Dianna Russini looks on during the NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers on September 16, 2018 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh PA.
Former NFL reporter Dianna Russini never FaceTimed an NFL coach to get out of a traffic ticket, as she once claimed during an appearance on a radio show earlier this year.
Russini, who has been at the center of controversy since Page Six published a series of photos showing the married NFL insider too close for comfort with married Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, told the story in February when she was on the “Stugotz and Company” show.
Russini, who resigned from her insider job with The Athletic in April amid the controversy, claimed during the appearance that she had video-called an unnamed NFL coach of the favorite team of the cop who pulled her over and it helped get her out of a ticket.
The story resurfaced in a lengthy piece published by the New York Times last week exploring the controversy surrounding Russini.
Dianna Russini looks on during the NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers on September 16, 2018 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh PA. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The body camera video shows the stop playing out over a seven-minute and 10-second span and at no time does Russini FaceTime anyone, let alone an NFL coach.
What she did do, the video showed, was share that she had been texting with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and showed the cop the texts.
The stop happened in Ridgewood, N.J., after Russini was stopped for using her phone while driving.
Russini already appeared to know why she had been stopped when the officer approached her vehicle.
“I’m an NFL reporter, and I just broke that [coach] Sean McDermott got fired from the Bills. And that I what I was just sending to send, a tweet,” she told the officer. “I was gonna pull over, because I have to make calls. I know you don’t care, but I’m just letting you know my reason why. It was a work thing and it was an emergency for what I do.”
The officer notes that she had been on her phone “for a while” before he stopped her and that he did “understand you’ve got a job.”
Russini does move the conversation back to football, telling the cop that she was on the phone with former Giants coach Brian Daboll and that he “wants the job” in Buffalo.
After asking if he was a Jets or Giants fan and the cop revealing he was a Vikings fan, she then showed him the texts with O’Connell.
She also said that the Vikings’ “quarterback sucks.”
Eventually the officer lets her know that she won’t be getting a ticket.
“I’m gonna cut you a break on the cellphone. I understand your job requires you to be on the phone a lot. Just try to wait ‘til you get home, OK?” he said.
Head coach Brian Daboll of the New York Giants is greeted by head coach Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings after the Giants defeated the Minnesota Vikings 31-24 in the playoffs. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
It would seem that while Russini’s job did help her get a little goodwill, the story wasn’t as dramatic as originally told.
Ridgewood Police have also issued a statement from Chief Forest Ross Lyons about the encounter.
“On January 19, 2026, at 9:40 am, a Ridgewood police officer conducted a motor vehicle stop on Godwin Avenue involving Ms. Dianna Russini for the use of a handheld cell phone while driving,” he said in the statement to Pro Football Talk.
Dianna Russini attends the 2019 ESPY Awards at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. WireImage
“After following department protocol during the stop, and reviewing Ms. Russini’s driving history, the officer exercised his professional discretion and issued a verbal warning to Ms. Russini.
“The use of officer discretion in determining whether to issue a warning or a citation is consistent with Ridgewood Police Department policy and longstanding practice. Police officers are encouraged to use their judgment and, when appropriate, provide motorists with warnings as part of the Department’s commitment to fair, impartial and community-oriented policing.”
Dallas Goedert had opportunities to go elsewhere this offseason but instead he came back to the Eagles on a one-year contract for Year 9 of his career.
And he figures to be a very important piece of the puzzle on offense.
Goedert, 31, was able to stay healthy last season and put up good numbers. He played in 15 games and had 60 catches for 591 yards and 11 touchdowns. And he could have even more opportunity in 2026.
The Eagles this offseason finally traded away A.J. Brown, which leaves DeVonta Smith and Goedert as the top two remaining targets. On top of that, the Eagles brought in a new offensive coordinator in Sean Mannion, who is expected to run a scheme that has historically featured tight ends.
This offseason, Goedert said he studied guys like George Kittle and Tucker Kraft, who have thrived in a Shanahan scheme.
“You can only do so much on offense but a lot of the key emphases are a little different,” Goedert said this spring. “I feel like through watching what he wants to happen, there’s a lot of easy touches to the tight end, getting the ball in space, scheming ways to get us open. So I’m excited for that. I think the tight end is kind of a backbone of the offense in the run game, play-action, pass game. I think it’ll be a really good system to play in.”
Even though the Eagles drafted tight end Eli Stowers in the second round in April, it’s probably going to take him a while to become a consistent contributor at the NFL level. And even though the Eagles brought in Johnny Mundt in free agency, Mundt figures to be a blocking tight end.
