Mike Vrabel

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said Tuesday that he’s had “difficult conversations with people I care about,” including his family, his coaching staff, team officials and players, following the publication of photos of the coach and longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort.

“Those (conversations) have been positive and productive. In order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me,” Vrabel said, making an unscheduled statement from the podium at the team’s facility on the second day of its offseason workout program.

The photos were of Vrabel and Russini at a Sedona resort and were taken before the annual NFL meetings that began in Phoenix on March 29, according to the New York Post, which published the photos earlier this month.

A Patriots spokesman said there are no plans for other team officials to address the issue further.

The NFL, meanwhile, said last weekend that it is not investigating Vrabel’s behavior. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday that the league is not looking into the matter.

Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, released written statements to the Post after the publication of the story downplaying what the photos depict. But Russini resigned from The Athletic less than a week later, after the Post’s report prompted an internal investigation at The New York Times-owned sports outlet.

Vrabel said he addressed players about the matter on Monday after they arrived for the start of the voluntary workout program.

Fields embraces fresh start

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Justin Fields is ready for whatever role the Kansas City Chiefs need from him, whether that be starting for a few games while Patrick Mahomes is still recovering from knee surgery or serving as his backup once the regular season comes around.

The biggest thing is that his fourth organization in four years made the effort to acquire him.

Earlier in the offseason, the Chiefs traded a sixth-round pick to the Jets and agreed to pick up $7 million of his guaranteed $10 million salary for the upcoming season. They needed insurance in the event Mahomes was not back by Week 1, and they also needed a backup quarterback with experience after Gardner Minshew struggled in that role with Kansas City last season.

“I was excited, excited for a new start,” Field said Tuesday in his first availability since the trade. “Of course there’s tradition here, the culture here, the guys that are in the building, the experience — it was all I wanted. Definitely excited and excited to be here.”

The 27-year-old Fields had signed a two-year, $40 million deal — with $30 million guaranteed — with New York last March. But he was just 2-7 as a starter, throwing for 1,259 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception. He threw for fewer than 55 yards on four occasions, including a season-low 27 yards in a loss to Buffalo in Week 2.

When the Jets traded for Geno Smith, it became clear that Fields would be moving on. New York was hopeful that it could find a trade partner, rather than simply releasing him, and general manager Darren Mougey found a taker in Kansas City.

“I appreciate Justin and the way he’s gone about everything so far. He’s been great with everything,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “I do not know him as well as I will have known him once we get through a few weeks here, but I like from afar what I’ve seen.”

The Chiefs began the first phase of their offseason program Monday, but coaches are prohibited from on-field work with players.

“I mentioned down at the owner’s meetings that we didn’t bring him in to be a gadget guy, although he can do every gadget there is. But we didn’t bring him in to do that,” Reid said. “He’s a legitimate quarterback, a starting quarterback in the National Football League, and we’re lucky enough to have him here. And if that’s the role that he plays early in the season, we have full confidence that he can do a great job with that. So far, I would tell you that’s how I look at it.”

Bears exercise option

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears exercised their fifth-year option for 2027 on right tackle Darnell Wright’s rookie contract and will try to sign him to an extension, general manager Ryan Poles said on Tuesday.

The No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 draft, Wright was second-team All-Pro last season. He was a key player on a line that went from being one of the NFL’s worst in 2024 to one of the best, with guard Joe Thuney and now-retired center Drew Dalman earning Pro Bowl honors.

The Bears went 11-6 in winning their first NFC North championship since 2018.