OT: Dirty Dianna Fired At The Athletic

[bigmatt718]

Dianna Russini resigns from The Athletic after Vrabel affair denial

Dianna Russini has resigned from her job at The Athletic, days after denying claims she was having an affair with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Maybe next time don't try to collude against Howard Jerome Roseman with a HC from a known cheating franchise to try to poach away one of his team's best players. Meanwhile Vrabel will get a slap on the wrist at best because Goodell doesn't ever punish his golden child from New England.

 

[Rutgers Chris]

Dianna Russini resigns from The Athletic after Vrabel affair denial

Dianna Russini has resigned from her job at The Athletic, days after denying claims she was having an affair with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Maybe next time don't try to collude against Howard Jerome Roseman with a HC from a known cheating franchise to try to poach away one of his team's best players. Meanwhile Vrabel will get a slap on the wrist at best because Goodell doesn't ever punish his golden child from New England.

She will land on her feet at barstool I’m sure. There’s really no grounds to punish Vrabel, even a slap on the wrist would be a reach.

 

[Section124]

Her resignation letter still makes her the victim. I thought Jersey girls were better.

 

[RUPete90]

Hopefully this puts an end to it. Tired of these two already.

 

[MADHAT1]

She will land on her feet at barstool I’m sure. There’s really no grounds to punish Vrabel, even a slap on the wrist would be a reach.

Being a reporter who is supposed to be impartial in her reporting the alleged affair hurt her credibility and how she would cover he alleged boyfriend's team and she needed to resign for that reason only .
If her employer felt harmed by the way she was being portrayed while on a job they assigned her to, it was her duty to leave if she couldn't prove nothing was going on between her and Vrabel,
Her marriage status is only affected by the way her husband looks at the situation

Any punishment for Vrabel should come from the Patriots front office based on how they feel the alleged affair hurt them PR standpoint and the league should have no standing on what happens to Vrabel.

I might disapprove of what was alleged going on, but, for Vrabel, his wife has the right to do something about it, stand by her man or dump him.
I also have no right whatsoever to ask that punishment be handed out for both or one of them is necessary if a reasonable explanation isn't given for what the photos made them look like they were having an affair.

Both need to suck it up and ride out the storm , if they can't prove what they were doing together was innocent of personal entanglement and they were only friends enjoying a friendship

 

[Caliknight]

Being a reporter who is supposed to be impartial in her reporting the alleged affair hurt her credibility and how she would cover he alleged boyfriend's team and she needed to resign for that reason only .
If her employer felt harmed by the way she was being portrayed while on a job they assigned her to, it was her duty to leave if she couldn't prove nothing was going on between her and Vrabel,
Her marriage status is only affected by the way her husband looks at the situation

Any punishment for Vrabel should come from the Patriots front office based on how they feel the alleged affair hurt them PR standpoint and the league should have no standing on what happens to Vrabel.

I might disapprove of what was alleged going on, but, for Vrabel, his wife has the right to do something about it, stand by her man or dump him.
I also have no right whatsoever to ask that punishment be handed out for both or one of them is necessary if a reasonable explanation isn't given for what the photos made them look like they were having an affair.

Both need to suck it up and ride out the storm , if they can't prove what they were doing together was innocent of personal entanglement and they were only friends enjoying a friendship

The NFL is filled with players who have assaulted women, numerous arrests, and all other kinds of real crimes. Vrabel banging a reporter doesn't even register.

 

[MADHAT1]

The NFL is filled with players who have assaulted women, numerous arrests, and all other kinds of real crimes. Vrabel banging a reporter doesn't even register.

Heck some of the owners have been accused of sex abuse and were treated better than Dianna Russini seems to be.
I won't say she should have stayed on the job after being accused of an affair with an NFL HC, but will say most seem to be OK with Vebal's role and seem to condemn her's.
Her creditably as a reporter was harmed so she resigned her job ( probably told she's be fired if she didn't) ,Vebal coaching is factored by his W-L record. ( NE cares about that, not an affair)

 

[RAC93]

 

[Caliknight]

Heck some of the owners have been accused of sex abuse and were treated better than Dianna Russini seems to be.
I won't say she should have stayed on the job after being accused of an affair with an NFL HC, but will say most seem to be OK with Vebal's role and seem to condemn her's.
Her creditably as a reporter was harmed so she resigned her job ( probably told she's be fired if she didn't) ,Vebal coaching is factored by his W-L record. ( NE cares about that, not an affair)

Maybe, but they aren't subjected to the same rules. His is a question of morality. Her's is a question of both morality and business ethics. She likely has contract clauses saying she can't do what she is accused of doing. That's the difference.

