Latest news with #Vrabel
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Patriots say they will handle video of receiver Stefon Diggs internally
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said Wednesday that he is aware of a video that showed receiver Stefon Diggs passing a bag of pink crystals to women on a boat. Vrabel declined to comment on whether he has spoken to Diggs about it. 'Any conversations that I've had with Stefon will remain between him, I and the club,' Vrabel said before an optional practice that Diggs did not attend. 'It's something that we're aware of,' Vrabel said. 'Obviously, we want to make great decisions on and off the field. … The message will be the same for all our players, that we're trying to make great decisions.' An NFL spokesman said the league would not comment. Diggs' agents did not immediately respond to a text from The Associated Press requesting comment. Diggs, who has been linked to hip-hop star Cardi B this offseason, is shown in a video on social media talking to three women on a boat before he produces a bag of pink crystals. It's not clear what the pink substance was. Other videos from what appears to be the same boat trip show a larger crowd that includes Cardi B, the Grammy-winning rapper who was spotted leaving the Met Gala with Diggs earlier this month. They also sat together at a Boston Celtics-New York Knicks playoff game at Madison Square Garden. Cardi B, who is known for hits such as 'Bodak Yellow,' 'I Like It' and 'WAP,' filed for divorce from the rapper Offset last year. Diggs, 31, signed with the Patriots this offseason as a free agent, getting a three-year, $69 million deal that guarantees him $26 million. The four-time Pro Bowl selection posted six straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons for the Vikings and Bills before he was traded from Buffalo to Houston last spring. He had 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns in eight games for the Texans before he tore the ACL in his right knee in October. If healthy, he is expected to be a top target for second-year quarterback Drake Maye as Vrabel, in his first year coaching the team he played on for eight of his 14 NFL seasons, tries to improve on back-to-back four-win finishes under Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo. ___ AP NFL: Jimmy Golen, The Associated Press
CBS News
2 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Stefon Diggs isn't off to the best start in his Patriots career
The New England Patriots are taking a gamble on Stefon Diggs this season. It could still pay off in a big way, but the move isn't off to the best start after head coach Mike Vrabel had to spend the start of his Wednesday press conference addressing the wide receiver's off-field activities. Vrabel would have preferred to focus on the team's OTA session in Foxboro when he spoke with reporters late Wednesday morning, which was the second such practice open to the media this offseason. But after video of Diggs partying on a yacht on Memorial Day went viral -- which included the player handing out an unknown substance to partygoers -- reporters dug in and peppered Vrabel with six straight questions about Diggs. The head coach tried to steer the focus back to the Patriots and football, but had limited success. "Well, it's something that we're aware of. Obviously, we want to make great decisions on and off the field," Vrabel said. "We're hoping that with our time here on the field today, that when we don't have a script and we're on the call periods, that we're making great decisions. The message will be the same for all our players, that we're trying to make great decisions. "Any conversations that I've had with Stefon will remain between him, I and the club," added Vrabel. Vrabel said he has spoken to Diggs throughout the offseason program, but added he speaks to all players every single day. The new Patriots head coach (and three-time Super Bowl champ as a player) has worked hard to bring a no-nonsense approach to New England since he was hired in January. He has championed for a revamped culture, one that will have players respecting and appreciating their opportunity to play football every day. But Vrabel was left dealing with a little bit of nonsense on Wednesday, which probably has Diggs in his dog house before we've reached June. While players partying in the offseason -- and even during their down time in-season -- isn't unusual or a big deal, the yacht bash isn't the best look for Diggs as he begins his New England career under a head coach like Vrabel. Though he was lauded as a professional veteran in his lone season with the Texans, Diggs has a reputation of being difficult from his time in Minnesota and Buffalo. This offseason episode could blow over and be nothing more than some poor judgement. A small blip on the radar before Diggs has a solid comeback season. But it could just as easily be the start of controversy between Diggs and the Patriots. We'll see which route it takes in the coming weeks -- and if Diggs is present at mandatory minicamp from June 9-11. Diggs not present at Wednesday's OTA Diggs participated in last week's OTAs in New England, but he hasn't been in town for this week's practices. OTA sessions are voluntary, but Vrabel has praised his team for having nearly perfect attendance for the workouts. "We're going to coach the guys that show up at 8:00 a.m., the ones that say, 'Hey, I've got a situation, we'll be here at 8:05 a.m.,' we'll coach those as well. This is a voluntary part of our off-season program. Every player that's not here, which there aren't many, have been in communication with me and their position coaches." Diggs is limited on the field as he continues to recovery from the ACL injury he suffered last season while with the Houston Texans. The Patriots are desperate for a top receiver for second-year quarterback Drake Maye, and were hoping Diggs could help in that department when they gave the soon-to-be 32-year-old a three-year, $63.5 million contract in March. Vrabel didn't have an update on Diggs' recovery timeline on Wednesday. "The timelines and the prognosis and everything, we're working hard to get him back and to be ready to go. When he's here, we'll coach him and we'll have him ready to go," said Vrabel.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Stefon Diggs boat video: Head coach Mike Vrabel addresses concerns as star misses Patriots OTAs
