New England Patriots

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 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.

Dianna Russini should probably change her LinkedIn bio to "Good Samaritan" ... because that might be her new career path.

Just one day after resigning from The Athletic, Russini reportedly rescued an elderly man and his dog from a car crash in Wyckoff, NJ ... according to Page Six.

An eyewitness told the outlet she was driving on the same road when the wreck happened, and stopped to help.

Police Lt. Joseph Soto told the local Patch affiliate that a 17-year-old in a Honda Civic turned left onto Cedar Hill Avenue from Sicomac Avenue and collided with a Jeep.

Soto told the outlet the Jeep turned onto its side from the impact, trapping its 73-year-old driver and a dog in the car.

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."

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.

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.

If Team USA was hoping to use Tom Brady's arm to reach Olympic gold in flag football, it might wanna call an audible -- the GOAT says it's "probably unlikely" he suits up for the Red, White and Blue in 2028 ... but he seems down to be involved in some capacity.

Brady swung by "Good Morning America" Tuesday to promote his upcoming Fanatics Flag Football game in the City of Angels -- which was forced to move stateside after the conflict in the Middle East -- and he was asked if this event got him itching to compete for his country in the new Olympic sport.

"I would never say never, but it's probably unlikely," Brady said.

TMZ Sports has obtained police bodycam footage from the night cops shut down a bar party thrown by New England Patriots players after earning a trip to the Super Bowl ... showing officers being notified the AFC champs were present.

In the video, cops arrive at an establishment called Estella shortly after 2 AM on Jan. 27. When they make their way downstairs ... they find people gathered in the basement -- which featured hookahs, strippers and a floor filled with dollar bills.

As one of the cops watched people make their way up and down the stairs, a woman approached him and said, "I understand you have a job to do, but do you understand who is in the room?"

Over two months after New England Patriots defensive lineman Christian Barmore was hit with domestic assault charges ... officials in Massachusetts have now dropped the case against him -- saying that it was "not viable for prosecution."

The decision came down moments ago in an Attleboro courtroom ... where prosecutors said that following the updated information, they were going to file notice to formally drop the case against Barmore.

"Mr. Barmore is grateful to the District Attorney's Office for carefully evaluating the facts,
reviewing the materials that his attorney shared with them, and acting in the interests of justice," David Meier, Barmore's attorney, said in a statement

He was initially charged in connection with an incident that occurred in August 2025. According to a police report, obtained by TMZ Sports, a woman told cops that Barmore became angry with her after a disagreement over the temperature of the bedroom air conditioner.

Stefon Diggs’ release in New England raised plenty of eyebrows -- but not Warren Moon’s.

We caught up with the Hall of Fame quarterback after the news of Diggs’ release broke, and the legendary QB tells TMZ Sports the move made sense given the circumstances surrounding the veteran receiver.

“You know, it doesn't surprise me,” Moon told Babcock moments after the news broke. “He brings a lot of baggage wherever he goes right now. He has off-the-field stuff, and he wasn't as productive over the last part of the season as he had been in the first part of the season.”

The move is notable considering Diggs actually produced in his lone season in Foxborough -- starting all 17 games and hauling in 85 catches for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns while serving as Drake Maye’s most targeted receiver in the young QB’s second season.

Stefon Diggs is dealing with another breakup -- the New England Patriots are going to release him.

The news came minutes ago -- with Tom Pelissero saying the team alerted the receiver the move will be made official after the start of the new season next week.

Diggs caught 85 balls for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns during New England's return to greatness in 2025 ... helping the team get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the Tom Brady era.

Drake Maye and the New England Patriots won't have to wait long to get another crack at the Lombardi Trophy ... they'll be back next year for Super Bowl LXI, so says Mark Wahlberg!

TMZ Sports ran into the actor and Pats superfan outside of ABC Studios in New York City on Wednesday, just a week and a half removed from New England's 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.

We asked Mark about the loss and Maye's setbacks -- he had three turnovers and was sacked six times -- but Wahlberg ain't sweatin' the crushing loss to the season, and their star player's struggles.

"Okay, but he went to the Super Bowl in his second season," Wahlberg said when asked about the Maye haters. "That's pretty good!"

Cardi B, for the first time, is publicly acknowledging that she and Stefon Diggs are dunzo ... while at the same time, sticking up for the Patriots star wideout in a big way, after rapper BIA took a shot at him this weekend!

Not up on your rap beef? Cardi -- currently at the start of her big "Little Miss Drama Tour" -- and BIA have drama that goes back years. But, if anyone thought Cardi's split from Stefon signalled it was open season to trash the football player, she made it crystal clear that ain't the case.

"Can u name someone with more bms than receiving yards? I can! and I know that… ykwnvm," BIA wrote on social media, obviously taking a dig at Diggs.

Cardi, who had a baby with SD in November, responded, but not immediately, waiting until she hit the stage in Los Angeles Sunday night.

The personal chef who accused Stefon Diggs of choking her following a Patriots game in December is speaking out after his first court appearance Friday in Boston, saying she's focused on healing as the legal process begins to play out.

Mila Adams shared her statement shortly after Diggs entered a not-guilty plea in the case, writing that she would "never make false claims for personal gain or to damage someone's reputation."

"I did not seek public attention and reported this matter through the proper legal channels. This is an active criminal matter, and I will continue to respect the legal process. I will not engage in rumors, personal attacks, or respond to misinformation on social media, and I will ask others to refrain from spreading false narratives."

Stefon Diggs is switching teams the day before his arraignment on charges stemming from an alleged assault on his personal chef -- the NFL star has hired a new attorney to help him with his legal battle.

According to court records viewed by TMZ Sports, the 32-year-old has retained Sara Silva of Silva Kettlewell and Pignatelli LLP, moving on from Michael DiStefano. We've reached out to Silva for comment, but have not yet heard back.

Silva has more than 20 years of trial experience and was named the 2020 Lawyer of the Year in Massachusetts by Boston University School of Law.