NFL insider Dianna Russini is once again under fire after the release of police bodycam footage that appears to contradict a story she told on a radio show. After Russini bragged that she got out of a traffic ticket by FaceTiming an NFL head coach, the reality was much less interesting, as the bodycam footage showed no such call.
Now, after Russini got caught in another lie, one NFL analyst is calling her a “fraud.”
Why Did Marc Bertrand Call Dianna Russini a ‘Fraud’?
The video, released by The Center Square’s Adam Herbets, shows the complete seven-minute interaction between Russini and the police officer.
The footage does not include any FaceTime call or phone conversation with an NFL head coach, despite Russini’s claim in February that the coach spoke to the cop and told him to let her go because she’s “a good citizen.” In reality, she simply talked about her job as an NFL insider and showed the cop that she texts with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell.
Interestingly, the fact that Russini lied may actually help her, as she was previously under fire for using her NFL contacts for her own personal gain. The New York Times, her previous employer, said through a spokesperson that using an NFL head coach to get out a traffic stop would be “unacceptable conduct.”
Boston sports radio host Marc Bertrand criticized Russini while discussing the controversy, questioning what is worse: committing an ethical violation or fabricating one out of thin air?
“Is it worse to break sort of ethical standards and be an idiot trying to FaceTime an NFL reporter… What a clown act that is. Or is it worse to brag about it and then have it not be true?” he asked on 98.5 The Sports Hub. “Which thing do you think is worse? To just be completely full of crap and everyone knows you’re full of crap?”
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Russini was already under immense scrutiny after intimate photos of her and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel surfaced in April. Additional photos and videos revealed that the alleged affair seemingly dates back to 2020. Russini resigned from The Athletic in April.
Then came scrutiny of her reporting, particularly regarding Vrabel, with allegations that she helped him land the Patriots job and played a role in the A.J. Brown trade saga, among other things. The Athletic is currently investigating her reporting, with the findings expected to be announced soon.
Those allegations were already damaging, and Bertrand argued that the newly released footage further undermined Russini’s credibility while also making Vrabel look bad.
“Let me get this straight: Dianna Russini is a fraud,” he added. “I didn’t see that one coming. She lies. Oh, she’s a crazy person. That’s the part that makes Vrabel look bad. That he was, we believe, romantically involved with a crazy person. Like she’s nuts. That’s what this says.”
As if the scandal wasn’t already bad enough, the controversy now looks even worse.