Bride to be Olivia Coppelleti plans to get married on October 4th in New Jersey. Normally something that wouldn’t be relevant in the world of sports, but bare with me. The Presidential Suite she intended to book for her and her bridesmaids was reserved by none other than the staff of the Arizona Cardinals for their matchup against the New York Giants (Of New Jersey).

Olivia, in true competitor spirit, didn’t go down without a fight. She sent an email to an unnamed staff member of the Cardinals, with what she named in the subject line as “An unreasonable request.”

“Dear Coach LaFleur,

I realize there is approximately a 99.9% chance this email never reaches you, and an even smaller chance that if it does, you have any ability (or desire) to help me.”

The email began.

“For months, I had my heart set on renting the Presidential Suite at [Redacted Hotel] so my bridesmaids, hair and makeup team, photographers, family and I could spend the morning getting ready there. The (Hotel) informed me they could not confirm availability until the NFL schedule was released because they are contractually obligated to reserve the rooms for visiting NFL teams playing at MetLife stadium.

The schedule came out, and my wedding date just so happens to be the day the Arizona Cardinals play the Giants.

In other words, Coach, you have unknowingly become the final obstacle standing between me and my dream wedding suite.”

“If you are not planning to use that suite on Sunday, October 4, would you consider letting a desperate bride have a chance to book it?

To be clear, I fully understand that football is more important than my wedding morning. The Cardinals have a game to win. I have hair and makeup to get done. Different priorities.”

My favorite part of the email was this.

“If the answer is no, I completely understand and will be rooting for the Cardinals to beat the Giants (my fiance said something about “let’s go Trey McBride,” I don’t know who he is, but I’m rooting for him).”

Funny enough, Trey McBride has been in the news recently for admitting that Seattle is his least favorite place to play (We’re too damn good!)

As for the email, Olivia got one thing wrong. Head Coach Mike LaFleur was not the one the Presidential Suite was reserved for. It was actually Team Owner Michael Bidwell.

“Hi Olivia, I’m Michael Bidwell from the Arizona Cardinals.” Bidwell started in a video message.

“Your email, which I absolutely loved, made it’s way to me. I looked into it. The situation is a little complicated. The suite you requested wasn’t reserved for the coach of the Cardinals, but rather the owner of the Cardinals. The good news is that’s me and I’m happy to give it up to you and your bridesmaids for your wedding weekend.”

My take - Olivia Coppelleti for the win, and a good reminder to all of us to never be afraid to ask for the things we want.

If you’re sitting at a bar and there’s a game you want them to put on - ask.

If you want to grab a drink with the cute girl at your gym - ask.

If you want your girlfriend to join you with the cute girl from your gym - ask.

Approach that last one carefully.

Also, big win from Michael Bidwell. At the end of the day, Barney Stinson taught us all an important lesson. If it’s “for the bride,” you do it! Always!

Written by Seattle Mike

Russini gave the fake version of the story on an Apple Podcast during Super Bowl week. The story, that frankly not a lot of people had given much thought to, resurfaced when The New York Times used it as an example of Russini’s inappropriate abuse of her position in an article they published last week. The recent discovery that the story was untrue gives us an indication as to why it might be taking so long for The Athletic, a subsidiary of The New York Times, to complete their investigation into the former journalist’s work.

First of all, in a field that relies on trust, it’s hard to uncover what someone actually knows when they can simply say “sources told me.” Journalists are supposed to have the integrity to never abuse that trust. Some can’t handle that.

Second of all, Russini lies. A lot. In her resignation letter she said that the speculation about her was “unmoored from the facts.” A lot of evidence supporting those facts has surfaced since then.

The photos of her and Vrabel appearing to kiss in New York in 2020. Her admission on Pardon My Take that she told Josh Allen she was voting for him for MVP before actually casting her vote for Lamar Jackson. The quickly deleted post about Jets’ Offensive Tackle Morgan Moses being expected to test free agency with a Patriots graphic - the team he ultimately signed with.

The point that I’m taking forever to get to - With Russini caught in so many lies, The Athletic could simply be overwhelmed with the amount of content to go through. And once they’ve uncovered all the lies, or what they believe to be all of them, then what?

Many of the skeletons will likely expose tampering in the NFL amongst several teams. Does The Athletic want to be at odds with the NFL? If they want to walk the walk of the standards laid out by The New York Times, then that shouldn’t be a factor. Let’s not forget that The Athletic/New York Times lives behind a paywall. Are their consumers getting the premium reporting they’re paying for if the outlet hides anything incriminating? (I’m not accusing them of doing so. I’m one of their satisfied customers! For now…)

The Athletic has a potential out, though I don’t recommend it. If Russini’s reporting truly is as compromised as I believe it to be, they could simply add a warning next to all of her previous reports. A red mark next to her name that reads “Discredited Journalist”. Or perhaps a blurb in front of each piece that warns “This content is intended to be comedic informative. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of our peers, bosses, or ESPN…I mean, The Athletic. P.s. Don’t sue us.” (Shoutout, Pat McAfee Show)

Bottom line, The Athletic’s investigation, from the outside looking in, is akin to dismantling an atomic bomb. Might be better to just drop the thing and run.

Written by Seattle Mike

On February 5th, 2026, while appearing on the Stugotz and Company podcast, former NFL Insider for The Athletic, Dianna Russini described an instance when she was pulled over for texting and driving in New Jersey. She was breaking the news that the Buffalo Bills had fired Sean McDermott over X. Russini said that after being pulled over, she asked the police officer who his favorite NFL coach was. The officer told her, and then she FaceTimed the coach, who then vouched for the AP Coach of the Year voter, ultimately talking her out of a ticket.

The story is a good example of Russini abusing her position as an NFL media personality. It was an effective way to frame the beginning and ending of their article. Her actions, the way she described them on the podcast, don’t demonstrate those of a journalist living up to The New York Times standards. The problem - that story never happened!

After The Center Square obtained and published the body camera footage of the actual traffic stop, we learned that while her real world actions were still not acceptable, they weren’t nearly as bad as the ones she concocted. The true story is that Russini simply name dropped several coaches in the NFL and was let go with a warning. A perfectly acceptable response from the police officer. They don’t always need to issue tickets to get the point across and there’s no reason to believe if she wasn’t an NFL Insider, he’d have treated the situation any differently.

The irony of Russini’s lie is that her real world actions were inappropriate, but to a much less degree than her made up ones. You tell me, what’s worse - abusing your position as an NFL Insider to get a coach on the phone to get out of a ticket, or name dropping your way out of one? Neither is great, but you can hardly hold the true story against her. Nobody wants to get a ticket. But the fact that she went on a podcast and lied is exactly why she’s unfit for a career in journalism. Journalists are supposed to have credibility. Russini has done just about everything imaginable to lose that.

My biggest issue with the true story is that she put other drivers in danger so she could make a post to X. If it’s that important, pull over! Other drivers’ safety, nor her own, is less important than beating Schefter to social media by a couple of minutes. The police officer told her that he was following her for a while. The fact that she hadn’t noticed a marked police car following her speaks to how unaware of her surroundings she was.

When I was a police officer I rarely pulled people over for cell phone infractions because it’s hard to see exactly what someone is looking at inside of their car. Looking toward your feet for a moment doesn’t convince me you’re looking at a phone. If I see the phone in your hand, different story. It wouldn’t surprise me if that’s the reason the officer was following her for so long. He needed to see the phone first. Second, find a safe place to pull her over.

There’s more to this story and others. Be sure to check out my article on The Football Things related to the Dianna Russini Traffic Stop.

Written by Seattle Mike

“Dear Mr. Sorsby:

We are in receipt of your Petition for Special Eligibility, dated June 16, 2026 (“Petition”). As announced earlier today, the League has elected not to conduct a Supplemental Draft this year.

Under our Collective Bargaining Agreement, the League retains sole discretion to determine whether it is appropriate to conduct a Supplemental Draft in any given year. The League has not conducted such a draft for several years and, prior to your submission, the League had no plans to do so this year, as no other player has sought entry. Your Petition—filed three business days before the deadline, without any supporting information or documentation, and only after abandoning your recent litigation efforts to avoid NCAA sanctions—does not provide a basis for the League to alter those plans.”

Mentioning that the submission was three business days before the deadline might be the funniest way to say “on time” that I can think of. If three days before the deadline isn’t enough time, then the league should move the deadline up. Also, “business days” is not an accidental phrase. So the application was likely turned in more than three calendar days ahead of the deadline. Seeing how the NFL is a Sunday business, there is no such thing as “business days.” Regardless, as far as timelines go, Sorsby’s submission was on time.

“Without any supporting information or documentation” is also a hilarious way to play dumb. “Brendan who?” I mean, it was only the college football story of the summer…

Stating that Sorsby’s application came “only after abandoning your recent litigation efforts to avoid NCAA sanctions” is the most telling early part of the entire letter.

The NFL didn’t reject Sorsby’s application because it was filed just “three business days” before the deadline, or because he didn’t have the proper supporting documentation. They rejected it because they didn’t want to let him get away with circumventing the NCAA’s punishment.

And on the one hand, should Sorsby receive some form of punishment for engaging in sports betting while playing in college football? Yes.

Is that up to the NFL? It shouldn’t be. He broke the rules when he was in college, not the NFL.

Having said that, the NFL has a GREAT deal with College Football right now. They get a free farm system to pick from every single year. If all was fair, the NFL would have to pay a portion of what colleges are paying to players now. Afterall, those players are NFL investments. As such, the NFL doesn’t want to upset their very beneficial status quo. Therefore, every now and then the NFL doesn’t mind being the NCAA’s hammer when players try avoiding them. (Doesn’t apply to coaches)

“The issues presented by your Petition are too significant, and too closely tied to the League’s core integrity interests, to permit meaningful review within the timeline presented.”

This is also comical because it implies the NFL hasn’t already looked into Sorsby’s actions, or doesn’t know what he did.

Fun fact, the NFL owns 10% of ESPN. Hey NFL, ask your own business partners about what Sorsby did! They already conducted a review right here! (It’s an ESPN article link)

“The sole reasons identified in your Petition for seeking entry into the Supplemental Draft are that you have been “declared ineligible” by the NCAA, have “exhausted all of [your] avenues to continue in the NCAA,” and “want to now play in the NFL.” The Petition provides no information regarding the basis for, or timing of, the NCAA’s decision.”

Once again, I’ll refer you to your business partner at www.espn.com

“Public sources, however, indicate that in May 2026 the NCAA issued a determination declaring you permanently ineligible from participation in college athletics, based on a sustained pattern of improper gambling activity during your collegiate career at three different universities.”

