Another year, another New England Patriots Draft Night.

And yet another mess.

One that a month ago no one could have predicted.

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel has made himself the story on the biggest weekend of the off-season.

Not what we’re looking for.

The Patriots Thursday night selected Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu and actually traded with their division rival Buffalo to do it at No. 28. Vrabel was there to help make the pick, and he’ll be there tonight for the picks in the second and third round.

But on a day in which they were slated to make eight picks, we already know Vrabel won’t be there, as he will be getting “counseling” in the aftermath of the exposure of some type of away from the job relationship with now former NFL reporter Diana Russini.

We’re not passing judgement on that. Who knows all the details? That’s his personal story.

No, the judgement we’re passing is he’s made it now a football story.

“My family needs me this weekend, and that’s where I’ll be,” Vrabel said. “But I’m confident in the people that we have. I’m confident in the preparation. I’m thankful for Eliot (VP Wolf) and his staff that have prepared us for this night, for this weekend.”

Sure, the Patriots will survive. But there are so many impacts this could have. Vrabel was slated to talk after last night’s first round if there was no trade, but instead talked before it to avoid the potential media circus.

As expected, Vrabel didn’t discuss specifics. He again talked about being the “best version of me”, repeating a lot of the same phrases he used in his monologue on Tuesday. This time, however, he looked even more distraught, as the gossip media continue to hammer away and likely won’t stop for awhile. He poked a hornets nest when he called the suggestion of impropriety “laughable” a couple of weeks ago, and the hornets have come out buzzing.

“I understand there are questions,” Vrabel said. “I take accountability for my actions. … My previous actions don’t meet the standard that I hold myself to. They don’t.”

Vrabel said this is necessary and won’t rule out furhter sabaticals.

“When you prioritize your family first, and our job, that’s what’s required. And that’s what was necessary,” he said.

Good grief. Just a mess. It’s grown from a couple of photos, a denial, a job lost, a coach lost for an important weekend, a team needing to issue a statement of support.

“The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family firs,t as well as his own well-being,” the team said in a statement yesterday. “Mike Has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his familiy, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment.”

The Patriots will be fine, Vrabel will be available to some extent if needed. But again, football is being impacted.

“Not to worried about that, we have the people in place,” Wolf said. “It’s going to b different without his presence there, but we feel we have the people in place to make up for it.”

One thing might the Patriots might miss is their coach’s ability to lure the undrafted players, as Vrabel, Wolf said, “is a tremendous recruiter.”

Let’s just see what’s next.

Tom King may be reached at @Telegraph_TomK on twitter, or tking@nashuatelegraph.com