Yikes! Patriots’ Star Receiver Stefon Diggs Faces Strangulation Charges, Lawyer Responds

Stefon Diggs is facing strangulation and other criminal charges in connection with an incident that happened earlier this month, police said. The New England Patriots have since released a statement concerning their star wide receiver.

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What To Know About The Charges 

This news broke after Stefon Diggs’ lawyer appeared at a court hearing on Tuesday in Dedham, Massachusetts. The incident reportedly happened on Dec. 2. Still, it is unclear what led to the charges, which include felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery. Diggs is due back in court on January 21 for a motion hearing. 

Stefon Diggs’ Lawyer Denies Allegations

Stefon Diggs’ lawyer, David Meier, told the Associated Press in an emailed statement that Diggs “categorically denies these allegations.” Attorney Meier said the allegations never occurred. Furthermore, he describes them as unsubstantiated and uncorroborated.

“The timing and motivation for making the allegations is crystal clear: they are the direct result of an employee-employer financial dispute that was not resolved to the employee’s satisfaction,” Meier wrote.

New England Patriots React To Diggs’ Charges

In a statement, the New England Patriots said they were also standing by Diggs: “We support Stefon,” the team said. The full memo clarifies that they’re aware of the charges, and that the wide receiver denied the allegations in talks with them. While the team stands by Diggs, their statement also said they’ll continue to gather details about the incident and “cooperate fully” with authorities and the NFL.

“Out of respect for all parties involved, and given that this is an ongoing legal matter, we will have no further comment at this.”

Diggs, 32, established himself as one of the NFL’s best wide receivers during a run with Minnesota and Buffalo from 2018 to 2023, when he had six consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons and was selected to the Pro Bowl four times.
After a lackluster stint in Houston last year, Diggs ended up in New England, signing a three-year, $69 million deal in free agency that guaranteed him $26 million.
Diggs has proven a reliable target for second-year quarterback Drake Maye and is a big reason why the team has once again clinched the AFC East title as the team heads toward the playoffs.
Off the field, though, his tenure with the Patriots got off to a rocky start when a video surfaced on social media in May showing Diggs passing what appeared to be a bag of pink crystals to women on a boat.
It wasn’t clear what the substance was, and an NFL spokesperson said the league would not comment. Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said the team would handle that matter internally.

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Associated Press writer Michael Casey contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.