 

[Anon1754923206]

spreading it low and wide

 

[Ridge 22]

She will land on her feet at barstool I’m sure. There’s really no grounds to punish Vrabel, even a slap on the wrist would be a reach.

She is more likely to be bent over a barstool......

 

[Ridge 22]

The NFL is filled with players who have assaulted women, numerous arrests, and all other kinds of real crimes. Vrabel banging a reporter doesn't even register.

This isn't about the NFL. It's about a reporter breaking ethical guidelines by banging a coach for information. The one thing she couldn't do. Plenty of room for Vrabel to be a POS here too, but that is a moral issue, not an ethical one. Which I agree no one really cares about.

It's really not all that complicated. And all she had to do was show a picture (any picture) and/or provide the names of the 'close friends' she was there with. Or hotel security video. Simple, right? Almost anyone could do that in 2 seconds. It's not like she is being asked to give up nuclear codes.

No, instead she quit to avoid an investigation, took zero accountability, made herself the victim, and blamed everyone but herself. Two weeks later, those 'close friends' still remain invisible and zero pictures. So wierd, it's almost like they didnt exist and she is lying to save her ***.

Dirty D is a a disgrace to female reporters, but her handling of this has made it even worse.

 

[LotusAggressor_rivals]

The only people that should care about this are the spouses of Russini and Vrabel. Journalistic integrity is practically non existent now.

 

[Ridge 22]

The only people that should care about this are the spouses of Russini and Vrabel. Journalistic integrity is practically non existent now.

She had to go. She is/was a joke within her profession

 

[fsng]

Agree she needed to go, but that includes from the news cycle. Story seemed overblown to begin with and now it's a real snoozer.

 

[Caliknight]

This isn't about the NFL. It's about a reporter breaking ethical guidelines by banging a coach for information. The one thing she couldn't do. Plenty of room for Vrabel to be a POS here too, but that is a moral issue, not an ethical one. Which I agree no one really cares about.

It's really not all that complicated. And all she had to do was show a picture (any picture) and/or provide the names of the 'close friends' she was there with. Or hotel security video. Simple, right? Almost anyone could do that in 2 seconds. It's not like she is being asked to give up nuclear codes.

No, instead she quit to avoid an investigation, took zero accountability, made herself the victim, and blamed everyone but herself. Two weeks later, those 'close friends' still remain invisible and zero pictures. So wierd, it's almost like they didnt exist and she is lying to save her ***.

Dirty D is a a disgrace to female reporters, but her handling of this has made it even worse.

Exactly. If the NFL punished players and coaches for cheating on their wives there wouldn’t be an NFL. That league is filled with degenerates.

 

[MADHAT1]

She had to go. She is/was a joke within her profession

My understanding she was respected in her profession
( from a google search)
>Professional Standing & Reputation

• "Top Insider": Widely recognized as a leading, trusted voice in NFL media, respected for breaking news and delivering behind-the-scenes insights.
• Highly Connected: Known for establishing key relationships across NFL front offices and locker rooms.
• Strong Career Pedigree: Prior to The Athletic, she was a featured reporter for ESPN's NFL Countdown and a standout reporter for WNBC<
• 
  
• I will agree that right now her past standing among her peers doesn't mean a thing ,because she made herself into a joke professionally by having that affair.

 

[Ridge 22]

My understanding she was respected in her profession
( from a google search)
>Professional Standing & Reputation

• "Top Insider": Widely recognized as a leading, trusted voice in NFL media, respected for breaking news and delivering behind-the-scenes insights.
• Highly Connected: Known for establishing key relationships across NFL front offices and locker rooms.
• Strong Career Pedigree: Prior to The Athletic, she was a featured reporter for ESPN's NFL Countdown and a standout reporter for WNBC<
• 
  
• I will agree that right now her past standing among her peers doesn't mean a thing ,because she made herself into a joke professionally by having that affair.

No she wasn't. She had a long standing reputation for doing stuff like this. Fights in public with other women over married man. She once got called out publicly by the wife of the Redskins GM for having an affair with her husband. It was all fairly well known within her peer group. And it's not like she was breaking Watergate level news. She was banging coaches and players to get inside information on players and coaches. Notice how many of her peers have come out in support? Crickets

 

[Postman_1]

 

[bigmatt718]

The only people that should care about this are the spouses of Russini and Vrabel. Journalistic integrity is practically non existent now.

