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For the most part, New England Patriots<\/a>\u00a0players had been able to avoid publicly speaking about the ongoing controversy involving head coach Mike Vrabel<\/a>\u00a0and longtime NFL reporter\u00a0<\/span>Dianna Russini.<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n That changed on Tuesday when Patriots tight end Hunter Henry and linebacker Robert Spillane were made available to media members.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n While addressing<\/a> the team behind the scenes ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, Vrabel reportedly apologized “for bringing unwanted attention” and also “promised that he\u2019d make it right and do all he could to put the focus back on the players.” On Tuesday, Henry insisted that Vrabel “did a great job” in that particular moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n “It\u2019s been the same Vrabes, bringing a lot of energy in the room, so, yeah, obviously, he addressed it. And, that\u2019s all I\u2019ll say about it,” Henry added about Vrabel’s message on April 20, per Karen Guregian of MassLive.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Russini\u00a0<\/span>resigned<\/a> Vrabel\u00a0spent the final day of the<\/span>\u00a0draft away from the Patriots so that he reportedly could participate in<\/span> counseling.<\/span><\/a> He returned to work on Monday.<\/span><\/p>\n “Coach coaches football,” Spillane said. “[Vrabel] keeps the main thing the main thing. I know he\u2019s dealing with personal issues. But when we\u2019re in the building, we speak football.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Spillane was asked if the story that continues to hover over the Patriots throughout this spring is impacting Vrabel’s relationships with New England players or his ability to serve as a leader for a team that is coming off a tough Super Bowl loss.\u00a0<\/p>\n “I think everyone\u2019s personal relationship with coach is their personal relationship with coach,” Spillane responded. “That\u2019s not for me to speak on. I love coach, and I\u2019m going to be here to support him as he would be there to support me for anything.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nHunter Henry declined to share what Mike Vrabel said to Patriots players amid Dianna Russini controversy<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\nfrom her role of covering the NFL for The Athletic not long after photos surfaced showing her and Vrabel spending time together at an Arizona resort in late March. Last week, new\u00a0<\/span>pictures<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>emerged showing Vrabel and Russini sharing a kiss and “sitting very close to each other” at a New York City bar in March 2020.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWill Mike Vrabel controversy impact his relationships with his players?<\/h2>\n
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