Patriots’ Stefon Diggs Breaks His Silence Following Assault Allegations By Chef

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs addressed reporters in the locker room on Friday afternoon for the first time since news broke that he is facing charges of felony strangulation or suffocation.

“Obviously, it’s a different time, a very emotional time. I’ve been taken aback by some of the things that’s been going on,” Diggs said. “But I want to be here to say sorry, I wasn’t available for those couple of days. It’s a different kind of time. Dealing with everything, it’s definitely an open case, so I can’t even say anything about it.”

“Regarding football, I’m going to continue to be the guy I’ve been,” he added. “Trying to finish the season strong. It’s a good team on the other side of the road. Going in with the right mindset, I’m going to keep the same mindset. I’ve been a leader on this team. I’ve been the same person this whole time. Don’t expect no changes from me.”

The receiver was also asked about how the team handles distractions.

“It’s kind of been a thing throughout the year,” Diggs explained. “We all deal with life stuff, family stuff … it’s just being a football team, it’s hard, you band together, you lean on your brothers, you lean on the people you spend the most time with. For me, I’ve been dealing with this (expletive) my whole life. Nothing new to me. I just gotta role with the punches, stay as positive as I can. It’s definitely something you’ve got to adjust to, but I’m good for whatever.”

Diggs is set to be arraigned on Friday, Jan. 23, which is just two days before the AFC Championship game.

The Charges Against Stefon Diggs

Diggs is being charged with felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery charges stemming from an incident on Tuesday, Dec. 2, court documents show, with the incident occurring a day after the Patriots defeated the New York Giants.

The receiver had a hearing at Dedham District Court on Tuesday, where the receiver’s lawyer, David Meier made it clear that he “categorically denies” the allegations. Diggs is being accused of hitting and choking his former personal chef due to a payment dispute, where she states he “smacked her across the face” and “tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck.”

Patriots Drake Maye Reacts To Stefon Diggs and Christian Barmore News

GettyChristian Barmore of the New England Patriots

Along with the allegations against Diggs, Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore is also facing charges of domestic assault and battery. And quarterback Drake Maye was asked about this situation.

“The best thing coach Vrabel always says —  let those guys speak for themselves,” Maye said of Diggs and Barmore on Wednesday. “I’m going to support them any way I can, support my teammates and love those guys. … I really got a good relationship with [them], and I feel like whatever they need from me, I’m here for them.”

He also shed some light on his two teammates, having gotten to know them very well.

“Stef, man, he means a lot to this team,” Maye stated. “He’s breaking the huddle down before practice today. He’s chirping at me on the sideline to give him the rock. He’s pumping up the young guys when they make big plays. He’s blocking downfield. He gives off the persona of one of those guys that you just want to be teammates with. I think that’s one of the best things about him that I’ve kind of learned, is how awesome it is to be his teammate and be there with him.

“Then B-More [Christian Barmore], I love talking crap with B-More. He’s passionate about football, passionate about the game. He’s one of those guys in the locker room that you want to have rushing the passer. He loves quarterbacks, too, especially his own, but he loves getting after them. But really, I think those guys, personally, I think they just care about one another. They care about each other, and they care about this football team. That’s the biggest thing.”

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