New England coach Mike Vrabel addresses Diggs, Barmore allegations
“I want the best for these guys on the field and off the field,” Vrabel said.
BREAKING NEWS MIKE VRABEL ADDRESSING REPORTERS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST TWO PLAYERS SURFACED. LET’S LISTEN IN. PLAYERS MAKING GOOD DECISIONS. HOW DISAPPOINTING IS IT TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS TYPE OF DISTRACTION INVOLVING TWO PLAYERS? WITH ALLEGED CASES AGAINST THEM. SURE. WELL, I WOULD SAY NOT DISAPPOINTING AT ALL. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE ALLEGATIONS LIKE YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR QUESTION. IT’S THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO HANDLE. AND EVERY DAY THAT THERE’S DISTRACTIONS. SOME ARE SMALLER THAN OTHERS. AND, YOU KNOW, I’M CONFIDENT THAT. YOU KNOW, WE’LL FOCUS ON THE DOLPHINS. AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU MENTIONED WILL, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, HANDLE THE ONGOING LEGAL PROCESS. HANDLE IT WITH THE TEAM AS FAR AS YOUR PERSPECTIVE? OH, AGAIN, THERE’S ONGOING, YOU KNOW, LEGAL MATTER. AND THESE AGAIN ARE ALLEGATIONS. AND, YOU KNOW, WE’VE MADE A STATEMENT. WE’VE TAKEN THE ALLEGATIONS VERY SERIOUSLY. AND WHAT COMES OF THAT? I THINK THEN WE’LL HAVE ANOTHER DISCUSSION. BUT YOU KNOW, I DON’T THINK WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, JUMP TO ANY SORT OF CONCLUSIONS RIGHT NOW AND LET THE PROCESS TAKE TAKE ITS TOLL. ANY CONCERN ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF BOTH PLAYERS, CHRISTIANS AWAY WITH THE ILLNESS TODAY. AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT HIS AVAILABILITY FOR PRACTICE, HE WON’T BE OUT THERE. BUT NO, I HAVEN’T HAVEN’T HEARD ANYTHING THAT WOULD KEEP EITHER PLAYER FROM THE GAME. MIKE HAS A COACH AND COACHING STAFF. IN LIGHT OF ALL OF THIS, HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR PLAYERS FOCUSED ON MIAMI AND THE MATTERS AT HAND ON THE FIELD? HOW DO YOU DO IT WITH SPECIAL FOCUS? NO, NO DIFFERENT THAN WE’VE DONE EVERY SINGLE WEEK. WE COME IN ON WEDNESDAY. WE TRIED TO LEARN THE PERSONNEL, TALK ABOUT THE DOLPHINS THAT HAVE FIVE AND TWO IN THEIR LAST SEVEN GAMES. THEY’VE TURNED THE BALL OVER, YOU KNOW, CREATED 13 TURNOVERS IN THOSE FIVE WINS. A RUNNING BACK THAT’S FIRST IN THE LEAGUE IN YARDS PER CARRY AND YARDS AFTER CONTACT AND EXPLOSIVE RUNS. AND YOU KNOW THERE’S SOME YOUNG DEFENSIVE LINEMEN THAT ARE REALLY IMPROVING AND PLAYING WELL. THAT WAS OUR FOCUS THIS MORNING AND TRYING TO TO PREPARE FOR OUR OPPONENT AND PUT THE GAME PLAN IN AND WE’LL PRACTICE AND BUT THAT’S WHAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. DO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH THE TEAM HAS A COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE INCIDENTS, OR IS STILL IN PROCESS OF GATHERING? WELL, WE ALWAYS WANT TO GATHER MORE INFORMATION, BUT, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE’VE BEEN AWARE OF THESE ALLEGATIONS. THIS WASN’T THE YESTERDAY. AND TODAY ISN’T THE FIRST THAT WE’VE, YOU KNOW. HEARD ABOUT HIM AND TRIED TO DO EVERYTHING IN ACCORDANCE WITH WITH THE LEAGUE POLICY AND MAKING SURE THAT THE LEAGUE. YOU KNOW, THAT WE’RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LEAGUE. MIKE I THOUGHT THE TEAM STATEMENT SAID THAT YOU GUYS WERE AWARE IN AUGUST ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS. IS