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
Lawrence Ennali's late goal lifts Dynamo past Rapids
May 2, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Dynamo forward Lawrence Ennali (11) shoots the ball and scores during the second half against the Colorado Rapids at Shell Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images Lawrence Ennali scored the go-ahead goal in the 72nd minute to lead the Houston Dynamo to a 1-0 win over the visiting Colorado Rapids on Saturday.
Guilherme’s in-swinging corner was cleared from the box where Ennali settled the ball with one touch and had a wide-open shot that he tucked under the crossbar for the match’s lone goal.
Houston (5-5-0, 15 points) goalkeeper Jonathan Bond made a punch save on a Paxten Aaronson shot in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time to secure the clean sheet. Bond had two saves while Rapids goalie Zack Steffen notched four saves.
The Dynamo held a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal even though Colorado (4-6-1, 13 points) held 63.5% of possession.
Early in the game, Guilherme struck a corner to the middle of the box that was deflected to Jack McGlynn, whose left-footed shot made Steffen earn a diving save.
In the 24th minute, Ennali ran onto a long pass, his cross found Mateusz Bogusz, who played it back to Diadie Samassekou. His shot forced Steffen to sprawl to his left to register the save.
Houston kept the pressure on the Colorado goalkeeper in the 34th minute, as Guilherme’s shot on an in-swinging restart was bobbled by Steffen. As the first half wound down, the match turned chippy as Felipe Andrade was issued a yellow card in the 31st minute for a dangerous challenge.
Hamzat Ojediran was shown a yellow card in the 43rd minute for Colorado after getting tangled up with Ezequiel Ponce. Each team received three yellow cards.
Colorado threatened in the 51st minute when Dante Sealy headed a Darren Yapi cross which forced Bond to rise up for the save.
The Rapids pressed in the 88th minute when Jackson Travis’ corner kick connected with Noah Cobb, whose header was headed for the back post before it was turned away.
Houston has won three of its last four MLS matches, while the Rapids are 0-3-1 in their last four league matches.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Chris Sale stifles Rockies as Braves cruise in blowout
May 2, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (51) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Chris Sale tossed seven stellar innings and Drake Baldwin homered and drove in four runs on Saturday night to help the visiting Atlanta Braves post a 9-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Sale (6-1) allowed one run on three hits, striking out 11 and walking three for Atlanta, which remains the only MLB team to have not lost a series. Austin Riley also homered for the Braves, who built on their commanding National League East division lead. Their 24-10 record is the best in baseball.
Brennan Bernardino (2-1) served as the opener for the Rockies, allowing two runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning. Chase Dollander then took over, throwing 5 1/3 innings of eight-hit, six-run ball, striking out three and walking three for Colorado, which dropped their fourth game in five tries.
After Ronald Acuna Jr. began the game with a single, Baldwin launched his eighth homer of the year on a drive to left to give the Braves a 2-0 lead.
In the second, Jorge Mateo doubled before Baldwin’s RBI single extended the lead to 3-0.
Kyle Karros singled to begin the third and scored on Jordan Beck’s two-out double, cutting the Rockies’ deficit to 3-1.
Eli White hit a run-scoring single and Baldwin’s double drove in a run in the fourth, before Ozzie Albies’ sacrifice fly made it 6-1 for Atlanta.
Michael Harris II singled and advanced to second on right fielder Troy Johnston’s error in the fifth, then scored on Riley’s two-run homer to left-center to push the lead to 8-1.
Tanner Gordon threw three innings in relief, allowing Matt Olson’s 11th home run of the season in the ninth to give the Braves a 9-1 lead.
Hunter Stratton threw a scoreless ninth to seal the win for the red-hot Braves.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Evander's hat trick, late PK winner give Cincinnati win over Chicago
May 2, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Fire FC defender Jonathan Dean (24) and FC Cincinnati forward Bryan Ramirez (29) battle for control of the ball during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images Evander converted a penalty kick seven minutes into second-half stoppage time to secure a hat trick and lift FC Cincinnati to a 3-2 road win over the Chicago Fire on Saturday.
Evander collected a brace in the first half and then added his third goal for the late winner. A yellow card was issued to Chicago’s Dje D’Avilla for a foul in the box on Pavel Bucha, leading to the deciding penalty kick.
The winning goal came six minutes after Chicago striker Hugo Cuypers missed his own chance to complete a hat trick with a penalty-kick strike. Goalkeeper Roman Celentano (eight saves) made a huge save to deny Cuypers and preserve the 2-2 score.
FC Cincinnati (4-4-3, 15 points) won despite playing with only 10 men for most of the second half. Defender Kyle Smith was issued a straight red card in the 56th minute for an accidental kick to the face of the Fire’s Robin Lod.
Cincinnati is unbeaten in its last five (2-0-3) matches, including a 3-3 draw with the Fire two weeks prior.
The victory was Cincinnati’s first win in six road matches this season (1-3-2). FC Cincinnati are 5-0-1 in their last six trips to Chicago.
The Fire (5-3-2, 17 points) have held leads in all three of their losses this season. Saturday’s defeat ended a five-match (4-0-1) unbeaten streak for the home side.
After going scoreless in his first six regular-season matches, Evander now has five goals in his last four matches.
Cuypers has 10 goals in seven league matches this season, scoring at least once in every appearance. Cuypers’ three straight matches with multiple goals ties the second-longest brace streak in MLS history.
The forward started early Saturday, as Cuypers converted a shot that deflected off Smith and into the net in the 16th minute.
Shaky defending also aided in Evander’s equalizer in the 24th minute. During a scramble in front of the Fire’s net, Chicago center back Mbekezeli Mbokazi made a poor touch on a clearance attempt that put the ball right at Evander’s feet for the finish.
Cuypers completed the brace four minutes later, but Evander provided another quick response in the 31st minute.
–Field Level Media
Lawrence Ennali's late goal lifts Dynamo past Rapids
Chris Sale stifles Rockies as Braves cruise in blowout
