The messy situation involving New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and The Athletic’s Dianna Russini has taken yet another turn.
Just three days ago, Page Six shocked the NFL world by sharing exclusive photos of Russini and Vrabel holding hands and hugging at a luxurious hotel in Sedona, Arizona. These photos were allegedly taken before the league's annual meeting in late March.
“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,” Page Six's 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.”
Both Russini and Vrabel released statements on Page Six's story, denying any potential romance rumors.
"These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable," Vrabel told the New York Post. "This doesn’t deserve any further response."
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Well, according to Ryan Glasspiegel and Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, these photos were actually offered to TMZ before Page Six went ahead and published this story.
The anonymous tipper who got these photos was seeking a four-figure payday.
"An anonymous tipster reached out to the outlet, saying that Vrabel was hanging out with an unidentified woman," the report from Front Office Sports states. "When TMZ staffers evaluated the photos, they eventually realized that it was Russini. The anonymous tipster was not from a known paparazzi or photo agency, and requested an unspecified sum in the 'four figures.' As TMZ’s newsroom deliberated whether this was a legitimate story or too 'bedroom police-y,' the Post’s Page Six vertical ran with it, rendering the debate moot, a source said."
There's a theory floating around.
Former Fox Sports personality Emmanuel Acho suggested that someone close to Russini and Vrabel hired a private investigator.
"As the foremost expert on this topic. Let’s just take the sting out. Beat them to the punchline," Acho said. "As the foremost expert on this topic, here’s what nobody’s talking about regarding Russini and Vrabel, somebody hired a private investigator."
As Page Six previously mentioned, both Russini and Vrabel are married to other people. It'll be interesting to see if their spouses comment on this situation.
