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Crissy Froyd, an NFL reporter for USA Today Sports, is “disappointed” after she was fired following her comments about journalist Dianna Russini and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
NFL Reporter Dianna Russini Resigns After Vacation Photos With Patriots' Mike Vrabel Surface
Crissy Froyd doesn’t want to stay silent.
After the sports writer slammed journalist Dianna Russini—who resigned from The Athletic amid accusations of a romance with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel—she was let go from her job with USA Today Sports.
"USA TODAY Sports has ended its contractor relationship with Crissy Froyd effective immediately,” the company shared in an April 16 statement. “Her recent statements do not reflect our commitment to professionalism or uphold our principles of ethical conduct."
Following her firing, Froyd told E! News, “I’m so disappointed.”
“I’ve been with this network for so long and I chose to say one thing about a woman for something unethical she did,” the 26-year-old said, noting she was an independent contractor. “I’m still in disbelief—absolute disbelief.”
Since pictures of Russini and Vrabel, who are separately married to other people, were published by Page Six April 7 showing the pair sharing what appeared to be a rooftop dance with their fingers interlocked, they both downplayed the photos in statements to the outlet. In fact, Vrabel called them “completely innocent,” while Russini said the pictures “don't represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day.”
However, Froyd suggested Russini was a liar after the veteran reporter shared the resignation letter she submitted to The Athletic, in which Russini said she did not “accept the narrative that has been constructed” surrounding the affair allegations.
“I’m sure you were told to submit this or that you’d get fired instead,” Froyd wrote on X April 14. “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. We know who you really are and what you’ve been up to for years. It does so much detriment to women in sports who have done things the right way.”
Since then, Froyd has doubled down on her disapproval of Russini for allegedly "hooking up with married NFL coaches."
“All of us do know what she’s been up to,” she shared in a statement to Daily Caller, which she also posted to her Instagram Stories. “It was the worst kept secret in the NFL reporting world for a while.”
Amid the scandal, Froyd also defended a controversial relationship she herself had with former college football quarterback JT Daniels, which she said began after their professional relationship had ended.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images/Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for SiriusXM
“I had a strong relationship with former QB JT Daniels that, as anyone would imagine under those circumstances, did include multiple sexual encounters and there was a lot involved,” she explained. “However, JT and I didn’t begin that relationship until after he was out of football.”
“I can honestly say I have never slept with a player or coach for professional gain,” Froyd concluded. “Dianna cannot say the same. That’s where the difference is.”
E! News has reached out to reps for Russini, Vrabel and Daniels for comment but has not heard back.
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