‘If You Think That’s Not Affecting This Team, You’re Crazy’ — Host Blames Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini Scandal for Patriots’ 1-2 Start

Priyanshu Choudhary Tue, September 29, 2026 at 7:07 PM UTC

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‘If You Think That’s Not Affecting This Team, You’re Crazy’ -- Host Blames Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini Scandal for Patriots’ 1-2 Start

It is looking more and more like last season might have been a fluke for the New England Patriots. The team advanced to the Super Bowl and had a remarkable turnaround, which earned Mike Vrabel the NFL’s Coach of the Year award.

But over the past three weeks, they haven’t been performing at nearly the same level. Now, one radio host believes their underwhelming start might be tied to the scandal involving Dianna Russini that plagued the offseason.

Host Argues Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel Scandal Might Be Causing the Patriots’ Collapse

Despite Sam Darnold leaving the season opener with a significant injury, the Patriots blew a double-digit lead to the Drew Lock-led Seattle Seahawks, which included Drake Maye throwing three interceptions in the fourth quarter.

Week 2 saw a respite as they stifled the Pittsburgh Steelers to just three points, leading to a comfortable 20-3 victory. Unfortunately, Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars was the worst of the bunch, as they got blown out 35-6.

With a gauntlet of a schedule ahead of them, it is looking increasingly difficult for the Patriots to right the ship. Vrabel isn’t without fault, butWFAN’s Joe Benigno believes it may be more than that.

“You think Mike Vrabel and what he was doing with his girlfriend (Russini) for all these years is not affecting this team?” Benigno wondered aloud, referencing the alleged affair.

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“Happy wife, happy life. Mike Vrabel is going home every day to his wife and his family, and if you think that his wife, in the back of her mind every day, is not thinking about Vrabel with this chick for all these years, think again. And if you think that’s not affecting this team, you’re crazy.”

In early April, Page Six published photos taken on March 28 of Vrabel and Russini at a resort in Sedona, Arizona. The scandal quickly became a tabloid circus, with additional photos and videos getting published.

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Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14 while an internal investigation was ongoing. The outlet later determined that “her undisclosed relationship” with Vrabel violated its newsroom standards. Admitting to some tough conversations with his family and the Patriots organization, Vrabel entered counseling and missed Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Vrabel-Russini scandal loomed over the Patriots throughout the offseason, becoming a major distraction. However, by the time Week 1 rolled around, the hope was that the focus would be squarely on the field.

Now, after the team’s dreadful 1-2 start, some sections of the media believe that the Vrabel-Russini scandal continues to cause issues for this team.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

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Source: “AOL Sports”