FOXBOROUGH – Roughly a half hour before the Patriots began the second draft weekend of the Mike Vrabel Era, the head coach of the Patriots took to the podium for another brief statement on Thursday night.
More photos of Vrabel and Dianna Russini surfaced on Thursday afternoon after Mike Reiss reported earlier in the morning that Vrabel would be seeking counseling and missing the third day of the draft.
“Again, just want to reiterate the gratitude I had the other day that you guys have shown in a personal and private matter,” Vrabel began right around 7:25ish. “I want to address the news regarding my current situation. I understand there are questions, but I take accountability for my actions and the actions that caused a distraction to the people I care most about.
“My family, this football team, the organization and our fans. My previous actions don’t meet the standard that I hold myself to. They don’t. And, what I believe is best for the two most important things in my life, my family and this football team, is for us to take the necessary steps to work together and to give them what I told them I’d give them, which is the best version of me. And that’s what we’re going to do.
“That’s going to start. That has started. That’s going to continue this weekend and it’ll continue for however long it takes for me to give them and complete that promise of giving them the best version of me possible. That’s what’s going to happen and that’s what’s been happening. I’m grateful for Robert and Jonathan for their support. I’m thankful for the coaches and their support. Most especially, I’m thankful for the players. They’re the ones that allow us to win games. They’re the ones that allow us to coach them.
“I appreciate their support. We’ve got a lot of great men in there and I appreciate each and every one of them. Like I told you before, my priorities are my family and this football team, in that order. There’s a balance there that I’m going to create. My family needs me this weekend and that’s where I’ll be, but I’m confident in the people we have. I’m confident in the preparation. I’m thankful for Eliot and his staff that have prepared us for this night, for this weekend.
“I ask that somehow you can allow those players that we bring onto this football team. Allow them the excitement and the joy of recognizing a dream and starting a journey. I hope that you can do that. And, again, I’m focused on this team moving forward. Out of respect to my family, I won’t have any more comments or answers to touch on. Thank you.”
Vrabel is still with the team for the first round of the draft on Thursday and will be for rounds two and three on Saturday as well.