Unethical. Disingenuous. Clueless. Offensive.

Here are the photos that launched the investigation into Russini’s professional conduct.

The gun is smoking. The locale was a private resort: there is no credible explanation for the photos except the conclusion that the Patriots coach and the reporter have more than an arm’s length, professional relationship. Even if they don’t, somehow, the photos necessarily raise legitimate suspicions that 1) the reporter is inappropriately socializing with a figure she is charged with reporting on, 2) the reporter is presumably biased in such reporting, and 3) she’s lying now by insisting otherwise.

Ethically, it doesn’t matter if, as she dubiously claims in her letter, she has never allowed a personal relationship with a subject taint the objectivity of her reporting. The issue is trust, and the public judges the credibility of reporters based on how they think they would behave under similar circumstances. Pillow talk: “Oh, by the way, lover, I just filed a story with The Athletic that you made another bone-head call in the game against the Packers, and that a gibbon could do as competent a job coaching the Pats as you do. Now come over here, you big lug, and give Mama some sugar…”

Sure.

By definition, Russini has not been guided by “the highest standard of professional conduct,” because the highest standard of professional conduct requires avoiding the appearance of conflicts.

Not only is she untrustworthy as a journalist, her letter proves that she doesn’t even comprehend why conflicts of interest destroy trust. An untrustworthy professional isn’t a professional at all.