Mike Vrabel Breaks His Silence on Dianna Russini Photo Scandal, Says He's Had 'Difficult Conversations' with Family

Mike Vrabel; Dianna Russini Credit: John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty; Cindy Ord/Getty NEED TO KNOW Mike Vrabel addressed the ongoing photo scandal involving Dianna Russini during a Patriots press conference on Tuesday, April 21 Vrabel thanked media for their "patience" and said he's had "some difficult conversations" with family, friends and colleagues since the photos were published Vrabel said he doesn't want the scandal to become a distraction for the team Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has broken his silence on the rumors surrounding his relationship with fired NFL reporter Dianna Russini. Vrabel, 50, spoke to media during a press conference on Tuesday, April 21, where he addressed the photos of him and Russini — who are both married to other people — hugging and holding hands at a luxury hotel in Arizona for the first time since they were published in the New York Post two weeks earlier. Vrabel began by thanking the media members for their "patience" as he's stayed silent on the situation.

"Thank you for your patience that you’ve shown in a personal and private matter for me and obviously everybody involved. I know that that's not easy for you and I respect that and I appreciate that," he said. Mike Vrabel; Dianna Russini Credit: Dylan Buell/Getty; Cindy Ord/Getty "I understand I could’ve addressed you guys sooner, but it was important to me to have a conversation with the players, which I did yesterday, very candidly," Vrabel continued, noting that he doesn't want his personal matter to "take away from the weekend of the Draft" or the "amazing journey" that the incoming rookies will begin this season.

"With that being said," Vrabel continued, "I've had some difficult conversations with people I care about about — with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players. " Those conversations "have been positive and productive," said Vrabel, adding, "In order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me.

That starts with me. We never want our actions to negatively affect the team, never want to be the cause of distraction. " Vrabel said he cares "deeply about this football team" and he's "excited" to begin the new season.