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The controversy surrounding New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and NFL reporter Dianna Russini isn't going away. But in front of a local crowd of reporters in the thick of the offseason, it's also not exactly a pressing issue.
Vrabel wasn't grilled Wednesday during a press conference in Foxborough, Massachusetts before voluntary organized team activities took place. One reporter, however, followed up on the former linebacker-turned-coach's emphasis on work-life balance to gently prod him into talking about the off-field issues that forced Russini's resignation from The Athletic and turned the focus from Vrabel's rapid success in New England to his character.
"When we spoke to you last, you were talking about the balance of family and football," said a member of the media early in the conference. "How would you describe how that process has been going?
“Really good," replied Vrabel to the softball lobbed his way. "I appreciate my family. It's great. I love [his wife] Jen, I love the boys. I love my personal friends.
"Then, this spring is focused on the coaching staff, the players -- more importantly than the coaching staff -- but seeing the coaches in the second year, how smooth the conversations are... these guys, they go out and find ways to make it better."
As you'd expect from any NFL coach (but especially a ward of Bill Belichick), Vrabel was much more interested to pivot to football talk than bringing up his personal life. Unlike the other 31 guys in his position, he's also doing so in an effort to put the world's least clandestine alleged extramarital affair in his rear view. Vrabel gave vague insight to how he's doing off the field and immediately hit eject as soon as he could to focus on what he's doing on the sideline instead.
Which is, technically, an answer to what was, technically, a question. It's fine. It's May, after all.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Mike Vrabel: Offers diplomatic non-answer to personal life non-question
Continue reading...
Vrabel wasn't grilled Wednesday during a press conference in Foxborough, Massachusetts before voluntary organized team activities took place. One reporter, however, followed up on the former linebacker-turned-coach's emphasis on work-life balance to gently prod him into talking about the off-field issues that forced Russini's resignation from The Athletic and turned the focus from Vrabel's rapid success in New England to his character.
"When we spoke to you last, you were talking about the balance of family and football," said a member of the media early in the conference. "How would you describe how that process has been going?
“Really good," replied Vrabel to the softball lobbed his way. "I appreciate my family. It's great. I love [his wife] Jen, I love the boys. I love my personal friends.
"Then, this spring is focused on the coaching staff, the players -- more importantly than the coaching staff -- but seeing the coaches in the second year, how smooth the conversations are... these guys, they go out and find ways to make it better."
As you'd expect from any NFL coach (but especially a ward of Bill Belichick), Vrabel was much more interested to pivot to football talk than bringing up his personal life. Unlike the other 31 guys in his position, he's also doing so in an effort to put the world's least clandestine alleged extramarital affair in his rear view. Vrabel gave vague insight to how he's doing off the field and immediately hit eject as soon as he could to focus on what he's doing on the sideline instead.
Which is, technically, an answer to what was, technically, a question. It's fine. It's May, after all.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Mike Vrabel: Offers diplomatic non-answer to personal life non-question
Continue reading...