Eagles fans and organization had a big time reason to care about this as she was the driver of the tampering for the Pats for AJ Brown in the media. Now Howie Roseman has the proof in the pudding to file a tampering report to the NFL over this.

 

[Ridge 22]

As does any female sports reporter she just dragged down with her

 

[MADHAT1]

No she wasn't. She had a long standing reputation for doing stuff like this. Fights in public with other women over married man. She once got called out publicly by the wife of the Redskins GM for having an affair with her husband. It was all fairly well known within her peer group. And it's not like she was breaking Watergate level news. She was banging coaches and players to get inside information on players and coaches. Notice how many of her peers have come out in support? Crickets

I can;t say if you're right or wrong, can only go by what I find searching for information using google.
All I found about other affairs was:
>Rumor Speculation: Some internet rumors and commentators have speculated on her past dealings, but there are no verified reports confirming she has actually had multiple affairs
Conclusion: It is True that she was subject to intense public dislike, backlash, and speculation regarding affairs in April 2026, resulting in her resignation. It is Unverified/Speculative that she actually had "more than one" affair, as the accusations are based on unproven rumors and in one case, a retracted accusation.<
Since I don't know what's fact and what can be considered unfounded accusations , I'll give her the benefit of doubt , until it's proven she had more affairs then this alleged one and was disliked by many in her profession .
But in any case she messed up be appearing to be too close to an NFL HC to be able to do her job impartially
and the Athletic has a duty to keep investigating the issue even though she resigned and not allow her resignation be a get out of jail card move.
edit:
I also found this trying to find info about her:

• Colleague Criticism: Some staff at The Athletic and The New York Times reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with how the situation was managed by management, describing it as "unnecessarily messy".
• Public Backlash: Following her resignation, Russini has faced significant online criticism and trolling. Some observers attribute this backlash to sexism and misogyny, with media figures like Peter Rosenberg and Dave Portnoy defending her against what they call a "double standard".
• Professional Impact: Before the scandal, she was widely regarded as a premier NFL insider, though some now question her journalistic integrity regarding "trading sex for access," an allegation for which no concrete proof has been presented

 

[Shelby65]

Heck some of the owners have been accused of sex abuse and were treated better than Dianna Russini seems to be.
I won't say she should have stayed on the job after being accused of an affair with an NFL HC, but will say most seem to be OK with Vebal's role and seem to condemn her's.
Her creditably as a reporter was harmed so she resigned her job ( probably told she's be fired if she didn't) ,Vebal coaching is factored by his W-L record. ( NE cares about that, not an affair)

She likely had an affair with Vebal too ? Who else Shelby wonders. The Harbo brothers ? Adam Smefter ?

 

[Rutgers Chris]

She’s having herself quite the week…

 

[Ridge 22]

She’s having herself quite the week…

Guarantee it turns out it was her dog and she tossed it in traffic

 

[MADHAT1]

I don't know if an investigation would have meant a thing, but considering what they did to Gruden ,Vrabel’s role in the alleged affair and negative publicity needed to be addressed better than the NFL seemingly implying it's nothing to be bothered about
>In the recent article from Ben Strauss of ESPN regarding the reaction to the emergence of the photos, Strauss points out that the NFL says it's "not reviewing Vrabel’s behavior" under the Personal Conduct Policy.
As explained last Saturday, the policy's list of prohibited conduct ends with a catch-all provision applicable to “[c]onduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity of the NFL, NFL clubs, or NFL personnel."
Rules that can be applied so broadly give employers the ultimate discretion to make case-by-case decisions as to what does and doesn't run afoul of the relevant standard. All too often, those rules can be invoked against employees the employer doesn't "like," with the employer not using them as to employees with whom the employer has no pre-existing beef.
Case in point: Raiders coach Jon Gruden was pushed out swiftly after emails from a decade earlier (sent while he was employed not by an NFL team but by ESPN) emerged in October 2021. Nine years earlier, Saints coach Sean Payton was suspended for a full year based on defensive coordinator Gregg Williams's utilization of a locker-room bounty habit that was later deemed by former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue to have been a cultural issue throughout the league. (Indeed, the NFL ignored once the Saints bounty scandal emerged evidence that Williams had done the same thing at multiple prior stops in his career.)<

NFL says it's not reviewing the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini situation

In the aftermath of Russini's resignation, Vrabel continues to avoid scrutiny.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Rutgers Chris]

Eagles fans and organization had a big time reason to care about this as she was the driver of the tampering for the Pats for AJ Brown in the media. Now Howie Roseman has the proof in the pudding to file a tampering report to the NFL over this.

Sounds like she was early to the correct story.