Sports
Patriots captains offer little insight on Mike Vrabel's speech to team
Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (85) against the Seattle Seahawks during Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images New England Patriots captains Hunter Henry and Robert Spillane are pleased with the energy Mike Vrabel has brought to the team this week, but didn’t offer opinions about the coach’s highly-discussed off-the-field issues.
Vrabel skipped Saturday’s third and final day of the NFL draft for a counseling session and returned to the team Monday as the Patriots continue their voluntary offseason workouts.
Vrabel addressed the team on April 21 and Tuesday marked the first time since the speech that players were available to the media.
Henry and Spillane both said Vrabel spoke about the situation involving former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini. The two were photographed together last month at an adults-only resort in Sedona, Ariz., holding hands, hugging and sharing a hot tub. Both are married to other people.
“I thought he did a great job,” Henry said of Vrabel’s talk to the team. “It’s been the same Vrabes, bringing a lot of energy in the room. Obviously, he addressed it and that’s kind of all I’ll say about it.”
Henry, a tight end, is entering his sixth season with the Patriots and 10th overall. Spillane, a linebacker, has long revered Vrabel, dating back to when he was an undrafted free agent in 2018 and competing for a spot on the Tennessee Titans’ roster with Vrabel as coach.
Now entering his ninth NFL season, Spillane said he hasn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary.
“Coach coaches football. He keeps the main thing, the main thing,” Spillane said. “I know he’s dealing with personal issues, but when we’re in the building, we speak football. … I love Coach and I’m going to be here to support him as he would be there to support me through anything. I’m just a player and trying to do that the best I can.”
Though the controversial situation has played out publicly, both players said returning to the Super Bowl is a bigger talking point in the locker room. New England lost to the Seattle Seahawks 29-13 in Super Bowl LX in February.
“Obviously I know you guys want to hear about everything that’s going on,” said Henry, who had a career-high 768 yards to go with 60 receptions and seven touchdown catches in 2025. “To be honest with you, I’m focused on what we got going on right now in this building, with this team.
“Had a long season last year, quick turnaround into the offseason, we’re in a new building. And every year is a new year. We’re trying to build this team, we’re trying to come together, so I’m just focused on the guys in this locker room, and trying to build it from the ground up again. We have a long journey ahead of us; we have to start somewhere, so we’re starting right now.”
Spillane expressed that expectations will be higher and that the Patriots will have a target on their backs.
“It’s going to be a brand-new team,” said Spillane, who had 97 tackles and two interceptions last season in his first campaign with the Patriots. “It’s a chance for us to come together, to get to know our teammates, to learn and connect with each other, and really grow with our craft. And that’s what we’re really focused on.”
Vrabel was named NFL Coach of the Year last season in his first campaign with the Patriots. He took a team that went 4-13 in 2024 and guided them to a 14-3 record. New England beat the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game to reach the Super Bowl.
Vrabel and Russini were spotted together prior to the NFL league meetings that began March 29 in Phoenix. Sedona is approximately two hours north of Phoenix.
When the situation first came to light publicly, Vrabel said, “those photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.”
The Athletic and Russini parted ways days later.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lynx put 9-game winning streak on line vs. surging Fever
Jul 28, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve talks with guard Olivia Miles (5) during a game against the Toronto Tempo in the second quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve appreciates the WNBA’s history.
On Sunday afternoon, Reeve and fans everywhere will be able to witness the league’s present — and its future.
Star players like Indiana’s Caitlin Clark and Minnesota’s Olivia Miles will square off when the Fever (19-10) play the Lynx (24-6) in Minneapolis. The Lynx have won nine games in a row, while the Fever have won five straight.
Clark and Miles have been huge reasons for their teams’ success.
“We knew a time when we had (Sue Bird) and Diana (Taurasi), and that sort of thing,” Reeve said. “This next era of guard play — Caitlin Clark will be a big part of that. Olivia Miles will be a big part of that.”
It’s no surprise that both players are receiving buzz as Most Valuable Player candidates.
Clark is averaging 21.6 points, 8.0 assists and 4.1 rebounds for Indiana. She is shooting 44.6% overall, 35.5% from 3-point range and 86.8% from the free-throw line.
In her most recent game, Clark notched a triple-double with 26 points, 10 assists and 10 boards. She helped Indiana pull away for a 112-98 road win against the Portland Fire on Friday.