“Public sources” So, Fox Sports?

“The League does not have the complete record of the NCAA’s investigation, and you did not provide any such materials with your Petition. Available information nonetheless indicates that, over the course of your collegiate career, you knowingly engaged in repeated and significant violations of NCAA rules designed to preserve the integrity of athletic competition. Reported conduct includes placing wagers on your own team and teammates and, to avoid detection, establishing or funding accounts in the names of intermediaries who placed bets on your behalf. There are also reports that you may have violated state criminal law.

Your Petition does not address these matters. Nor does it demonstrate accountability for your conduct or indicate whether, or how, you would adhere to the League’s rules and policies governing the integrity of competition.”

Most of this section is fair, but there was nothing to stop the NFL from sitting down with Brendan and asking him exactly those questions. They could have made Brendan available to 31 Owners, a Packers Executive, and 32 GMs. There’s a month until training camp begins. That’s plenty of time for any interested teams to speak with Brendan. Plenty of time for Goodell to speak with Brendan. There was no indication that Sorsby was expected to plead his case in the Supplemental Draft application.

“Instead, even after receiving notice of the NCAA’s decision rescinding your college eligibility in May, you sought to avoid the consequences of that determination through litigation rather than accepting responsibility for your actions, and you pursued entry into the NFL only after abandoning those efforts.”

How dare you exercise your legal rights instead of just accepting whatever punishment the NCAA deems fit!

“As Commissioner Goodell has emphasized, participation in the NFL is a privilege that carries with it significant responsibilities, including accountability. By all accounts, you are a talented player with the potential for future success. We encourage you to focus on preparing for possible entry into the NFL through the 2027 NFL Annual Draft.”

In other words, not allowing you into the Supplemental Draft is your punishment. And THAT is what Sorsby has a year to figure out with the league. Because he could take this issue to court. What he and his lawyer should do is leverage that option in lieu of suspension and make sure the message is clear to 32 clubs. Brendan Sorsby will NOT be suspended if and when he is drafted in 2027.

At the end of the day, the NFL can do whatever it wants. It doesn’t HAVE to hold a Supplemental Draft. And as other outlets often point out, the NFL doesn’t care, or want to care, about precedent. The fact that Terelle Pryor entered the supplemental draft in 2011, and then received a five game suspension (For breaking no longer existent NCAA rules by selling his own merchandise), doesn’t matter to the league.

Brendan, you’ve got a year to negotiate with the league, train for the NFL Combine, and go on tour to be a cautionary tale for other college football players (If for no other reason than to demonstrate repentance to the league).

The NFL let Deshaun Watson play again. They let Michael Vick play again. They let Ben Roethlisberger play again. I think they can give Brendan Sorsby a chance, for a much less harmful crime.

Written by Seattle Mike

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In the newly released body camera footage, Russini was pulled over for using her phone while driving.

“I know exactly why you pulled me over.” Russini said as soon as the officer reached the passenger side window.

“Is this for the cell phone? You’re not gonna care, but I’m an NFL reporter. I just broke that Sean McDermott got fired from the Bills. And that’s what I was just…sending a tweet. I know you don’t care. I just wanted you to know why. It was a work thing. It was an emergency.”

Not sure if Dianna and I agree on the definition of emergency. Or Journalism. Or Integrity…

After the officer explained that he had seen her on the phone for a while, Russini immediately shifted the subject to football. “Like I’m shocked that they fired him! I cannot believe it.” Russini said. “You know who I was on the phone with? Brian Daboll because he wants the job.”

FOOTBALL THING: Per Dianna Russini, Brian Daboll wanted the Bills job moments after Sean McDermott was fired.

My take: Brian Daboll wanting the job makes sense. What doesn’t make sense is Daboll talking to Russini about it. Why wouldn’t he call his former General Manager, Brandon Beane? Or even better…his agent…That’s kind of what agents do…

–

“Are you a fan of Giants or Jets?” Russini asked moments after revealing Daboll’s interest in the Bills job.

“Neither…I’m a Vikings fan, unfortunately.” Said the officer.

Russini immediately perked up. “Look at who I was just texting with.” Said Russini. “Can you see the name?”

“Oh my God. KOC?” (Kevin O’Connell; Vikings’ Head Coach). “Wow. Pretty cool.” Said the officer.

“I love the Vikings, though.” Russini replied before adding “Your quarterback sucks though!”

FOOTBALL THING: Per Dianna Russini, JJ McCarthy sucks!

My take: So far, he does.

If this is the last take she ever gives in the NFL, it might be a good one! Or, JJ could come back and have an amazing career, and then her final take becomes the final piece to a disgraced career.

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The police officer wound up letting her go with a warning. As a former police officer myself, I’ll tell you that I didn’t have an issue with the way he handled the traffic stop. To me, he came off as the kind of police officer who prefers to help people out, give verbal warnings, etc. There’s more of those than you might think.

I took great exception, however, to the way Russini handled the stop.

I spoke about it here.

Written by Seattle Mike

That very relationship, however, is a large part of the reason ESPN has lost credibility amongst viewers in recent months. Many, myself included, don’t think the network can fairly report on a league it has a vested interest in. Charging more than $30 a month for their standalone streaming service hasn’t helped matters either. Their streaming rival, Netflix, who is also criticized for their increasing subscription fee ($9-$27 a month), might be the new David to their Goliath, as they’re already nipping on ESPN’s heels in the sports entertainment world. Here’s why.

–Already a Sports Town–

Netflix has already expanded their sports footprint as they’ve steadily increased the amount of original and licensed content over the last 10 years. In 2016 Netflix launched Last Chance U - a series that followed the lives of football players at lesser known Junior Colleges (East Mississippi Community, Independence Community College and Laney). The show was a hit, particularly in the sports community - and therefore was often discussed on ESPN’s Sports Center and First Take, among other programs.

Netflix also had a hit on their hands with Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez, covering the dark true story of the former Patriots Tight End (Now deceased). After those hits, Netflix invested in a multitude of sports content. From Peyton Manning’s Quarterback/Receiver series, the Untold Docuseries, to an Aaron Rodgers Documentary (That I’ll never watch), Netflix has made their commitment to sports content clear.

Beyond the various docuseries, Netflix also acquired video streaming rights and/or produced hit sports shows like Barstool’s Pardon My Take, The Bill Simmons Podcast, Spittin’ Chiclets, and The White House (Hosted by Michael Irvin).

And all of that wouldn’t or shouldn’t concern ESPN as they could work in conjunction with one another. Netflix has several ESPN programs they both benefit from, like The Last Dance, 30 for 30, and others that are available from both providers.

Here’s where ESPN should be concerned, however. On top of sports docuseries and talk shows, Netflix is taking live sporting events too.

In 2024 Netflix had 3 live sporting events.

1. Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson

2. Chiefs vs Steelers (Christmas Day)

3. Ravens vs Texans (Christmas Day)

In 2025 Netflix had 52 live WWE Raw shows (Not a real sport, but since ESPN also broadcasts WWE, it’s relevant). They also had 2 NFL Games on Christmas.

By December 31st, 2026, Netflix will have aired 52 WWE Raw shows, MLB Opening Day Game, MLB Home Run Derby, and 5 NFL Games in the year. The Home Run Derby is particularly interesting because it was previously exclusively on ESPN. This year it will be exclusively on Netflix.

So even while ESPN is still Goliath in the sports viewing space, Netflix is slowly but surely closing the gap.

If all you had was a Netflix subscription and no access to ESPN, you would still get weekday sports updates from Pardon My Take and others. You’d still get live NFL Games. A live MLB game and derby. And, if you consider it a sport, 52 WWE shows.

–NFL Packages Coming Soon–

Per ProFootballTalk, the current NFL broadcast deals with CBS, Fox, NBC and Amazon Prime expire as soon as 2029. ESPN/ABC’s deal expires as soon as 2030. There are very few broadcast companies that can afford the package to produce and broadcast a weekly NFL package. Netflix is one of the companies that not only can, but would have the incentive for consumers to pay the obnoxious $30 a month; because it doesn’t feel as obnoxious when your $30 is giving you not only one or more NFL Games a week, but the entire Netflix catalogue as well. The football/Bridgerton crossover community can finally get the content they care about in one place.

To be clear, I don’t think ESPN is losing their NFL package. It would be strange for the network that the NFL has a 10% stake in to not have an NFL package. And if we’re being honest, the NFL doesn’t want to take the CBS or Fox broadcasts away from their free over-the-airwaves partners while their antitrust exemption is being looked at by the Federal Government. Their biggest defense against the Government’s concern that too many games are behind a paywall is that 87% of their games are broadcast for free over the airwaves (IF you concede that out-of-market games don’t count). So even if Fox plays hardball and the NFL sells their package elsewhere, it would likely be to ABC or NBC.

The Sunday Night Football (NBC) and Thursday Night Football (Amazon Prime) packages seem to be the most in-play for Netflix. Acquiring either Sunday Night Football or Thursday Night Football would instantly move Netflix into the category of a top sports network.

–Already an Underdog Champion–

In a lot of ways Netflix is already the underdog champion that sports fans love to root for. Once upon a time there was a Goliath named Blockbuster Video, until this quirky mail-in-DVD service called Netflix arrived on the scene. They eventually expanded to streaming certain movies on their website, though that wasn’t the original model. Blockbuster infamously had the opportunity to acquire Netflix but elected not to because they viewed the mail-in-DVD business as unprofitable and entirely dismissed the concept of streaming movies. Of course, as you and I know, streaming is essentially the only way we consume movies and television now.

In a lot of ways, we’re looking at the same thing happening with Cable Networks and live television right now. Outside of sports, breaking news, and presidential debates, can you name the last time you watched live TV? The last time I tried was two years ago when the Justified spin-off premiered on FX a day before Hulu. After the second commercial break I said “f–k this! I’ll stream it tomorrow!”

Netflix is already the streaming service. As more live content moves exclusively to streaming, would it surprise you if Netflix had more live events than ESPN in 2036? It wouldn’t surprise me. This scrappy little company has already beaten the odds and shaped the market before. They’re primed to do it again.

–What Happens Next–

The real problem for ESPN is going to come when Netflix creates their own version of Sports Center. THIS is Netflix Center. A couple of quirky hosts. A small studio space and some deals to show highlights and Netflix could become the location consumers are watching their nightly highlights before bed or while getting ready for school/work in the morning.

Once Netflix encroaches on ESPN’s flagship program, their days as the lone champion atop the mountain become numbered. Eventually Netflix Sports will hire a couple of sports writers (I’m a free agent, by the way). They’ll essentially become ESPN for the next generation.

