After Dianna Russini exit, Times staffers slam Athletic’s ‘reflexive’ response to Mike Vrabel photos

The Gray Lady is feeling a little exposed, it seems.

Page Six hears that the Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel scandal has caused some tension between New York Times staffers and the leadership of new stablemate the Athletic — with Times insiders grousing that the Athletic’s “reflexive” downplaying of the story embarrassed Times journalists.

The Times bought sports site the Athletic in 2022 for around half a billion dollars, shut down its owns sports department and began, in effect, using the Athletic as its sports desk.

But in theory, the Athletic remains a separate entity under the Times’ umbrella, much like consumer vertical Wirecutter, which it acquired in 2013. Its staffer also don’t have to observe the official Times Code of Conduct.

As Page Six prepared to published photographs of the Athletic’s top NFL reporter Russini holding hands with New England Patriots head coach Vrabel at a luxurious Arizona resort, the Athletic’s executive editor, Stephen Ginsburg, told us, “These photos are misleading and lack essential context. These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at the Athletic.”

(Russini and Vrabel — who are both married to other people — have denied that there was anything improper about the meetup, and have said that they were both with groups of other friends at the hotel, though nobody else appears in any of the photographs).

Two days later, we reported that the Times launched an investigation into the matter and that Russini had been sidelined until the probe could be completed.

“It was really embarrassing for the Times,” said one insider, who told us that after the story broke it was a major talking point on various desks across the Times newsroom. “It raised a lot of concerns because its something that should be taken seriously and [the statement] made it seem as if they didn’t think it warranted investigation.”

Our source said that its drilled into Times staff that they have to avoid even the appearance of an improper relationship with sources, and that the photographs raised unavoidable questions about whether Russini had crossed that line.

They said that staff at the Athletic and the Times “should be abiding by the same standard,” because the Vrabel episode makes in clear that — while “the Times likes to pretend they’re separate” — readers don’t make a distinction.

“It’s frustrating that in this instance it comes back to bite us,” said the source. “It lays bare this fake distinction.”

The source was at pains to point out that the gripe isn’t about the Athletic staff. “Anyone could make a mistake [like Russini appeared to have done in the pictures],” they said. “Someone on the Times could just as easily do that. … It’s about the leadership.”

Russini resigned on Tuesday, posting a statement on X saying, “I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,” the letter said. “When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful.”

“In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts,” Russini continued, adding that she has “no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.”

Meanwhile, Ginsberg told staff on Slack that he had begun an investigation as soon as he learned of the Vrabel issue, though “our instinct [was] to support and defend a colleague [publicly] while we continued to review the matter.”

He said that as “additional information emerged… new questions were raised that became part of our investigation.”

He said that the inquiry would continue even though Russini had quit the publication would “continue a standards review of Dianna’s work that [the Athletic editorial director for standards and editorial quality] Mike Semel is leading.”

A rep for the Times didn’t comment.