In the wake of the Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel scandal, some in the media space are taking a harder look at insiders in general.
Jay Glazer is perhaps the most prominent NFL insider who constantly flaunts his relationships with coaches and players. Glazer, an insider for FOX, is openly friendly with head coaches like Sean McVay, Sean Payton and others. He works an MMA trainer for several players, too.
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Jeff Pearlman, a longtime journalist, is wondering why Glazer isn’t facing the same kind of scrutiny as Russini, in the wake of her scandal with Vrabel.
“I think Dianna Russini shouldn’t work anymore in this business, I do. I think it’s (expletive),” Pearlman said, per Awful Announcing. “But, man, do we make allowances for men. We make so many allowances for men. Jay Glazer is the perfect example. You know why Jay Glazer isn’t having sex with the athletes? Because he’s a heterosexual male and he covers men, otherwise, he’s doing anything but. ‘Hey, come to my BBQ. Hey, let me work you out. Hey, you’re my buddy. Hey, let’s hang out. Hey, tell me stuff, it’s OK.’ Like, that’s access journalism 101. That’s exchanging for exchanging. That’s exactly what he does.”
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 06: Sports reporter Jay Glazer looks on during Super Bowl LVII Opening Night presented by Fast Twitch at Footprint Center on February 06, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Christian Petersen/Getty Images
At a recent NFL meeting in Arizona, Glazer hosted several NFL coaches at a day-drinking party near the pool.
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Pearlman isn’t saying that Glazer and Russini did the same thing. However, he’s wondering why his relationships aren’t scrutinized, too.
“There’s no excusing Dianna Russini. It’s a (expletive) move. She deserves to lose her job,” Pearlman continued. “It’s just weird how we’re OK because it’s men being pals with men kind of thing. Like Jay Glazer, honestly, people now make allowances; they say, ‘Well, he’s not a reporter. He’s a fact-finder…’ But it’s the same (expletive). It’s the exact same (expletive). You’re building intimate relationships with sources, sources are giving you information, and in exchange for that intimate relationship, you will protect them. What’s different besides you’re not having your (expletive) in someone’s hand? What’s the difference?”
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The difference between Glazer, Russini
For one, Glazer works for Fox Sports on TV, while Russini worked for a company owned by the New York Times.
The journalism ethics standards are likely much higher at the New York Times than The Athletic.
Glazer is also just an insider. He breaks news and provides updates on TV. Russini, meanwhile, was doing what could be more construed as real journalism for The Athletic.
Of course, it’s fair to question everything about insiders and their ethics in 2026, given the reaction to the Russini scandal.
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This story was originally published by The Spun on May 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.