Of course, ESPN doesn’t have to concede. They can’t box Netflix out of sports content entirely, but they can maintain and even grow the market. They’ve already negotiated deals with the NHL and MLB for their out-of-market packages to pair with ESPN Unlimited (NHL Package included, MLB at an additional cost). They can acquire more NFL games if a package becomes available (To then broadcast on Disney’s ABC).

The real way for ESPN to remain on top is for them to remember why fans consume their product in the first place. WE LOVE SPORTS. We’re passionate about sports. We want to watch a network that reflects that love and passion. What made Rich Eisen and Stuart Scott’s Sports Center broadcasts so great was how fun they made it. They didn’t take themselves too seriously. There weren’t any egos, or at least none that came through the screen. They weren’t yelling at each other to see who could make the most outrageous point that might get the most clicks.

$30 a month tells consumers it’s about the clicks. It’s about the guys screaming at each other for the clip that could go viral. Players are often told “it’s a business” when someone’s trying to take the sting out of being cut or traded. And that’s true. And because that’s true, players also hold out, hit free agency, and make other business decisions that are best for their bank accounts. As consumers of ESPN, if it feels like a business, we’re going to do the same thing. So if my $30 a month is better spent on Netflix, because I need my Bridgerton and my sports, that’s where it’s going to go.

Written by Seattle Mike

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Post credit scene: I only saw the first season of Bridgerton. Because…she was really hot, okay?

--2024--

Offseason: Brandon Aiyuk entered the 2024 offseason on a 5th-year-option worth $14.1 Million that he appeared unwilling to play under.

March

Aiyuk unfollowed the 49ers on Instagram and posted emojis depicting the message “Money talks, bullshit walks”

May

The 49ers reportedly offered Aiyuk $26 Million-per-year in a multiyear extension. That same offseason the Lions agreed to terms with Amon-Ra St. Brown on a $30 Million-per-year deal. Days later the Eagles gave AJ Brown a $32 Million-per year extension. Aiyuk was likely looking for a deal closer to those contracts.

June

After missing the 49ers three-day minicamp, Aiyuk told Commanders’ Quarterback Jayden Daniels that the team didn’t want him back.

Per CBS Sports, at the end of June, Aiyuk and his representation met with Kyle Shanahan (Head Coach) and John Lynch (General Manager) to “clear the air”.

Despite reports that the meeting went well, Aiyuk requested a trade just weeks later. The 49ers ultimately granted Aiyuk permission to negotiate with the Steelers, Browns, Patriots, and Commanders. That tactic doesn’t always mean the team wants to trade the player. Sometimes the strategy is used in hopes the player will realize the 49ers offer is the best one he’s getting. That plan can obviously backfire, if the teams you allow the player to meet with outbid you. Reportedly those teams (or at least some of them) were willing to pay Aiyuk $28 Million-per-year ($2 Million more per year than the reported 49ers offer in May).

July

When mandatory minicamp rolled around at the end of July and into August, Aiyuk staged a “hold-in”. A practice where players seeking a new contract attend team meetings, but don’t participate in drills or practice reps.

August

On August 29th, both sides agreed to a four-year, $120 Million extension, with $76 Million in guarantees (Or expected guarantees - we’ll get to that).

October

Brandon Aiyuk was injured in Week 7 against the Chiefs, where he tore his ACL and MCL. He was ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Aiyuk totaled 25 receptions for 374 yards in his seven starts under the new contract.

-- 2025 --

Per Dan Graziano (ESPN) sources, Brandon Aiyuk failed to show up to offseason rehab appointments.

July - October

After the missed medical obligations, the 49ers voided $24.9 Million of Aiyuk’s guarantees.

From the late offseason and into the 2025 season, Aiyuk stopped showing up to 49ers facilities and failed to return phone calls from the team.

November

This week, Aiyuk claimed on an Instagram post that he fired his agent in November of 2025.

December

The 49ers placed Aiyuk on the Reserve/Left Squad List on December 13th, 2025, which:

• Freezes Aiyuk’s salary cap hits to the team

• Doesn’t allow for him to count toward the team’s roster limit

• Allows for the 49ers not to pay him game checks

• Doesn’t allow for Aiyuk to return to NFL until he submits a formal request to the league

Just a week later, Brandon Aiyuk posted a YouTube video of himself speeding past Levi Stadium, where the 49ers play their home games (And where Super Bowl LX was held).

Aiyuk was seen exceeding 90 MPH in the video. Santa Clara county has since issued a misdemeanor arrest warrant for exhibition of speed. Aiyuk recently stated in an Instagram video that he's not sure if he has an active warrant in Santa Clara or not.

--2026--

From December to June, Brandon Aiyuk news was relatively quiet. John Lynch stated at the Draft that he was open to receiving trade requests for Aiyuk. Other than that, all we had was speculation, until Aiyuk started posting to his Instagram on June 7th.

Aiyuk’s first post of the June series, included claims that he’s dealing with “little ass boys” that don’t get picked so they take their ball and go home.

Aiyuk went on to compare himself to a toy that hasn’t been properly used. “Or like when your kid, he’s got this one toy, but he don’t really know how to use it correctly. So somebody else about to pick it up and play with it. And they like ‘oh yeah, this shit litty!’” (Litty is a way of saying “lit”, meaning “cool”, “sick” or “rad” depending on what era of terminology you come from).

Aiyuk expands on the “little ass boy” metaphor when he says, seemingly to the 49ers, “Stop running from the belt. The belt coming...They gonna say BA did this. BA did that. You know that shit. Allegedly. Allegedly” (By the way, this video has me pretty sure Brandon Aiyuk doesn’t know what allegedly means). “But what they not gonna say is BA sucks at football, because they know how I get. And they runnin from that belt that’s on the way.”

and then Aiyuk gets to my favorite part of the video. “Stop running. Stop being a female dog” - A censored way of saying bitch

“Stop being a little cat” - A censored way of saying pussy.

These censors might be the bitchiest way to call someone a pussy...

Less than 48 hours later, Aiyuk made another Instagram post.

June 9th

Aiyuk’s second post included calling the 49ers stupid for giving him the contract that they did while he’s about to play for another team.

Aiyuk has since deleted both of those posts.

June 21st

“Before I lay down tonight I just want to say - go Commanders! Go Commanders, man! Go Commanders. Raise Hell! Take Command! The fuck you talkin about?”

June 24th

If that wasn’t clear enough (It was), Aiyuk went on to post a video of him holding an NFL ball with the Commanders logo on it with a caption reading “The best sport in the world The best league in the world n the best team in the world”

Later in the same day, Aiyuk made another post saying "If I’m crazy or if I’m cappin’, tell them boys cut me today and I’ll sign with the Commanders tomorrow. We’ll see who’s cappin’."

June 25th

On June 25th, 2026, Aiyuk made an Instagram post promoting his “upcoming tour” with tickets available on the Commanders’ website.

That same day, Aiyuk made a video of him walking into an empty closet, and emptying a backpack full of cash.

-- Next --

At the time of this posting, Aiyuk still hasn’t submitted his formal request to return to the NFL. If his claim that he fired his agent last November is true, then he likely doesn’t have anyone advising him on steps to return to the league.

Other outlets have suggested that Aiyuk should show up to mandatory offseason activities on July 25th to force the 49ers hand in releasing him... The problem with that advise is that first he would need to be reinstated into the league.

Furthermore, it’s unclear what happens when and if Aiyuk returns to California. With a warrant out for his arrest, police could be waiting outside of team facilities for Aiyuk to arrive.

What Aiyuk should do is hire an agent (If he really doesn’t have one), and do whatever they tell him to. Aiyuk also needs to hire a lawyer to represent his legal interests in resolving the warrant. And at some point, Aiyuk needs to get onto a practice field again. The last time the league saw Aiyuk was when he tore his ACL/MCL. Since then, he hasn’t reported to team rehab commitments. Even if the Commanders are interested in Aiyuk, which is a pretty big if, they’d certainly need to know he’s healthy and will be able to play. If he still requires any rehab at all, teams should stay away until Aiyuk gets himself healthy again and proves he takes his health and football, seriously.

Written by Seattle Mike

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Sources:

1. oursf49ers Instagram:

   “Money talks...”

2. Brandon Aiyuk Tiktok:

   49ers don’t want me back

3. CBS Sports:

   July 25th, 2024 Article on Brandon Aiyuk Saga

4. NBC Sports Bay Area:

   August 28th, 2024 Article on Brandon Aiyuk Saga

5. ESPN:

   November 26th, 2025 Article on NFL Updates/Graziano sources reporting Aiyuk skipped rehab appointments

6. The Athletic (Subscription may be required):

   November 25th, 2025 report from Michael Silver and Dianna Russini

With that out of the way, let’s set the stage (Sponsored by Monster Energy);

President Trump and Dana White joined forces Sunday evening, hosting UFC “Freedom” 250 on the White House Lawn. The event was billed as an Ultimate Fighter Competition to jointly celebrate the 250th Anniversary of America (which is technically on July 4th, 2026) and President Trump’s 80th Birthday. The event took place beneath a 92-foot structure, nicknamed “The Claw”, that served as the venue for 7 fights, all of which were determined by TKO.

Watching the spectacle on Paramount+, we saw AI generated reenactments of US conflicts, a National Anthem performance from The Zac Brown band, and various celebrities amongst the 4,000 attendees; including Shane Gillis, Mark Zuckerberg, Tony Hinchcliffe, and various right-wing politicians and family members of the President. Each fighter walked out to the stage from The White House, escorted by a Medal of Honor recipient and a first responder (Usually either a police officer or firefighter). In standard UFC fashion, at the conclusion of each fight, Joe Rogan interviewed the winner. Speaking of fashion, the internet immediately took note of Joe Rogan’s inability to properly tie a tie (It looked like he was wearing something from Baby Gap)

Let me explain how the next few paragraphs are going to go. I’m going to start with what I hated about the event. Then I’m going to explain what was good. Then I’m going to think of something sarcastic to end on, before telling you “Written by Seattle Mike”. I’m explaining this ahead of time, so you don’t think I’m just being a negative nancy for the next few lines before getting to the positives.

The event highlighted the clear lack of respect Donald Trump has for his own office. Having a massive, Monster/Budlight stage, mere yards away from The Oval Office felt like a slap in the face to every impossible decision previous presidents have had to face in that exact spot. We’re talking about the office where decisions are made about sending young men and women to war. That’s the office where peace deals are negotiated and signed. Yes, America is a capitalist society. Love it or hate it, that’s a fact. Covering the nation’s capital in Dodge, Budlight, and Monster ads might be fitting to some. To me, certain American landmarks should be honored and preserved. The White House is one of those landmarks. There’s no reason UFC “Freedom” 250 couldn’t have taken place anywhere else, and still celebrated American history. A nearby military base, professional sports arena, or Mar-a-lago all would have been more appropriate venues.

