Roger Goodell confirmed Thursday that the NFL league office is keeping its nose out of the drama currently surrounding Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.
The commissioner sat down with ESPN’s Mike Greenberg in Pittsburgh just minutes before the start of the NFL draft, and he made it clear — as of now — neither he nor anyone at league headquarters is looking into Vrabel’s scrutinized relationship with insider Dianna Russini.
“This is not a personal conduct policy [issue] as we know of today,” Goodell said. “It’s a personal matter, and we’ll leave it at that.”
Page Six has published photos in April that have shown Vrabel and Russini, who are both married to different spouses, cozied up with one another at various locations over the span of the last several years.
In pictures published Thursday, Vrabel and Russini could be seen sitting on barstools at a New York pub in March 2020 kissing one another.
Russini was engaged to wed Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt at the time the pics were snapped. Vrabel and his wife, Jen, have been married since 1999.
Vrabel, who will undergo counseling, will miss rounds 4-7 this weekend on Saturday, he told ESPN on Wednesday.
New England also said it’s supporting Vrabel going forward.
“Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans,” the team said in a statement Thursday, “and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment.”
Goodell told ESPN he’s comfortable letting the Patriots navigate the situation without input from him.
“I think the teams handle these matters when they’re personal matters and they handle it — they have a lot more information that can benefit everyone involved,” Goodell said.
The Patriots hold 11 selections in the draft this year, including choice No. 31 in the first round. Vrabel explained to reporters on Thursday before the draft began that he was leaving Saturday because “my family needs me this weekend, and that’s where I’ll be.”
Russini, meanwhile, has remained mum since she announced her resignation from The Athletic following the outlet’s internal investigation into her Vrabel connection.
