Ex-NFL star Shawne Merriman reacts as Patriots' Mike Vrabel caught in scandal

New England Patriots caput manager Mike Vrabel has been raked implicit the coals owed to the astir caller photos that were released of him and NFL newsman Dianna Russini.

Vrabel said helium volition beryllium stepping distant from the squad to question counseling. However, he’s enactment the Patriots into a PR catastrophe that began erstwhile helium fervently denied that the archetypal photograph dump of him and Russini astatine an Arizona edifice showed thing nefarious. He brushed it disconnected arsenic "a wholly guiltless interaction."

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New England Patriots caput manager Mike Vrabel stands connected the tract earlier the 2026 AFC Championship Game astatine Empower Field astatine Mile High successful Denver, Colo., connected Jan. 25, 2026. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)

Former San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman weighed successful with his absorption successful an interrogation with Fox News Digital connected Thursday. He said that helium didn’t deliberation the acheronian unreality astir Vrabel would impact the squad football-wise, but his occupation depended connected what connection the enactment wants to send.

"This is my happening erstwhile it comes to that," Merriman said. "He didn’t interruption immoderate laws archetypal and foremost, right? This is thing morally possibly wrong. Something he’ll person to woody with erstwhile it comes to that. I bash not believe, successful my opinion, I bash not judge this volition beryllium a shot distraction. This volition person to be, internally, that, we don’t privation to woody with it due to the fact that what it sends a connection for, but it’s not going to impact the players successful the locker country and however he’s coaching, however they’re coached, however they perceive to and travel him, and however Vrabel leads.

"Football wise, I don’t deliberation it does thing astatine all. It conscionable truly depends connected what connection bash you privation to nonstop by support going guardant with him. That’s what I would say."

Dianna Russini, left, and Mike Vrabel, right, are shown successful a divided composite representation featuring Russini with an ESPN microphone and Vrabel connected the Titans sideline wearing a headset. (Imagn Images)

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Page Six and TMZ published caller rounds of Vrabel-Russini photos earlier Thursday. It sparked a pre-draft quality league from Vrabel.

"My erstwhile actions don't conscionable the modular that I clasp myself to," Vrabel said. "My priorities are my household and this shot team, successful that order. And determination is simply a equilibrium determination that I americium going to create."

At the extremity of the quality conference, Vrabel was asked to explicate wherefore helium initially made a connection calling photos of him and Russini astatine an Arizona edifice "laughable" aft they were published by the New York Post earlier successful April.

"That's a backstage and idiosyncratic matter. I don't deliberation that those comments ... it was an effort to support your family," Vrabel said.

New England Patriots caput manager Mike Vrabel celebrates aft the AFC title crippled against the Denver Broncos astatine Empower Field At Mile High successful Denver, Colo., connected Jan. 25, 2026. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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It was the past question Vrabel answered earlier storming disconnected the podium and retired of the room.

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.