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Vrabel and Russini, who are separately married, denied any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n
![\"Mike](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/98466379131aa58ddeef86196a8320fd.jpeg\"\/)
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Mike Vrabel
Credit: Timothy T Ludwig\/Getty<\/p>\n
“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn\u2019t deserve any further response,” Vrabel said in a statement to the New York Post on Tuesday, April 7.<\/p>\n
Russini told the outlet: “The photos don\u2019t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”<\/p>\n
The NFL’s personal conduct policy<\/a> explicitly outlines the behavior it desires from non-NFL players.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cWe must endeavor at all times to be people of high character; we must show respect for others inside and outside our workplace; and we must conduct ourselves in ways that favorably reflect on ourselves, our teams, the communities we represent, and the NFL,\u201d the NFL\u2019s personal conduct policy states.<\/p>\n In addition, the policy does not condone \u201cconduct that is illegal, violent, dangerous, or irresponsible [that] puts innocent victims at risk, damages the reputation of others associated with the game, and undercuts public respect and support for the NFL.\u201d<\/p>\n Russini, 43, resigned from her job<\/a> on Tuesday, April 14, one week after the seven photos, taken at the Ambiente Sedona resort in Arizona, were published. In various images, she and Vrabel held hands, hugged and sat poolside.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n While the reporter stepped away from her job amid an ongoing investigation<\/a> by The Athletic, which is owned by The New York Times, Vrabel is continuing \u201cbusiness as usual,\u201d on the eve of the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n Follow your favorite athletes on and off the field with PEOPLE’s free sports newsletter<\/a> \u2014 sign up now!<\/p>\n “Very involved. Business as usual,\u201d Eliot Wolf, vice president for player personnel with the Patriots, said last week about Vrabel<\/a>. \u201cHe\u2019s been in there with us a little more than he was last year.”<\/p>\n Wolf added, “He’s been contributing. He’s watched a ton of the players.”<\/p>\n