Patriots star Stefon Diggs returned to practice on Tuesday following claims that his off-field antics could have him cut from the team.
Over Memorial Day weekend, Diggs was caught on video handling a bag containing an unknown substance while he partied with several scantily-clad women.
Following the release of the video, Diggs missed a voluntary practice last week, with coach Mike Vrabel later publicly urging his players to make ‘great decisions on and off the field.’
Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowler, only joined the Patriots in March. He signed a three-year, $69million contract which includes $25m guaranteed.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated previously reported that New England could take serious action against the receiver unless they are satisfied with his explanation.
‘I think all things are on the table and I think really – to me at least – it’s going to boil down to what Stef told [head coach Mike] Vrabel, and how believable it was,’ Breer told 98.5 The Sports Hub.
NFL wide receiver Stefon Diggs was seen surrounded by bikini-clad women on Monday
Breer added that he expected the league to look into what was in the bag Diggs was seen handling, but that they were unlikely to be able to prove what the substance was.
‘So then it’s up to the team to make a decision,’ he continued. ‘And if the team wants to recoup any of the guaranteed money, they have to cut him right away… my guess would be that the reason he wasn’t at practice the other day might be because Mike told him to stay away and maybe they’re sorting through everything now.’
Nonetheless, Diggs was in good spirits as he attended Patriots OTAs on Tuesday, telling reporters ‘Nice to see y’all’ as he took the field.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, meanwhile, did not seem overly concerned with Diggs’ absence in some recent practices.
‘It’s a voluntary part of the year, we know that,’ he told reporters. ‘I don’t know if we’ve ever had perfect attendance… As a coach, selfishly, you’d love it when they’re all here, because you feel like you’ve got them all in the classroom and all on the field and the rest of it.
‘He’s here today, and we’re excited to have an opportunity to work with the guys that are out here and available to us.’
More to follow
