Mike Vrabel makes unusual move amid Dianna Russini investigation

Anyone who wants to ask New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel questions about his relationship with Dianna Russini will apparently be made to wait a while.

The Patriots are scheduled to hold their pre-draft news conference on Monday, but Vrabel will not be taking part, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. While it is not necessarily unusual for someone other than the coach to conduct that press conference, it is noteworthy since Vrabel did take part last season.

Whether coincidental or not, Vrabel’s absence will be conspicuous in light of photos that emerged of him with Russini, The Athletic’s NFL reporter. Both Vrabel and Russini denied that there was any inappropriate relationship, but Russini is still being probed by her employer.

Both Vrabel and Russini are married, and Russini covers Vrabel and the Patriots professionally. All that led to questions about both personal and professional misconduct that have not yet been firmly answered.

Patriots executive Eliot Wolf will run the press conference instead. Vrabel likely will not have to face the media again until after the NFL Draft.