Welcome to the Friday 5!
Prepared, set, soccer.
1. The Patriots’ sturdy stance
Coming down from the tumultuous information cycle of the week, the place Stefon Diggs was charged with felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery, and Christian Barmore faces a misdemeanor cost of assault and battery on a family/household member, the Patriots’ stance on these issues has crystallized past the statements they launched.
In any case, actions communicate louder than phrases.
However first, a number of necessary phrases that ought to go with out saying however nonetheless too usually bear repeating.
Diggs and Barmore are harmless till confirmed responsible. Dashing to judgment on both participant earlier than the authorized course of can play out and supply a fuller account of what led to those fees serves nobody. I don’t know what occurred, and don’t fake to.
As for the Patriots, their entry to Diggs and Barmore, the investigative capabilities of their safety workers and the accessible courtroom paperwork give them maybe the very best accessible accounts of what occurred. Presuming that data has knowledgeable their statements and actions that adopted each incidents, it’s now clear the group believes one in all two issues.
No. 1: Diggs and/or Barmore are harmless of any wrongdoing. Diggs has categorically denied the allegations, whereas Barmore’s lawyer, David Meier (who’s additionally representing Diggs) launched a press release saying, “We’re assured that the proof will reveal that no prison conduct befell.” Meier additionally described the costs as a “private matter.”
No. 2: Diggs and/or Barmore nearly assuredly won’t face any authorized bother, no matter what really transpired of their respective incidents; seemingly as a consequence of a scarcity of proof. Which is to say nothing of the very fact home violence circumstances are among the many hardest to show in a courtroom of legislation.
There may be some indication that Diggs will keep away from authorized penalties anyway, contemplating his representatives are working to succeed in a monetary settlement together with his accuser, in response to The Boston Globe. However once more, with out leaping to finish conclusions primarily based on incomplete data, let’s set that apart.
Extra to the purpose concerning the Patriots’ stance is Vrabel spoke a touch of defiance and borderline dismissiveness Wednesday when addressing each query about Diggs and Barmore at size; time that, by the best way, he didn’t should spend, and a few coaches don’t, preferring to as an alternative cower behind statements. So, for stated time, this reporter is grateful.
However how disillusioned was he coping with two gamers dealing with allegations like these?
“Nicely, I might say not disappointing in any respect,” he stated. “These are allegations, such as you talked about in your query. It’s issues that now we have to deal with, and on daily basis there’s distractions, some are smaller than others. I’m assured that we’ll deal with the Dolphins and people two people that you simply talked about will be capable to deal with the continuing authorized course of.”
So what does Vrabel know? Or what does he select to consider? His obvious confidence and the Patriots’ obvious confidence just isn’t one thing we have to share as a result of we are able to’t reply the aforementioned questions. However the group expressing this kind of perception is certain as hell notable unto itself.
The Patriots didn’t want so as to add, “we help Stefon,” into the center of their in any other case boilerplate assertion about Diggs. They didn’t have to let Barmore follow and play on daily basis after studying about his incident in August. Requested about why the Patriots felt comfy doing so, Vrabel simply referred to the costs as allegations.
If — and underscoring the phrase “if” right here — the Patriots are fallacious about both participant, statements and actions like theirs invite a world of criticism, particularly for a company led by an proprietor who claims to have a zero-tolerance coverage towards home violence. These could be, at finest, unforced public relations errors, and at worst reckless, careless help for gamers who didn’t deserve it.
Once more, I don’t know what occurred. However the Patriots’ response tells you they suppose they do, or they consider they know what is going to occur subsequent, which for now excludes the NFL placing Diggs and Barmore on indefinite depart by way of the commissioner’s exempt checklist.
One very last thing: labeling prison fees as “distractions” is a behavior we have to kick. Doing so trivializes these fees, and the subtext of that description is that soccer comes earlier than alleged crimes, that life revolves across the league, not the opposite manner round. Going a step additional, that kind of messaging might recommend to any future victims that their experiences and ache and trauma are secondary.
Coaches, gamers and reporters are responsible of it. I’ve been, too, in years previous. Not anymore.
As a result of a distraction is music enjoying too loudly when you’re making an attempt to work. A distraction is somebody calling you when you’re driving. A distraction just isn’t, and by no means has been, allegedly choking a lady or allegedly throwing a romantic companion to the bottom and grabbing her by the collar within the presence of the 2-year-old daughter you share with them.
What Diggs and Barmore are accused of is severe. And if these prison complaints are unfounded, let’s perceive each other: bringing false fees can also be deeply severe. However in both case, soccer just isn’t a sufferer right here.
Not even a sufferer of distraction.
2. Chargers scouting report
New England, meet your most definitely Wild Card playoff opponent: the Chargers.
The Bolts are 11-5. By DVOA, they rank nineteenth on offense, tenth on protection and twenty third on particular groups. Quarterback Justin Herbert is enjoying at a Professional Bowl degree, regardless of a big hand damage.
Why would possibly the Pats beat LA?
The Chargers’ offensive line is an injured mess, permitting run stuffs on nearly 23% of dashing performs and rating second-worst at pass-blocking over at Professional Soccer Focus. It might grow to be a one-dimensional recreation quick for LA, which additionally has an imbalanced, so-so go rush.
Why would the Pats lose?
Hebert is making superhuman performs together with his cannon arm and a higher willingness to scramble. He has the fourth-lowest turnover-worthy play proportion amongst quarterbacks at PFF. He spreads the ball round, focusing on three receivers with 700-plus receiving yards; that means Christian Gonzalez can’t remove their passing recreation by taking out one apparent menace.
Defensively, the Chargers personal the NFL’s finest deep-ball protection by DVOA. They’re additionally good in protection, well-coached and boast one of many NFL’s finest kickers.
3. Sunday plan
A standard query in native media areas this week has been: how ought to the Patriots strategy Sunday’s season finale figuring out they’ll’t clinch the No. 1 seed if the Broncos, who additionally kick off at 4:25, beat the Chargers?
Ought to Vrabel hold tabs on Denver’s rating and sit starters late or deal with Sunday like another recreation? Former Patriots captain David Andrews left little question about his emotions when I asked him this week.
“Go on the market and kick their ass,” Andrews stated. “Look, should you’re a competitor — which I feel Mike has constructed a tradition, however you’re nonetheless making an attempt to domesticate that tradition, it’s a must to construct and develop that tradition — your message is we’re going on the market to go on the market and kick their ass.”
4. Rookies all aboard
Seventh-round rookie cornerback Kobee Minor was promoted from the practice squad Thursday and have become the ninth drafted rookie on the Patriots’ lively roster.
The 2 outliers, left sort out Will Campbell and defensive sort out Joshua Farmer, are at present on injured reserve. Campbell is monitoring to be activated in time for Sunday’s recreation versus the Dolphins, whereas Farmer went on IR final week. Campbell’s addition would give the Pats 10 drafted rookies on their roster, an nearly unprecedented quantity for a Tremendous Bowl contender.
5. Do you know?
The final time the Patriots swept their season sequence with Miami was 2016, a time when Barack Obama was within the White Home, Bruno Mars topped the music charts and the Star Wars movie “Rogue One” was in theaters.
Trending Merchandise