The most shameful part of the evening came when fighter Josh Hokit took the microphone from Joe Rogan during his postfight interview and declared “Michelle Obama is a man! Am I right, America?” A fighter feeling comfortable enough to disrespect a former First Lady of the United States, on the White House lawn, is the kind of behavior the President was inviting by hosting this event. For what it’s worth, Dana White condemned the moment in a text to TIME magazine, writing “I understand that the Obama’s are public figures but I’m completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families. Everyone knows my position on free speech but I hate that kind of nonsense.” The White House has yet to publicly comment on the matter (They should have done so immediately).

Despite the senseless and distasteful remark from Hokit, the event was a clear attempt at patriotism. USA chants occurred throughout the night (I love that). Fighters spoke of their gratitude toward the country (I love that). Medal of Honor recipients were given some national attention (love that; though they should have walked in front of the fighters, not behind them). First responders, who are often underappreciated, were also given some national attention. I was a fan of that as well, though I wish they would have recognized at least one woman. Men aren’t the only ones putting their lives and sanity on the line to protect our communities.

The best part of the event was the flyover, where 12 fighter jets ripped through the sky above the south lawn in perfect formation. The moment even seemed to surprise Dana White who was smiling and laughing like a giant child at the epic sight (I would have too).

Here’s the real review of the event. Many Americans enjoyed it. I love that for them. They did nothing wrong by watching and cheering for programming they wanted to watch. Many Americans refused to watch because of who was hosting it. While many felt they were supporting their country by watching the event, there were others who felt they were supporting their country and community by boycotting it. Neither camp is wrong for that. The fighters, outside of Josh Hokit’s disgraceful remarks, also did nothing wrong. They were invited to compete. They accepted the challenge and gave us a hell of a show. I don’t recall ever seeing so many knockouts at the same UFC event before. For me, the vast majority of the disgrace falls on the President. It was his responsibility to preserve the honor and integrity of the White House. He failed.

But maybe that’s the real story. The event was ridiculous, entertaining, inspiring, and embarrassing all at the same time. In other words, a pretty accurate representation of American politics.

Written by Seattle Mike

My fellow football fans (American and otherwise),

It’s been nearly three weeks since Jaxson Dart introduced President Trump at a Republican Rally in New York. The reaction was predictable. Whether you like President Trump or not, there’s no denying that he’s a polarizing figure. Half the country loves him, half the country hates him. There are very few that are in between, and even less in the NFL. According to VoteHub, only 20% of NFL players were registered Republicans in 2024 (34% Democrat, 43% Independent/Unaffiliated, 2% Third Party). It wasn’t surprising that social media erupted after the first video of Dart introducing President Trump surfaced.

“What an honor, what a privilege it is to be here.” Dart started. “I’m grateful, I’m honored, I’m pleasured to introduce the 45th and 47th President of the United States of America, President Donald J. Trump.”

President Trump then took the stage and exchanged a long embrace with Dart. A few words were exchanged into each other’s ears before Dart left the stage, giving the podium to the President. It took only a couple of hours for the public to get a glimpse into the feelings of the Giants’ locker room.

Fellow 2025 First-Round Pick Abdul Carter reposted Dart’s introduction of the President with the caption “Thought this sh!t was AI. What we doin man.”

The reaction to that post was also predictable, as everyone (including myself) gave opinions on the impact Dart’s decision was already having on the Giants’ locker room. Less than 24 hours later, Carter returned to social media with an update. “Me & JD6 (Jaxson Dart) are good! We spoke earlier as Men. Yall can keep yall narratives.”

Between Dart and Carter one thing is clear. They both need to do better in the public relations department. Jaxson Dart’s decision to introduce President Trump was nothing short of idiotic. Given the country’s division and extreme feelings toward this particular president, the association was obviously going to be an issue. Save me the “it’s about the office” nonsense. Given the opportunity, perhaps Dart would have introduced any other president too. But he is clearly fond of President Trump. If he wasn’t, he would have had no problem distancing himself by now. He hasn’t done that.

As for Carter complaining about narratives, there wouldn’t have been any if he hadn’t taken to social media in the first place. There’s no reason he couldn’t have reached out to Dart in private, without posting his thoughts on X.

Carter doubled down in his first media availability session after the incident. “First off, I want to say that some things are bigger than football and this is one of those things.” Carter started. “Jaxson is one of our leaders. He’s the face of our franchise. He not only represents himself in what he does, but he represents all of us.”

Carter went on to say “If he chooses to align himself with a man like President Trump, it’s my responsibility based on what I believe and what I stand on to not only show my teammates that I’m against that, but to show the world.”

While I respect and appreciate Carter standing up for his beliefs, I don’t think posting “what we doin man” is as strong of a condemnation as he thinks it is. Even less so after deleting the post.

Since the introduction, President Trump hasn’t done Dart any favors. “He’s a handsome guy. Like a beautiful guy. And a conservative guy.” The President said on My View with Lara Trump. “He said ‘I love you sir’” Trump went on. Just a week later, in The Oval Office, Trump claimed to have spoken with Dart about his views on women’s sports. “I said ‘How do you think you’d do in women’s sports, Jaxson?’ He said, ‘Pretty good, sir,’ He didn’t know I was joking.”

The fallout proved to reach beyond the confines of the locker room, when ABC showed the various celebrities in attendance at Game 4 of the NBA Finals last night, and avoided showing Jaxson Dart in favor of teammate Cam Skattebo. This, just a couple of nights after ABC (ESPN) made a point of showing President Trump’s appearance, highlighting that it was the first time a sitting president attended an NBA Finals Game. For the record, I don’t think Trump attending a basketball game is a very big deal. If the Bulls would have reached the finals during President Obama’s tenure, I wouldn’t have had an issue with him attending a game either.

Here’s the reality for the Giants. Despite the promise Dart showed as a rookie, it’s going to be a tough season in 2026. The NFC East underperformed last year. That’s not going to happen in back-to-back seasons. The Cowboys, Eagles, and Commanders are all going to be hungry to get back to the playoffs after watching three teams from the NFC West make it into the contest in 2025. By the way, that’s the Division they’ll be playing this year. The Defending World Champion Seahawks. The Super Bowl Favorite Rams. And the 49ers who always present problems. Am I missing someone?

(Sorry Cardinals fans. It’s not going to be your year.)

If something is going to pull the Giants forward and out of the new kind of tension in their locker room, it’s going to be leadership. John Harbaugh lived and coached in Baltimore for 17 years. If anybody’s equipped to handle a locker room divided by intense political discourse, it’s him. Throw in personalities like Cam Skattebo, who is expected to be ready for the Week 1 matchup against the Cowboys, and Jameis Winston, who already gave a masterful statement on the political issues - the Giants might be able to escape the dark clouds covering their practice facilities in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Those clouds could return, however, if the Giants get off to a slow start in the looming season. Or if Trump continues to speak so glowingly of Dart.

Thank you for reading this post.

God bless football. And God bless America.

Written by Seattle Mike

The league was right. Per Yahoo Sports, since Brady and his business partner, Tom Wagner, purchased 10% of the Raiders, the team’s value has increased by $1.1 Billion, with nearly $500 Million of that credited to Brady and Wagner.

When the value of any franchise increases, so does the value of the entire league. Financially, Brady’s partnership with the NFL has already paid off. Here’s where he’s an inevitable problem - Brady also works for Fox as an NFL Analyst. Brady’s dual role comes with a benefit to the Raiders and a conflict of interest with Fox. Tom Brady will call 18 games for Fox in 2026. Of his currently known/predicted slate, he’ll have access to at least 12 different teams, not including the one in Las Vegas he has an ownership tie to.

While nobody’s expecting the Raiders to make it very far in 2026, there’s nothing to stop Brady from gaining information that can benefit the club in future seasons. As an analyst at Fox, Brady will travel and meet with every team he covers this season.

Save me the “Yeah, but Brady has rules” nonsense. The Brady Rules prohibit him from in-person production meetings at team facilities. They don’t prevent him from interviewing coaches and players or asking any questions he wants (remotely). And while I’m not accusing any coaches or players of deliberately giving any information away, you never know what single puzzle piece someone might drop, that when put together with a few other pieces, reveal enough to get a clear picture.

If you still don’t think this is that big of a deal, think about it this way; Would you want the players of your favorite team sitting down with the owner of another team ahead of a game? As a Seahawks fan, it would feel very weird for Jaxon Smith-Njigba to have a closed door meeting with Jerry Jones during the season.

Still don’t see the big deal? That’s cool. I was saving my strongest point for last.

This offseason, Troy Aikman (ESPN’s Monday Night Football Analyst) served as a consultant to the Miami Dolphins during their General Manager and Head Coaching searches this offseason. The Dolphins have since indefinitely retained Aikman to a position where he’s expected to continue consulting for the team. The Dolphins haven’t assigned an official title to the position, nor did they respond to my request for comment. But I do have a title for their Troy Aikman position.

Spy.

In Aikman’s own words on the DLLS podcast, “I think the Dolphins were wise in understanding my relationships around the league, and knowing that I have information that they don’t have or can’t get. And I think they were smart in taking advantage of that.”

Aikman even went on to perfectly describe having a conflict of interest, while denying having a conflict of interest. “No, I don’t feel there’s a conflict.” Aikman started before adding “But I will say I’m pulling for the Dolphins . . . because now I have something at stake.”

The league has yet to announce what limitations they’ll put on Aikman when he meets with teams for Monday Night Football production meetings this season. Even if the league gives Aikman The Brady Rules, there’s nothing to stop him or Brady from gaining information from colleagues at their respective networks who aren’t subject to any league rules. The NFL gave me the run around before not responding to questions I submitted on this topic.

A spokesperson for ESPN was more receptive to questions, telling me on background that Aikman’s responsibilities and schedule with the network haven’t changed. ESPN pointed to other outlets reporting that Troy’s scope of work with the Dolphins is much more limited than that of Tom Brady and the Raiders.

Details of Aikman’s new role with the Dolphins haven’t been publicly disclosed yet, so I took ESPN’s comments to me as pointing to the distinction that Tom Brady is a minority owner of the Raiders while Troy Aikman has an undefined role with the Dolphins.

ESPN went on to point out that there currently aren’t any Dolphins games on the 2026 Monday Night Football schedule.

