Tag: NEW ENGLAND

Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (8) against the Seattle Seahawks during Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Patriots WR Stefon Diggs pleads not guilty in alleged assault

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery after an alleged dispute with his personal chef.

The arraignment at Massachusetts’s Dedham District Court had been delayed so Diggs could participate when the Patriots played last Sunday in Super Bowl LX.

The next scheduled appearance in the case is an April 1 pretrial hearing. Diggs was released on his own recognizance.

The alleged incident occurred Dec. 2, a day after the Patriots beat the New York Giants on “Monday Night Football.” The chef told Dedham police that during an argument about compensation he owed her, Diggs allegedly struck and choked her.

Through his attorneys, Diggs has denied the charges, saying the allegations are unsubstantiated and motivated by a financial dispute.

“He is completely innocent of these false allegations that have been alleged against him,” Diggs’ attorney, Mitchell Schuster, told reporters Friday. “We’re confident that after the facts and evidence reviewed in this case, he will be completely exonerated.”

Diggs, 32, signed a three-year, $63.5 million contract that includes $6 million that fully guarantees on March 13. In his first season with the Patriots, he led the team in catches (85) and receiving yards (1,013) with four touchdowns in 17 games (all starts).

New England lost the Super Bowl to the Seattle Seahawks, 29-13.

The Patriots have not commented on the matter since releasing a statement in support of Diggs after the initial news of his arrest.

“The New England Patriots are aware of the accusations that have been made regarding Stefon Diggs. Stefon has informed the organization that he categorically denies the allegations. We support Stefon,” the Patriots said Dec. 30. “We will continue to gather information and will cooperate fully with the appropriate authorities and the NFL as necessary. Out of respect for all parties involved, and given that this is an ongoing legal matter, we will have no further comment at this time.”

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams communicates with players during the second half against Tennessee Titans at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.

Report: Patriots seek DC after moving Terrell Williams to high-ranking role

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New England Patriots have a vacancy at defensive coordinator after moving Terrell Williams — who is cancer-free after a battle with prostate cancer — to a high-ranking role on the staff, NFL Network reported on Thursday afternoon.

Williams, 51, missed most of his first season with New England after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in September. He took a leave of absence after being on the sideline for the Patriots’ Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

He attended meetings at New England’s facility during his recovery period but didn’t travel with the team this season. Inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr filled in as New England’s defensive play-caller.

Williams was declared cancer-free during the playoffs and joined the Patriots in Santa Clara, Calif., last week for Super Bowl LX, which the Seattle Seahawks won 29-13.

The Patriots ranked fourth in the regular season in average points allowed (18.8) and eighth in fewest yard allowed per game (295.2).

Head coach Mike Vrabel, the NFL Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm for the Patriots years after playing for New England, was asked on Tuesday if Kuhr would be the defensive coordinator.

“(Williams is) healthy and been given a release to be back and be back at work,” Vrabel said, via team transcript. “So again, I’ll work through all those things here in the next couple days, weeks, however long those decisions may take.”

When Vrabel was head coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2018-23, Williams was his defensive line coach. He added assistant head coach to his title in 2023.

Williams spent the 2024 season as the defensive line coach and run game coordinator with the Detroit Lions.

He coached the defensive line for the Miami Dolphins (2015-17) and then-Oakland Raiders (2012-14) after stints as an assistant at Texas A&M, Purdue, Akron and other schools.

Kuhr, 37, was a New York Giants defensive assistant in 2024. Kuhr also spent time with Vrabel in various positions with the Titans from 2020-23 following multiple stops as an assistant coach at the college level.

–Field Level Media

Patriots QB Drake Maye sits out practice due to illness

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye missed practice Friday due to illness, coach Mike Vrabel announced.

“He would have been at practice today if not for the illness,” Vrabel said of Maye, who also has been limited by a sore right shoulder.

The team is preparing for Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, Calif. Maye was listed as a limited participant because of the shoulder issue during an estimated practice on Wednesday as well as Thursday’s session.

Vrabel was asked how Maye’s shoulder responded to limited participation on Thursday.

“I would say favorably, he’s fine,” Vrabel said on Friday. “However you label limited, that’s how much he practiced. It wasn’t full. So if it’s not full, it has to be down as limited.”

