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 spite of everything, actions converse louder than phrases.
However first, a number of vital phrases that ought to go with out saying however nonetheless too typically 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 faux to.
As for the Patriots, their entry to Diggs and Barmore, the investigative capabilities of their safety employees and the obtainable courtroom paperwork give them maybe the very best obtainable accounts of what occurred. Presuming that info 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 legal professional, David Meier (who’s additionally representing Diggs) launched a press release saying, “We’re assured that the proof will reveal that no felony conduct occurred.” 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; doubtless on account of an absence of proof. Which is to say nothing of the very fact home violence instances are among the many hardest to show in a courtroom of legislation.
There’s some indication that Diggs will keep away from authorized penalties anyway, contemplating his representatives are working to succeed in a monetary settlement along with his accuser, based on The Boston Globe. However once more, with out leaping to finish conclusions primarily based on incomplete info, let’s set that apart.
Extra to the purpose in regards to 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 need to spend, and a few coaches don’t, preferring to as an alternative cower behind statements. So, for mentioned time, this reporter is grateful.
However how disenchanted was he coping with two gamers going through allegations like these?
“Nicely, I might say not disappointing in any respect,” he mentioned. “These are allegations, such as you talked about in your query. It’s issues that we’ve to deal with, and daily there’s distractions, some are smaller than others. I’m assured that we’ll concentrate on the Dolphins and people two people that you simply talked about will be capable to deal with the continued authorized course of.”
So what does Vrabel know? Or what does he select to imagine? His obvious confidence and the Patriots’ obvious confidence shouldn’t be one thing we have to share as a result of we will’t reply the aforementioned questions. However the group expressing one of these perception is bound as hell notable unto itself.
The Patriots didn’t want so as to add, “we assist Stefon,” into the center of their in any other case boilerplate assertion about Diggs. They didn’t have to let Barmore observe and play daily after studying about his incident in August. Requested about why the Patriots felt snug doing so, Vrabel simply referred to the costs as allegations.
If — and underscoring the phrase “if” right here — the Patriots are incorrect about both participant, statements and actions like theirs invite a world of criticism, particularly for a corporation led by an proprietor who claims to have a zero-tolerance coverage towards home violence. These can be, at greatest, unforced public relations errors, and at worst reckless, careless assist for gamers who didn’t deserve it.
Once more, I don’t know what occurred. However the Patriots’ response tells you they assume they do, or they imagine 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 felony 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 method round. Going a step additional, that sort of messaging may counsel 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 taking part in too loudly when you’re attempting to work. A distraction is somebody calling you when you’re driving. A distraction shouldn’t be, 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 felony complaints are unfounded, let’s perceive each other: bringing false fees can be deeply severe. However in both case, soccer shouldn’t be a sufferer right here.
Not even a sufferer of distraction.
2. Chargers scouting report
New England, meet your most probably 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 taking part in at a Professional Bowl stage, regardless of a major hand harm.
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 may change into a one-dimensional sport quick for LA, which additionally has an imbalanced, so-so cross rush.
Why would the Pats lose?
Hebert is making superhuman performs along with his cannon arm and a better willingness to scramble. He has the fourth-lowest turnover-worthy play share amongst quarterbacks at PFF. He spreads the ball round, focusing on three receivers with 700-plus receiving yards; that means Christian Gonzalez can’t eradicate their passing sport by taking out one apparent risk.
Defensively, the Chargers personal the NFL’s greatest deep-ball protection by DVOA. They’re additionally good in protection, well-coached and boast one of many NFL’s greatest kickers.
3. Sunday plan
A typical 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 preserve tabs on Denver’s rating and sit starters late or deal with Sunday like some other sport? Former Patriots captain David Andrews left little doubt about his emotions when I asked him this week.
“Go on the market and kick their ass,” Andrews mentioned. “Look, in the event you’re a competitor — which I believe Mike has constructed a tradition, however you’re nonetheless attempting 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’ energetic 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 sport 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.