While true, there remains the possibility of games being flexed into the Monday Night schedule. That only happens if the Dolphins are involved in relevant games, which would surely move Aikman’s new role directly under the microscope of fans and media. Even if the league chooses to avoid that problem by flexing those hypothetical matchups into NBC’s Sunday Night Football, Aikman is currently set to call three games in the same division as his new team. Two Bills games and a Patriots game.

In comparison, of the games Tom Brady is expected to cover, he only has one game involving a Division Rival - a Week 14 Chiefs at Bengals matchup. In fairness, Fox has more games than ESPN, so Brady’s slate will remain a lot more fluid than Aikman’s.

To be clear, the conflict of interest isn’t the issue of the networks. ESPN and Fox Sports are under no obligation to stop their talent from working for or owning NFL clubs they cover. It’s actually to the Network’s advantage. They obtain an on-staff inside source for no additional cost.

Brady and Aikman aren’t to blame either. Their conflicts are known and disclosed. The issue belongs to the league. They’re the ones sanctioning megastar analysts having conflicts that can benefit individual clubs.

The league surely knows of these issues. I have hundreds of thousands of views on my YouTube videos discussing this very topic. Mike Florio has extensively covered the issue on ProFootballTalk and its accompanying podcast/show (PFT Live). Not to mention, if there wasn’t an issue, the league wouldn’t have bothered creating The Brady Rules in the first place.

The refusal to appropriately address the clear conflict of interest that Tom Brady and Troy Aikman have, speaks to bigger issues within the NFL.

Does the league actually care about fair competition? If they do, it doesn’t make sense to allow teams to sell to or hire specific employees of the networks that cover the NFL so extensively.

And if I may be so presumptuous, why doesn’t the league care about fair competition? Money is the obvious answer. Brady having a partial ownership stake in the Raiders is good for valuations. Aikman having a rooting interest in a team is free promotion.

Sooner or later the league is going to have to address the conflict of interest in a more serious way.

The Raiders and Dolphins can’t suck forever (Right?) They’ll eventually be good, or at least good enough to put together some wins that get people thinking about them. Thinking leads to questions;

When did the Raiders get good?

Where did the Dolphins find this guy?

How’d they even know about him?

Questions lead to answers;

Oh, since Brady got there.

Oh, he was on the Rams last year.

Oh, the Rams were on Monday Night Football twice last year.

And there lies the advantage that Brady and Aikman’s roles with Fox and ESPN provide to the Raiders and Dolphins. An effective solution from the NFL is yet to be seen.

Written by Seattle Mike.

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References:

1. Yahoo Sports claim about Brady’s value to the NFL

2. DLLS interview with Troy Aikman

3. ProFootballTalk article on Troy Aikman’s new role with the Dolphins

Stefon Diggs is looking at not only being found not guilty in the court of law, but INNOCENT in the court of public opinion - which is significant for a free agent Wide Receiver still looking for a team ahead of the ‘26 season. 

On Monday Diggs’ former Private Chef, Mila Adams took the stand and testified that the former Patriots’ Wide Receiver strangled her and had neglected to pay owed wages. Adams’ story fell apart on the stand through both Direct and Cross-Examinations. 

“The story you just told to this jury under oath was very different from the one you told to Officer Ellis (Who took the police report), would you agree with me?” Diggs’ Attorney asked. “Yes” Adams replied. 

Adams testified that she and Diggs were arguing about her being uninvited to attend Art Basel with Cardi B and others. The police report she filed in December, however, alleged the disagreement was over wages owed. 

The cross-examination also led to inconsistencies with injuries she reported on the police report, and her actions in New York the day after the alleged incident - essentially, photos and videos that lead a reasonable person to see no apparent injuries matching what Adams described. The first day of the trial ended shortly after Adams read texts out loud to the court where she had admitted to Diggs that she understood he had paid everything he owed. 

The second day of the trial was even more fruitful for Diggs. Adams was warned by the judge that if she had any more outbursts, her entire testimony could be thrown away. Adams was dismissed after declining to answer questions about an alleged attempt from her attorney to collect $5.5 Million from Diggs. Even District Attorney Drew Virtue conceded in his closing argument that Adams was a difficult witness. “Was Ms. Adams a perfect witness?” Virtue started. “No. She was argumentative, avoidant, difficult. But does that mean you should throw away everything she says? No.”

Yeah, that’s a pretty hard sell. 

Tuesday also provided a rebuttal witness for Diggs. Jenelle Sales, who serves as Diggs’ Chief of Staff, testified she was in the house on the day of the alleged assault. Sales stated she never heard or saw anything suspicious. No screams. No yelling. Nothing to indicate a fight between Diggs and Adams. 

Sales went on to testify that Adams had actually spent a portion of the day collecting signatures on a Birthday Card for Diggs. Something any reasonable person would find strange from someone Diggs allegedly strangled that day. 

Diggs’ financial advisor, Melissa Goddard, delivered the final blow, testifying that not only did Diggs not owe wages to Adams, but had accidentally overpaid her by $2500 as a result of Adams submitting the same receipt for reimbursement several times. When Goddard attempted to reach Adams regarding the overpayment, she never heard back from her. 

As I’m writing this, the jury is deliberating - which I don’t anticipate taking very long. Here’s where we stand. 

Adams claimed Diggs strangled her in a house where two witnesses claim they didn’t hear or see anything suspicious that day. Following the alleged strangulation, Adams collected signatures for a Birthday Card and gave Diggs a Birthday Present. 

Adams claimed Diggs owed her wages, despite text messages where she acknowledged he had technically paid everything he owed. Pair that with Diggs’ Financial Advisor’s testimony that Diggs actually overpaid - yeah, Adams claim not only falls short, but potentially opens her up to a lawsuit (Not that I think Diggs will waste his time over $2500). 

The only thing Adams really has is accusations that she used to sleep with her boss while he was dating Cardi B and sleeping with other women she knew about (And was friends with). All of which make both Adams and Diggs look bad, but none of which is a crime.

At the end of the day, not only did this trial not convict Diggs, but may have proven his innocence. Something rare in these types of cases and could clear the way for a team to sign him without any PR backlash. 

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So let’s break the fucking rules

One of the things writers/journalists are taught to do is called the inverted pyramid. You put the juiciest/most critical part of the story first, and work your way down to the least important details. You ever notice how every ESPN Article opens dropping a bombshell and ends with a player’s stats from last season? That’s why.

There’s so much to get to in this story, that I’m breaking the rules to deliver the best report possible. The inverted pyramid would have me telling you that Stefon Diggs Chef admitted to telling the police and the jury two different stories, essentially tanking the case on Day 1. I’m not going to tell you that, yet though. Instead, I’m going to start with an underprepared attorney named Drew Virtue.

Preparation Matters

Mila Adams, the former Private Chef of Stefon Diggs, took the stand on Monday, and it was a disaster.

If you didn’t know, attorneys meet with the witnesses they plan to call before the trial starts. This witness testimony should not have felt like the first time Mila Adams and District Attorney Drew Virtue met. Yet, that was the feeling.

DA: “What was it like working for (Stefon Diggs)?”

Adams: (After a long pause) “Can you say that again?”

Virtue went on to clarify his question, asking Adams what her duties were, to which she started describing cooking Diggs’ breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. She then clarified that she’s skilled in recovery, and her job was to get the receiver ready for his comeback year. (Diggs suffered a season ending ACL tear in 2024, before signing with the Patriots ahead of the ‘25 season)

DA: “Do you create a menu? Does he just tell you what he wants?”

Adams: “I’m skilled with recovery. So I knew what it would take to get him. Ya know. Help him get healthy and stay healthy.” (Not an answer to the question)

DA: “Did you cook just for him or did you cook for other people as well?”

Adams: (After a deep breath and a moment) “Yes. I would cook for whoever was in the house.”

DA: “How much did you get paid for that?”

Adams: “Um. We agreed (Pause) to (Pause) $2,000 a week.”

DA: “Can you describe (Stefon Diggs’) house? Like was it a single-family home?”

Adams: “Um…what do you mean?”

Here’s why I bring up these parts of her testimony. These are softball questions. These are the questions that a witness and attorney usually rehearse before the trial. Adams pausing before and during every answer, with her face and grunts screaming that she was confused (Even asking for questions to be repeated or explained) shows the lack of preparation conducted by Virtue and Adams.

At one point Adams described an instance where an alleged employee of Diggs called her a bitch. After a brief sidebar, Virtue began a new line of questioning regarding a trip to Miami. “I wasn’t finished on that last question you asked…” Adams started. “That’s fine.” Virtue interrupted. “But I’m asking questions now.”

Yeah, that moment doesn’t make the attorney or the witness look good. If only there were some way to prepare your witness for the questions you plan to ask, how courtroom procedure works, and what they should expect so they don’t accidentally hurt your case.

That would be really helpful.

(It’s called prepping your witness — and it’s not only legal, it’s standard practice).

Sex Chef Turned Live-In Sex Chef (Allegedly)

Yeah, you read that right.

DA: “How’d you meet (Stefon Diggs)?”

Adams: “We met in December of ‘22 through an Instagram message. He first wanted me to cook for him.”

Adams went on to explain that her relationship with Stefon Diggs was “Complicated” and after a deep breath went on to say “It started as friends. Became sexual…we decided I would come work for him in February of 2025.”

So far nothing criminal regarding Diggs. Ungentlemanly behavior? I don’t know. It could be a love story for the ages. A wealthy man meets an attractive working chef and turns a casual fling into a long-term arrangement.

It’s like Pretty Woman meets Ratatouille.

Babymama Drama featuring Cardi B

Adams, after struggling with the meaning of the word “friction,” went on to describe an incident in November of 2024 that impacted her relationship with Stefon Diggs.

“A Instagram DM message was sent to (Diggs’) child’s, mother’s, friend.” Adams said. “And this message was stating that I was telling his personal business of women that he was sleeping with that worked with us. That worked with me.”

A few timeline things here. Stefon Diggs fathered two children in 2025. In April, model Aileen Lopera gave birth to Diggs’ daughter (Confirmed through paternity test to be his on November 6th). On November 2nd, 2025, Cardi B gave birth to Diggs’ son. Stefon’s birthday is November 28th, for what it’s worth.

So we have a late November 2025 text from the friend of a babymama (That’s a faster way to say child’s, mother’s, friend).

That text could plausibly have come from a pal of Lopera, though I’m not sure what the motive would be. I would think that Lopera only wants Diggs’ child support payments, and doesn’t care about who he’s sleeping with these days. To me, it would make more sense that the babymama’s friend is that of Cardi B’s. Cardi B and Stefon Diggs were publicly in a relationship at that point in time. Perhaps a friend of Cardi B’s was trying to spare her from finding out about Diggs’ alleged indiscretions, whatever her reasons may be (and none of them are good).

