Mike Vrabel gives update on Stefon Diggs, Christian Barmore amid legal issues

Speaking Wednesday afternoon for the first time since they were made public, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said the team was previously aware of recent legal charges against wide receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive lineman Christian Barmore.

Diggs is facing multiple charges, including felony strangulation, for an alleged altercation with his personal chef earlier in December. Barmore, meanwhile, is facing a charge for assault ond battery on a family/household member back from August.

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Vrabel said the team is prepared to let the legal process play out.

“These aren’t a surprise, that today and yesterday this came out,” Vrabel said. “We’ve made a statement. We’ve taken the allegations very seriously. What comes of that, then we’ll have another discussion. But I don’t think we have to jump to any sort of conclusions right now. Let the process take its toll.”

He added: “Tried to do everything in accordance to the league policy. Making sure that we’re in compliance with the league.”

Vrabel noted he had not heard anything from the NFL regarding either player. Barmore was away from the team due to illness on Wednesday while Diggs was present at the team’s first practice of the week ahead of the season finale.

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“I haven’t heard anything that would keep either player from the game,” Vrabel said.

After clinching the AFC East, the Patriots are set to host a home playoff game next week following their Week 18 matchup against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

With the playoffs on the horizon, Vrabel does not believe the legal charges will serve as a distraction to his team.

“These are allegations,” Vrabel said. “It’s things that we have to handle. Every day there’s distractions. Some are smaller than others. Confident that we’ll focus on the Dolphins and those two individuals will be able to handle the ongoing legal process.”

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Vrabel said he addressed the team with a simple message.

“I talked to the team about making sure that we speak to ourselves,” the coach said. “If Stef and Christian have something to say, I support that, but we’re also going to speak for ourselves and make sure 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.”