Fever coach Stephanie White said her players still could reach another level of improvement.
“I thought we had some moments where we were really good,” White said. “Obviously, when we get 31 points off of turnovers, I think that’s really good for us. We had some moments where our execution was really good.
“We’re still a work in progress, and a coach is never going to be happy. I liked some of the adjustments we were able to make and execute, and now we’ve got to just continue to work toward growing it for 40 minutes of consistency.”
Meanwhile, Miles has wasted no time showing her skills since the Lynx drafted her No. 2 overall during the offseason. The dazzling rookie playmaker is averaging 19.4 points, 5.8 assists and 4.7 rebounds, and she is shooting 49.2% overall, 37.3% from beyond the arc and 87.2% from the charity stripe.
Miles and the Lynx welcomed another superstar back to the lineup when Napheesa Collier returned in July. In her first three games since returning from offseason ankle surgery, Collier is averaging 18.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
Miles’ no-look passes and slithery drives to the paint have caught the league’s attention.
That includes Clark, who joined Miles in Chicago for the WNBA’s All-Star weekend.
“I’ve always been a fan of hers, even when she was in college,” Clark said. “She just plays with incredible pace. It’s never too fast, it’s never too slow.
“You can see her creative juices flowing on the floor. … (It’s fun to see) the way she’s come into the league, and just been pretty flawless, in a way.”
The Lynx are 11-4 at home this season and the Fever are 8-5 on the road. The teams will meet again in the final two games of the regular season on Sept. 22 in Indianapolis and Sept. 24 in Minneapolis.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Versatile Taysom Hill could find reunion with Broncos' Sean Payton
Jan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) runs against Atlanta Falcons linebacker Divine Deablo (0) and cornerback C.J. Henderson (39) during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Taysom Hill’s nine-season tenure with the New Orleans Saints is over and former coach Sean Payton could have a landing space for him.
Payton and the Denver Broncos are reportedly interested in bringing in the jack-of-all-trades Hill to discuss a reunion in the Mile High City.
Payton coached Hill in New Orleans from 2017-21 and successfully unleashed his versatility as a receiver, quarterback and rusher.
Hill, who turns 36 next month, could factor in all three roles with the Broncos. He enters this season with 2,426 passing yards and 12 touchdowns against nine interceptions to go with a 7-2 record as a starter.
Hill has rushed for 2,551 yards, 34 touchdowns and recorded first downs on 179 on his 489 career rushing attempts.
As a receiver and tight end, Hill has 110 receptions for 1,034 yards and 11 scores. He accumulated first downs on 48 of his catches.
Hill also has 489 kickoff return yards during his career but it is highly unlikely he would be utilized in that role again.
With Bo Nix coming off ankle surgery, Hill could serve as the running quarterback in short-down situations and help Nix protect the ankle. Jarrett Stidham, who started the AFC Championship Game loss to the New England Patriots in place of the injured Nix, is currently the No. 2 quarterback.
Hill was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent out of BYU in 2017 before being released shortly before the start of the season and getting scooped up by New Orleans.
He passed for 43 touchdowns and rushed for 32 in parts of five seasons in Provo.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Angels scratch RHP Jose Soriano from Saturday start vs. Brewers
Jun 30, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Soriano (59) pitches to the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Angels scratched right-hander Jose Soriano from his scheduled start against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.
Baseball Operations Consultant John Mozeliak released a statement on the decision:
“Today, Jose Soriano will not make his scheduled start. With the trade deadline on Monday and the uncertainty of the next 48 hours, we decided to take a prudent approach and see where these next few days lead us.”
Soriano, 27, has posted a career-low 3.29 ERA this season through 22 starts.
For his career, he has a 3.72 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 432 strikeouts in 113 games (73 starts).
The right-hander is under contact through 2028 and carries a salary of $2.9 million this season. So, he should be an appealing trade option for many teams at the deadline.
The Angels already made a move as “sellers” by shipping right-hander Chase Silseth and catcher Logan O’Hoppe to the Texas Rangers for minor league infielder Angel Arredondo.
–Field Level Media
Lynx put 9-game winning streak on line vs. surging Fever
Versatile Taysom Hill could find reunion with Broncos' Sean Payton
