Mike Vrabel sends stern message to players after viral Stefon Diggs video
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged he was aware of the viral video of wide receiver Stefon Diggs going around.
It's a video of Diggs on a boat with multiple women that has been circulating online. Diggs can be heard asking the women, "What's my name?" They then call him "daddy" before he passes what looks like a small ziplock bag to one of the women with unknown contents.
Advertisement
When speaking with media members on Wednesday, Vrabel said that he wanted players to make good decisions on and off the field.
"Obviously, we want to make great decisions on and off the field, and we're hoping that with our time here on the field today, and when you don't have a script and we're on the call periods, that we're making great decisions," said Vrabel. "So the message will be the same for all of the players. Try to make great decisions. Any conversations that I've had with Stefon will remain between him and I."
The Patriots signed Diggs to a three-year, $69 million contract in the offseason. He is currently rehabbing from the torn ACL injury he suffered with the Houston Texans last season.
Advertisement
The four-time Pro Bowl receiver turns 32 years old this year, but the Patriots remain hopeful that he will serve as a top receiving option for second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Before the injury, Diggs had six consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Vrabel added that Diggs is not in attendance for Wednesday's OTA practice.
Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Mike Vrabel's stern message to players after viral Stefon Diggs video
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Patriots stock report: Efton Chism and other risers and fallers after spring practices
Before the New England Patriots adjourned for the quietest six-week stretch on the NFL calendar, with no practices or meetings until training camp begins on July 23, new coach Mike Vrabel stressed the importance of the time away. 'I don't think it's a downtime,' Vrabel said. 'It's time away from the facility. I think it's important. It's probably the five most important weeks of the offseason as far as I'm concerned. … It's critical that they come back in shape, that they're ready to go for training camp, that we're prepared as coaches with the schedule, the installation and what we're doing. The players have to hold up their end of the bargain to prepare for training camp.' Advertisement Still, the end of spring practices comes with some surprises. Roster cutdown day isn't going to be shaped much by organized team activities and minicamp, but those sessions do have an impact on where players stand heading into training camp. Today, let's look at the players who climbed the depth chart and fell the most this spring. We have to start here. No player's stock rose more than Chism's. He didn't just stand out to reporters at the sessions we watched. He drew praise from arguably the two most important people: Vrabel and Drake Maye. Maye said it felt like Chism 'had about 50 catches' during OTAs. Vrabel's remarks stood out, too. Perhaps it's just that people in these parts aren't used to the head coach praising any player, let alone an undrafted rookie who hasn't played a game, but Vrabel's comments turned a few heads. 'I think he's a talented player,' Vrabel said. 'I think he has a certain skill set. He's dedicated. He's studied extremely hard. He has a good feel for what we're asking him to do. I think the biggest thing for receivers is that there's trust from the guy that throws the football. … It doesn't take you long to figure out who the quarterback trusts. It's the ones they target (with passes). That's a good indicator.' Mike Vrabel on undrafted WR Efton Chism, a spring standout so far: 'I think he's a talented player. … He has a good feel for what we're asking.' — Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) June 10, 2025 Yes, they were only spring practices, and there is a long, long way to go. But at this point, it seems more likely than not that Chism makes the team. It may seem strange to include one of the league's best cornerbacks as a 'riser' based on spring practices, but Gonzalez looked like a true shutdown corner this spring, taking a step forward from his high level of play a year ago. Advertisement One day after Maye said he was going to challenge Gonzalez in practice, Maye had a receiver one-on-one downfield against Gonzalez, so he threw it up. But Gonzalez adjusted his body and came down with a great interception despite no safety help. In five practices open to reporters, Gonzalez had three picks. He looks primed for an incredible year that could solidify him as a top-five corner in the NFL. Part of practice is taking advantage of your opportunities. And while Rhamondre Stevenson was away from the team for a bit, dealing with a personal matter following the loss of his father, Henderson brought a juice to the team's backfield that it hasn't had in a few years. There were certainly fair reasons to be skeptical about a rebuilding team using its second-round pick on a running back. But Henderson's speed is obvious, and he'll be one of the most fun players for fans to watch in camp. The guess here is he ends up as the team's No. 1 back by the end of the season. It wasn't always clear whether Elliss would return to the Pats after he signed an offer sheet from the Las Vegas Raiders, but now he's got a chance to be a starting middle linebacker in New England. Jahlani Tavai suffered a leg injury in OTAs, and Elliss took advantage of the increased snaps. With a good camp, he'll be starting next to Robert Spillane. Amid the Patriots' overhaul on defense, the addition of Chaisson has gone slightly under the