So there’s a good chance that Goedert will still see a ton of targets from Jalen Hurts in 2026 after getting 82 targets last season, up from 52 in 10 games the previous year.
For whatever reason, it seemed like Goedert’s run blocking wasn’t up to his previous standard in 2025 but he was still a really dangerous target, especially in the red zone. He had 11 touchdown catches last season, which is a franchise record.
It’s possible this could be Goedert’s final season in Philadelphia, especially if Stowers becomes the tight end of the future. But this isn’t some ceremonial final year in Philly. The Eagles need him to play at a high level in 2026.
“Being able to play here for 8 years, we’ve put a lot of good runs together, been able to do special things,” Goedert said. “I feel like playing in an organization like the Eagles is special and I think we can do special things this year. I didn’t want to leave and not be part of it. Ultimately, I chose to come back and hopefully put another great year together.”
BEREA, OHIO - JUNE 03: Quinshon Judkins #10 of the Cleveland Browns runs a drill during the Cleveland Browns OTA Offseason Workouts at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 03, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Can the Browns win more than 7 games in 2026? The answer depends on QB (Orange and Brown talk podcast) – Nobody said rebuilding was going to be easy. But heading into the 2026 season, the Browns have layered so many unknowns on top of each other that even the most informed insiders are struggling to land on a firm prediction for the team’s record. On the latest Orange and Brown Talk podcast, that uncertainty came to a head in one of the most revealing debates of the episode, a simple true or false: Will the Browns win more than seven games this season?
Nov 2, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) looks to pass against Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) during the first half at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | Amber Searls-Imagn Images
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere…
The 5 O’Clock Club
The 5 o’clock club is published from time to time during the season, and aims to provide a forum for reader-driven discussion at a time of day when there isn’t much NFL news being published. Feel free to introduce topics that interest you in the comments below.
Previewing Washington’s 14 opponents of the ‘26 season — one at a time
In 2026, the Commanders will, like every other team in the NFL, play 17 games against 14 opponents. With the amount of roster change that NFL teams undergo annually along with the unusually large number of head coach and coordinator changes in 2026, it seems useful to spend some time to review each of Washington’s regular season opponents.
Dan Quinn and his Commanders will follow up a pair of NFC East road games to open the season with the first Washington home game of the 2026 season in Week 3.
Week 3 Preview: Seattle Seahawks at Washington Commanders
Date: September 28, 2026, 1 p.m. ET Location: Northwest Stadium in Landover Maryland
After road games in Weeks 1 & 2 against a pair of hated division rivals, the Commanders will return home in Week 3 to face the Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks in Week 3. No easy games to open the 2026 season! A lot could change by the time these two teams meet, but it’s no surprise that the early betting lines favor the Seahawks on the road against the Commanders.
The All-Time Series Numbers
While these two teams wouldn’t seem to be natural rivals, they have played one another 24 times since Seattle joined the league as an expansion team in the mid-1970s. Washington leads the overall series 13-11-0, and the burgundy & gold has won 8 of 15 games played in this millennium.
The Seahawks have prevailed in the postseason, however. The two teams met in the playoffs three times between the 2005 and 2012 seasons, with Seattle sweeping the Redskins by winning all 3 games — none by less than 10 points.
Interestingly, Washington has been more successful as the road team in recent years, losing 4 out of the last 5 games played in Landover while winning 3 of the last 5 games played in Seattle.
Commanders quarterback play and health has been an issue at times
I’m sure everyone will remember the gruesome-looking play in which Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow in the fourth quarter of the Week 9 game against the Seattle Seahawks at Northwest Stadium.
A similarly gruesome-looking knee injury ended the rookie season of Robert Griffin III against the Seahawks in the playoff game at Landover in January 2013.
In the three Seattle-Washington games played between those two injuries, Washington’s offense was led by Dwayne Haskins (2020), Taylor Heinicke (2021) and Sam Howell (2023), which may help explain the .250 win percentage under Ron Rivera and Dan Quinn.
Hopefully, Jayden Daniels can put an end to this streak of quarterback infamy and injury with a complete and winning effort in Week 3.
Seahawks quarterback stability
Seattle’s starting quarterback is Sam Darnold. Not so long ago, that would have been a reason for many NFL fans to scoff, but Darnold has just finished back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons with the Vikings and Seahawks, and he has a shiny new championship ring.
Like last year, Darnold is backed up by Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe.
#Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald says the team isn’t talking about defending its Super Bowl or “running it back.”
