Mike Vrabel remains the head coach of the New England Patriots as a salacious tabloid scandal involving him and NFL reporter Dianna Russini continues to play out. Vrabel is back at work in Foxborough this week as the team begins its off-season workout program.
There have been some calls from fans on social media for Vrabel to step down as Patriots head coach, or for New England owner Robert Kraft to fire the reigning NFL Coach of the Year, amid the scandal. (Russini resigned from her position at The Athletic on April 14.)
Below, we will take a look at if the drama has impacted Patriots betting odds at all, and also deliver the latest information regarding the football soap opera.
Patriots odds
The vibes coming from the Patriots organization were sky-high in the weeks following their Super Bowl appearance this past February. Despite the loss to the Seahawks, New England owned arguably the brightest future of any team in the NFL with Vrabel as head coach and 23-year-old stud quarterback Drake Maye leading the way.
Immediately following the Super Bowl loss to Seattle, the Patriots owned +1300 odds to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in 2027.
The Pats had, by most accounts, a strong showing in NFL free agency in March as well. They added wide receiver Romeo Doubs, offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker, edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones, and safety Kevin Byard. Their Super Bowl odds were +1800 on March 24.
New England also addressed some needs in the NFL Draft this past week as they landed Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu, Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas, Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon, and Wake Forest cornerback Karon Prunty.
The Pats’ current Super Bowl odds are +1600 at Fanatics Sportsbook, so they have remained mostly around the same number throughout a tumultuous couple of weeks.
The Patriots’ win total projection at Fanatics is 9.5 wins, with juice on the Over. New England went 14-3 last season.
The Pats will have the sixth most difficult schedule in the NFL this season after having one of the easiest slates in 2025.
Vrabel — Russini latest
Vrabel missed Day 3 of the NFL Draft on Saturday as he underwent “counseling.”
The New York Post published pictures of Vrabel buying a baby blue sweatsuit at Salt Lake City International Airport. The tabloid described Vrabel’s purchase as an “apology present” for his wife, Jen Vrabel.
Internet sleuths also recently found a public Spotify playlist created by Russini in 2022. The then-ESPN NFL reporter shared the playlist with a user named “Mike” on Dec. 19, 2022. It was titled, “TURNIN THE PAGE,” and the share coincided with a four-game losing streak by the Tennessee Titans. Vrabel was head coach of the Titans during that time.
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