radar. But the 2020 first-round pick had some impressive moments this spring and could be looking at a meaningful role if he plays well in training camp. Chaisson is still just 25 despite already playing five NFL seasons and looks ready to build on the five sacks he had a year ago for the Raiders. Perhaps it's not fair to put injured players in this category. But as coaches often say, the best ability is availability, and Polk needs to stand out to this new coaching staff to earn a spot in a crowded wide receiver room. After a shoulder procedure in the offseason, Polk was limited to side-field activities this spring and couldn't do much with the team. The wide receiver competition will be fascinating to follow in training camp. Advertisement A year after recovering from an ACL tear, the Patriots would have liked to see more from Bourne than they did this spring. He was … fine. But they're likely only going to keep six receivers, and with Chism playing like he deserves a spot, the numbers get complicated quickly for Bourne. He needs a strong camp, or he could be a cut candidate. It hasn't been the start to his NFL career that Mapu hoped for after being a third-round pick in 2023. To simplify things for him, Vrabel has Mapu working at linebacker instead of both there and safety, where Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo used him. There's less depth at linebacker, which helps Mapu's chances of making the team. But I've got some concerns about a guy with durability issues suddenly playing a more physical position. Vrabel thinks Mapu can be a good blitzer, so he'll need to shine there in camp.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
CJ Ham gives back to Sioux Falls area with youth camp
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — CJ Ham is one of the longest tenured players for the Minnesota Vikings, but that doesn't stop him from returning to Augustana each year to run the CJ Ham Football Camp. CJ Ham has been with the Vikings for the past ten seasons, earning two trips to the Pro Bowl and being named a team Captain. 'To be with one team for a decade, it's truly a blessing, only a story God could write,' Ham said. 'Every single year, I get to sit back, reflect and be grateful. Grateful for the opportunities that have come to me and grateful to be where I'm at.' CJ graduated from Augustana following a standout career, but one of the biggest takeaways from his time in Sioux Falls, came from his coach, Jerry Olszewski. 'His coaching style of it's bigger than football, caring about the individual more than the results. I think that's something that he's instilled in me,' Ham said. 'I think that's something that goes with me and my family's approach when it comes to giving back to the community and being there for other people.' That attitude was on full display Saturday as Ham partnered with Augustana for the CJ Ham Football Camp. 250 kids grades first through eighth got the chance to work Ham and several athletes from Augie. 'What's been on my heart is attitude. Control what you can control. There's so many things that happen in our life that are out of our control,' Ham said. 'If we think we can control everything, it's going to be tough. We can control out attitudes and how we react.' Working the youth of the area is a big benefit of the camp, but Ham also relishes the opportunity to return to a special place. 'My wife and I think about this is where our family started. This is where I met my wife. This is where I got my education,' Ham said. 'Sioux Falls truly, truly is like a home to me. This is some place that down in the future, we can see ourselves living.' Training camp begins in July for the Vikings, with their first preseason game set for August 9th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jets' Sauce Gardner Gets Strong Praise From Veteran Coaches
Jets' Sauce Gardner Gets Strong Praise From Veteran Coaches originally appeared on Athlon Sports. FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- When he is at the top of his game, New York Jets All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner is the best in the league. Advertisement The former fourth overall pick was the first defensive back in NFL history to be named a first-team All-Pro in his first two seasons. After a strong start to his career, though, Gardner struggled last season. He was still a Pro Bowl player but was penalized more for his aggressive style and struggled to tackle throughout the 2024 campaign. Under a new coaching staff, Gardner's expectations are back to where they were after 2023. Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks believes he can get the most out of their new star. "It's so many things that I feel like Sauce can do," Wilks said. "Again, the word consistent. He's been a Pro Bowl consistent can he be to take it to another level? Advertisement "And that's one of the things that I challenged him on day one when we had our conversation." It's important to remember that Gardner's worse season was still pretty damn good compared to other players in his position. If he can reduce the penalties and improve his tackling, Gardner should be expected to return to his All-Pro status. According to Wilks, that is precisely what the team expects out of him. And what Gardner expects out of himself. Few cornerbacks in the NFL have the kind of frame that Gardner is working with. Wilks commented about that on Wednesday as part of why consistency is such a focus for the All-Pro this year. Advertisement If Gardner can return to that status in 2023, the Jets' defense will continue to be one of the best in football. Related: Jets Emphasize Key Part of Mandatory Minicamp Related: Jets Continue To Be Pleased With First-Round Pick This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
