How a Bible quote meant to help Drake Maye backfired on Mike Vrabel and reignited the drama surrounding Dianna Russini
Vrabel was attempting to uplift his young, struggling quarterback.
M ike Vrabel 's attempt to lift Drake Maye with a biblical story has unexpectedly revived the controversy surrounding the head coach and Dianna Russini , adding another layer of scrutiny as the New England Patriots ' quarterback searches for answers.
Vrabel said Wednesday that he used the story of David and Goliath to encourage Maye during a difficult opening to the NFL season.
Through three games, the 24-year-old has completed 51 of 80 passes for 585 yards, one touchdown and six interceptions.
And one analyst seized on Vrabel 's reference after learning about the conversation and connected it to the coach's own offseason controversy involving Russini .
"Holy C*AP, you can’t make this up,” Tony Farmer said via X.com, formerly Twitter. “David committed adultery with Uriah’s wife Bathsheba [in 2 Samuel 11] . Was Mike Vrabel aware of this before he used this example? Is it worse for Vrabel if he WAS or WASN’T aware? How do the Patriots PR folks let this one slip by?”
The Bible reference has now created an unusual distraction around the Patriots at a time when Maye 's performance is already under examination. It also brought renewed attention to the controversy that engulfed Vrabel and Russini earlier this year.
Photographs taken at an Arizona resort in March showed the pair spending time together, including sitting around the pool, using an outdoor spa, having breakfast, walking together, holding hands and embracing.
Both denied wrongdoing, but Russini later resigned from The Athletic and Vrabel acknowledged that his actions had fallen short of his own standards before seeking counseling.
What do we know about Drake Maye’s injury?
Maye 's shoulder became a talking point after he struggled with underthrows to open the season after he played through an undisclosed shoulder injury during the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl .
Vrabel initially dismissed concerns about the quarterback's condition when asked Monday whether he was worried about Maye 's shoulder heading into a Week 4 clash with the Buffalo Bills .
Maye also downplayed the issue after Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars , which saw him pass for 199 yards whilst allowing two interceptions and a fumble.
Bringing his stats to the campaign to 585 yards for one touchdown for six interceptions, he denied that shoulder had affected how he has thrown the ball, and he was subsequently listed on the injury report as a full participant.
"I wouldn't say there's a problem with my shoulder," Maye said. "I think there's times where I think you look back…
“And you look back on the playoff run and that Denver game and when I took the hit, and to now, you know, I felt good during training camp and you continue to let it loose."
