Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini

The photographer who snapped the pics of Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini lookin' all cozy in Arizona was NOT a private investigator hired by a scorned spouse, despite the internet rumor.

In the wake of the Page Six photos, a theory has emerged online ... with fans speculating that Jen Vrabel, wife of the Patriots head coach, or Kevin Goldschmidt, the NFL insider's husband, recruited a P.I. to catch Vrabel and Russini in the act.

As juicy as that'd be, it just ain't the truth.

Mike Vrabel put on a happy face for the newest member of the New England Patriots ... telling the team's first-round draft pick he's "doing great" on Thursday -- even though he's in the middle of a massive scandal with Dianna Russini.

The Pats shared footage from inside their draft room as they called offensive tackle Caleb Lomu to relay the life-changing news ... and the former Utah Ute was over the moon.

When the org's Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf passed the phone to coach, he introduced himself and asked how Lomu was doing.

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel says he hasn't lived up to his own standards amid his tawdry scandal involving former Athletic journalist Dianna Russini.

In a press conference Thursday before the start of the NFL Draft, Vrabel avoided Russini relationship specifics but admitted his "previous actions don't meet the standard that I hold myself to."

Vrabel also said he's become a distraction to his family, his players, the Patriots organization and their fans, adding ... "My family needs me this weekend and that's where I'll be."

Mike Vrabel got over his Titans unemployment by hitting a casino with none other than Dianna Russini ... and he seemed pretty happy, even though Tennessee kicked him to the curb just weeks prior to this photo.

TMZ Sports has obtained a pic of the current Patriots head coach and former Athletic insider at the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi shortly before midnight on January 31, 2024. They were both married at the time.

Why Biloxi?? It might have had to do with the 2024 Senior Bowl held in Mobile, Alabama on Feb. 3 ... about an hour drive away.

A witness tells us they snapped the pic when they recognized Vrabel ... and assumed at the time that the woman by his side was his wife based on their body language. They didn't realize until the recent bombshell news that the lady was actually Russini.

Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini's Arizona hangout raised plenty of eyebrows ... but turns out, that was just a rerun.

Newly released photos from March 2020, obtained by Page Six, show the now Patriots head coach and the former NFL reporter looking very cozy -- and at one point kissing -- at a dimly lit SoHo bar in NYC ... and yeah, this doesn’t scream quick drink between colleagues.

The two are posted up side by side under red lights, leaning in close and locked into conversation. They're handsy ... at one point holding hands while Vrabel also has his hand on Russini's thigh and holding her arm. Not exactly subtle.

Mike Vrabel's decision to skip out on Day 3 of the NFL draft for counseling isn't sitting well with one of the most popular Patriots fans alive -- Dave Portnoy says he's all for the coach getting help ... but it's the timing that has him irked.

The New England coach revealed Wednesday night he was seeking help to be "the best version of me" for his family and the team ... and he was getting the ball rolling this weekend after Page Six published more snaps from his time with Dianna Russini in Arizona last month.

The decision means the Pats will pick their new players in rounds 4-7 without their coach ... and the Barstool Sports honcho isn't too pleased about it.

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is seeking counseling amid his tawdry scandal involving former Athletic journalist Dianna Russini.

In a statement Wednesday, Vrabel said he would be headed to counseling this weekend while also spending time with his family outside of Massachusetts. As a result, Vrabel will miss Saturday's third day of the NFL draft.

In addition, Vrabel repeated his vow, promising to give his wife, Jen, their two sons, and the Patriots organization, "the best version of me that I can possibly give them."

Mike Vrabel is finally addressing the humongous elephant in the room ... saying he's spent the past few weeks having "difficult conversations" with his loved ones and the New England Patriots amid his Dianna Russini scandal.

The head coach met with the media minutes ago ... and emphasized how he has to make good decisions -- and he never wants his actions to be a distraction or negatively impact the organization.

Vrabel said he's going to attack each day "with humility and focus" moving forward ... and he will be the best version of himself professionally and personally.

The Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel sports scandal has claimed another victim ... NFL reporter Crissy Froyd, TMZ has learned.

Crissy tells us she was sacked on Thursday from USA Today ... just days after she blasted Dianna's resignation.

Crissy tells TMZ she's "beyond distraught" ... especially because Nancy Armour did a story for the network expressing a similar sentiment about Dianna without punishment.

Dianna Russini -- the reporter spotted getting cozy with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel in Arizona last month -- has resigned from her job with The Athletic.

The NFL insider submitted a letter to her employer on Tuesday ... saying she has handled her responsibilities with "professionalism and dedication" throughout her career ... and she stands by every story featuring her byline.

Russini -- who joined the outlet in 2023 after leaving ESPN -- said she's leaving not because she did anything wrong ... but because of the "self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts."

Dianna Russini might've been sidelined by her bosses, but it's quite literally "business as usual" in Foxborough for Mike Vrabel, according to the Patriots, who say the head coach is hard at work prepping for the NFL Draft.

Pats EVP of Player Personnel, Eliot Wolf, met with the media in New England, and was asked about Vrabel's participation as the scandal involving him and The Athletic reporter continues to be the most talked about story in sports and media.

"[Mike is] very involved. Business as usual," Wolf said. "He's been in there with us probably this round of meetings a little bit more than last year."

Dianna Russini has been put on ice ... her employer, The Athletic, is doing a deep dive into the cozy pics of Mike Vrabel and the reporter, TMZ Sports has confirmed.

It's an about-face for the NY Times-owned outlet, which initially vehemently came to the defense of Russini, calling the pics "misleading" and saying they lacked "essential context."

But, sources tell us based on new information, the outlet is conducting a thorough investigation ... and with it, they've decided to shelf Russini as the process plays out.

The situation was described to us like this ... "[Dianna's] coverage is being reviewed. That process is expected to take time. She will not be reporting in the interim."

Everyone's talking about Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini ... but former NFL star-turned-analyst LeSean McCoy thinks the situation's a whole lotta nothing -- telling TMZ Sports he doesn't see anything wrong with the pics of the coach and reporter together.

We caught up with the Eagles great at LAX this week ... and asked him for his take on the duo appearing cozy while in Arizona for NFL meetings in pics obtained by Page Six.

A lot of folks are criticizing the Patriots' head coach and athletic journalist ... but Shady tells us as far as he knows, there's nothing, erm, shady, going on between the two married sports figures.

Dianna Russini's cozy outing with Mike Vrabel has folks revisiting her past comments about her marriage ... and while most of them seem like attempts at being funny, they're hitting different on Wednesday.

There's a clip of Russini on the "Stugotz and Company" show from February ... when she claimed her own mother felt her relationship was "falling apart" -- going as far as speculating Kevin Goldschmidt was seeing someone on the side while she's on the road for work.

There's another from her appearance on 'The Dan Le Batard Show,' where she said it was the night before her wedding when she did an interview with hunky quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo ... and noted how her mom wanted her to marry him, and she saw the convo as "a sign"

Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini are doing their best to put out the massive fire that erupted after they were spotted holding hands recently ... insisting the pictures published on Tuesday don't tell the real story.

Page Six obtained images of the New England Patriots head coach and Athletic NFL reporter -- who are both married to other people -- spending time together at the Ambiente resort in Arizona when they were in town for NFL meetings last month ... showing them lounging by a pool and hugging on a rooftop.

The outlet also cited sources claiming the two were damn near inseparable throughout the day -- enjoying breakfast together before hopping in the hot tub ... and then soaking in the sunset later that night.