THAT NOT NOT TRUE? AGAIN, I’M NOT REALLY SURE THE TIMELINE THERE’S BEEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WHEN WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO. YOU KNOW, FIND OUT WHAT THE INFORMATION WAS. THESE ARE THINGS THAT LIKE I SAID, THESE AREN’T A SURPRISE, THAT TODAY AND YESTERDAY THIS CAME OUT. WERE YOU AWARE OF WHEN WHEN THEY, YOU KNOW, WERE ABLE TO. YOU KNOW, MAKE US AWARE FROM THE COURT FILINGS AND SOME THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THOSE ARE ALL THINGS AGAIN WITH HANDLE WITH THE RESPECT TO THE COURT AND THE PROCESS AND THE ONGOING. SO, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAVE TO BE AND AGAIN, I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO DO. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE RESPECTFUL OF WHAT OUR PLAYERS ARE TRYING TO DO AND WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO DO AS A COACHING STAFF. WE STARTED THIS THING IN MIAMI, YOU KNOW, DIDN’T DO A VERY GOOD JOB AGAINST OAKLAND OR VEGAS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO START IT AGAINST MIAMI. AND WE’RE HOPING TO TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO TO FINISH THE REGULAR SEASON REALLY STRONG AGAINST MIAMI. ARE YOU AFRAID THAT THESE WILL BECOME DISTRACTED? AFRAID? NO, NOT NOT AFRAID. I’M 50 YEARS OLD AND GOING TO BE 51. I’M NOT AFRAID. I I’M I LOVE COACHING THIS FOOTBALL TEAM AND I LOVE THE WAY THAT THEY COME TO WORK. I LOVE THE THE YOUTH. I LOVE THE VETERANS. I LOVE THE LEADERSHIP. AND I REALLY HAVE APPRECIATED EVERYONE’S GROWTH THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. I THINK THAT’S THE THING THAT I REALLY ENJOY IS JUST, YOU KNOW, GUYS LIKE TREVEON AND KYLE BEING EXCITED. AND WILL BEING EXCITED ABOUT COMING BACK AND IN OUR QUARTERBACK AND THE WAY YOU KNOW DRAKE HAS GROWN AND BUT OUR VETERAN LEADERSHIP FROM FROM STEPH AND MORGAN AND GARRETT ON OFFENSE. AND YOU KNOW THE CONSISTENCY THAT BIG MIKE’S HAD. AND HUNTER WE TALKED ABOUT HIS CONSISTENCY. THAT’S WHAT I I WANT THE BEST FOR THESE GUYS ON THE FIELD AND OFF THE FIELD. A STATEMENT THAT WAS RELEASED YESTERDAY ABOUT THE ACCUMULATION. IT SAYS WE SUPPORT STEPH. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT EVERYBODY THAT WE CARE ABOUT AND THAT WE HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO FOR A WHILE. THAT THAT WE SUPPORT AND WE DO AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE’S ALLEGATIONS. BUT WE ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT EACH AND EVERY PLAYER AND EACH AND EVERY COACH AND EACH AND EVERY STAFF MEMBER. YOU RELIED A LOT ON ROOKIES THIS YEAR. YOUNG PLAYERS. CAN YOU TALK TO YOUR CAPTAINS TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO THE TEAM, TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, KEEP THIS ON THE BACK BURNER. DO YOU ADDRESS THE TEAM PERSONALLY? NO. YEAH. I MEAN, YES, I TALKED TO THE TEAM. I TALKED TO THE TEAM ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT WE SPEAK FOR OURSELVES. AND IF STEPH AND CHRISTIAN HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, I SUPPORT THAT. BUT WE’RE ALSO GOING TO, YOU KNOW, I THINK, SPEAK FOR OURSELVES AND MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE FOCUSED ON WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE. THE FOCUS THIS WEEK IS IMPROVE THROUGH PRACTICE AND TRY TO FINISH WHAT