New England Patriots: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

The Athletic issues company memo after Dianna Russini resignation over Mike Vrabel photos controversy

The Athletic has issued a company-wide memo to its staff in the wake of the resignation of reporter Dianna Russini. Russini resigned after public pressure mounted when a series of photos of her holding hands with and hugging New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at a luxury hotel in Arizona were published last week.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Eliot Wolf provides a peek behind the curtain into New England Patriots’ thought process in first round of 2026 NFL Draft

The New England Patriots will have to wait awhile for their first-round pick, but their approach to their pick is a smart one. The New England Patriots won’t make their pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft until No.

Stephon Gilmore News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'NFL Defensive Players of the Year' quiz

The AP has awarded its Defensive Player of the Year Award to the NFL's most outstanding defender since 1971. How many of the NFL DPOYs can you name in six minutes?

The 'Most INT's in a first NFL start' quiz

The '2024-25 NFL interceptions leaders' quiz

The 'Longest NFL receptions of 2025' quiz

New England Patriots News / Athlon Sports / April 14

Best Running Backs in New England Patriots History

As great as the New England Patriots have been, most of the franchise’s success came in the days of Tom Brady in the 2000s. Before that, New England teetered between one of the worst teams in the NFL and a, more or less, average bunch, peaking in 1986 in the Super Bowl, but getting blown out.

NFL News / Yardbarker

First-round NFL mock draft: Mendoza goes No.1, then who?

Teams are finalizing their Big Boards with much of NFL free agency in the rearview mirror. There's a look at the least first-round mock draft as of April 8, 2026.

NFL Draft intel: Carnell Tate's stock soaring, pass-rusher debate, more

Steelers eyeing small-school standout who could be a hidden gem

Steelers' potential 2026 NFL Draft plans contradict claims about QB Will Howard

Concerns surrounding Rueben Bain Jr. may work in Cowboys' favor

Jeremiyah Love hypes fellow Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price ahead of draft

New England Patriots News / Athlon Sports / April 14

Best Quarterbacks in New England Patriots History

The New England Patriots are the most successful franchise in NFL history. Much of that success, though, came with Tom Brady at quarterback. The rest of the team’s history is mostly middling, with occasional dips into worse.

New England Patriots News / HITC / April 14

Skip Bayless fuels AJ Brown to Patriots rumors amid calling out Dianna Russini’s reporting style

Skip Bayless has reignited debate around Dianna Russini’s reporting while also linking the discussion to ongoing AJ Brown to New England speculation. The situation has already drawn attention following the controversy involving Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel.

NFL News / Yardbarker

2026 NFL Draft: Small-school prospects who will make a big impact

NFL prospects from major programs get most of the attention, but there are numerous examples of players drafted from small schools who have become difference-makers.

2026 NFL Draft: 25 prospects who are diamonds in the rough

2026 NFL Draft: 20 famous names who won't be drafted until the later rounds

NFL Draft: Fernando Mendoza’s big issue among latest intel

Penn State's Drew Allar sends message to teams ahead of NFL Draft

NFL GM makes prediction about Giants, Caleb Downs draft rumors

New England Patriots News / Yardbarker / April 14

Former Pats player has strong reaction to potential Vrabel-Russini controversy

Former Patriots player has strong reaction to potential Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini controversy

Photos recently surfaced showing Vrabel and Russini holding hands, hugging and lounging near a pool at a resort in Sedona, Ariz., earlier this spring.

The Athletic staffers reportedly took issue with publication's 'unnecessarily messy' response to Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel hotel photos

It's not 'business as usual' for Patriots amid Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini storyline

Patriots may draft a true A.J. Brown alternative

First-round NFL mock draft: Mendoza goes No.1, then who?

The 'Super Bowl losing coaches' quiz