Mike Vrabel reacts to felony fees towards Patriots gamers
New England Patriots
“I don’t suppose we’ve to leap to any form of conclusions proper now. Let the method take its toll.”
FOXBOROUGH — A profitable turnaround season for the Patriots was marred by a pair of key gamers on New England’s roster going through felony fees this week.
Information broke on Tuesday morning that star receiver Stefon Diggs is going through a number of fees, together with felony strangulation, for an alleged altercation together with his private chef.
On Wednesday morning, information got here to gentle that defensive sort out Christian Barmore has been charged with home assault and battery.
Forward of Sunday’s regular-season finale towards the Dolphins, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel confronted the media Wednesday afternoon, stressing that the workforce was conscious of each incidents and is letting the authorized course of play out earlier than taking any further plan of action.
“These aren’t a shock, that in the present day and yesterday this got here out,” Vrabel stated, including: “We’ve taken the allegations very severely. What comes of that, then we’ll have one other dialogue. However I don’t suppose we’ve to leap to any form of conclusions proper now. Let the method take its toll.”
Vrabel was requested how disappointing it’s to take care of off-the-field distractions — particularly involving felony fees — at this juncture of the NFL calendar.
“I might say not disappointing in any respect. I feel that — these are allegations, such as you talked about in your query,” Vrabel stated. “It’s issues that we’ve to deal with and on daily basis that there’s distractions. Some are smaller than others. I’m assured that we’ll concentrate on the Dolphins and people two people that you just talked about will be capable to deal with the continued authorized course of.”
Diggs is going through fees of felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery from an incident that occurred on Dec. 2 in Dedham. In accordance with public court docket filings, Diggs allegedly choked and hit a lady who had been working as his chef in a dispute over cash.
Diggs instructed the Patriots that he “categorically denies the allegations,” in accordance with a workforce assertion launched Tuesday.
Barmore’s misdemeanor cost revolves round an alleged incident on Aug. 8 at Barmore’s residence in Mansfield.
In accordance with charging paperwork, the alleged sufferer — who Barmore had purportedly been courting on and off for a number of years — was gathering her belongings to depart the house after Barmore grew to become indignant that the thermostat was set to 70 levels and that she had eaten a few of his meals.
She stated within the report that she was chatting with her mom on the telephone when Barmore allegedly took the system out of her hand and disconnected the decision. The alleged sufferer “meant to open the door and scream for assist however Christian grabbed her earlier than she might and threw her to the ground.”
Diggs is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 23. Barmore’s arraignment date is at the moment set for Feb. 3.
Vrabel stated on Wednesday that he doesn’t imagine that each Diggs and Barmore received’t be cleared to play in Sunday’s recreation towards Miami.
“I haven’t heard something that will hold both participant from the sport,” Vrabel stated.
The NFL might put each Diggs and Barmore on the Commissioner’s Exempt checklist whereas this authorized course of performs out, as was the case final yr with former Patriots security Jabrill Peppers. Vrabel stated Wednesday that he has not heard something from the NFL so far as league-imposed self-discipline towards Diggs and Barmore.
NFL Community’s Tom Pelissero reached out to NFL league spokesman Brian McCarthy in regards to the standing of each Diggs and Barmore on Wednesday afternoon.
“There isn’t a change to the standing of Diggs or Barmore. Each are eligible to play at the moment,” McCarthy instructed Pelissero. “Pursuant to the Private Conduct Coverage, consideration for placement on the Commissioner Exempt Checklist could also be thought-about following formal fees within the type of an indictment by a grand jury, the submitting of fees by a prosecutor, or an arraignment in a felony court docket.”
So far as his message to the remainder of his workforce amid an eventful week, Vrabel careworn the necessity for the Patriots to stay targeted on Sunday’s matchup towards the Dolphins.
“I talked to the workforce about ensuring that we communicate to ourselves,” Vrabel stated. “If Stef and Christian have one thing to say, I assist that, however we’re additionally going to talk for ourselves and ensure they’re targeted on what they should do and the enhancements they should make. The main focus this week is enhance by apply and attempt to end what we began.”
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