WE STARTED. MIKE IN THE POLICE REPORT ATTACHED TO THE CHARGE AGAINST CHRISTIAN, HIS ACCUSER DESCRIBES BEING THROWN TO THE GROUND IN FRONT OF THEIR CHILD AND THEN CALLING A CAR SERVICE THAT THE TEAM PROVIDES, TAKING HER TO DELAWARE. THEN SHE PROVIDES PHOTOS OF BRUISES AFTER BEING THROWN TO THE GROUND TO POLICE. THOSE PHOTOS WERE ADDED TO THE REPORT. IN A STATEMENT, YOU SAID YOU GUYS WERE AWARE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT IN AUGUST. SINCE THEN, WHAT HAS MADE YOU COMFORTABLE TO CONTINUE PUTTING CHRISTIAN OUT IN PRACTICE AND IN GAMES? WELL, AGAIN, JUST ALLEGATIONS AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COURT, YOU KNOW, THAT THOSE ONGOING COURT PROCEEDINGS AND ONCE THOSE ARE SATISFIED THEN, YOU KNOW, WE’LL COME TO WHATEVER CONCLUSION AND WHATEVER DECISION THAT THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE. AND WE’LL ALSO STAY COMMITTED TO OUR PREPARATION HERE WITH MIAMI AND, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS READY TO GO. WHOEVER PLAYS ON ON SUNDAY, IF THE NFL HASN’T TOLD ME ANYTHING. SO I DON’T WANT TO WASTE YOUR TIME ON THAT. I HAVEN’T HAD A CALL WITH THE NFL COACH. HISTORICALLY, THE TEAM HAS DEALT WITH OUTSIDE NOISE IN THE PAST. WHAT SORT OF YOUR MESSAGE TO THE TEAM AROUND TIMES LIKE THIS? WHEN? IMPROVE THROUGH PRACTICE AND FINISH WHAT WE STARTED AND SPEAK FOR YOURSELF AND AGAIN. SO THAT’S THAT’S WHAT WE’VE TALKED ABOUT. THAT’S THAT WAS MY MESSAGE. AND WE’LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. CAN’T WORRY ABOUT PLAYOFF SCENARIOS. AND A LOT OF WHAT IFS. WE’RE GOING TO FOCUS ON, YOU KNOW TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE AS PREPARED FOR A TEAM THAT WE HAVEN’T PLAYED. THEY’RE A LOT DIFFERENT. AND I THINK THAT WE’RE A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THAN WHAT THE TWO TEAMS THAT PLAYED IN SEPTEMBER WERE. OF COURSE, ANYBODY THAT’S HEALTHY, WE’RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TO WIN THE FOOTBALL GAME. BUT IF THERE COME ON. CAMPUS TODAY, YES. WILL. ALEX AUSTIN WILL BE OUT THERE. SEE HOW HE LOOKS AND SEE WHERE MILT MILT IS FROM LAST WEEK. TO INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENTS IN THIS FINAL GAME, WHETHER IT’S GETTING CERTAIN INCENTIVES FOR INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS OR AN AWARD, MAYBE THE UNITED STATES, LIKE IF IT’S ANYTHING THAT CAN HELP THE TEAM WIN. I’M ALL IN FAVOR OF WE’VE TALKED ABOUT THIS. MAYBE, I DON’T KNOW, 3 OR 4 WEEKS AGO ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CHASING WINS AND NOT PLAYS. AND SO THAT THAT I WANT THOSE TO ALL ALIGN AND I AND I CAN ALWAYS APPRECIATE PRODUCTION. I GET IT. WHETHER THAT’S TACKLES, PLAY SACKS, CATCHES, TOUCHDOWNS. BUT REALLY WHAT I’M FOCUSED ON IS WINS. AND I HAVE TO TRY TO BALANCE THAT. YOU KNOW, BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS AND THEN UNITS AND THEN A TEAM LIKE RELEASED ABOUT STEFON DIGGS, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, HE HAS CATEGORICALLY DENIED THOSE ALLEGATIONS TO THE TEAM. NO SUCH MENTION WAS IN A STATEMENT REGARDING CHRISTIAN. HAS HE DENIED THE INCIDENT IS DESCRIBED IN THE POLICE REPORT? YEAH. I’M NOT GOING TO FOCUS ON ANY OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE’VE HAD WITH THE WITH THE PLAYERS OR I’VE HAD WITH THE PLAYERS. AND SO I’M GOING TO LET THE ONGOING COURT PROCESS TAKE ITS COURSE, AND I’M GOING TO