‘I Think (Dianna) Russini Killed Our Team’ — Podcaster Blames Patriots’ Massive Struggles on Mike Vrabel’s Scandal

Douglas Santo Tue, September 29, 2026 at 7:07 PM UTC

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‘Wouldn’t Say He’s As Crisp’ — Patriots Superfan Bill Simmons Questions Decision-Making of ‘Post-Sedona Mike Vrabel’ After Dianna Russini Scandal

The New England Patriots have had a rough start to the 2026 season. They are 1-2 and just laid an egg against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3.

It was a tumultuous offseason for the Patriots, with head coach Mike Vrabel’s scandal with Dianna Russini being a major offseason storyline. Now, it feels like nothing can go right for New England this season, and one podcaster believes the Vrabel-Russini scandal is affecting the team.

Is the Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel Scandal the Reason for the New England Patriots’ Struggles?

While discussing the Patriots’ massive struggles to start the season, Barstool Sports personality Harry Settel (also known as Lil Sasquatch) blamed the biggest scandal of the offseason.

“I think (Dianna) Russini killed our team. I really do, and I know that might not be the popular take,” the podcaster said on the “Son of a Boy Dad” podcast. “But I really think she killed everything of our team. But obviously, it’s not [just] her. It’s Vrabel as well.”

Vrabel and Russini were photographed together at a resort in Sedona, Arizona, over the offseason, and the scandal grew larger and larger, becoming a tabloid circus. Entering the season, a big question was how the controversy would affect the Patriots.

There were questions about whether Vrabel would lose the locker room, whether players would still trust him, and even whether he’d still be the coach in New England.

The Patriots supported Vrabel, and it seemed throughout offseason activities, training camp, and the preseason that the team had separated Vrabel’s personal decisions from what happened on the field and in the locker room.

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However, after New England collapsed in Week 1 against Seattle and got embarrassed in Week 3 against the Jaguars, Patriots fans aren’t as confident in their 1-2 team this season as they were a year ago.

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“Last year, it felt like we were a real team,” the podcaster said. “Like, you got [Stefon] Diggs hyping people up on the sideline. Vrabel’s, like, Coach of the Year. You got Drake Maye being a leader, and now it’s just like we got a bunch of dogs with their tails between their legs, like afraid to even be on the field. And [with] Vrabel… I just can’t help but think he’s just, like, a piece of [expletive]. I feel like he lost the locker room.”

It doesn’t get any easier in Week 4. The Patriots now travel to Buffalo for a matchup with the Bills.

The Patriots’ offense ranks dead last in the NFL this year, according to PFN’s NFL Offense Impact Score, after ending the 2025 season at No. 8 in the league. Maye is currently the No. 29-ranked quarterback in the league in PFN’s QB Impact Score.

New England looks like a completely different team this season, and it’s fair to wonder if the offseason scandal and all of the distractions have something to do with that.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

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Source: “AOL Sports”