Instead, the phrase internally is: “We want to run it forward,” with the “it” referring to their process and identity as a team. pic.twitter.com/055rmwwEw5
The Seahawks coaching staff changes could be significant. Sam Darnold will have both a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterback coach. Fleury comes from 7 seasons with the 49ers; Prince is a 4th year coach who has moved up quickly in Seattle after one year in the college ranks.
Add in John Benton’s promotion to senior offensive assistant & offensive line coach, and we could see a very different Seahawks offense in 2026. Fleury’s offensive scheme will be a highly structured, modern variant of the Shanahan-style West Coast offense, built on wide-zone running, heavy pre-snap motion, and calculated deep shots — which may sound familiar to fans who have been reading up on Commanders’ new offensive coordinator David Blough. Upon taking the job, Fleury declared that his unit would be “fast, violent, and aggressive in every way we possibly can” to pressure opponents both structurally and through variable tempo.
Their first-round pick in the backfield, Jadarian Price from Notre Dame, will have a new running backs coach in Thomas Hammock.
One of the most underrated moves of the entire NFL offseason is also on this list, though, with the Seahawks adding former Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr as inside linebackers coach. The wealth of defensive knowledge between head coach Mike Macdonald and Orr should pay off handsomely for the Seahawks; a scary thought given that the Seahawks had the #1 defense in points-allowed in 2026.
Key statistical 2026 rankings
Offensive Rankings
Under coordinator Klint Kubiak, the offense was a top-tier scoring unit that prioritized high yards-per-play efficiency:
Scoring Offense: 3rd overall (28.4 points per game)
Total Offense: 7th overall (351.4 total yards per game)
Offensive DVOA: 9th overall (9.2%)
Passing DVOA: 5th overall (32.2%)
Rushing DVOA: 13th overall (-2.2%)
Yards Per Play: 2nd overall (5.6 yards per play)
Defensive Rankings
Head coach Mike Macdonald’s defense was statistically the best in the NFL, finishing as a top-10 historic defense in modern analytics:
Scoring Defense: 1st overall (17.2 points allowed per game)
Total Defense: 1st overall (285.8 yards allowed per game)
Opponent Yards Per Play: 1st overall (4.4 yards allowed per play)
Roster Moves: Free Agency and the Draft
Key Free Agent Signings/Departures
* SIGNED IN FREE AGENCY
LB Dante Fowler Jr.
LB Chazz Surratt (Re-signed)
CB Noah Igbinoghene
RB Emanual Wilson
WR Jake Bobo (Re-signed)
OL Josh Jones (Re-signed)
CB Josh Jobe (Re-signed)
WR Rashid Shaheed (Re-signed)
* DEPARTED IN FREE AGENCY
RB Kenneth Walker III
LB Boye Mafe
S Coby Bryant
CB Riq Woolen
The Seahawks put a heavy emphasis on re-signing their own free agents this offseason, which gives them a short list of departures; nonetheless, they are all significant. Coby Bryant played 100% of the team’s defensive snaps in the Super Bowl, while Riq Woolen and Boye Mafe were contributors as well. Of course, Kenneth Walker was the Super Bowl MVP.
Seattle did add former Commanders pass rusher in Dante Fowler Jr. to pair with DeMarcus Lawrence, and they used the draft to help maintain depth in the secondary that was key to their defensive success last year. Another element of that depth comes in the form of the free agent signing of former Washington CB Noah Igbinoghene, who may struggle to make the 53-man roster in Seattle.
As discussed above, their offensive core of Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp will have a new rookie running back and new play-caller in Brian Fleury, replacing Klint Kubiak who parlayed winning a Super Bowl with this group into the head coaching job with the Raiders.
The 2026 NFL Draft
Round 1, No. 32: Jadarian Price (RB, Notre Dame) Explosive runner and high-end kickoff returner; co-RB1 replacement for departed Kenneth Walker III. Should fit perfectly into Seattle’s outside-zone rushing scheme.
Round 2, No. 64: Bud Clark (S, TCU) Experienced, highly competitive, versatile defensive ball hawk who will compete immediately at safety. Plays with a physical edge reminiscent of Devon Witherspoon.
Round 3, No. 99: Julian Neal (CB, Arkansas) Tall, physical corner (nearly 6’2″) who loves to hit and press receivers. He is a good candidate to step in as Seattle’s 3rd CB.
Round 5, No. 148: Beau Stephens (OG, Iowa) Versatile 1st-team All-American; expected to push incumbent Anthony Bradford for the starting RG spot.
Round 6, No. 199: Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (WR, Kansas) Speedy WR; valuable kickoff coverage and return experience. Depth and special teams.
Round 7, No. 236: Andre Fuller (CB, Toledo) A safety-to-corner convert with good size and 4.49 speed. Depth and battle for one of the remaining CB spots.