FOCUS ON THE DOLPHINS AND FOCUS ON COACHING THIS FOOTBALL TEAM AND, AND THE GUYS THAT ARE HEALTHY ENOUGH TO BE OUT THERE. MIKE GUYS. WHERE DOES THE TEAM ROUTINELY OFFER CAR SERVICE TO PLAYERS, LOVED ONES, FAMILY MEMBERS, WIVES OR GIRLFRIENDS? I DON’T KNOW, THAT IS THE CASE. I’M NOT YOU KNOW, I JUST SINCE 2001, PROBABLY HAD THE SAME COMPANY WHEN I GO TO THE AIRPORT, TAKE ME WHETHER I WAS A PLAYER OR COACH HERE. SO I DON’T KNOW. I CAN’T COMMENT ON THAT. APOLOGIZE. MIKE, LAST QUESTION ABOUT ABOUT 25 TO 30 GUYS CAME BACK FROM A YEAR AGO ON THE ROSTER. AND MAYBE 5 OR 6 OF THEM WERE SIGNED TO CONTRACTS. I WANT TO TALK WITH JALEN HAWKINS. THE DECISION TO BRING HIM BACK, IT WAS IN MARCH, SO YOU DIDN’T SOUND LIKE HE I DON’T KNOW HOW WELL YOU GOT TO KNOW HIM OVER THE FIRST FEW MONTHS. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE DECISION TO BRING HIM BACK? YEP. I WOULD SAY THAT THROUGH JEREMY SPRINGER AND TOM QUINN’S EFFORTS TO EXPLAIN TO ME THEIR GROUP OF CORE GUYS, HE KEPT COMING UP. HE HAD TO PLAY DEFENSE, BUT HE WAS ON EVERY SINGLE SPECIAL TEAM. WAS THE WING. I THINK THEY DESCRIBED HIM AS A SELFLESS PLAYER WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING THAT HE COULD TO HELP THE FOOTBALL TEAM, AND WAS PLAYING A LOT OF DEFENSE. SEEMED LIKE A VETERAN GUY THAT WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE AROUND. AND THEN IN THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD WITH ME AND ELLIOT AND RYAN AND STRETCH, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO BRING HIM BACK. HE’S EARNED EVERYTHING THAT HE’S THAT HE HAS NOW WITH THE PRODUCTION, THE PLAY TIME KEEPS WORKING. IT MEANS A LOT TO HIM. HE’S A FUN GUY TO COACH AND I’M HAPPY THAT HE’S HAVING SUCCESS. SO APPRECIATE THE TIME HERE, GUYS, AND WE’LL SEE YOU HERE IN A COUPLE DAYS. THANKS, FRANK. YOU’VE BEEN LISTENING LISTENING TO PATRIOTS HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL SPEAKING LIVE IN FOXBOROUGH JUST NOW. THIS WAS A SCHEDULED NEWS CONFERENCE. BUT NEWS OF TWO PLAYERS BEING ACCUSED OF ASSAULT DOMINATED THE QUESTIONS THERE. VRABEL SAID AND I QUOTE THESE ARE ALLEGATIONS. IT’S THINGS WE HAVE TO HANDLE. AND EVERY DAY THERE ARE DISTRACTIONS. HE WENT ON TO SAY, I’M CONFIDENT WE WILL FOCUS ON THE DOLPHINS, AND THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE ONGOING LEGAL PROCESS MOVING FORWARD, HE CONTINUED, REFERRING TO THINGS AS A LEGAL MATTER HERE. HE DID SAY THE ORGANIZATION TAKES THESE ALLEGATIONS VERY SERIOUSLY, THOUGH, VRABEL SAID. CHRISTIAN BARMORE, ONE OF THE TWO PLAYERS WHO’S ACCUSED IS AWAY WITH AN ILLNESS AND WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AT PRACTICE TODAY. BUT HE DID SAY THERE’S NOTHING THAT WILL STOP BARMORE AND STEFON DIGGS FROM PLAYING ON SUNDAY. IN THE LAST DAY, WE LEARNED THAT STEFON DIGGS FACES CHARGES OF ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTING AND STRANGLING HIS LIVE IN PRIVATE CHEF. HE DENIES THOSE ALLEGATIONS. AND THEN JUST TODAY, JUST THIS MORNING, WE LEARNED THAT DEFENSIVE TACKLE CHRISTIAN BARMORE FACES CHARGES OF ASSAULT AGAINST A WOMAN WHO SAYS SHE WAS IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. WE’LL HAVE THE LATEST COMING UP ON NEWSCENTER FIVE TONIGHT, AS WELL AS ON WCVB.COM AND ON T
New England coach Mike Vrabel addresses Diggs, Barmore allegations
“I want the best for these guys on the field and off the field,” Vrabel said.