Adams went on to describe an “ongoing sexual relationship” between Diggs and a woman working for him named Lindsey Boland. So far Boland’s exact relationship to Diggs is unclear. I have not yet heard back from Diggs’ team for comment (Nor am I expecting to. Though I did reach out).

The Alleged Assault

Adams eventually described the day that Stefon Diggs allegedly assaulted her.

Adams testified that she and Cardi B had planned to have matching outfits, and a fun time at the Art Basel Miami Beach event when she found out at the last minute that Diggs wasn’t going to bring her. Her testimony went on to describe being alone in her bedroom when Stefon Diggs entered and closed the door behind him. “He walked across the room and leaned against the dresser.” Adams stated.

DA: “What happened in that room?”

Adams: “He came in with intent to hurt me.”

DA: “No, not his intent or anything. What actually happened?”

Adams: “He was leaning against the dresser. He asked me to get up to come here. I got up off the bed and I came across to him, and I stood in front of him. Like I stood on the side of him. Cause he was leaning back. I stood on the side of him. And he was like ‘What was all that shit you was talking?’ And I was beginning to say ‘you said’ but I couldn’t finish my statement. And he smacked me.”

DA: “You said he smacked you?”

Adams: “Open palm, right hand. Right side of my face.”

Adams went on to describe how she attempted to block his hands, as Diggs is more than a foot taller than her. When Virtue asked Adams what happened next, she took a deep breath and asked for a moment. “Can I have a second?” Adams asked before turning from the microphone and sighing deeply. After a moment, Adams described Diggs’ reaching his arm around her and choking her neck, acting out a chokehold.

DA: “So you said you pushed against him and then he put his arm around your neck?”

Adams: “Yes”

DA: “Were you facing away from him?”

Adams: “I was facing him.”

DA: “You were facing him and he put his arm around your neck?”

Adams: “Yes”

DA: “He spun you around?”

Adams: “No, like he…I would have to show you more so than (I can describe it).”

DA: “Describe it as best you can.”

Adams: “I was standing in front of him. Then he slapped me. I went to block his hands, like this” (Adams put her hands in the air) “And then he…it was like he tackled me. And he got me to…” (Adams once again demonstrated a classic chokehold) “To try to keep me from pushing him or protecting myself.”

DA: “So you ended up in a position where his forearm or bicep was around your neck?”

Adams: “Yes”

Before cross-examination (from Diggs’ attorneys) have even had their chance to question her, Adams has changed her story multiple times. She was facing him at the dresser, then she was to the side of him. He put her in a chokehold, while facing her (She repeated this multiple times). Then, the story changed to he tackled her? The story isn’t consistent.

But wait, it gets worse.

Worse

Adams went on to describe Diggs choking her over the bed, and she attempted to free herself with a move she saw on a women’s defense page on Instagram. “When we got to the side of the bed I started pushing back.” Adams said. “I started to do a move I saw off of social media. He said to me ‘That shit, it is not gonna work’ It was a defensive move where you try to put your hands underneath the person that’s trying to choke you. It’s like something I saw on a woman’s defensive page or something. And he said ‘that shit you see on Instagram is not gonna work.’”

The move she was describing with her hands is where you attempt to slip your arm into a chokehold to give yourself some space to breathe, and ideally break the attacker’s grip.

Glaringly obvious question - unless Adams had previously spoken with Stefon Diggs about all of the different Instagram, chokehold, self defense techniques, how would he even know to say that?

Why would he know she saw it on Instagram? Why not TikTok? Why not Facebook? How does he know she didn’t just get it off of one of ten million action movies where the heroes use that move? Pretty sure I’ve seen Keanu Reeves pull that off at least ten times.

To me, Adams’ story felt as if she were adding details in the moment.

The Immaculate Police Report (That’s very maculate)

Adams filed a police report on December 16th, 2025. Stefon Diggs’ attorney, Sara Silva, loved it.

Sara Silva: “The story you just told to this jury under oath was very different from the one you told to Officer Ellis (Who took the police report), would you agree with me?”

Adams: “Yes”

Silva: “What you said to Officer Ellis when you reported this crime, this so-called-crime, is that you had been having an ongoing text exchange over money owed to you?”

Adams: “Yes”

Silva: “You told the police officer, who filed the criminal report in this case, based on your word, that your fight with Mr. Diggs on December 2nd was over money. True?”

Adams: “Yes”

Silva: “Except you just testified under oath to this jury, that you didn’t start talking about money, until December 5th, right?”

Adams: “What did you say?”

Silva: “You just testified under oath to this jury…”

Adams: “I’ve been begging for my money since December the 5th. Mr. Diggs, and throughout those messages you can see that I was begging for my money since that day.”

Adams answered the question so confidently, that I think it actually stumped Silva.

Silva: “What text messages?”

Adams: “There’s other text messages.”

Silva: “Ms. Adams, do you recall testifying under oath to this jury that your fight on December 2nd, was about your anger at Lindsey and you being told you couldn’t go on the Miami trip?”

Adams: “My anger was at Stefon, I never said my anger was at Lindsey”

Silva: “You were angry at Stefon on December 2nd?”

Adams: “Yes”

Silva: “Because you were told you couldn’t go on the…”

Adams: “I was angry at Stefon because we were friends and he told me at the last minute I could not go to Art Basel.”

Silva: “And yet, when you walked into the police station on December 16th, you said you had been having an ongoing text exchange over money owed to you?”

Adams: “Yes, over money owed to me after I asked Mr. Diggs, on December the 2nd, when can I get paid?”

After Adams, seemingly accidentally admitted to misleading the police, the jury or both, multiple times, the question of her injuries arose.

Silva: “You didn’t have any injuries when you walked into the Police Office on December 16th, did you?”

Adams: “No, because it happened on December 2nd.”

Silva: “Right, so any injuries that you would have had, you had a reason for why they weren’t there, right?”

Adams: “It happened and it faded. The fading went away that night.”

Silva went on to ask Adams if she had taken any pictures of her claimed injuries to her arms, neck, and chest and if she had any marks on her face from where Stefon Diggs had allegedly slapped her - to all of which, Adams answered no.

Silva: “You understand Mr. Diggs is a professional football player, right?”

Adams: “Yes”

Silva: “He’s an elite athlete?”

Adams: “I don’t know. He’s an athlete”

Silva: “You don’t know that he’s an elite athlete?”

Adams: “I guess. If you call him that.”

Then came the part about the bruises.

Silva: “You agree that bruises get worse over time, right?”

Adams: “I’m not sure. I don’t get bruises a lot. I don’t recall.”

Silva: “Do you recall telling Officer Ellis you were bruised on December 2nd?”

Adams: “My idea of bruising is hurt, soreness, hurting, I was red. It was redness. My face was red, and all of my chest was red. I didn’t turn purple or pink or anything like that. It was redness.”

Adams went on to explain a form she filled out describing the injuries she supposedly sustained on December 2nd, where she explained her pain level as being a 10 (The worst) on her shoulders, throat, and chest.

That’s when Silva pulled out the video (That was played using VLC Media Player, by the way. If you don’t know what that is, you’re either slightly younger than me or WAY older than me.)

The videos showed Adams just a day or so after the alleged 10 out of 10 attack. Dancing, smiling, laughing with friends in New York.

The obvious point was made - if your pain was a 10 out of 10, caused by an elite athlete like Stefon Diggs, how was there no bruising? How do the marks go away that same night?

Conclusion to Day 1

I could seriously watch this all day. Actually I have. I’m working hard for you guys!

There’s nothing to prove that Stefon Diggs didn’t assault Mila Adams. At the end of the day, it’s not possible to prove a negative which is why innocent until proven guilty is so important. I’m not in a position to say that Stefon absolutely did it or absolutely didn’t.

But here’s an important reality. If you’re going to come forward to hold an abuser accountable, that’s great. I encourage every victim to do that. But you can’t leave details out when you file your police report. You don’t get to determine what the police need for their investigation. You don’t get to determine what the jury does and does not need to know. That’s not up to you or me. It’s up to our legal system. And our legal system doesn’t work if everyone keeps trying to manipulate it and outsmart it.

That’s the most optimistic take I have on Mila Adams at this point in time, because while I don’t have evidence that Stefon Diggs didn’t commit this horrible act, I do have evidence that Mila Adams omitted details from the police. Her own testimony is that she told the police one story and told the jury another.

Personally, I think the prosecution should attempt to save face by dismissing all charges first thing in the morning. After Mila Adams’ disastrous testimony on Day 1, there’s no way a fair jury rules in her favor. They already know that either they were misled, or the police were. It’s over.

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“We tried to keep this under wraps as long as we could,” Simpson said. “It was something to where I knew [the Los Angeles Rams] were interested, but they wanted to make it private and didn’t want people to know that they were interested. So, I had some secret meetings with Coach McVay, and I just was trying to be on script and do what everybody told me and not to tell anybody.”

Simpson went on to elaborate that he and McVay spoke for “hours and hours” about football.

As long as the secret meeting isn’t in Sedona, Arizona, it’s fine by the NFL’s standards. Actually, by the NFL’s standards Sedona, Arizona would have been fine too…

The secret meeting with Simpson makes sense. The Rams spent little time at Simpson’s pro day because they didn’t want to tip their hand that they might be interested.

Simpson’s confidence the Rams were interested in him also makes sense. On Monday ESPN reported that hours before the draft, the Rams informed both Matthew Stafford and Spencer Rattler that if Simpson was available, they were planning to take him. Wouldn’t want anybody to feel “blindsided.”

The part of the story that still doesn’t make sense is McVay’s reaction after Simpson was selected 13th overall. McVay appeared upset in the draft room and the press conference following Round 1 of the Draft. When asked about it later, he chalked it up to being generally “grumpy.” Nobody’s buying that, by the way.

Thinking through the possibilities feels like something from an Ian Fleming novel. A spy story where the secret agent must evaluate every possible angle to find the truth.

If he spent “hours and hours” speaking with Simpson ahead of the draft, and the player he wanted to fall to him did so, why would McVay be grumpy? Why did he make sure to convey to the media that the team was still Matthew Stafford’s and that he has whatever timeline he wants?

Okay - what do we already know?
The ESPN report! Hours before the draft McVay informed Stafford that they were selecting a quarterback with the 13th overall pick. Is that the clue? HOURS BEFORE THE DRAFT?

Now—this is where we have to start connecting dots, because something doesn’t add up.

McVay thought the conversation with Stafford would go well. He’d understand that the team had to think beyond the 38-year-old quarterback entering the last year of his contract. He’d welcome the young buck, and serve as a mentor to him for the next year...maybe two if an extension can be done.

