Mike Vrabel's Dianna Russini Controversy Resurfaces as New England Patriots Suffer Humiliating 45-27 Loss

Dianna Russini controversy shadows Mike Vrabel's season© X formally Twitter

Tony Farmer has run out of patience with the Patriots. After New England lost 45-27 to the Packers on Sunday, Farmer posted on X that the roster is too talented for a 5-4 record and pointed straight at Mike Vrabel's offseason. He did not name Dianna Russini, but the reference is clear. Vrabel did not argue about how bad the loss was. He said it starts with him. Robert Kraft, meanwhile, still backs his coach, so the Patriots are now split between blame and trust.

Tony Farmer on Mike Vrabel and the Patriots: "Stop making excuses"

Farmer argued that talent alone cannot explain this season. "Everyone agreed before the season that this Pats roster is more talented than last year's Super Bowl roster… and yet they are 5-4?" Farmer wrote. "Stop making excuses for Mike Vrabel. It's clear that his tumultuous offseason has bled into the season and is impacting the locker room. How else do you explain this drop off?"

The offseason he means began with photos of Vrabel and then-Athletic reporter Russini at a resort in Sedona, Arizona. Russini resigned from The Athletic, and an internal review followed. Both denied wrongdoing, and the NFL said it would not review Vrabel's conduct under its personal conduct policy.

Farmer backed his case with numbers. New England is 2-3 on the road and 2-4 against teams with winning records. Its 19 giveaways are tied for the most in the league. Green Bay's 45 points are the most the Patriots have allowed at Gillette Stadium since it opened in 2002. "These are all signs of a poorly coached team," Farmer wrote. "He's supposed to be a defensive mind, but his team just allowed more points than it has this century."

Mike Vrabel and Robert Kraft react to the Patriots' loss to the Packers

Vrabel took the hit without dodging. "We got our a**es kicked," he said. "There's no two ways around it." He added, "It's on all of us. It starts with me."

The game bore that out. Drake Maye threw three first-half interceptions and finished 21 of 38 for 299 yards and three touchdowns. Rhamondre Stevenson also lost a fumble. Green Bay turned four takeaways into 21 points. Jordan Love passed for 372 yards and three scores, and Christian Watson (171 yards) and Matthew Golden (164 yards) each topped 150. The Packers gained 478 yards in all.

"We expect a lot more," Vrabel said. "When your best players don't play good, you don't have much of a chance in this league."

Injuries added to the damage. Stevenson, left tackle Will Campbell, guard Ben Brown and cornerback Carlton Davis III all left with knee injuries.

Kraft sees it differently than Farmer. He said on "First Take," "No one is infallible. And what's great about Mike is, he has great intellectual knowledge about football, all the technical skills. He relates to the players beautifully, and I have strong faith in him."