout my career," but decided to step down because of the "media frenzy" that had followed the New York Post report.
The Athletic is reviewing Russini's past reporting, according to a letter that executive editor Steven Ginsberg sent to the organization's staff last week.
Vrabel, who has two sons with his wife, Jen, plans to be with his family this weekend outside of Massachusetts.
The Patriots enter the draft with 11 selections, headlined by the No. 31 pick of the first round. Eight of their selections are on the final day of the draft: two in the fourth round, one in the fifth, four in the sixth and one in the seventh.
Patriots Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Patriots. Click the "Join" button at the top of the page to join our community for free.