Stefon Diggs' first offseason with the New England Patriots is off to a rocky start following a viral video that cast the wide receiver into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The video, which circulated widely on social media earlier this week, shows Diggs on a yacht appearing to hand a pink substance in a baggie to a woman. Though the context of the clip remains unclear, it prompted immediate questions regarding the wideout's off-field conduct. He smacked more than ass on that boat. — got me. (@imabout2tweetu) May 27, 2025 Head coach Mike Vrabel addressed the issue during a Wednesday press conference, stating the team is 'aware of the situation' and that he had spoken with Diggs as part of routine discussions with all players. 'Obviously, we want to make great decisions on and off the field,' Vrabel told reporters, while declining to elaborate further on their exchange. Mike Vrabel on the video of Stefon Diggs that has gone viral. — Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) May 28, 2025 Diggs did not attend Wednesday's organised team activity (OTA), which was open to the media. While OTAs are voluntary, his absence — coming so soon after the controversial footage surfaced — raises concerns about his early commitment to a team that has placed high expectations on his shoulders. Signed to a three-year, $69 million deal in March, the 31-year-old was brought in to lead a young and unsettled receiving corps and serve as a primary target for second-year quarterback Drake Maye. The Patriots have not had a 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019, and Diggs' arrival was meant to address that long-standing offensive gap. However, this inauspicious start has rekindled concerns about the former Pro Bowler's temperament — a narrative that followed him during his high-profile exits from Buffalo and later Houston. Diggs missed the second half of last season due to an ACL tear, and has gone 19 consecutive games without a 100-yard performance, the longest drought of his career. Vrabel offered no specific update on Diggs' physical progress, stating only that the staff is 'working hard to get him back' and will coach him accordingly once he returns. The Patriots' receiver room remains fluid, with rookie standouts Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker yet to fully participate in competitive drills. Free-agent signing Mack Hollins has also been limited, while veterans Kendrick Bourne and Kayshon Boutte are rumoured trade candidates. For now, Diggs was expected to bring stability and star power to a unit in flux. Instead, his off-field conduct has become a distraction at a time when Vrabel, known for his disciplined approach, is trying to reshape the team's culture. Whether the viral video proves to be a blip or a sign of deeper issues remains to be seen. But as OTAs continue, the Patriots' most high-profile offseason acquisition has quickly become their most scrutinised.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel addresses viral Stefon Diggs yacht video: 'We want to make great decisions on and off the field'
So, newly signed Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs made waves over Memorial Day weekend for viral videos of him partying on a yacht. We're not going to get into too much detail here. But the videos featured Diggs and his yacht cohorts engaging in what one might imagine goes on during a yacht party. One of the videos features Diggs surrounded by women and handing out a baggie with unidentified contents. Advertisement On Wednesday, Diggs was not present at Patriots organized team activities. In general, this is not a big deal. OTAs are voluntary. Mandatory minicamp comes later. And Diggs is an established NFL veteran who's recovering from an ACL tear. But given that Diggs has been present at previous voluntary workouts in addition to the documented events of the weekend, there were questions on Wednesday for head coach Mike Vrabel. One of them was about "a certain substance that people are guessing what is and what isn't." Here's what Vrabel had to say: "It's something that we're aware of," Vrabel said. "And obviously we want to make great decisions on and off the field. And we're hoping with our time here on the field today and that when we don't have a script and we're on the call periods that we're making great decisions. "And so the message will be the same for all our players, that we're trying to make great decisions. And any conversations that I've had with Stefon will remain between him and I and the club." That was an A-plus effort from Vrabel in providing an answer with a message without getting into any detail whatsoever. The "we want to make great decisions" message is loud and clear. Advertisement As for when we'll next see Diggs at Patriots practice? That's anybody's guess. Diggs signed with New England this offseason as a free agent from the Houston Texans on a three-year, $69 million contract with $26 million guaranteed. The Patriots signed him with the intent of upgrading their passing game around second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Diggs tore his ACL in October last season and has reportedly impressed his teammates with his recovery and performance during offseason workouts. All signs previously pointed to a smooth transition for Diggs with his new team on the heels of a significant injury. Things are certainly less smooth now that Vrabel's faced questions about what did or didn't happen on a yacht.
Fox Sports
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox Sports
Mike Vrabel on Stefon Diggs boat video: 'We want to make great decisions'
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said he is aware of a video that showed wide receiver Stefon Diggs passing a bag of pink crystals to women on a boat. Vrabel declined to comment on whether he had spoken to Diggs about it. "Any conversations that I've had with Stefon will remain between him, I and the club," Vrabel said before an optional practice on Wednesday that Diggs did not attend. "It's something that we're aware of," Vrabel said. "Obviously, we want to make great decisions on and off the field. … The message will be the same for all our players, that we're trying to make great decisions." An NFL spokesman said the league would not comment. Diggs' agents did not immediately respond to a text from The Associated Press requesting comment. Diggs, who has been linked to hip-hop star Cardi B this offseason, is shown in a video on social media talking to three women on a boat before he produces a bag of pink crystals. Other videos from what appears to be the same boat trip show a larger crowd that includes Cardi B, the Grammy-winning rapper who was spotted leaving the Met Gala with Diggs earlier this month. They also sat together at a Boston Celtics-New York Knicks playoff game at Madison Square Garden. Cardi B, who is known for hits such as "Bodak Yellow," "I Like It" and "WAP," filed for divorce from the rapper Offset last year. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience National Football League New England Patriots Stefon Diggs recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
