Photos Of Patriots Coach Mike Vrabel And Nfl Reporter At Arizona Hotel Are Misleading, Reporter Says

After photos emerged of New England Patriots caput coach Mike Vrabel spending clip pinch NFL newsman Dianna Russini astatine a luxury edifice successful Arizona, Russini said nan photos were taken retired of discourse and her employer has travel to her defense.

In photos published by Page Six connected Tuesday, nan coach of nan Patriots and nan newsman for The Athletic are seen hanging retired poolside, successful a basking tub and connected a rooftop platform astatine nan Ambiente luxury edifice successful Sedona.

Two of nan photos show them pinch intertwined hands and hugging connected nan deck. Both Russini and Vrabel are married.

In a connection to NBC News connected Wednesday, The Athletic Executive Editor Steven Ginsberg said nan photos are "misleading and deficiency basal context."

"These were nationalist interactions successful beforehand of galore people," Ginsberg said. "Dianna is simply a premier journalist covering nan NFL and we're proud to person her astatine The Athletic.”

Russini said successful her ain connection that galore reporters successful her section interact pinch "sources" extracurricular of stadiums and activity venues.

"The photos don’t correspond nan group of six group who were hanging retired during nan day," she said.

A typical for nan New England Patriots did not instantly respond to a petition for remark from NBC News.

Vrabel denied immoderate allegation of impropriety successful a connection to Page Six. “These photos show a wholly guiltless relationship and immoderate proposal different is laughable," he said. "This doesn’t merit immoderate further response.”

Page Six offered conflicting accounts from anonymous sources arsenic to Vrabel and Russini's clip together astatine nan hotel. An unnamed friend of nan coach told nan outlet that nan 2 of them were staying a mates of hours distant and drove up to meet Russini, who was staying successful Sedona connected a travel pinch her friends.

Vrabel was successful Tempe, Arizona, for a scouting arena astatine Arizona State University connected March 27, Page Six said.

Other witnesses, who were besides unnamed, told Page Six that they did not spot Vrabel aliases Russini pinch different people.

"No, he was pinch a girl," 1 witnesser told Page Six erstwhile asked if they saw Vrabel pinch a group of friends.