ESPN’s first Monday Night Football broadcast of the season turned into more than a divisional matchup between the Chiefs and Broncos. A midgame explanation about why Denver defender Jonathon Cooper was unavailable set off a wave of criticism, with some former NFL players accusing the network of applying a “double standard.”
Kansas City rolled past Denver 31-10, but the broadcast briefly shifted away from the action when sideline reporter Laura Rutledge addressed Cooper’s absence. She explained that he is on the commissioner’s exempt list after being arrested twice in June.
Cooper is facing domestic violence charges involving his girlfriend. He pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of assault by strangulation along with three misdemeanors, and his trial is set for November 10.
“Well Joe, we’re seeing this Broncos defense struggle, and it is worth remembering that Jonathon Cooper is not with the Broncos right now, as he is on the Commissioner’s Exempt List after being arrested twice in seven days in June for domestic violence charges,” Rutledge said during the broadcast. She also noted Cooper’s importance to Denver’s defense.
That explanation did not sit well with Justin Simmons. The former Broncos safety and four-time All-Pro blasted ESPN on X, arguing the network should have stayed focused on the game.
“That’s absolute bs btw. Shame on all of the production on Monday night football and the crew.
You’re supposed to call the game. Coop isn’t playing the game and isn’t on the sidelines,” Simmons wrote.
From there, the discussion widened beyond Cooper. Other former NFL players and fans brought up Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini, questioning why ESPN had not treated those situations the same way.
One person wrote, “I’d be okay with it if they talked about everyone’s problems. Not a peep about Vrabels fuckery during the patriots broadcast.”
Not everyone agreed with the backlash. Some defended the network, saying the broadcast was simply giving viewers the reason an important player was missing.
“It’s part of the story. You’re acting like they convicted him or found him guilty. They’re simply explaining why he’s not there,” one person wrote.
The reaction has now put ESPN’s handling of player controversies under fresh scrutiny.
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