But if that conversation didn’t go the way McVay expected…everything after that starts to make a lot more sense.

Stafford, coming off of an MVP season where he was a few plays away from reaching his second Super Bowl, doesn’t want a succession plan. He wants an asset that will help him win. Not only his second Super Bowl and MVP, but earn a massive contract extension. How could McVay not get that?

After that conversation, McVay returns to the draft room with a different perspective. Now is the time to win. Not a year from now. Maybe the Rams should upgrade offensive line? Defensive line? Trade back and make a few more selections in the draft? Maybe the plan changed.

But the pick didn’t.

Les Snead didn’t care.

Les wants to win another Super Bowl too. But not just one. He wants two, three, or maybe even four.

Stafford can’t do that. He doesn’t have enough time.

Simpson does.

On top of that, with Stetson Bennett or Jimmy Garoppolo behind Stafford, he had leverage. Surely the Rams can’t expect to win all year with either of those quarterbacks. With Simpson? The leverage goes back to Snead. Simpson is hope for a brighter tomorrow. Stafford is a relic of the past.

So even if there was hesitation…there wasn’t enough time to pivot.

The Rams were on the clock, and minutes later, the pick was in.

Ty Simpson was now a Los Angeles Ram.

And the secret meeting—the one that did happen—might not have just been about drafting a quarterback. It might have been the moment the Rams quietly started preparing for life after Matthew Stafford.

And whether Stafford likes it or not…that clock is now ticking.

And the secret meeting—the one that did happen—might not have just been about drafting a quarterback. It might have been the moment the Rams quietly started preparing for life after Matthew Stafford.
And whether Stafford likes it or not…that clock is now ticking.

Sean McVay will return…

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Oh—and the dark room with just the coach, GM, and tablet? Yeah… I made that part up. According to Simpson they really did have a secret meeting. He just didn’t describe what exactly that entailed. The spy story needed a setting!

Jacoby Brissett and the Arizona Cardinals are currently in a contract dispute that’s already involved the quarterback missing non-mandatory offseason workouts, and national media has barely scratched the topic. I just typed “Jacoby Brissett” into Google News, and here are the reports in order:

Arizona Sports: Are Cardinals sending Jacoby Brissett a message with Carson Beck addition? (3 hours ago)

NJ: NFL GM believes 2025 starting QB will be dealt before trade deadline (4 hours ago)

The Palm Beach Post: Carson Beck, Jacoby Brissett make Florida QB room for Cardinals (2 days ago)

Am I the only one that finds it funny that the top three outlets to cover Jacoby Brissett are local news sites, and only one of them is Arizona related?

Cardinals fans, this 12 has your back! (Until the season rolls around. Then my bird is better than your bird.)

Entering the final year of his contract, Jacoby Brissett and the Cardinals have yet to reach terms on a new deal. Reportedly Brissett is looking for more guaranteed money. He only has $1.5 Million guaranteed in 2026, which is less than the $5.14 Million the team guaranteed Gardner Minshew on the 1-year-deal he signed this offseason. It remains to be seen what the Cardinals will guarantee to 3rd round selection Carson Beck.

The trouble for Brissett is that he doesn’t have any leverage. He’s not the long-term solution for the Cardinals. He’s not leaps and bounds better than Gardner Minshew, if he even is better. Hell, he might not be better than rookie Carson Beck. Brissett could be the third best quarterback on the roster by Week 1.

Making matters worse, cutting him saves the team $5.94 Million against the salary cap. Frankly, the Cardinals might be better off letting him go and pursuing a free agent like Jimmy Garoppolo or Russell Wilson. Garoppolo and Wilson combine for three Super Bowl starts and have significantly more starting experience to offer Carson Beck than Brissett does. If the plan is to develop Beck into the eventual franchise quarterback, who better to learn from than a 10 time pro bowler? Or even Jimmy Garoppolo.

If I were the 34-year-old Jacoby Brissett, I’d commit to playing as hard as I can this season as a 1-year-audition to the rest of the league. Then maybe Brissett can play next year as either a bridge or veteran backup. Otherwise this contract dispute could be the end of his career.

Well, there it is. Your reminder that the Cardinals do exist, and their quarterback question marks are just as good as anyone else’s quarterback question marks.

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In case you’re lacking context, I think I can give it to you in one word. Affair. Outside of abuse and divorce, that’s probably the worst word to have in a marriage. 

It’s one of the best words for juicy reporting, however. Nobody knows that better than the New York Post, who masterfully orchestrated the reporting on the Vrabel/Russini scandal leading into the NFL Draft. 

On April 7th the New York Post dropped a bombshell report describing the Patriots head coach and The Athletic’s most prominent NFL Insider being spotted together at a romantic, adults only resort in Sedona, Arizona without their spouses. The article was accompanied with photos of the two exchanging hugs, holding hands, and lounging by the pool. The New York Post, as any respected outlet would, reached out to both parties for comment ahead of the story dropping. 

Vrabel’s statement: “These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response.” 

I wonder how laughable it is now…

and he did in fact give a further response…

Russini’s statement: “The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”

First of all, the New York Post did its job and spoke with other guests who spotted Russini and Vrabel at the resort - they all stated they only saw the two of them. 

Second of all, none of the supposed friends of Russini and Vrabel have come forward. Unless they were also there having affairs, there’s no reason for them to remain hidden. 

Third of all, Russini’s statement breaks one of the biggest rules in journalism. You NEVER oust a source. Describing Vrabel as a source, even if it seems obvious, is a complete violation of The Journalist Code. Unlike The Pirate’s Code, the Journalist Code is more like actual rules than guidelines (RIP Captain Barbosa).

Despite the story blowing up Twitter X, Mainstream sports outlets, such as ESPN and Fox Sports, remained suspiciously quiet about the top trending New York Post post. The overwhelming theory on ESPN’s silence stems from a January 1st transaction that involved the NFL acquiring 10% of ESPN (In turn ESPN took over NFL Media). 

Barstool’s Pardon My Take podcast was heavily criticized for not covering the story in their episode that was recorded hours after the news broke. Days later, during a hilarious lashing from Jerry O’Connel, PMT did a full analysis on the incident and admitted their previous silence was due to personal friendships with Dianna Russini. 

The only mainstream sports outlet that consistently, and objectively, reported on the alleged affair (That’s no longer alleged) was NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk and PFT Live. That blog and program are both only half owned by NBC, as Mike Florio famously retains the other 50%. That gives Florio the authority to report on whatever he pleases. Being a former attorney, I’m sure NBC trusts his discretion to write things that won’t get him or his business partner in legal courtroom trouble. The court of public opinion is an entirely different matter. Having been a fan of Florio’s work for years, I can say that whenever he reports on something that upsets readers/viewers, they don’t seem to blame NBC. Commenters aren’t scared to give Florio all the hate they deem necessary (You have to be comfortable with that in this space). 

Eventually Fox Sports and others came around discussing the Russini and Vrabel situation. Even ESPN had to finally report on it with one article they tucked away deep on their website last week. It was written by Dan Murphy whose profile says he’s worked for ESPN.com since 2014 and covers the Big 10. The article was short and added nothing to the previous reporting. Not a violation of the Journalist Code but definitely a weenie move. 

Speaking of weenie moves, Mike Vrabel finally addressed the media on April 21st, exactly two weeks after the NY Post published Vrabel’s comments calling their report laughable. Vrabel’s press conference included a three minute statement where he declined to take any accountability, while saying he’ll take accountability. 

“You know, we believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions.” Vrabel said. “That includes me, that starts with me. We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. You never want to be the cause of a distraction. And when I — those are comments and questions that I’ve answered for the team, with the team, we’ll keep those private and to ourselves.”

After his statement, Vrabel agreed to speak to a few select reporters off camera to address football related questions only. 

When one of the reporters asked Vrabel about Russini resigning over the situation minutes after speaking of his own accountability, Vrabel said “I’m not going to be able to comment on anything as it relates to that.”

Merriam-Webster Definition of Accountability: “an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions”

Here’s the brilliance of the New York Post’s timeline. They dropped the initial report on April 7th, two weeks and two days before the NFL Draft. Reports then leaked that there may be more photos, and that TMZ Sports (Their competitor) had the first crack at acquiring the story (and pictures), but failed to do so. After Mike Vrabel’s press conference, two days before the draft, the New York Post released more photos of Russini and Vrabel in Sedona, Arizona. The photos didn’t add anything new, but sparked more social media conversation and coverage. 

Then, hours before the draft…

Weeks after Vrabel called the insinuations “laughable” and Russini implied the interaction as business related…

A week after Russini’s resignation letter denied the allegations…

A day after Vrabel attempted to quiet the story with an embarrassing press conference…

The New York Post dropped the biggest bomb yet…

Photos from six years ago, a time when Vrabel was still married to his current wife, and Russini engaged to her now husband, of the two kissing in a bar. 

Hours ahead of the biggest NFL event of the offseason, the New York Post dropped evidence of an affair that began SIX YEARS AGO involving the reigning AFC Champion Head Coach and a prominent NFL Insider. In a day and age where news is heavily pushed based on the almighty social media algorithms, the New York Post took full advantage of the NFL offseason schedule. 

Shortly after the biggest bombshell of the series, we also learned that Dianna’s son is named “Michael” (Great name…but way sus, dude). Her son was born over a year after the March 2020 photos of her and Vrabel kissing. So while the internet is hypothesizing that Vrabel is the father, it still seems most likely that he’s the offspring of Russini and her husband. 

Vrabel went on to announce that he was going to miss Day 3 of the NFL Draft to seek counseling and spend time with his family. 

Russini’s Twitter X remains deleted.

While I was confirming Russini’s Twitter X status, the New York Post dropped an update. Vrabel was spotted in Salt Lake City buying what the article described as an “apology gift” for his wife. Some men buy jewelry. Others buy flowers. Vrabel bought a light blue sweatsuit… 

The Russini and Vrabel story is the gift that keeps on giving for the New York Post, and they’ve managed it masterfully. There will surely be more fruit to fall from this tree. 

Any Patriots player that’s outspoken about infidelity, or gets caught committing a similar act, connections will be drawn (Fair or not). 

If the Patriots do in fact land AJ Brown, as Russini reported earlier this offseason, her name will be dragged for “how” she got that inside scoop (Fair or not). 

If the Patriots start the season slow, “distractions” will be the culprit (Fair or not).

If Russini gets another job, the size of this story will be the “reason” (Fair or not)

If Vrabel is fired or resigns, this incident will be the “reason” (Fair or not)

If either or both get divorced…fair.

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John Stanton is a cheap fuck!

