Of course the Chargers burned Mike Vrabel in schedule release video | Opinion

Mike Vrabel could have had it so much worse.

Apparently given free rein by the NFL to poke fun at the New England Patriots coach and his alleged affair with Dianna Russini, former NFL insider at The Athletic, in their schedule release videos, only the Los Angeles Chargers took advantage. Because of course they did.

The Chargers have earned their reputation as the NFL’s resident smart alecks, unafraid to mock their opponents in their clever videos. They’ve trolled the Atlanta Falcons for that epic Super Bowl collapse and thrown shade at former Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer. They took a (deserved) shot at Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker for his misogynistic commencement speech.

Last year, they roasted Tyrique Stevenson for his ill-fated taunting of the Washington Commanders. And the Chicago Bears weren’t even on the Chargers’ schedule!

So no, the Chargers weren’t about to pass on this layup.

Three references to Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini

As the Patriots were being presented as Los Angeles’ Week 12 opponent, the Halo-themed video seemed to glitch and a message appeared in the middle of the screen.

“Nothing to see here. Press X to skip this checkpoint.”

That was partly a reference to the Chargers’ loss to the Patriots in the AFC wild-card round last season, confirmed by the 16-3 score that appeared below. But it also was mocking Vrabel and Russini’s overheated reactions after the New York Post published photos of the two, both of whom are married to other people, holding hands, hugging and lounging in a pool at an Arizona resort.

What was it Vrabel told the Post? Oh right.

“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” he said.

Sure enough, when the Chargers' video resumed playing, there was a sign reading, “Next Photo Dump 1 Mile” and an alert from the New York Post in the bottom right-hand corner.

Preview of harsh reception awaiting Vrabel

As anyone not living under a rock the last six weeks knows, there has been a steady drip, drip, drip of photos, videos and boat safety release forms suggesting the interactions between Vrabel and Russini were far from innocent. Vrabel also acknowledged (sort of) his wrongdoing, pledged to seek counseling and skipped the last day of the NFL draft to spend with his family.

It’s a soap opera worthy of the Bravo network, and the Chargers reminded Vrabel, and his players, that it's going to bring them added hostility this season.

Vrabel would be wise to pack ear plugs or noise-canceling headphones for New England’s trips to Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City and New York. He’s sure to be heckled and jeered there, and no doubt there will be a sign or 12 mentioning his cozy relationship with The Athletic’s former NFL insider.

(Not in Los Angeles, ironically. The fan base at SoFi Stadium isn’t nearly as spirited, or creative, as the Chargers’ content creators.)

It's not the crime, it's the cover up

Had Vrabel owned up to his failings right away, had he not tried to talk through the obvious, this wouldn’t be an issue. OK, maybe he still would have made the Chargers video because they’re the Chargers. Everything is fair game with them.

But Vrabel made his situation exponentially worse by lying about it. By gaslighting anyone who thought his relationship with Russini seemed fishy, he all but dared people to go find confirmation of it. Which, of course, they did. Now Vrabel has to pay the very public price for his hubris.

Every year the Chargers' schedule video serves as a quasi-roast of their opponents, if not the whole NFL. No one is spared, least of all bad-behaving head coaches.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.