Stefon Diggs’ lack of seriousness with Patriots could cost him $12 million

AFC East - English Injury Reports - English Joe Krishnan - English New England Patriots - English NFL - English Sports Stefon Diggs - English

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The New England Patriots’ high-profile acquisition of Stefon Diggs has taken an unexpected turn as the team suspends his $12m bonus in the wake of a perceived lack of commitment and focus from the wide receiver.

Once seen as a cornerstone signing in the team’s offensive overhaul, Diggs is now the subject of internal tension and lingering medical questions just months after he signed a three-year, $63.5 million contract at the Gillette Stadium.

The four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver has not been a full participant in team activities since arriving in Foxborough as he is still supposed to be recovering from a prior ACL injury, missing most offseason workouts.

In light of this, his physical status remains officially unverified, and the Patriots have yet to confirm whether he has passed the mandatory physical that would trigger his signing bonus in Massachusetts.

At the same time, his absence and a now-viral video showing him on a yacht with a pink substance and Cardi B have created unwanted headlines for a team trying to refocus under new leadership in the post-Bill Belichick era.

A forceful move

And as a result, Mike Vrabel, head coach, has approached the situation with calm but unmistakable intent as he reflects the team’s hardline position on discipline and culture, according to NFL insiders.

“I think the way Mike Vrabel has answered every question posed about Stefan Diggs,” Curran told The Rich Eisden Show. “With kind of a level a measured level of consternation and reminding that yeah this is a certain standard we wanna have it’s basically look no more distractions.

“The Patriots most likely are going to slow-play clearing him to play and giving him the final physical. I don’t know that they might have had a conversation, but I can see that being kind of a bubbling subplot between the two sides.

“‘I’m feeling good, can I have my physical? We can start my payments of $12 million, please.’

“And the Patriots say, ‘Ah, not yet, not yet.'”

Diggs responds to “pink stuff” yacht incident

This cautious approach reflects not only concern over injury but also the off-field optics that Diggs has brought with him following an incident in which he was seen holding a mysterious pink powder onboard a yacht party.

Diggs, for his part, has not denied the boat video but refused to clarify the nature of the pink powder seen in the footage, which he appears to be handing out to other guests around him.

“I want to be as candid with you guys as possible,” Diggs said on June 10. “But I kind of, like, have a thing where I don’t talk about my personal life with people I don’t know personally.

“I’m pretty sure everybody here, men and women, are great people, but I kind of keep my personal life personal.”

This news was originally published on this post .

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