NFL fans were quick to troll insider Dianna Russini after she made her first social media post since denying allegations she has had an affair with an NFL coach.
On Tuesday night, a story published in Page Six revealed images of Patriots head coach Vrabel and Russini ‘holding hands and hugging’ at a luxury hotel in Arizona.
Sources told the outlet that the two – who are both married to other people – spent time together at the hotel’s outdoor patio on March 28.
They were also spotted on a private rooftop ‘hugging at sunset and weaving their fingers together as they [stood] face-to-face’, according to Page Six.
Sources close to Vrabel and Russini say both people were at the hotel with other friends which were not visible in pictures.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, Russini broke her social media silence as she shared a report regarding the NFL providing an update to teams regarding facility visits from replacement officials next month.
NFL Insider Dianna Russini has posted on social media for the first time since denying allegations that she had an affair with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel
Russini’s post instantly went viral as fans flocked to the comment section on Thursday
However, it quickly became apparent that fans did not care about the news.
Instead, Russini’s post – which has been viewed three million times on X at the time of writing – was inundated with replies from fans hinting at the allegations she faces.
In response, one fan called on Russini to address the ‘elephant in the room’.
‘You were awfully quiet yesterday for someone who is supposed to be reporting on a lot of sports news!’ another wrote in response to the NFL Insider.
Another poked fun at the nature of the responses, writing: ‘Not one reply legitimately about this officiating news [laughing emojis]’.
At the time of writing, the post had over two thousand replies, which was far greater than the ‘likes’ or ‘reposts’ from fans.
The shocking allegations that Vrabel and Russini face have sent shockwaves across the league, with opinions being thrown around and old clips resurfacing.
Both Vrabel and Russini have denied any romantic involvement after Page Six published photos of them hugging and lounging together poolside at the exclusive adults-only resort, Ambiente.
Russini’s post was inundated with responses that had nothing to do with the news she broke
Russini is pictured interviewing Vrabel in 2019, when he was coaching the Titans
The two visited a hotel, Ambiente, which is an adults-only venue near Sedona, Arizona
Furthermore, Russini’s website, The Athletic, issued its own denial, calling the photos ‘misleading’ and lacking ‘essential context.’
Russini told Page Six, ‘The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.’
In a statement to Page Six, Vrabel said, ‘These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response.’
The pair have known each other for some time. When she was working at ESPN, Russini’s first NFL beat was to cover the Tennessee Titans – who were coached by Vrabel at the time.
The Daily Mail reached out for comment to Vrabel and Russini’s representatives when the news broke on Tuesday.
