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
Exiled Trevor Bauer wishes he never signed with Dodgers
Jun 18, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer reacts against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Five years after he last threw a pitch in the major leagues, former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and 10-year veteran Trevor Bauer continues to blame others for his inability to find a roster spot within an organization.
In an interview this week on the YouTube channel “La casa de los Dodgers,” Bauer expressed regret over signing a three-year, $102-million deal with his hometown club. The 35-year-old right-hander currently is pitching for the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in Mexico City.
“I wish I had never played for them,” Bauer said in the interview. “… The front-office people, I wish them nothing but the worst because they treated me like s–t and I just don’t appreciate it. I don’t think you should treat a human being like that.”
During his first season with the Dodgers in 2021, Bauer was accused of sexual assault from two separate encounters with the same woman. The Pasadena (Calif.) Police Department confirmed the allegations.
After an investigation, charges were never filed, with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office saying there was a lack of evidence. The Dodgers still elected to part ways with the Los Angeles-area native after the process continued into April of 2022. The investigation uncovered disturbing details about the relationship between Bauer and his accuser.
The incident followed a pattern of Bauer being combative on social media, as well as political views and opinions on political figures.
The 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner, as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, Bauer said he had the support of Dodgers teammate Mookie Betts and that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts offered emotional support on one occasion. He offered criticism of Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior.
Since his last pitch in the majors, Bauer has played in Japan and Mexico and had seven starts earlier this season with the independent Long Island Ducks. The Ducks transferred Bauer’s contract to the Diablos Rojos in June.
In the interview, Bauer said that signing with the Dodgers “was really cool for me,” after he grew up rooting for the club. But he said the Dodgers’ clubhouse atmosphere “wasn’t as good as some other places I’ve been.”
He insists that he still is good enough to compete at the game’s highest level.
“I’d love to be back in the big leagues at some point, but it is pretty obvious at this point that the league will never allow that to happen,” Bauer said. “I think what they are doing is illegal and I just don’t want to waste my time and energy and money and everything suing them because I don’t think that is good for baseball.”
Bauer went 83-69 with a 3.79 ERA in 222 games (212 starts) with four teams from 2012-21.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Pirates acquire RHP Camilo Doval from Yankees
May 27, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Camilo Doval (75) delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images The Pittsburgh Pirates are acquiring right-handed reliever Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees in exchange for two prospects, ESPN reported Saturday.
Doval, 29, is 3-1 with one save and a 4.54 ERA in 44 appearances out of the New York bullpen this season.
The Yankees acquired the former All-Star closer in a deal with the San Francisco Giants at last year’s trade deadline.
Doval is 29-20 with 109 saves and a 3.53 ERA in 341 career games (no starts) with the Giants (2021-25) and Yankees.
According to Cuba-based BeisbolFR.com, the Yankees will receive catcher Omar Alfonzo and outfielder Luis Cruz in the deal. Both were playing for the Pirates’ Dominican Summer League affiliate.
The MLB trade deadline is Monday at 6 p.m. ET.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Spirit, MOUZ reach BLAST Bounty Summer grand final
A backlit keyboard is part of the gear online video game streamer Jordan Woodruff uses in his Gilbert home.
Jordan Woodruff
Team Spirit and MOUZ will meet in Sunday’s best-of-five grand final at the BLAST Bounty Summer 2026 tournament in Attard, Malta.
Team Spirit outlasted FaZe Clan 2-1 and MOUZ rallied past Astralis to win by the same score in Saturday’s semifinals of the Counter-Strike 2 competition.
The eight teams reached the bracket-style finals advanced from a pool of 32 clubs in a closed qualifier. Of the $740,000 prize pool, $410,000 was awarded to participants in the closed qualifier. The champion will also earn three BLAST Frequent Flyer Tokens, while the other seven teams will collect one.
Team Spirit sandwiched a 13-6 win on Dust II and a 13-11 victory on Anubis around a 13-9 loss to FaZe Clan on Cache. Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov of Russia led Team Spirit with 49 kills and a 1.24 match rating.
After Astralis opened with a 13-6 win on Ancient, MOUZ responded with back-to-back 13-9 triumphs on Mirage and Dust II. Adam “torzsi” Torzsas of Hungary paced MOUZ with 54 kills and a 1.29 match rating.
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026 prize pool (player prize, team share)
1. TBD
2. TBD
3-4. FaZe Clan ($28,125, $40,000), Astralis ($28,125, $40,000)
5-8. Team Liquid ($41,250, $40,000); 3DMAX ($21,250, $40,000); The MongolZ ($11,250, $40,000); paiN Gaming ($11,250, $40,000)
–Field Level Media
Exiled Trevor Bauer wishes he never signed with Dodgers
Report: Pirates acquire RHP Camilo Doval from Yankees