Updated: 5:28 PM EST Dec 31, 2025
New England Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel spoke for the first time on Wednesday at his weekly press conference since the assault allegations against both wide receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive tackle Christian Barmore came to light.”Well I would say not disappointing at all, these are allegations… it’s things that we have to handle and every day that there’s distractions, some are smaller than others, and I’m confident that we’ll focus on the Dolphins and those two individuals … will be able to handle the ongoing legal process,” Vrabel said. “It’s an ongoing legal matter and these are allegations… I don’t think we have to jump to any sort of conclusions right now and let the process take its toll.” Vrabel also mentioned this was not the first time he’s heard of the allegations against either player and it’s “not a surprise” that the allegations came to light on Tuesday and Wednesday.”We always want to gather more information but… we’ve been aware of these allegations, yesterday and today wasn’t the first that we’ve heard about them and tried to do everything in accordance with the league policy, making sure we’re in compliance with the league,” he said.The Patriots head coach said Barmore was away with an illness on Wednesday.He said he “hasn’t heard anything” that would keep either Diggs or Barmore out of Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins.WATCH: Quarterback Drake Maye responds to questions about Diggs, Barmore:On keeping his players focus away from the distractions, Vrabel said it’s “no different” than what they’ve done throughout the season.”The Dolphins are 5-2 in their last 7 games…that was our focus this morning,” he said.Vrabel also addressed any potential fears of the team not being focused to finish out the season. “Afraid? No, I’m 50 years old, I’m not afraid,” he said. “I love coaching this football team, I love the way they come to work… I’ve appreciated everyone’s growth throughout this entire process… I want the best for these guys on the field and off the field.” A spokesperson for the NFL said both Barmore and Diggs are eligible to play at this time and both matters are under review of the league’s personal conduct policy.Barmore is accused of assaulting a victim he was in a relationship with back in August.According to court documents, Barmore threw the victim to the floor as she was trying to leave the house after an argument.The victim claimed Barmore grabbed her by the shirt “in the area of the neck” as she tried to get up, but he eventually let her go.Diggs is accused of strangling and attacking his personal chef over a pay dispute.Charging documents allege that on Dec. 2, Diggs smacked the chef and “tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck.”The documents allege the woman “…had trouble breathing and that she felt like she could have blacked out.”Diggs categorically denies the allegations. His lawyer, David Meier, released a statement on Tuesday, saying in part the charges against Diggs “are unsubstantiated, uncorroborated, and were never investigated — because they did not occur.”The Patriots released their own statement, saying, “We support Stefon,” and they’ll continue to cooperate with the appropriate authorities.New England (13-3) currently holds the #2 seed in the AFC and will play the Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on Sunday to wrap up their regular season.If the Denver Broncos lost to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, the Patriots would receive the #1 seed and get a first-round bye and home-field advantage for the playoffs.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. —
New England Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel spoke for the first time on Wednesday at his weekly press conference since the assault allegations against both wide receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive tackle Christian Barmore came to light.
“Well I would say not disappointing at all, these are allegations… it’s things that we have to handle and every day that there’s distractions, some are smaller than others, and I’m confident that we’ll focus on the Dolphins and those two individuals [Diggs and Barmore]… will be able to handle the ongoing legal process,” Vrabel said. “It’s an ongoing legal matter and these are allegations… I don’t think we have to jump to any sort of conclusions right now and [we’ll] let the process take its toll.”
Vrabel also mentioned this was not the first time he’s heard of the allegations against either player and it’s “not a surprise” that the allegations came to light on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“We always want to gather more information but… we’ve been aware of these allegations, yesterday and today wasn’t the first that we’ve heard about them and [we’ve] tried to do everything in accordance with the league policy, making sure we’re in compliance with the league,” he said.
The Patriots head coach said Barmore was away with an illness on Wednesday.
He said he “hasn’t heard anything” that would keep either Diggs or Barmore out of Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins.
WATCH: Quarterback Drake Maye responds to questions about Diggs, Barmore:
On keeping his players focus away from the distractions, Vrabel said it’s “no different” than what they’ve done throughout the season.
“The Dolphins are 5-2 in their last 7 games…that was our focus this morning,” he said.
Vrabel also addressed any potential fears of the team not being focused to finish out the season.
“Afraid? No, I’m 50 years old, I’m not afraid,” he said. “I love coaching this football team, I love the way they come to work… I’ve appreciated everyone’s growth throughout this entire process… I want the best for these guys on the field and off the field.”
A spokesperson for the NFL said both Barmore and Diggs are eligible to play at this time and both matters are under review of the league’s personal conduct policy.
Barmore is accused of assaulting a victim he was in a relationship with back in August.
According to court documents, Barmore threw the victim to the floor as she was trying to leave the house after an argument.
The victim claimed Barmore grabbed her by the shirt “in the area of the neck” as she tried to get up, but he eventually let her go.
Diggs is accused of strangling and attacking his personal chef over a pay dispute.
Charging documents allege that on Dec. 2, Diggs smacked the chef and “tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck.”
The documents allege the woman “…had trouble breathing and that she felt like she could have blacked out.”
Diggs categorically denies the allegations. His lawyer, David Meier, released a statement on Tuesday, saying in part the charges against Diggs “are unsubstantiated, uncorroborated, and were never investigated — because they did not occur.”
The Patriots released their own statement, saying, “We support Stefon,” and they’ll continue to cooperate with the appropriate authorities.
New England (13-3) currently holds the #2 seed in the AFC and will play the Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on Sunday to wrap up their regular season.
If the Denver Broncos lost to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, the Patriots would receive the #1 seed and get a first-round bye and home-field advantage for the playoffs.