Boston Media Accused Of 'Soft' Coverage Of Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini
The Boston media world has been accused of covering the Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini scandal in a "soft" way.
The Patriots head coach returned to work this week. He left the NFL Draft on Day 3, for an "emergency marriage" meeting with his wife, Jen. The NFL head coach had been photographed at an Arizona adults-only resort with insider Dianna Russini. Further reports leaked photos from previous Vrabel, Russini rendezvous.
Vrabel was apologetic for his behavior.
"As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend," Vrabel said before the NFL Draft. "This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.
"I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result."
While Vrabel has been badgered at the airport by paparazzi, some have accused the Boston media of being too "soft" with him.
Longtime Boston reporter sounds off on coverage of scandal
Mike Felger, a longtime Boston radio host, joined the Awful Announcing Podcast this week. He sounded off on Boston's coverage of Vrabel and Russini.
Felger was asked if he thinks the Boston media has done a good job covering the scandal.
"No," Felger said. "And I don't blame the Patriots reporters, because that is a tough spot if you're a beat guy that covers that team. You gotta go down there and face the coach every day, and you've got to talk to the players and the coaches every day. So, if the beat guy himself doesn't want to be that guy to say, ‘Hey Mike, how about that extramarital affair?' I get that. What has disappointed me is the outlets. If a newspaper doesn't want their Patriots reporter to go down there and ask the questions, I get it. You want to protect the beat guy to maintain that relationship. Then send somebody else! Send somebody from the lifestyle section, send somebody from the news section."
He's disappointed in the coverage.
"The outlets don't even have the guy or the girl or the columnist or the reporter anymore to go cover it. And that's what disappoints me the most. Do you want to sell the newspaper? Do you want people to watch the news? These outlets and these mediums are struggling, do you want to sell the newspaper or not? I sort of wonder if they even want to sell it anymore, because it doesn't feel that way a lot of times."
Ultimately, though, he wasn't surprised.
"It's predictable," Felger said. "It's kind of sad, and I don't know if it speaks to Boston as a market that we're a little soft, maybe. But I think it speaks to more of the de-staffing of local traditional media outlets…it's also just not the mindset…I don't know if these places have the same mentality. I think they're just hanging on for dear life and have sort of dropped the thing about getting the story. And that's sad. That's sad to me as someone who values and still deals in traditional media."
Vrabel and the Patriots, meanwhile, appear to be plunging ahead toward the 2026 season.
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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 9:53 AM.