Mike Vrabel talks Dianna Russini scandal ahead of NFL Draft

Head coach of the New England Patriots Mike Vrabel says he hasn’t lived up to his own standards in the middle his vile scandal involving a former Athletic journalist Dianna Russini.

At a news conference Thursday before the start of the NFL Draft, Vrabel avoided details of the relationship with Russini, but admitted that his “previous actions do not meet the standards that I hold myself to.”

Vrabel also said he had become a distraction to his family, his players, the Patriots organization and their fans, adding… “My family needs me this weekend and that’s where I’ll be.”

The head coach had already announced his intention to ask for advice this weekend and spend time with his family…which means he’ll skip the final day of the NFL Draft.

Vrabel and Russini have been involved in a cheating scandal since the first photos of them together have surfaced …since then there have been photos of them kissing in a bar…and we got photos of them together in a casino… dating back to his previous job with the Tennessee Titans.

It was the first time Vrabel appeared before reporters since Tuesday, when he said it was “laughable” to assume he and Russini were anything other than friends. This was before the kisses and the casino clichés.

Vrabel now says he was trying to protect his family by initially brushing off the story.

The optics have only gotten worse…and Vrabel says he’ll work “as long as it takes” to take the “necessary steps” to give his family and the Patriots the “best version” of himself.