Justin Simmons took aim at ESPN on Monday after the network discussed Broncos linebacker Jonathan Cooper’s domestic violence case during “Monday Night Football” while, in Simmons’ view, sidestepping the controversy involving Mike Vrabel.
“So we can talk about Jonathon Cooper on TV but not Vrabel? That’s insane," Simmons tweeted on Monday.
Simmons, who spent eight seasons with the Denver Broncos from 2016 through 2023, was one of the franchise’s most decorated defenders in that span, earning two Pro Bowl nods and four second-team All-Pro selections. He finished his playing career with one season in Atlanta in 2024.
Cooper’s legal situation has been in the spotlight since his arrests twice in June on domestic violence charges. He pleaded not guilty to felony domestic violence charges in a Colorado court in August, and his trial is scheduled for Nov. 10.
Vrabel’s name entered the conversation after his own offseason controversy with former NFL reporter Dianna Russini. In April, photos of the two at an adults-only resort in Arizona spread on social media. Both denied wrongdoing, but Russini later resigned from her job at The Athletic, and Vrabel missed Day 3 of the NFL draft to seek counselling.
Last week, The Athletic’s internal investigation said Russini had violated conflict-of-interest disclosure policies tied to her relationship with Vrabel.
The Patriots coach is now back in the news for reasons on the field, too. New England dropped its Week 1 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, 13-10, after carrying a 10-0 lead into the second half and then giving up 13 straight points.
Drake Maye’s fourth quarter unraveled from there. The Patriots quarterback threw three interceptions in the final period, including a game-ending pick in the end zone on the last possession.
New England turns to the Pittsburgh Steelers next, with the Week 2 matchup set for Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Pittsburgh opened its season with a 20-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
In Other News...
Patriots Just Sent A Telling Message About Their O-Line Depth
The Patriots trimmed their practice squad by moving on from undrafted rookie center Jacob Rizy, a small but revealing bit of business for a team still sorting through its offensive line depth. Rizy had signed with New England out of Florida State and had been working as the third center on the depth chart, but the return of veteran Ben Brown to full health changed the math in a hurry.
Xavier Newman-Johnsons recent visit adds another layer to the picture, especially with an open practice squad spot available. For a line that has been under constant evaluation, New Englands latest moves suggest the staff is continuing to churn the bottom of the roster and look for more reliable interior depth before the next stretch of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Week 2 Matchup Just Got More Interesting For One Reason
Joey Porter Jr.s week got a little murkier on the Steelers side of the Patriots Week 2 matchup. After missing Pittsburghs season opener, the cornerback was expected to ramp up his practice work as he worked back from a back issue, but he left practice early with a trainer after only taking part in some individual drills.
Pittsburgh is still listing Porter as limited with a non-injury-related conditioning designation, and the Steelers will keep monitoring his availability leading into Sunday. For New England, its the kind of developing defensive storyline worth tracking, because a healthier Steelers secondary would change the look of a matchup that already had enough on the line. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Got Dragged Into An NFL Opener Experiment That Backfired
The NFLs 2026 season opener was supposed to feel like a showcase, with the Patriots and Seahawks meeting in a Super Bowl rematch and the league leaning hard into its global ambitions. Instead, the game became a scheduling experiment, moving to a Wednesday for the first time in NFL history so the league could clear the calendar for a Thursday night contest in Australia. It was the kind of bold setup the NFL often hopes will generate buzz before the season even gets going.
What followed was a reminder that not every novelty lands the way the league imagines. The Wednesday opener drew a significant drop in viewership compared with previous season kicks, and that has already started to raise questions about whether the NFL will try this again. For the Patriots, it was one more odd wrinkle attached to a game that was supposed to be about football first, and instead became part of a broader debate over how far the league should go in pushing its schedule around the world. [Read more 🡒]