More fallout arrived from the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini private photos controversy Thursday evening.
USA Today announced through a statement on social media that it parted ways with freelance NFL reporter, Crissy Froyd, who criticized Russini over her photos with the New England Patriots head coach.
“USA Today Sports has ended its contractor relationship with Crissy Froyd effective immediately. Her recent statements do not reflect our commitment to professionalism or uphold our principles of ethical conduct,” the statement read.
Froyd acknowledged her USA Today departure and expressed no remorse over her comments on Russini and the photos controversy with Vrabel.
“I regret zero of what I said and stand beside it. If you want to talk, my messages are open. My email is operative, too,” wrote Froyd.
“I feel I’ve been very transparent and did nothing wrong. I also find it so interesting that a Nancy Armour column was able to be published about Dianna Russini setting women back on USAT, but that my comments as a freelancer on my own social media about her were not fine.”
I regret zero of what I said and stand beside it. If you want to talk, my messages are open. My email is operative, too.
I feel I’ve been very transparent and
What Did Crissy Froyd Write About Dianna Russini, Mike Vrabel?
GettyThe Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini bombshell photos from Page Six caused a new controversy in the media this week.
USA Today appears to have parted ways with Froyd over a quote post on X the reporter made in response to Russini’s resignation letter from The Athletic on Tuesday.
“I’m sure you were told to submit this or that you’d get fired instead,” wrote Froyd.
“Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. We know who you really are and what you’ve been up to for years. It does so much detriment to women in sports who have done things the right way.”
In the roughly 12 hours since her USA Today firing, social media users have both defended and attacked Froyd for her post.
Some users made remarks that others argued were sexist toward Froyd, thus proving her overall point she made in her original Russini comments.
Others accused Froyd of taking advantage of the Russini resignation to raise her own profile in sports media.
Froyd didn’t leave Vrabel unscathed. She also criticized the Patriots head coach this week on her social media account.
“Since it seems to have not been taken correctly — I equally despise Mike Vrabel for his behavior,” wrote Froyd.
“As someone who covered the Titans for years, even on the ground as a hopeful teenager in Nissan Stadium, I am absolutely distraught at his actions after I used to look up to him.”
As someone who covered the Titans for years, even on the ground as a hopeful teenager in Nissan Stadium, I am absolutely distraught at his actions after I used to look up to him.
Russini, Vrabel Fallout Likely Just Beginning
GettyDianna Russini resigned at The Athletic one week after private photos of her and Mike Vrabel surfaced.
Some social media users argued Thursday that Froyd’s firing proves another point — NFL media doesn’t want to address the Vrabel-Russini photos.
A few prominent voices in NFL media such as Mike Florio and Albert Breer have addressed the scandal. But even they have treaded lightly.
Other media personalities have avoided the topic entirely. Host Dan LeBatard brought up the Vrabel-Russini photos but admitted on air that the conversation made him “really uncomfortable.”
There are fans that agree. But others aren’t settling for the idea that the Vrabel-Russini photos aren’t an NFL story.
In an era where Tom Brady’s divorce was fair game to sports commentators and anything Taylor Swift does because she’s dating Travis Kelce is fine for broadcasters to monetize, some fans aren’t going to accept Vrabel and Russini being off limits.
On April 7, Page Six released photos of the Patriots head coach and prominent NFL insider together at a luxurious resort hotel in Sedona, Arizona. One picture showed the two holding hands while another shot captured Vrabel and Russini hugging.
Another photo showed the pair lounging together in a pool.
Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini Photos Cause New Controversy