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The leaked hot tub photos were embarrassing, there’s no doubt about that.
NFL reporter Diana Russini of The New York Times — part of its sports unit The Athletic — was getting pretty cozy with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.
Other shots obtained by the New York Post’s Page Six show the couple, who are both married, locked in an embrace on the rooftop of a private bungalow and holding hands at a luxury hotel in Sedona, Ariz.
More details in a moment, but the gist of it is that this story is the dirtiest of all, as familiar as civilization itself.
Diana Russini resigns from The Athletic amid Mike Vrabel controversy
New York Times NFL reporter Diana Russini was forced to resign from her post after photos surfaced of her with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel. (Fox News Photo/Joshua Comins)
The woman falls, and nothing happens to the boy.
Russini was forced to resign from the Times, and Vrabel, for the time being, has emerged unscathed.
This does not mean that Rasini is an innocent victim. He is absolutely silent about the seriousness of what he has done. She covers the Patriots! That means with the rest of the teams in the league. On which planet is this not off limits?
Patriots’ Mike Vrabel never expected to be at the team’s pre-draft press conference
Also, he was not at all discreet. Rasini must have known that photographs were being taken. Doesn’t everyone know by now that photos, especially of the erotic variety, are always circulating on the Internet?
And it’s a huge embarrassment for the Times, which rushed to defend Russini when the story first broke.
The Athletic, which replaced the Times sports desk so that subscribers could be charged extra, and does a very good job, rejected the early accounts.
Russini said, “I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story ever published.” “Unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-fed speculation that is at odds with the facts.” (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Steven Ginsberg, executive editor of The Athletic, supported Russini, telling the New York tabloid that he was “proud” of him. “These images are misleading and lack necessary context. These were public conversations in front of many people.”
But as Front Office Sports later reported, The Athletic decided to investigate Russini’s account and found that the photos had been sent to TMZ and other outlets. ESPN confirmed that the Post’s coverage raised concerns that are being reviewed.
Vrabel, who led the Patriots to the Super Bowl and was named NFL Coach of the Year, could not have been more dismissive. “These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is ridiculous,” he told the Post. “It doesn’t deserve any further reaction.” And that was it.
But since Rasini was allowed to resign, he has a lot to say. In a letter to Ginsburg obtained by the AP on Tuesday, he expressed no regrets:
“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I have defended every story I have ever published…Unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-funded speculation that is divorced from the facts.”
“Furthermore, this media frenzy is moving forward rapidly without regard to the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate due to repeated leaks, and I have no interest in getting involved in a public scrutiny that has already caused more damage than I am willing to admit.”
Russini said she was stepping down before her contract expired on June 30 “because I refuse to give it any more oxygen or let it define me or my career.”
Sadly, she still doesn’t understand it. Journalists are expected to avoid even the appearance of conflict.
Now some media outlets are asking the inevitable questions.
NBC Sports asked: “Is there a double standard for Mike Vrabel, Diana Russini?”
But reporter Mike Florio writes that Vrabel has a very different job in Massachusetts. If Koch were leaking non-public information, he says hypothetically, that could be a problem.
Super Bowl champion defends New York Times reporter Mike Vrabel over leaked photos
Vrabel, so far, has come out of the situation unscathed. (Cooper Neal/Getty Images)
And there’s this vague catch in league rules for players: “Conduct that undermines or jeopardizes the integrity of the NFL, NFL clubs or NFL personnel.”
The Boston Globe has also attacked the “double standard”, saying that the credibility of female journalists is more easily challenged and male celebrities like Koch are less likely to suffer consequences.
Globe columnist Chad Finn says that “accountability falls unevenly.”
Veteran sports writer Jeff Pearlman said in a TikTok video that if he had a private meeting with Mike Vrabel, it wouldn’t make any headlines, even if they jumped in a hot tub, but when it was a female reporter, it would be national news.
“It’s unfair, but it’s a reality for female journalists, it’s unfair, but they have to be really careful when writing about a particular man…It’s a very painful double standard.”
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Look, I understand. Journalists are held to a high ethical standard. Female journalists in particular are held to a higher ethical standard than sources. Especially if the source is a powerful person. And especially if that person just led their team to the Super Bowl.
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But no one here looks good — not the Times, not Diana Russini, not the Patriots, not the National Football League and certainly not its coaches.
Year.
