Stefon Diggs’ arrival in New England was supposed to bring stability, leadership, and a proven safety cover for Drake Maye, who is entering his first real championship window under Mike Vrabel. What they didn’t prepare for was Diggs’ potential for volatility off the field.
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The 32-year-old wideout has been outstanding on the field, with teammates and coaches raving about his leadership. However, as the Patriots prepare for the most important stretch of their season, the playoffs, the wide receiver finds himself at the center of his second PR nightmare in just seven months.
On Monday, reports surfaced that Diggs is facing serious criminal charges stemming from an alleged physical altercation with his former private chef. Well, this one is not just a PR mess, but carries far heavier consequences.
According to the police report, there are allegations of strangulation and assault that took place after a dispute over unpaid wages. Diggs’ legal team has categorically denied the allegations, describing the situation as a financial disagreement that escalated into a legal dispute. But it is an unwanted distraction to the Patriots, who are entering the most challenging phase of their campaign.
That tension within the team ranks was at the heart of the discussion on the latest edition of Chris Simms Unbuttoned. The former NFL quarterback-turned analyst didn’t sugarcoat what this means internally for New England.
“This is undoubtedly in the air inside that organization… There’s concern, and the Patriots are a top-notch organization. They don’t like this kind of publicity,” Simms said.
The analyst added that while he’s reserving judgment on Diggs’ guilt or innocence, the optics alone are damaging.
“I’ve been around the NFL a long time. He’s a superstar… He’s crossed over from football superstar into mainstream pop culture… and sometimes when you live in that world, you’re putting the pedal to the metal on everything,” Simms noted.
From a locker-room perspective, however, Simms believes players will pretty much act as if nothing happened and largely rally around Diggs. “They’ve been loving him in that locker room. He’s one of their leaders,” he said.
Diggs has also been Maye’s most reliable receiver this season, posting 82 receptions, 970 yards, and four touchdowns. If the Patriots’ talisman is topping bookmakers’ odds for MVP this year, Diggs has played a major role in that elevation.
But what do Patriots coaches and management think about the recent allegations? That is a different story.
“Coaches are thinking X’s and O’s… and yeah, they’re panicking a little,” Simms admitted. “Now you’re talking about relying on guys who aren’t in the trust tree. You don’t want to throw a rookie into a playoff situation and say, ‘Take Stefon Diggs’ role.’”
What makes this situation even worse is the fact that this isn’t Diggs’ first test of New England’s patience. Back in May, just weeks after signing, he was caught in a viral yacht video involving an unidentified pink substance. No disciplinary action followed, but it set an uncomfortable tone early in his Patriots tenure.
Diggs’ on-field production helped quiet that noise. But now, with stakes far higher and legal ramifications looming, the distraction has returned at the worst possible moment. Simms summed it up bluntly: “It’s unfortunate for New England that they have to deal with this right now.”
As the Patriots chase a deep playoff run, the football questions remain solvable. The off-field uncertainty surrounding Diggs, however, is something no game plan can fully control. And that’s exactly why the concern inside Foxborough is real.
