The drama involving Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel hasn't ended just yet, but it did take a significant turn this Tuesday.
Prior to the NFL's annual league meeting on March 29, Russini and Vrabel were spotted together at a luxurious hotel in Arizona. Photos of them holding hands were shared last Tuesday by Page Six.
“A Page Six spy tells us that the pair — both married to other people — had breakfast on the patio of the hotel restaurant around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, before spending a leisurely hour or so together at the pool and lounging side-by-side in a hot tub,” their report states. “Our spy spotted Vrabel and Russini again that evening on the private rooftop of one of the hotel’s bungalows, which feature glass walls offering panoramic views of the state’s famed Red Rock formations.”
Even though Russini has denied all wrongdoing, she has officially resigned from her role with The Athletic.
“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published. When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts,” Russini said in her resignation letter.
“Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept. Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
After Russini announced her resignation, former "SportsCenter" Jemele Hill decided to throw shade at male insiders.
"I’ll say this: While the photos raised questions, if male insiders were held to a similar standard of ethics, none of them would exist," Hill wrote on social media.
This post from Hill didn't sit well with NFL fans, that's for sure.
"Well they didn't get caught yet. She did, so.. it is what it is. You don't need to defend her because she definitely wouldn't for you," a social media user replied.
"If Adam Schefter was doing scenic hand holding, hugging and tanning with Sean McVay we’d be saying the same thing," another person said.
The Athletic isn't done investigating Russini.
According to Jeremy Barr of The Guardian, the current plan is for The Athletic to continue its investigation into Russini's meetup with Vrabel.
"While I can’t share the details of our investigation into Dianna’s conduct, I want to emphasize that the leadership of The Athletic has taken this matter seriously from the moment we learned about it," The Athletic executive editor Steven Ginsberg reportedly told staff members.
It's unclear if Russini will get another job as an NFL insider anytime soon.
