New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel addressed his players this week with two legal cases hanging over the locker room.
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive tackle Christian Barmore both face criminal charges, placing added scrutiny on the team as the regular season closes.
However, Vrabel said the organisation had already been aware of both matters. His priority, he stressed, was keeping the focus internal.
Vrabel delivers clear message to players
Vrabel said he spoke directly to the team and outlined what he expects moving forward.
“I talked to the team about making sure that we speak to ourselves,” Vrabel 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 they have to make.”
“The focus this week is improve through practice and try to finish what we started.”
Rather than letting outside noise dictate the week, Vrabel said preparation remains the only concern inside the building.
Avoiding distractions as season closes
When asked how he plans to limit distractions, Vrabel returned to the same core themes.
“Improve through practice, finish what you started, and speak for yourself,” he said.
“That’s what we’ve talked about. That was my message and we’ll continue to do that.”
“Can’t worry about playoff scenarios and a lot of what-ifs. We’re going to focus on trying to make sure we’re as prepared for a team we haven’t played (since September).”
As a result, Vrabel made clear that speculation and outside commentary will not shape the Patriots’ approach this week.
Vrabel said he expects both Diggs and Barmore to be available for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins.
He did note that Barmore missed Wednesday’s practice due to illness. Still, he did not indicate any plans to limit either player’s involvement.
Legal matters continue off the field
Diggs, 32, faces charges that include felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery related to an alleged Dec. 2 incident in Dedham, Massachusetts. His attorney has said Diggs “categorically denies” the allegations.
Meanwhile, Barmore, 26, faces one count of misdemeanor assault and battery on a family or household member stemming from an alleged August incident in Mansfield. He is scheduled for arraignment in February.
The Patriots have confirmed they informed the NFL when both situations emerged and will continue to cooperate with the league.
Even so, Vrabel kept his public comments narrow. He avoided legal discussion and returned repeatedly to accountability and preparation.