Round 7, No. 242: Deven Eastern (DT, Minnesota) Experienced, durable interior lineman; started 39 college games. Will help restock and add youth to the Seahawks aging defensive line pipeline.
Round 7, No. 255: Michael Dansby (CB, Arizona) Smaller, faster man-coverage CB; strong candidate for practice squad.
A 3.5-point spread is a massive one favoring the Seahawks on the road. The point total is set at 46.5, reflecting expectations of solid offensive output from both sides.
New York Giants. Harbaugh’s offseason jump from Baltimore to New York makes the Ravens more intriguing while simultaneously giving the Giants the final flourish on their claim as the league’s most compelling team in 2026. The Super Bowl–winning head coach takes over a Giants squad led by standout sophomore Jaxson Dart, who produced 24 combined passing and rushing touchdowns to just five interceptions as a first-round rookie in 2025 and is already the face of the franchise.
Second-year back Cam Skattebo has already become a cult hero, while pass-catchers Isaiah Likely (who followed Harbaugh from Baltimore) and Malik Nabers (returning from a torn ACL) should help solidify one of the best young offensive cores in the game. Add in a defense built around top-five picks from each of the last two drafts in support of reigning NFC sack leader Brian Burns, and the Giants have the pieces to shock the league if everything coalesces in 2026.
There’s an awful lot of hype around Dart right now. Although at least part of that comes from a starved Giants fan base, a big part of me wants to buy in on all of it. Dart is a unique player who presents unique challenges — not just for opposing defenses, but for his own team. Dart’s playing style and skill set can make him a danger to himself if he’s not reeled in.
The best news, though, is that John Harbaugh is now Dart’s head coach. Kafka did a great job creating an offense around Dart last year, but Harbaugh’s staff will be better equipped to help him as a dual-threat player. Health permitting, I expect a sizable jump from Dart, who has the ability to finally give the Giants the franchise QB for whom they’ve been searching.
Giants sign Odell Beckham Jr., other receivers amid Malik Nabers injury questions. When head coach John Harbaugh said that Nabers’ recovery from multiple knee surgeries was “not simple,” it raised some questions about the receiver’s timetable and future forecast. In a league where it feels like 90 percent of rehabbing players seem to be “ahead of schedule,” this injury update felt like a bad omen.
And I get that. I also get the feeling that the Giants’ signings of Beckham, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios were insurance moves guarding against potentially not having Nabers to start the season. That came after the Giants had already added veterans Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III and drafted Malachi Fields. Look, I can’t assure you Nabers is going to be fine. New York’s certainly a better team with a healthy Nabers, no doubt. But I think the G-Men can at least survive if he’s not 100 percent to start the season, even if general manager Joe Schoen still believes Nabers will be available for Week 1.
LB Darius Muasau; Biggest Threat: LB Jack Kelly. Through two seasons, Muasau, against the run, has a 15.3% tackle rate, which, when compared to Okereke’s 18% figure, ranked second among the team’s linebackers based on PFF data. With the arrivals of Tremaine Edmunds and Arvell Reese, any realistic chance of Muasau landing a starting job has probably evaporated. That leaves him to compete for a depth role where his primary competition will be rookie Jack Kelly, a sixth-round pick out of BYU, who, like Muasau, is an inside linebacker that can provide help on special teams.
Kelly appears to bring a little more to the table. For one, he offers a bit more as a situational pass rusher. Per PFF, Kelly posted the fifth-most quarterback pressures (36) in the 2026 draft-eligible linebacker class. The former BYU standout ended his final year of college play with the best pass-rush win rate (19.8) among 26 qualifying linebackers with a minimum of 90 pass-rushing attempts. Muasau has value to a team, but again, his lower ceiling as a pass rusher could swing the pendulum in Kelly’s favor.
One year after auctioning off his Super Bowl XLII ring for $280,000, former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress is now putting the ball he caught for the winning touchdown in that game up for sale.
CINCINNATI - 1963: Thomas Hawkins #19 of the Cincinnati Royals poses for a portrait circa 1963 in Cincinnati, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1963 NBAE (Photo by NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA hasn’t always been what it is today. In the earliest days, it was kind of cobbled together, and some guys turned down contracts because they had better offers from other employers.
No one made $100,000 a year before Wilt Chamberlain did so in 1965 (Bill Russell immediately asked Boston to pay him $100,001).
Transportation was not what it is today, either. No one flew charter, and the planes in the 1950s and 1960s were not all up to date, and even if they were, they were not what they are today. Nothing was computerized, for instance, and weather reporting was not what we expect today.
