Insider shares theory about curious Mike Vrabel NFL Draft decision amid Dianna Russini controversy

Football fans around the country were surprised to learn when they woke up on Thursday morning that Mike Vrabel won't be with the New England Patriots for the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft.

He has "committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend" amid the controversy involving the head coach and longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk/NBC Sports is among the NFL insiders who have since pointed out that nothing about Vrabel's decision "makes sense on the surface," as the coach could have begun counseling after the draft wraps up. Florio also suggested that there may be a different explanation for Vrabel's whereabouts on Saturday. 

Is Mike Vrabel's counseling claim a cover for a punishment amid the Dianna Russini controversy?

"The timing of the counseling, and the impact on Vrabel’s availability for a fairly important day on the offseason calendar, invites speculation that it’s potentially a low-key suspension imposed by the Patriots, possibly with a nudge from the league office," Florio wrote. "A way to punish Vrabel without punishing him — or even acknowledging that there would be any reason to do so."

Shortly after photos surfaced showing Vrabel and Russini spending time together at an Arizona resort in late March, the two individuals who are married to other people denied any wrongdoing. While Russini later resigned from her role of covering the NFL for The Athletic, she maintained her innocence regarding what she referred to as "self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts."

However, Vrabel said during a Tuesday news conference that he "had some difficult conversations with people that I care about." He also reportedly apologized to Patriots players privately and "promised that he’d make it right and do all he could to put the focus back on the players." 

Are NFL-related problems coming for Mike Vrabel related to the Dianna Russini controversy?

"The content and timing of the latest announcement also invites speculation that Vrabel and the Patriots fear something else may be coming," Florio continued. "With Vrabel’s Tuesday statement essentially obliterating Russini’s repeated denials, she could (in theory) decide to come clean about whatever it is that Vrabel was referring to on Tuesday. Which could, depending on what she says (if she chooses to say anything), create even more problems for Vrabel and the Patriots."

ESPN's Ben Strauss previously shared that the NFL would not be reviewing Vrabel's relationship with Russini as part of the league's personal conduct policy. That said, the NFL could look into the matter if it's thought that Vrabel somehow violated tampering rules. In short, it sounds like Florio and others in NFL circles believe this story won't get swept under a rug anytime soon.