A new report suggests The Athletic probably won't buy NFL insider Diana Russini's denial of a possible affair with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
There are a number of nationally little-known NFL insiders who offer frequent reports on rumors and news straight from those who work for the various franchises. Men like Adam Schefter, Albert Breer, Ian Rapoport, and Mike Garafolo have become household names to football-loving fans. There are even fewer women who are star NFL insiders. The Athletic's Diana Russini is one of them.
However, his credibility was largely questioned this week when the New York Post posted photos of him and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel getting very friendly at a high-priced resort in Arizona. Although it's not a very good look, if they were single, consenting adults, the world would need to get used to it if they were developing a relationship.
Unfortunately, both are married. So, not surprisingly, these photos went viral and turned into a football scandal. However, both Russini and Vrabel quickly denied speculation of an NFL affair.
"The photos do not represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most NFL reporters, reporters interact with sources away from the stadium and other locations," the insider said in a statement.
Could Diana Russini be snapped up by The Athletic this summer?
Following this revelation, The Athletic and their parent company, The New York Times, came full circle behind their star insider. Well, that's not the case now. According to a report from Front Office Sports, the news outlet is now investigating the situation, and she "will not report" to them until the process begins. The report also states that his contract with The Athletic expires in August.
The fact that The Athletic did a complete 180 from support to investigation is very bad news for Russini. Plus, his past comments and rumors of other relationships with individuals inside the league resurfacing don't help.
After becoming one of the top insiders in the NFL over the years, unless she is completely cleared of any questionable activities by her employer, her credibility in the industry will always be in question. And his brand may be forever damaged in the eyes of fans and football news outlets.
