Justin Simmons was an outstanding NFL safety, collecting second-team All-Pro honors four times during his nine-year career. However, now retired, Simmons should probably be more careful with his social media commentary.
That’s because Simmons stepped on something of an online landmine Monday night while he was watching his former Denver Broncos team play the Kansas City Chiefs.
During the broadcast, ESPN’s Joe Buck noted that Broncos’ linebacker Jonathon Cooper was not in the lineup because he’s currently suspended on the NFL exempt list while he awaits a Nov. 10 trial on four charges, including felony second-degree assault by strangulation of his former girlfriend.
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The broadcast apparently triggered Simmons, who took to his X account to make a comparative point.
The former NFL great complained that ESPN was mentioning his former teammate during the broadcast but the situation between New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and former reporter Dianna Russini wasn’t discussed on TV.
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Former Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons holds the Justin Simmons Free Florida Youth Football Camp on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at South Fork High School in Stuart. More than 200 children ages 6 through 17 from around the Treasure Coast participated along with several NFL players and local coaches. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
So, social media simply moved on without pushback whatsoever.
Yeah, right.
Multiple people basically told off Simmons. They made the point that even if Vrabel’s relationship with Russini was perhaps morally wrong, if one assumes it reached heights that have not been proven, it wasn’t illegal.
Vrabel has been put before the court of public opinion for the relationship, but there are no allegations of abuse that will be heard in a court of law. The analogy between Cooper and Vrabel is flawed at best.
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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel holds a press conference before minicamp at Gillette Stadium. (Eric Canha-Imagn Images)
So, Simmons found himself in a hole he jumped into. Then, unfortunately for him, he proceeded to dig himself deeper.
“That’s absolute bs btw,” Simmons wrote in an ensuing post as a media critic. “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.
“The MNF crew is paid to cover THE GAME not the players who are not playing or even at the game.”
That’s an interesting use of capital letters. Let’s go with that flow:
Simmons is apparently of the opinion that, since his former teammate isn’t playing nor on the sideline – BECAUSE HE WAS ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF CHOKING HIS FORMER GIRLFRIEND AND THEN SUSPENDED BY THE NFL – the broadcast should not mention his name and situation.
Denver Broncos star Jonathon Cooper was arrested early Friday morning on suspicion of two counts of domestic violence and one count of criminal mischief in Colo. (Courtesy of Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
So any person not in the stadium is apparently off limits from discussion, per Simmons. That apparently should include a person who would be playing if he hadn’t done something for which he was arrested, charged with and apologized before he got lawyered up and pleaded not guilty.
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Simmons is a bright individual of great character. He played well and was a leader throughout his career, which means he rarely faced public criticism.
He was clearly caught off guard, then, when fans challenged his views on Vrabel and Cooper and on ESPN’s right to address the matter during its broadcast.
“I have hella people in my comments (mainly Pats fans) saying an affair is not the same as an ALLEGED conviction,” Simmons wrote. “Which is true. However, last time I checked MNF or any network hosting a game is supposed to talk about just that THE GAME not players who aren’t there or even playing.”
Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (0) sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Carson Wentz (11) in the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
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That is obviously not correct.
And what’s worse, the premise all this is based on is also incorrect. That’s because when the New England Patriots opened their season against the Seattle Seahawks, Vrabel’s situation was addressed on national television.
NBC even included the Russini-Vrabel scandal in an illustrated timeline of the Patriots’ offseason.
So, yes, Vrabel’s situation was discussed on TV and that was the right thing to do – just like it was perfectly correct for Cooper’s situation to be mentioned on Monday Night Football.
FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO