New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is seeking counseling and will not be with the team for Day 3 of the NFL Draft on Saturday, following the publication of photos of the coach and longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort.
“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,” Vrabel said Wednesday night, according to ESPN. “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.
“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. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result.”
The photos of Vrabel and Russini at a Sedona resort were taken before the annual NFL meetings that began in Phoenix on March 29, according to the New York Post, which published the photos this month.
The NFL said last weekend that it is not investigating Vrabel’s behavior.
Vrabel addressed the matter for the first time on Tuesday, telling reporters he’s had “ difficult conversations with people I care about.”
Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, released written statements to the Post after the publication of the story downplaying what the photos depict. But Russini resigned from The Athletic less than a week later, after the Post’s report prompted an internal investigation at The New York Times-owned sports outlet.
Vrabel said he addressed players about the matter on Monday after they arrived for the start of the voluntary workout program. Two Patriots players were scheduled to be made available to reporters on Tuesday, but Vrabel said he wanted to speak before they did. He also said he didn’t want the interest in the Post photos to take attention away from the NFL draft, which begins Thursday.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel speaks during an NFL football press conference, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Matt Duchene tied it or Dallas on a power play midway through the third period, seconds after his backcheck on Matt Boldy averted a short-handed goal that would’ve put Minnesota up by two, and the Stars and Wild headed to double overtime early Thursday in Game 3 of their spirited first-round series.
The Wild had two power plays in the first overtime, with 1:10 left on the man advantage to carry into the second overtime.
Seconds after the audible thump from Stars goalie Jake Oettinger's blocker save on Brock Faber's slap shot, the Wild had another prime opportunity to win it when Quinn Hughes drew a tripping penalty on Sam Steel.
But even with Stars defenseman Radek Faksa playing most of that penalty kill without a stick, the Wild failed to generate much pressure. Jamie Benn's holding penalty on Nick Foligno gave them another try.
Oettinger and Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt each made 26 saves over the first four periods.
The Wild killed four penalties between Mikko Rantanen's power play tip-in just 1:25 into the game and Duchene's crowd-quieting snap shot that slipped between defenseman Jared Spurgeon and the near post. That included 40 seconds of a 5-on-3 after Boldy's delay-of-game penalty late in the second period.
As soon as he left the box, Spurgeon saw an opening to start a rush that Michael McCarron finished with his first goal in the NHL playoffs to give the Wild a 3-2 lead.
Jason Robertson scored after a slick stretch pass by Duchene to put the Stars up 2-0 in the first period.
Marcus Johansson scored on a power play to start the rally less than five minutes later, and Joel Eriksson Ek had the tying goal in the second after a brilliant setup by Boldy. The U.S. Olympian, who had a career-high 42 goals during the regular season, weaved through four Stars skaters and drew a crowd behind the net before zipping the puck back into the slot for Eriksson Ek to knock in.
Entering these playoffs, the winner of Game 3 after a split of the first two games in a best-of-seven went on to win the series nearly two-thirds of the time (245 of 369) in NHL history.
The Wild, who have not advanced in the postseason since 2015, fell on the flip side of that ratio in each of their last three appearances. They won Game 3 to go up 2-1 on Vegas last year, on Dallas in 2023 and on St. Louis in 2022, before being eliminated with three straight losses every time.
AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) waits for play to resume after a goal scored by Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Johansson (90) during the first period of Game 3 in the first-round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Johansson (90), left, celebrates with defenseman Brock Faber (7) after scoring a goal during the first period of Game 3 in the first-round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs against the Dallas Stars Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Wild right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) skates with the puck as Dallas Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel (6) defends during the first period of Game 3 in the first-round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (14) and Dallas Stars center Sam Steel (18) battle for the puck during the second period of Game 3 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston (53) and Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) battle for the puck during the second period of Game 3 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
