NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has confirmed the league's position on the current scandal surrounding New England Patriots' head coach Mike Vrabel and reporter Dianna Russini.
Just months after leading the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl, head coach Vrabel found himself caught up in a scandal after photos of him and NFL insider Russini together in a hotel were posted online.
The images showed the pair, who are both married to other people, holding hands, embracing and sitting in a pool and a hot tub together.
Following the release of the images Vrabel downplayed the matter, claiming they were "completely innocent" and didn't deserve the attention they were getting.
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Meanwhile Russini, who was the senior NFL insider for The Athletic, resigned from her position on April 14, but added that the photos were not reflective of the trip to the hotel, stating that six other people were present.
The backlash that Russini has faced has led to some calls that the NFL should consider some form of punishment for Vrabel, but NFL commissioner Goodell has confirmed that will not be the case due to the league's personal conduct policy.
"This is not a personal conduct policy... as we know it today," Goodell said before the NFL draft.
"It's a personal matter, and we'll leave it at that.
"I think the teams handle these matters when they're personal matters, and they have a lot more information that can benefit everyone involved."
Goodell's comments came just hours after the New York Post uploaded new pictures of Vrabel and Russini taken six years before the scandal emerged, with an alleged eyewitness claiming that they had been kissing.
The alleged eyewitness claimed: “They were kissing and they were all over each other. He had a ring on.”
“They were having a glorious time. They were [giving each other] pecks, a bunch of pecks, constantly. There was nobody in there. Nobody knew who they were. I don’t even think the bartenders did.”
Mike Vrabel released new statement addressing Dianna Russini scandal
The news surronding Vrabel and Russini raised questions about whether we could expect to see the Patriots' coach at the NFL draft on Thursday night.
However, ahead of the draft Vrabel spoke to the media, admitting that his original statement was an attempt to protect his family and that he was now taking a step back despite not breaking any league policies.
He claimed that his actions are impacting his team and his ability to coach and would therefore miss day three of the draft to be with his family attending counselling.
"As I said the other day, 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. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend," he said, as per ESPN.
"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.
"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."
Topics: NFL
Ben McCrum