Mike Vrabel to miss Patriots NFL Draft day 3 after Russini photo controversy—Here’s why

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is seeking counseling and will miss NFL Draft Day 3 on Saturday, according to a new report.

The decision to attend counseling comes after the release of coach’s photos with longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort.

According to ESPN, “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.”

“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,” he added.

Revealing the motive behind this decision, Mike Vrabel added, “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.”

According to the New York Post, Vrabel’s photos with Russini surfaced this month. These pictures were reportedly taken prior to the NFL’s annual meetings in Phoenix on March 29.

Dianna Russini resigned from her position in less than a week after the report went public as The Atlantic, the sports outlet owned by The New York Times, launched an internal investigation

In contrast, the NFL stated last weekend that it is not currently investigating Vrabel’s conduct regarding the matter.

On Tuesday, Vrabel for the first broke silence on this matter, acknowledging the personal toll of the situation. The coach said, “he has had difficult conversations with people I care about.”

Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, tried to clarify their positions through written statements in which they downplayed the story depicted in the released photos.