FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) 鈥� New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said he’s confident criminal cases against receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive lineman Christian Barmore won’t be a distraction for his team this week as it chases the AFC’s top seed in the playoffs.
Diggs is in connection with a dispute with his former private chef. Barmore is facing a misdemeanor after his girlfriend told police he threw her to the ground in August at his home outside Boston.
The Patriots are currently 13-3 and have already wrapped up their first AFC East title since 2019. With a victory against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday and a loss or tie by the Denver Broncos against the Chargers, New England would also secure the conference鈥檚 top seed in the playoffs and a first-round bye.
鈥淚 think these are allegations. … Things that we have to handle,鈥� Vrabel said. 鈥淓very day there are distractions, some are smaller than others. I鈥檓 confident that we鈥檒l focus on the Dolphins. And those two individuals (Diggs and Barmore) will be able to handle the ongoing legal process.鈥�
Vrabel said Barmore is dealing with an illness and was not with the team for practice on Wednesday. Diggs didn鈥檛 speak with reporters Wednesday as he has typically done throughout the season. But he was in the locker room prior to practice and on the practice field with the team.
The NFL said in a statement that both players are eligible to play when the Patriots host the Dolphins. But the league is looking into the alleged incidents, saying they are being reviewed under the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy.
That policy could make both players subject to placement on the Commissioner Exempt List. If placed on that list, it would prevent them from practicing or playing in games while the NFL investigates.
Diggs and Barmore’s teammates said things were business as usual as the team returned to the practice field.
“They鈥檙e our brothers no matter what. And at the end of the day we鈥檙e focused on the Dolphins,鈥� right tackle Morgan Moses said.
Diggs in particular has been a vocal leader for the Patriots this season, giving the team energetic pregame speeches, and he has been one of the most visible players on the sideline during games.
鈥淚n the role that he鈥檚 played in this locker room as a leader is one that no one else can compare to,” Moses said. 鈥淗e carried this team on the field as a professional and as a player, as an older player showing the younger guys what to do. That鈥檚 what we look for. That鈥檚 our guy. He has a situation that he鈥檚 going to handle. For us in this locker room we鈥檙e just going to take take it one day at a time and continue playing.鈥�
News of the charges against Diggs emerged after a court hearing Tuesday in Dedham, Massachusetts. According to police, the chef told investigators that Diggs hit her and tried to choke her during a discussion about money.
The Patriots voiced their support for Diggs in a statement Tuesday after the allegations became public.
鈥淲e鈥檝e made a statement and we鈥檝e taken the allegations very seriously,鈥� Vrabel said. “I don鈥檛 think we have to jump to any sort of conclusions right now. Let the process take its toll.鈥�
Diggs鈥� lawyer, David Meier, said in an emailed statement that Diggs 鈥渃ategorically denies these allegations.鈥� Meier described the allegations as unsubstantiated and uncorroborated.
A court arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 23 for Diggs.
Meier also represents Barmore and the attorney issued a statement Wednesday saying the evidence in the Barmore case “will demonstrate that no criminal conduct took place.鈥�
Barmore’s arraignment is scheduled for early February.
Diggs, 32, joined New England before this season after a trade from Houston. He has been a standout player for the Patriots, leading the team with 82 catches and 970 yards receiving. Barmore, 26, has appeared in all 16 games this season with 15 starts. He has 26 total tackles and one sack.
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AP reporters Mike Casey in Boston, and Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania contributed.
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