New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel faced criticism from NFL fans who accused him of using a German Shepherd puppy named BB to deflect from recent scandal allegations when he appeared at a press conference.
The controversy stems from March reports, including suggestive photos published by the New York Post, of Vrabel with The Athletic's former reporter Dianna Russini at an adults-only retreat. Russini, who is married, has denied any wrongdoing, but she was placed on leave at The Athletic and later resigned. Vrabel, the reigning NFL Coach of the Year, has returned to his coaching duties.
When Vrabel addressed the media as the Patriots' training camp began, the presence of the puppy drew significant attention on social media. Many users interpreted the puppy's attendance as a public relations tactic to soften Vrabel's image and distract from the ongoing scandal.
The Patriots' social media team posted about the puppy with the caption, 'A puppy at the podium,' accompanied by a 'smiling face with hearts' emoji, which further fueled fan accusations of a PR stunt. One social media user commented, 'PR team working overtime here for Vrabel,' while another suggested that a puppy at a press conference is an attempt to 'disarm the tension' and 'soften the person's image.'
Some fans expressed frustration with what they perceived as an unprofessional handling of the situation, with one user stating, 'Please tell me we're not going to have an NFL coach Herbstreit-ing a dog around all season because he's in PR trouble, we have to start being adults about this.'
Patriots owner Robert Kraft has expressed his support for Vrabel. Speaking at Fanatics Fest on July 17, Kraft called Vrabel a "great" head coach and stated, "You know, no one is infallible." He added, "And he's someone I have a strong belief and faith in. And I hope he's going to be our head coach for many years to come."
In April, photos purportedly showing Vrabel and Russini kissing in a Manhattan bar in March 2020 were published. Russini married Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt in September 2020. The Daily Mail also published photos of Vrabel and a pregnant Russini on a boat in 2021, when Vrabel coached the Titans and Russini reported on the team for ESPN.
Vrabel himself addressed the allegations before the NFL Draft in April, stopping short of confessing to an affair but admitting to causing 'a distraction to the people that I care most about, my family, this football team, the organization and our fans.' He later missed the third day of the draft to attend family counseling.