And yeah—maybe this isn’t entirely Stanton’s fault… but it’s exactly the kind of thing that happens under his watch. We’re unveiling a statue for Ichiro Suzuki. One of the greatest (If not the greatest) Mariners of all time. One of the greatest players in MLB history. The first Japanese player in league history. And upon pulling the tarp, the bat breaks off the statue?

What’d you build it with—Legos? Elmer’s glue? Leftover budget from free agency? (The Mariners are 16^th in payroll and it shows).

But we’re not even shelling out a few bucks to make sure we’re honoring the greats in the right way?

Don’t get me wrong, the bat breaking off was funny. The Mariners Social Media team did an awesome job, immediately posting a broken bat replica statue.

But this is embarrassing for the organization. As punishment, I sentence you to five years of Top 10 payroll. No appeals. No deferrals. No “we like our guys homegrown.”

Seriously, get us into the top 10 payroll and see what a difference that makes.

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You’ve seen the photos by now. Russini and Vrabel holding hands, spending time by the pool. Reports of them dancing on the rooftop of a private bungalow with a breathtaking view of Arizona’s Brins Mesa mountain range. I’ve been tiptoeing around a lawsuit on this topic, but damn it if that doesn’t sound like a romantic trip. And when two people go on a trip like that together, without their spouses – most people call that an affair.

That’s likely not what The Athletic (Owned by The New York Times) is looking into, because why bother? Short of a leaked text conversation, a dirty video leak, or more photos dropping, you’re probably not finding any hard proof.

The Athletic is more likely looking into the possibility that Dianna Russini’s reporting was abused to benefit the Patriots. If Russini broke stories to deliberately communicate New England’s desire to trade or sign players on other teams, that’s not only a violation of the league’s tampering rules, which would land the Patriots in hot water – but an outright ethical concern regarding journalistic integrity.

Journalists breaking stories are supposed to either remain impartial or disclose their conflict of interests. Nobody cares if Fireman Ed says the Jets want to trade for Justin Jefferson. Even if he got that information from a valid source, his conflict is known, so the public can fairly make up their own mind on whether to trust his reporting or not. With Russini, her conflict (if there is one) was not disclosed.

*Disclaimer – Fireman Ed did not provide a comment for this article.

Regardless of whether The Athletic finds any proof of Russini abusing her position or not, they have a mess on their hands. On X, Russini attempted sharing an article by another writer at The Athletic, early on Thursday Morning. That went about as expected – hilarious! But it does point to a bigger issue. Even if Russini’s name gets cleared, the internet isn’t forgetting. Anything she posts is going to have comment sections roasting her for this alleged affair, regardless of proof.

Fair or not (and the answer is not), the consequences aren’t as bad for Vrabel. Sure, if he wins this season people will question how much insider information he may have gotten from Russini. They’ll question how much misinformation he pushed out. But at the end of the day, as long as he wins – nobody cares.

For a journalist the standards are different. Winning isn’t enough. How you got the information, how accurate the information is, and who that information is going to – matters just as much as the story itself.

Bottom line, this is going to follow Russini no matter what the investigation finds, and The Athletic likely knows that already.

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New England Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel and NFL Insider Dianna Russini are in hot water due to circulating photos of the two holding hands, spending time in the pool, and reports of dancing (I think I hear a gasp from every parent from the town in Footloose). The incident took place at a resort known as a romantic getaway. And based on the photos, it lives up to the hype.

Since the story broke, both Vrabel and Russini have categorically denied accusations of an affair. Vrabel and Russini are both married with children, for what it’s worth.

“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” Vrabel told the NY Post. “This doesn’t deserve any further response.”

Russini’s comments drew a little more criticism. “The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”

The first part of Russini’s statement is a defense to the alleged affair that’s not relevant to this article (Though I’ll admit I’m curious why none of the four people she’s alluding to have come forward).

It’s the second part of Russini’s statement that pushes Vrabel into a corner. Being described as a “source” is no small thing for the Head Coach of an NFL team. Because there’s an important distinction between an interview subject and a “source”.

We’ve all seen Vrabel as an interview subject before. His appearance on Bussin With the Boys where he agreed to cut off his member in exchange for a Super Bowl Win comes to mind. That might have solved a few of his problems, actually.

But a “source” is more secretive. Imagine a blacked-out face with a deep voice changer. That’s what sources are to the general public. Head Coaches, however, should have very visible faces with very clear, unchanged voices!

Vrabel having a direct pipeline to the media, via Russini, gives the Patriots the ability to manipulate storylines, push narratives, even tamper with players from other teams.

If Russini drops a story saying something like…oh, I don’t know. Let’s pick something random like… “The Patriots are interested in AJ Brown.” She’s essentially communicating to Brown on behalf of the Patriots.

Mike Vrabel is going to need to address that point, and all the subsequent questions and points that come from it. He’ll certainly be asked about it at his next mandatory media availability, at the NFL Draft on April 23^rd.

The shame of that is Draft Night should be primarily about the players being drafted and the life-changing position their hard work has put them in. Not about Head Coach/Media scandals. Vrabel has one way to ensure the questions remain about the players on Draft Night, and he’s not going to like it.

He needs to host a press conference.

The sooner the better.

He needs to make it clear that the press conference may be the only time he’s going to address the accusations of being a source to Russini. Surely reporters will ask questions about his personal life too – but he should shut those down and keep it about football. Then at the draft when a reporter asks him about Russini, he can refer them back to the press conference and keep the draft about the players.

Vrabel can keep laughing off the accusations all he wants. But the questions aren’t going anywhere. And if he never addresses it, every narrative about the Patriots will be put under the largest of microscopes and inevitably be a distraction for the coach and the club.

Address it and move on,

Or let it linger and bring down the organization.

Vrabel’s choice.

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Simms went on to argue that outside noise will dictate the decision.

“I mean, we had people ready to pillage the city of Cleveland last year because they started Dillon Gabriel. I don’t think there’s any choice in this matter….I just feel like yeah, the public clamoring, the media, the social media, everything there. He did have some good moments.”

Chis isn’t wrong about there being some flashes.

But let’s not rewrite reality.

Yes, Shedeur Sanders technically made a Pro Bowl.
He also completed just 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

That’s not a quarterback that you’re “forced” to start.

The problem for Sanders (And Dillon Gabriel for that matter) is that Deshaun Watson is still on the roster. And while his massive $44.9 million Cap Hit isn’t going to guarantee him the job, his experience and talent should easily outperform the two Sophomore QBs.

As for the notion that Todd Monken is going to choose a starter based on what X and TikTok think is laughable.

Todd Monken is 60 years old and getting his first NFL Head Coaching opportunity. He’s not about to risk what easily could be his one and only shot at the helm, based on DogPoundGuy95.

If Monken thinks Shedeur Sanders is the best man for the job, he’ll start him. Simple as that.

Monken said as much at a recent press conference with Cleveland media.

“There’s enough there of all three.” Monken said of his quarterbacks. “I mean, I think we’d all be able to say that. Like I mean there’s enough there to really like Deshaun, the way he plays. And there’s enough there to really like the way Shedeur played at the back end of the year. And there’s enough early in the year from Dillon that is playing the position at a very high level…someone’s going to have to start off first and someone’s going to go second and someone’s going to go third and then we’ll be willing to switch that. That’s easy, ya know? On a daily basis what we see…just like any position that’s not set in stone.”

In other words, the Browns have a true quarterback competition this offseason.

A year ago, the Cleveland Quarterback room looked very different. The Browns entered the draft with Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, and Kenny Pickett all on the roster. The Browns left the draft adding Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.

The five quarterback room was a laughing stock across the league until the Browns traded Kenny Pickett to the Raiders. Having said that, if the Browns want to run it back, Russell Wilson is still available.

My prediction is that Deshaun Watson wins the job. That thought gives me a wicked fantasy that Watson will play great and trap the Browns into giving him another massive contract, putting themselves right back into purgatory.

That fantasy isn’t to punish Browns fans; you’ve been through enough. Rather to punish Owner Jimmy Haslam for giving $230 Million fully guaranteed to a man accused by more than twenty-five women of sexual misconduct.

Enjoy purgatory, Jimmy.

Sorry, Browns fans.

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of NFL Insider Dianna Russini spending time in a romantic getaway with Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel. The loud reaction stems from two main issues with the encounter.

1. Both Russini and Vrabel are married

2. Russini, as an NFL Insider for The Athletic, is supposed to be impartial

Assuming the photos do in fact indicate an inappropriate relationship, the first point is the issue of the spouses, and sadly, the children of Vrabel and Russini’s respective marriages. The 2nd point is the one that has Eagles fans in an uproar.

In recent years, Russini has been viewed as overly critical of the Eagles (Who happen to be her husband’s favorite team, for what it’s worth). The angle Eagles fans are voicing the most displeasure about, is Russini’s reporting that the Patriots are very interested in trading for AJ Brown.

If Russini planted that story to help her secret boyfriend, by manufacturing turmoil for another team, the concern is fair. Or maybe Russini started that story because the Patriots want AJ Brown, and making sure he knows that New England’s an option increases their chances of getting him. And then of course there’s the third possibility. Russini was upset with her husband and decided to start a fake rumor about his favorite team as a petty way to mess with him.

I’m not giving a ton of credence to the third possibility because honestly, if she wanted to piss off her husband she could just trash him on TV like she has for years.

Here’s the thing Eagles fans aren’t going to like – If Russini and Vrabel are as close as many believe them to be, it backs up her reporting more than hurts it. Who would know more about what players a head coach is seriously interested in than a respected sports journalist they’re spending intimate time with?

Maybe she planted the story to help Vrabel, maybe she reported on legitimate information she got from the coach, or neither. But one thing is clear with her reporting, the Patriots want AJ Brown.

The Patriots have the most cap space in the league, so a trade and new contract are not unreasonable. Pairing AJ Brown with Romeo Dobbs would give Drake Maye significant upgrades for pass catchers just a year removed from an MVP caliber season. And not only was AJ Brown vocal about his displeasure with the Eagles last season, but he recently went on Julian Edleman’s podcast and said that he came to appreciate Mike Vrabel after their split in Tennessee. So let’s face it, even if we forget about Russini’s reporting, there’s a lot of reasons to believe the Patriots would make a good landing spot for AJ Brown.

As for whether AJ Brown is truly available remains to be seen. Per Spotrac, trading AJ Brown prior to June 1st costs the Eagles $20.1 Million against the cap. After June 1st the Eagles save over $7 Million. So, if AJ’s available, as I believe him to be, a trade wouldn’t be likely until June 1st.

Russini’s credibility is taking a hit right now. That’s fair.

But messy situation or not…

The report itself? Still adds up.