The NFL season officially got underway last night with our Seattle Seahawks kicking off against the New England Patriots right here at Lumen Field. But it is not just the game that is sparking conversations; what Patriots legend Julian Edelman had to say about his former team, now led by head coach Mike Vrabel, has really got the league talking about mentality.
“Murderers” and the “Us Against the World” Mindset
Edelman, a three-time Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl 53 MVP, knows a thing or two about off-field distractions. He has been through it all with the Patriots, from Aaron Hernandez to “SpyGate” and “DeflateGate.” This guy saw it all, and he said it plain: “We were around murderers and big ‘-gates’ and stuff.” That is a stark reminder of the intense pressures and controversies that can hit an NFL locker room. His advice for the 2026 Patriots, fresh off a Super Bowl appearance but mired in a Vrabel-centered offseason, is simple: “You just worry about what you got on your plate that day. You go out and you manipulate your mind to worry about improving every single day.” Edelman truly believes in focusing on daily improvement, a mentally tough approach that helped his Patriots teams adopt an “us against the world” mentality. He thinks a group of men who can focus on “what (do) we have to do today to improve?” is how you get results.
Vrabel’s Offseason Distraction and the Hawks’ Kickoff
The distraction Edelman refers to is head coach Mike Vrabel’s headline-riddled offseason. Back in March, Vrabel and former NFL reporter Dianna Russini were photographed at an adults-only resort, with images hitting Page Six on April 7. This led to Russini resigning from The Athletic because her relationship with Vrabel was deemed inappropriate. Vrabel apologized for being a distraction in April and even said he would seek counseling, though he has not said anything about it in months. It is the kind of outside noise that can mess with a team trying to start a new season strong. Our Seahawks, meanwhile, were unveiling world champions banners, including their 2026 champions banner, and had country music star Luke Bryan performing to hype up the crowd at Lumen Field before the game. It was a massive opening night, with Cooper Kupp, our #10, warming up to get the season going.
As the NFL season kicks off, and especially after seeing our Seahawks take the field at home, that “us against the world” mentality Edelman talked about is what every team has to embrace. For the Patriots, it is about blocking out their own noise. For our Hawks, it is about building on that opening night energy. This is just the beginning, and we are ready for it, Emerald City!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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