The NFL world was buzzing Thursday night with the release of the full 2026 schedule, but the conversation hasn't fully moved on from the controversy involving New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and former insider Dianna Russini. The scandal, which has drawn attention from outlets as varied as TMZ and the Wall Street Journal, remains a hot topic as the new season approaches.

Chase Daniel, who co-hosted the "Scoop City" podcast with Russini until March, addressed the situation during a recent appearance on "The Jim Rome Show." Daniel, a former NFL quarterback turned analyst, offered a measured take on the matter while keeping his distance from the details.

"Look, that's something that's just unfortunate in many different ways. And we haven't really chatted about it," Daniel said. "We haven't done any of that, so I'm going to leave that there. That's their business. It has turned into quite the assignment of everything—it's like TMZ is covering it, the Wall Street Journal, all these things are covering it. So I'm sure she'll land on her feet somewhere, and that's all I'll really say about that."

Daniel's comments reflect a careful approach from someone who worked closely with Russini, choosing to respect privacy while acknowledging the media storm. For his part, Vrabel has garnered significant support and praise for how he's handled the aftermath of the ordeal, with many in the league commending his professionalism.

As the Patriots turn the page, all eyes are now on their season opener—a Super Bowl LX rematch against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1 on September 9. It's a heavyweight matchup that promises to shift the narrative back to football, where it belongs.