Kicking off
FOXBOROUGH - For the second time this week, on Day 1 of the draft no less, Mike Vrabel stood in front of the assembled media, and attempted to put out what initially started as a brush fire, and has now turned into a full-fledged inferno.
It’s one battle he continues to lose.
After an initial New York Post story showed photos of him and former Athletic NFL insider Dianna Russini canoodling at an adults-only resort in Arizona, a second Page Six story placed Vrabel and Russini together at a bar in New York, six years earlier, doing much of the same.
The compilation of stories - with TMZ also jumping into the fray with more photos of Vrabel and Russini - has created a major distraction at an important time for the football team.
And it appears this isn’t going to end any time soon.
As it is, Vrabel will be away from the team on Day 3 to be with his family, to work on giving his family and football team “the best version of me possible.”
He admitted his actions “don’t meet the standard that I hold myself to.” But didn’t acknowledge much more. Prior to speaking with the media, Vrabel addressed season ticket holders at the team’s annual draft party.
While there, he did not address the elephant in the room, but did discuss the fans expectations of his football team.
"When we got here a year ago, we wanted to have a product you guys would be proud of,” Vrabel began. “You’re used to winners. Robert and Jonathan (Kraft), they put winners on the field, and that’s what you guys are used to and that’s what we’ve talked about bringing back.”
Bringing back a product fans will be proud of is going to be a tall order. And that would be the case without any scandal.
Between Vrabel’s availability, or lack of such dealing with the mess, a much tougher schedule, and a team that’s still lacking in elite talent and game-changing players, the mission has grown infinitely harder.
Here are some clips from the week:
