Vrabel to Miss NFL Draft Day 3 for Counseling

Vrabel to Miss NFL Draft Day 3 for Counseling
Mike Vrabel, head coach of the New England Patriots, has announced that he will not be present for the third day of the NFL draft as he embarks on a journey to seek counseling. This decision comes as part of his commitment to provide the best version of himself to his family, the organization, and the team.

In a statement made on Wednesday night, Vrabel expressed, "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 emphasized that this was a decision he had contemplated deeply and would recommend to any player in a similar situation.

Vrabel, who has two sons with his wife, Jen, plans to spend the weekend with his family outside of Massachusetts. His decision follows a recent media storm regarding personal photos that surfaced, showing him in a compromising situation with former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini. Addressing the media, he described the matter as "personal and private," and acknowledged having had difficult yet productive conversations with his family and the organization.

He stated, "We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me." Despite his absence, Vrabel reassured fans that he would remain in contact with the Patriots during the draft, expressing confidence in his team’s leadership, particularly in executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden, to manage the draft effectively.

The Patriots enter the draft with a total of 11 selections, including the 31st pick in the first round. On the final day, they have eight picks, which include two in the fourth round, one in the fifth, four in the sixth, and one in the seventh. As Vrabel takes this necessary step for his mental health, he hopes to return stronger and more focused, ready to lead his team into the upcoming season.