Ex-NFL star Shawne Merriman reacts as Patriots’Mike Vrabel caught in scandal

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel stands on the field before the 2026 AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., on Jan.25, 2026.(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)

He said that he didn’t think the dark cloud around Vrabel would affect the team football-wise, but his job depended on what message the organization wants to send.

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“This is my thing when it comes to that,” Merriman said.“He didn’t break any laws first and foremost, right?This is something morally maybe wrong.Something he’ll have to deal with when it comes to that.I do not believe, in my opinion, I do not believe this will bea football distraction.This will have to be, internally, that, we don’t want to deal with it because what it sends a message for, but it’s not going to affect the players in the locker room and how he’s coaching, how they’re coached, how they listen to and follow him, and how Vrabel leads.

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“Football wise, I don’t think it does anything at all.It just really depends on what message do you want to send by keep going forward with him.That’s what I would say.”

Dianna Russini, left, and Mike Vrabel, right, are shown in a split composite image featuring Russini with an ESPN microphone and Vrabel on the Titans sideline wearing a headset.(Imagn Images)

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an attempt to protect yourfamily,” Vrabel said.

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel celebrates after the AFC championship game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High in Denver, Colo., on Jan.25, 2026.(Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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It was the last question Vrabel answered before storming off the podium and out of the room.

� Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.