Vrabel Steps Away from Draft Amid Scandal

0:00It's April 23rd, from kickoff to the final whistle. This is NFL News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. Patriots head coach Mike Vrable is stepping away from the NFL draft this weekend after photos surfaced of him with former athletic reporter Diana, receding at a resort in Sedona, Arizona. He announced the move on April 22nd, saying he needs counseling to be the best version of himself for his family, the team, and the organization. Here this week, Vrable first spoke to the media since the New York Post dropped those images showing them close together. He plans to spend time with his wife Jen, and their two sons outside Massachusetts, while staying in touch with the team. Executive Vice President Elliott Wolf and Vice President Ryan Cowden will run the draft room in his place. Meanwhile, Racini has resigned from the athletic, less than a week after the photos leaked, following an internal probe at the New York Times, owned, outlet. In her letter, she defended her journalism career, and thanked the company for initial support amid the media buzz.

1:02The Patriots hold 11 picks in the 2026 draft, kicking off with the number 31 spot in Round 1, and 8 more on the final day. They fell short in Super Bowl 61 last time, so this draft matters big time. Rable keeps his job through the controversy, but both careers took kids from what started as a private getaway, showing how fast things can spin out. Love control and the NFL's spotlight.