Mike Vrabel felt “shame” and “discomfort” as he publicly addressed the photos of him and sports journalist Dianna Russini hugging and holding hands for the first time, according to a body language expert.
Vrabel was “truthful and sincere” during his press conference Tuesday, Susan Constantine exclusively told Page Six, noting that the Patriots coach “rocking from side-to-side is consistent with feeling discomfort” as he spoke to the press.
The body language expert explained that Vrabel’s “eyes glanced downward” and reflected a somber expression as he told the room he had to have “difficult conversations” with his family and co-workers.
Constantine detected “genuine sadness” in Vrabel’s eyebrows.
During his press conference, Vrabel pressed his lips together, which according to Constantine, signals a “containment of emotions” as his vocal pitch “punctuated his key points.”
There weren’t any indicators that he was being untruthful, though he definitely appeared “uncomfortable and ill at ease,” she told us.
The New England Patriots head coach and former NYT journalist — who are both married — were spotted holding hands and embracing at a luxury Arizona resort in photos published by Page Six earlier this month.
During Tuesday’s press conference, Vrabel — who shares two sons with wife Jen Vrabel, whom he married in 1999 — broke his silence on the “private and personal matter.”
The NFL head coach stated that he “had some difficult conversations with people that I care about — my family, the organization, the coaches, the players” and that those conversations had been “positive and productive.”
“We never want our actions to negatively affect the team,” he stated in part. “We never want to be the cause of a distraction. There’s comments and questions that I’ve answered for the team and with the team, will keep those private and to ourselves.”
Previously, Vrabel told Page Six that the March photos “show a completely innocent interaction” and that “any suggestion otherwise is laughable.”
Russini, meanwhile — who shares two sons with husband Kevin Goldschmidt — told us that the pair were part of a group of six during the outing, though multiple eyewitnesses claimed they didn’t see anyone with them at the luxury resort.
“Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues,” she added at the time.
Russini has since resigned from her role at the Athletic.
“Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30,” Russini wrote in a statement shared to social media following publication of the photos.
“I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”
Last week, an NFL spokesperson said the league is not looking into the New England Patriots head coach’s behavior as part of its personal conduct policy, according to ESPN.
