The Patriots said they are focused on Sunday’s game as two of their star players face criminal charges this week.
“I’m just worried about today’s practice, to be honest,” Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said.
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McDaniels spoke for the first time Thursday following the criminal charges filed against wide receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive tackle Christian Barmore.
McDaniels said Diggs has been practicing and that’s his focus.
“I certainly can’t speak for Stef, I know we had a good day at work yesterday and I know he had a good day today and so far he’s been ready and checking out our stuff,” McDaniels said.
“He’s the ultimate leader and he demands the best from all of us offensively and from himself,” Lamond Stevenson said Thursday.
Despite all the distractions off the field this week, Patriots players continue to show support for their teammates.
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“Just stay focused, go to work like we’ve been doing, give your best and get rewarded on Sunday,” Stevenson said.
On December 2, Diggs faced assault and strangulation charges after his former personal chef accused him of choking her during a dispute over unpaid wages.
Diggs denies the accusations.
“I think the NFL is going to take a moment here, and I say because the evidence hasn’t been presented yet, we don’t know much more than the allegations, and we know the allegations are very serious, but in Diggs’ case, is there any supporting evidence?” director Michael McCann said. Professor at the New Hampshire Institute of Sports and Entertainment Law.
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McCann said text messages have been received so far in Diggs’ case, but they only discussed unpaid wages, not allegations of physical violence.
As for Barmore, he faces domestic violence charges for throwing a woman to the ground in August.
His lawyer said there was no “criminal conduct.”
“This situation will remain within the Patriots’ domain for the rest of the season, but in terms of the amount of time a player is out because of it, it likely won’t happen until next season,” McCann said.
The NFL could decide to place a player on the “exempt” list, which would be a paid suspension, but for now the NFL says both Diggs and Barmore are eligible to play as the investigation continues.
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This is a development story. Please check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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