Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy presented his bold theory about the viral photos of New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and NFL insider Dianna Russini.
“Private investigator was definitely involved,” Portnoy, 49, claimed on Monday, April 13, during FS1’s Wake Up Barstool. “You don’t just get these photos randomly from far away, professional. Somebody was out to get these two — whether that was Vrabel’s side, whether that was Russini’s side. This looks like somebody knew something nefarious was happening and set out to get the proof, get the information.”
Vrabel, 50, and Russini, 43 — who are both married with children — were seen together in photos published by Page Six on Tuesday, April 7, with the pair shown linking fingers, sunbathing and sharing a hot tub at a luxury resort in Sedona, Arizona, last month.
Portnoy called out Vrabel and Russini’s “excuse” that they were a part of a larger group of individuals who weren’t featured in the photographs.
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“It’s quite peculiar at this point that none of these supposed friends have stepped forward and said, ‘Yeah, we were with them. Here’s proof we were with them,’” he said.
Portnoy added, “I think it’s pretty obvious that maybe something beyond a friendship was happening here. … They’re both married with kids. So, in that respect, very sad story.”
Mike has been married to his wife, Jen Vrabel, since 1999, and the couple share sons Tyler, 25, and Carter, 24. Russini has been married to her husband, Kevin Goldschmidt, since 2020, and the couple share sons Michael, 4, and Joey, 3.
Portnoy, a diehard Patriots fan, called the controversy “totally a personal issue” for the New England head coach.
“If he’s cheating, not cheating, this doesn’t affect your job,” Portnoy argued. “This has nothing to do with your job as a football coach.”
As for Russini, however, Portnoy said the story is more “dicey” for The Athletic’s veteran NFL insider.
“I’m sure somewhere they say, ‘You cannot cross the line with your sources. You can’t become intimate because then maybe you treat them differently,’” Portnoy suggested. “So maybe she crossed a work line, which will cause her to be terminated.”
The Athletic reported on Saturday, April 11, that an internal investigation had been launched into Russini’s conduct.
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While some have called for Russini to be fired over the photos, Portnoy felt otherwise.
“She’s not dealing with nuclear codes,” he said. “She’s not dealing with politicians. It’s football. Should you lose your job for becoming intimate with a coach? I probably don’t think so.”
Portnoy added, “I don’t think in many professions you are losing your job for having an affair, which is basically what this seems like it is.”
Shortly after the photos were published, both Vrabel and Russini issued statements claiming their relationship was strictly professional.
