The NFL is taking a hands-off approach as teams prepare for their annual schedule release festivities, meaning New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel could be the target of some good-natured ribbing. After photos surfaced showing Vrabel getting cozy with former New York Times reporter Dianna Russini, the league has confirmed it won't penalize any team that decides to poke fun at the situation.

According to multiple reports, including from Front Office Sports, NFL teams traditionally use schedule release day as an opportunity to playfully jab at one another. This year, with the Vrabel-Russini story dominating headlines, at least one team is expected to reference the scandal in their promotional video. And the league is giving them full creative freedom.

Sources close to the NFL say officials won't review the videos in advance or take disciplinary action afterward. Instead, they're letting individual teams control their own media, which could make for a long weekend for Vrabel. "This is the day when teams are licensed to poke fun at each other," an insider told Front Office Sports. "The Vrabel story has become such a public matter that teams can take the shot. You may get a call from the Patriots, but the league is not going to get involved."

The source added that the league only steps in when labor issues, the collective bargaining agreement, or referees are involved. "If the Jets, Bills, or Chargers choose to ridicule Vrabel, that's an issue between the teams. The league doesn't need to mediate that."

While it's unclear which team will take the bait, another source suggested the Los Angeles Chargers might be the ones to strike. Known for setting the standard with their creative schedule release videos, the Chargers could be poised to deliver a memorable moment—one that puts Vrabel squarely in the spotlight for reasons beyond football.