Why Patriots fan Dave Portnoy is befuddled by Dianna Russini’s Athletic resignation amid Mike Vrabel scandal

After NFL reporter Dianna Russini resigned from The Athletic in the midst of the scandal involving Mike Vrabel, Barstool Sports’ founder and New England Patriots fan Dave Portnoy is not happy.

Portnoy took to X, formerly Twitter, to voice his displeasure with the situation. While he doesn’t think “anybody should lose their job over alleged canoodling,” he suspects Russini’s resignation is confirmation that “canoodling” was going on.

“If we’re just being honest this explanation really makes zero sense,” said Portnoy. “I don’t think anybody should lose their job over alleged canoodling but this statement makes it seem like there was definitely canoodling happening. An innocent canoodler would prob welcome a thorough investigation to prove their innocence and exonerate themselves right? This screams guilty canoodler to me.”

In Russini’s statement, she claimed she wasn’t resigning because she accepted “the narrative that has been constructed,” but rather “because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”

Dianna Russini resigned from The Athletic as their lead NFL reporter because of the Mike Vrabel scandal

On Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026, Russini resigned from The Athletic after being suspended by the outlet amid the ongoing scandal involving her and Vrabel. Her contract was set to expire a couple of months later on June 30.

Everything has happened so fast with the controversy. It all began when Page Six reported photos of Russini and Vrabel at a resort together in Sedona, Arizona. They were seen holding hands and hugging in the photos.

Russini and Vrabel both denied any wrongdoing, but it caused a stir given that they’re both married to other people. The Athletic then suspended Russini while an investigation was launched. The scandal called the integrity of Russini’s reporting into question, as she covers the NFL, which includes the Patriots.

She had been with The Athletic since 2023, joining them as their lead NFL insider. Before this, Russini was best known for her time with ESPN.

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