The New England Patriots’ tough start to the 2026 season worsened after they suffered a 35-6 defeat against the Jacksonville Jaguars in their Week 3 game over the weekend.
While Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has faced scrutiny for his underwhelming performances over the first three games of the season, Barstool Sports podcaster Harry Settel blamed NFL journalist Dianna Russini. Settel said on the “Son of a Boy Dad” podcast that Russini “killed” the Patriots’ momentum in the offseason.
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“I think Dianna Russini killed our team. I really do, and I know that might not be the popular take,” the podcaster said. “But I really think she killed everything of our team. But obviously, it’s not just her. It’s Vrabel as well.”
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Russini has been in the news since her controversial pictures with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel sparked allegations of an affair with him. Both Russini and Vrabel have denied the allegations and the NFL journalist left her role at The Athletic amid the rumors of an affair.
Also Read: Antonio Brown mocks Mike Vrabel with Dianna Russini meme after Patriots’ Week 3 humiliation
NFL podcaster alleges Mike Vrabel has lost Patriots locker room
The Patriots made it all the way to the Super Bowl during Mike Vrabel’s first season in 2025. However, the Patriots have looked like a shadow of that team at the start of the 2026 season.
Harry Settel said he feels like Vrabel has lost the locker room after the rumors of his affair with Dianna Russini.
“Last year, it felt like we were a real team,” Settel said. “Like, you got [Stefon] Diggs hyping people up on the sideline. Vrabel’s, like, Coach of the Year. You got Drake Maye being a leader, and now it’s just like we got a bunch of dogs with their tails between their legs, like afraid to even be on the field. And with Vrabel, I can’t help but feel like he lost the locker room.”
Edited by Chaitanya Prakash
