Online sleuths continue to dig into Dianna Russini's past reporting amid a scandal caused by leaked photos of her with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
Social media user Tony Farmer noted that Russini reported about the Tennessee Titans, then coached by Vrabel, on March 15, 2020. A photo of her and Vrabel together at a bar was allegedly taken four days earlier.
Russini, who worked for ESPN at the time, reported that the Titans weren't interested in signing Tom Brady. Instead, they were "working hard" to extend Ryan Tannehill.
Russini's reporting under spotlight
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
It feels like a stretch to scandalize this reporting. After all, the Titans signed Tannehill to a four-year, $118 million deal hours after ESPN published Russini's story.
Unless Vrabel wanted to mess with his former New England Patriots teammate, disclosing Tennessee's lack of interest in Brady doesn't seem to offer much benefit. However, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio speculated that the tidbit could have helped the Titans save face and avoid a public rejection by the iconic quarterback.
"It's fair to question whether the Titans were simply putting a positive P.R. spin on the possibility that Brady had said 'no thanks' to the Titans before the Titans created the impression that they were saying 'no thanks' to Brady," Florio wrote.
Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers two days after Russini's report. His iconic Patriots run ended with a playoff loss to Vrabel's Titans.
Another story draws scrutiny
It's not Russini's only ESPN report getting scrutinized in light of an alleged relationship with Vrabel.
In 2021, Russini called the Titans a "long shot" to acquire Julio Jones. She said the Atlanta Falcons were offered a future first-round pick for the star wide receiver.
The Titans ultimately acquired Jones for a package led by a 2022 second-round pick. Critics have wondered if the rumored offer could have deterred other teams unwilling to match or exceed that price.
ESPN did not respond to Florio's request for comment on whether it will review Russini's reporting. The Athletic has continued its internal investigation since she resigned two weeks ago.
