Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, NFL insider Dianna Russini, and The Athletic each downplayed photographs the New York Post’s Page Six published Tuesday that appear to show the Patriots coach “holding hands and hugging” with the senior NFL insider at an Arizona resort.

The story from the Post’s gossip section included paparazzi pics showing Vrabel and Russini greeting each other and relaxing in a hot tub at the Ambiente luxury resort in Sedona, Ariz. By Wednesday afternoon, an X/Twitter post with the photos had received more than eight million views.

Vrabel, Russini, and The Athletic dismissed the notion that the meetup was inappropriate, calling the photos “innocent” and “misleading” in statements, and both said they were at the resort with friends who aren’t shown in the pictures. Both Vrabel and Russini are married with children.

“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” Vrabel told the Post. “This doesn’t deserve any further response.”

“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,” Russini said in a statement sent to Front Office Sports.

Steven Ginsberg, executive editor of The Athletic, also downplayed the photos. “These photos are misleading and lack essential context. These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic,” he said.

Vrabel, the reigning NFL Coach of the Year, led the Patriots to Super Bowl LX in February in his first season as the team’s head coach. New England fell to the Seahawks 29–13. The Patriots did not immediately respond to FOS’s request for comment.

Russini, a highly respected insider, joined The Athletic in 2023 after eight years with ESPN. Her current contract at the New York Times–owned publication is expected to expire in August, sources told FOS.

Sue Bird is expected to be named as an analyst on NBC and Peacock’s coverage of the WNBA, Front Office Sports has learned.

Bird is one of the most decorated women’s basketball players of all time. A 2025 inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame, she was a four-time WNBA champion and 13-time All-Star with the Seattle Storm, a five-time Olympic gold medalist, and a two-time NCAA champion at UConn.

On the media front, she previously cohosted NCAA women’s Final Four alt-casts for five years, four of which were with Diana Taurasi. This year, ESPN’s alt-cast instead featured Jess Sims, Ilona Maher, and Katie Feeney. Bird also cohosts a podcast, A Touch More, with her fiancé, Megan Rapinoe.

It was not immediately known whether Bird will be in the studio and/or on game color commentary for NBC and Peacock. In addition to her media roles, the New York native is the managing director of the USA women’s basketball national team and a part-owner of her former team, the Storm.

NBC could not be reached for comment. The network is reentering WNBA live rights this season as part of its broader NBA deal and will broadcast multiple WNBA Finals during the pact. NBC previously aired the WNBA from 1997 through 2002. 

FOS previously reported that Noah Eagle, Zora Stephenson, and Michael Grady will be play-by-play broadcasters for WNBA games on NBC and/or Peacock.