I am confused by this. I have no problem with anyone putting his family over his job, but this scandal is weeks old. Why does he need his therapy on one of the most important days of the offseason? Couldn't he have done this on a Saturday before or after the draft.
In the grand scheme of things, this isn't a huge deal. Draft boards are made. It isn't the first or second round where a guy the Pats didn't have on their board because they thought he would be gone by the time the Pats pick falls to them and they have to make a decision in the moment whether he would be a fit for the Pats. There isn't going to be a player available when the Pats pick in round 4 or 5 that Vrabel hasn't given his input. So the Patriots will know Vrabel's opinion on every player the Pats are going to select or pass on this Saturday. Wolf and Cowden are more of decision makers when it comes to trades anyway.
That said, it is a PR problem for the Pats and it does negatively affect the Patriots. Not having Vrabel does take away an important opinion in real time during the draft. This is becoming more of an issue for the Patriots than I expected, but I think it is more of a pothole than a crater.