Bills HC Sean McDermott clears the air regarding Stefon Diggs' absence
One day after Buffalo Bills star receiver Stefon Diggs reportedly no-showed the start of his team’s mandatory minicamp, head coach Sean McDermott took to the podium to clear the air on his absence.
McDermott said that Diggs did “everything he was asked to do,” adding it came to a point where Diggs and the team needed “a break and some space.”
“We had a good conversation, great communication,” McDermott said Wednesday, via NFL.com. “We got to a point yesterday where we just felt like we all needed a break and some space. So, I gave Stef permission to get some space and head out and picked up those conversations after practice. So let me make it clear: It was not Stef leaving unexcused — he was excused, by me. And so those conversations have got us to, what I think and believe, is a great spot.
“Sometimes you got to have conversations and need to communicate. I appreciate Stef being willing to communicate. I thought he did a great job and you guys need to understand Stef is a valuable member of this football team. He’s one of our captains and a leader on this football team. He works extremely, extremely hard — as hard as any player that I’ve been around — to be elite in this league, and that’s what he is. And I love him. So, I want to make sure that you guys understand what really the situation was and is. Because there’s some things that have been said that I think don’t think were fair, so I wanted to provide clarity to that situation.”
Bills, Stefon Diggs on good terms?
Diggs’ agent, Adisa Bakari, told Adam Schefter of ESPN that Diggs was in Buffalo for minicamp and met with McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane the past two days. Buffalo later confirmed that Diggs reported in the morning before leaving the facility ahead of practice.
After saying Tuesday he was “very concerned” about Diggs’ absence, McDermott now believes the issues have been resolved after some communication.
“Whenever a player has something going on or misses or not here for some reason, I am concerned,” McDermott said. “That’s my sentiment with any player, and in particular a player as important to us as Stef. And so, I get concerned when players miss for reasons off the field. For reasons on the field, whether it be they’re injured or whatever it is, that’s just how I am.
“When I say I’m very concerned because it’s a situation with one of our players. And it was something we needed to work through. And those are healthy conversations that happen, and I’m extremely appreciative of those conversations. When you have those healthy conversations, it gets you to a better spot, and I feel good about that. I feel like we’re in that spot.”