Winston-Salem native Tommy Hawkins, who started his career with the Minneapolis Lakers, underscores that with this story of a flight gone wrong. He tells the story calmly, but it’s hard not to think of Buddy Holly’s last trip.
In this case, they were fortunate enough to land in a cornfield rather than crash in one, but modern-day NBA players have no idea what their predecessors went through to build the league into a global powerhouse.
Aug 17, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Landon Jackson (94) after the second half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
The Buffalo Bills had a few hits in the 2025 NFL Draft. Cornerback Maxwell Hairston showed why the team took him in the first round, and even though he was injured for much of his rookie season, he clearly has top-level NFL talent. Defensive tackle Deone Walker was another hit, and defensive back Jordan Hancock had flashes throughout the season, as did defensive tackle T.J. Sanders. Tight end Jackson Hawes was elite, and cornerback Dorian Strong looked like a sixth-round steal before a neck injury ended his season.
Sure, it looks on the surface like Buffalo’s 2025 draft class was strong, but there appeared to be one glaring miss in there. When a team is tight to the salary cap and has championship aspirations, a third-round pick can’t be a total whiff. And yet, last year’s third-round draft choice was just that as a rookie.
Will that player survive a new defensive coordinator in 2026? If the early returns are to be believed, the answer is a resounding yes. In today’s installment of our “91 players in 91 days” series, we discuss a defensive lineman looking for success in his second NFL season. _____________________________________________________________________________
Name: Landon Jackson
Number: 94
Position: DE
Height/Weight: 6’6″ 264 lbs.
Age: 23 (24 on 1/2/2027)
Experience/Draft: 2; selected by Buffalo in the third round (No. 72 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft
College: Arkansas
Acquired: Third-round draft choice
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Jackson enters the second year of his four-year rookie deal, a pact worth $6,618,982 overall. For the 2026 season, Jackson’s cap hit is $1,504,314 if he makes the 53-man roster. If he’s released, he’ll count $1,090,393 against the Cap in the form of a dead cap charge.
2025 Recap: Jackson struggled mightily in his first go-round in the NFL. He was a non-factor in the team’s three preseason games, totaling just one tackle in those contests. After making the team, he was a healthy scratch in Buffalo’s first four games. He made his debut in Week Five against the New England Patriots, playing 16 defensive snaps and five special teams snaps. He played 12 snaps on defense and eight snaps on special teams against the Atlanta Falcons the following week, and just two snaps the week after against the Miami Dolphins. In that game against Miami, he suffered a knee injury, which led the team to place him on injured reserve. His season ended without a tackle in 30 defensive snaps and 13 special teams snaps.
Positional outlook: Jackson and undrafted rookie Kody Huisman are the only players listed at defensive end on the roster. They’ll really serve as down linemen in Buffalo’s new 3-4 base defense, which means they’re grouped with players like Ed Oliver, T.J. Sanders, Phiadarian Mathis, Zion Logue, DeWayne Carter, Deone Walker, Zane Durant, and Tommy Akingbesote, who are all listed at defensive tackle.
2026 Offseason: Jackson has bulked up significantly, and while the team still lists him at 264 lbs., he says he’s closer to 280 lbs. and looking to play between 285 and 290 lbs. this season.
2026 Season outlook: A snap analysis of Buffalo’s 2025 NFL Draft class would easily classify Jackson as a bust, as he was a total non-factor on the 2025 roster. First, he couldn’t even earn a jersey on game day, and when he did, he was invisible as a rotational piece during two losses. Whether Jackson was a poor fit for head coach Sean McDermott’s defense or a two-year project, there were plenty of voices who were angry that the team used a premium draft choice on a player who had zero impact on a team squarely in the midst of a championship window.
With that line of thinking, I assumed that a new head coach, new defensive coordinator, and new system would lead to a new team for Jackson in 2026. However, given the switch to a 3-4 base with new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard combined with the fact that Jackson appears to have lived in the weight room over the last calendar year, I think there’s a real chance that Jackson not only makes the team, but plays a significant number of snaps this season.
Buffalo’s defensive line is in a state of flux, and if Jackson can combine his natural length (his 83 5/8″ wingspan is simply condor-esque) with his newfound strength, he has a real chance at success this season. When I mapped out the series, I thought I’d be writing about Jackson fighting for his NFL life this off-season; however, based on the early returns, I think he’s more likely to become a legitimate contributor this season than he is to be released.
Perhaps this is why so many experts hesitate to evaluate draft classes until years have passed. If Jackson lives up to the off-season hype, the second-year man could be in for a strong 2026 season.
