When it comes from a crisis communication and reputation strategist, it’s important to pay heed. Boston Radio Watch shared a 2-minute clip of former Forbes contributor Molly McPherson on X. Molly McPherson has over 20 years of experience in public relations, crisis management, and the news industry.The crisis strategist explained why Mike Vrabel must take accountability now: the Dianna Russini story has legs; why dodging it won’t help and why people won’t forget. Let’s hear what Molly McPherson has to say.
Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini scandal has legs
Molly McPherson started her clip by asking, “A journalism newsie terminology quiz: what is the definition of a story when it has legs? Answer: Mike Vrabel and his legs and Dianna Russini in a TMZ video, they are at a marina and she’s visibly pregnant, allegedly.”McPherson later said that Vrabel could have put this story to rest weeks ago had he managed it properly. McPherson’s contractor told her that men don’t share secrets and argued that Vrabel has a right to keep his personal life private.But McPherson disagreed, saying, “That’s not what the crisis is about.” She explained that the public is not holding Mike Vrabel and NFL coaches to a standard that they can’t cheat. That’s not a problem. It’s the fact that he refuses to take accountability for it.
Molly McPherson talked about New England Patriots owner Robert Craft
McPherson later brought in New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, saying, “For everyone talking about Robert Kraft, well, what about what he did? It doesn’t matter. Nobody is holding NFL owners to a certain benchmark when it comes to trust and accountability, right? When it comes to these matters.”Robert Kraft was allegedly involved in the Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini story. As per InTouch’s source, “Robert Kraft intervened and had his honchos pressure The Post before they published and tried to kill the story.The Post gave Vrabel a longer time to respond than what is considered industry norms, and Kraft took advantage of that extended timeframe to put pressure on the reporter and the newspaper. A notorious crisis strategist made the call but was unsuccessful in neutering the story.”
If Patriots fail, Mike Vrabel will be blamed
Anyhow, coming back to McPherson’s point of view, she said that Mike Vrabel has been dodging the story for weeks, and now the story has legs.She pictured him as a legacy Hall of Fame coach from the New England Patriots, but now it may not happen. He may not remain with the Patriots if the team experiences its first significant downturn.Nobody will blame the players or Robert Kraft, the owner; they will all blame Mike Vrabel. And he may have to go or be fired because of it.
Alex Cora from mlb ‘s Boston Red Sox story comparison
McPherson cited MLB’s Boston Red Sox and its (former) general manager, Alex Cora, as an example.Alex Cora was fired on April 26, 2026. The owners allegedly wanted the other coaches to leave, but Cora said that if they did, he would go too. Five coaches were fired. So, then he went with them. McPherson called that “values.”She said that Red Sox fans did not want Alex Cora to go, but he left on his own terms, “even though he was let go, they were on his terms.”McPherson later compared this to Mike Vrabel, saying the Patriots coach is counting on everybody to forget the Dianna Russini scandal. But the internet and the press won’t, and the TMZs of the world won’t, because “people still have all this evidence.”She said this is exactly what happens when someone dodges, dodges, and dodges. If Vrabel had admitted in the beginning, everyone would have been fine. But instead, he took no accountability and also threw Dianna Russini under the bus.McPherson had shared the latest TMZ-acquired-photo of Russini and Vrabel from the rented private boat, and said, “You (Mike Vrabel) might as well just push her off this dock right here.”Because now “She’s really screwed, he also, the wife (Jen Vrabel), his (Patriots) players, fans; people are disappointed. Just take ownership,” said McPherson.
