New England Patriots captains Robert Spillane and Hunter Henry responded to the ongoing drama involving their head coach, Mike Vrabel, and NFL insider Dianna Russini.
“Coach coaches football,” Spillane, 30, told reporters on Tuesday, April 28. “He keeps the main thing, the main thing. I know he’s dealing with personal issues, but when we’re in the building, we speak football. … I love Coach and I’m going to be here to support him as he would be there to support me through anything. I’m just a player and trying to do that the best I can.”
Spillane, who is entering his second year in New England, signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2018 when Vrabel was head coach.
“Obviously, I know you guys want to hear about everything that’s going on,” Henry, 31, said on Tuesday. “To be honest with you, I’m focused on what we got going on right now in this building, with this team.”
Henry added, “Had a long season last year, quick turnaround into the offseason, we’re in a new building. Every year is a new year. We’re trying to build this team, we’re trying to come together, so I’m just focused on the guys in this locker room, and trying to build it from the ground up again. We have a long journey ahead of us. We have to start somewhere, so we’re starting right now.”
Spillane echoed the football-first mentality for the Patriots, who are coming off an appearance in Super Bowl LX in Vrabel’s first year as coach.
“It’s going to be a brand new team,” Spillane said. “It’s a chance for us to come together, to get to know our teammates, to learn and connect with each other, and really grow with our craft. That’s what we’re really focused on.”
Vrabel returned to work on Monday, April 27, after attending counseling as he continues to deal with the fallout of the scandal involving Russini, 43.
In photos published by Page Six earlier this month, Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, were seen linking hands and sharing a hot tub at a luxury resort in Arizona. Vrabel and Russini were also seen kissing in photos from March 2020 shared by Page Six on Thursday, April 23.
Hours before the kissing pictures were published, Vrabel announced plans to briefly step away from the team going into the NFL Draft.
“I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them,” Vrabel said in a statement to ESPN. “In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend. This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.”
The statement continued, “I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result.”