Maye talked to reporters after Thursday’s session and said he “felt good.” The second-year player said he threw during practice in the Patriots’ field house and didn’t think he would be limited for the Super Bowl.

“That’s why you spend time; that’s why you have trainers,” Maye said. “I think it’s just been one of those things where it’s been a long season and sometimes things show up. I’ll do whatever I can to feel 100%, and I’m sure I’ll get if not there, as close as you can — 99, or do whatever I can to make sure I’m throwing and do whatever I can to help the team win.”

Maye, 23, landed on his right shoulder during a 13-yard run in the third quarter of New England’s 10-7 win over the host Denver Broncos last Sunday in the AFC title game.

Maye has started every game this season for New England, including playoff victories over the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Broncos.

He led the NFL with a 72.0% completion rate and 113.5 passer rating while throwing for 4,394 yards with 31 touchdown passes and eight interceptions. Maye has four TD passes and two interceptions in the postseason.

With a victory over the Seahawks, Maye will be the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

The Patriots also continue to practice this week without linebackers Harold Landry III (knee) and Robert Spillane (ankle) and offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (knee/illness). Spillane was injured during the AFC Championship Game, a contest that Landry missed.

–Field Level Media

Patriots QB Drake Maye ‘feels good,’ downplays shoulder issue

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye downplayed concern over the latter’s sore right shoulder on Thursday, the first full practice ahead of Super Bowl week.

Maye had been listed as a limited participant on the initial injury report on Wednesday, when the team didn’t practice but was required to release a projected status.

“Feel good. Got out there, moving around a good bit today,” Maye said after Thursday’s practice, the majority of which was closed to media. “This is the game you dream of playing. So, looking forward to getting out there. Can’t wait to play in the Super Bowl.”

Maye, who said he threw during practice in the Patriots’ field house, didn’t think he would be limited in Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, Calif.

“That’s why you spend time; that’s why you have trainers,” Maye said. “I think it’s just been one of those things where it’s been a long season and sometimes things show up. I’ll do whatever I can to feel 100%, and I’m sure I’ll get if not there, as close as you can — 99, or do whatever I can to make sure I’m throwing and do whatever I can to help the team win.”

Maye, 23, landed on his right shoulder during a 13-yard run in the third quarter of New England’s 10-7 win over the host Denver Broncos last Sunday in the AFC title game.

Vrabel, who on Tuesday said that basically all players are not 100% healthy at this time of the season, was asked of his concern for Maye’s shoulder.

“Not much. I try not to have a whole lot of concern,” Vrabel said on Thursday before practice. “I just want to try to prepare the football team and make sure that everybody is ready and we all have a plan.”

Maye has started every game this season, steering New England to a 17-3 record, including playoff victories over the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Denver.

He led the NFL with a 72.0% completion rate, a 113.5 passer rating and a 77.1 QBR while throwing for 4,394 yards with 31 touchdown passes and eight interceptions. Maye has four TD passes and two interceptions in the postseason.

With a victory over the Seahawks, Maye will be the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

–Field Level Media

With win over Dolphins, Patriots can stay in No. 1 seed chase

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The New England Patriots clinched the AFC East championship last week and have a chance to lock up the conference’s top seed — and with it a first-round bye and home-field advantage until the Super Bowl — if it can beat division rival Miami on Sunday afternoon in Foxborough, Mass.

The Patriots (13-3), who can win 14 games in a season for the first time since 2016 when they won Super Bowl LI, can clinch the top seed with a win over the Dolphins (7-9) and a loss or tie by the Denver Broncos against the L.A. Chargers.

While New England would like this pursuit to be its sole focus this week, the team is dealing with legal issues surrounding two key players — receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive tackle Christian Barmore.

The Patriots were fresh off celebrating their first division title since 2019 when reports surfaced of Diggs facing charges of felony strangulation or suffocation, and misdemeanor assault and battery stemming from an incident that took place on Dec. 2. Diggs is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 23.

In an unrelated incident, Barmore faces a misdemeanor charge of one count of assault and battery on a family/household member alleged to have occurred on Aug. 8.

New England coach Mike Vrabel said before the team’s practice Wednesday he hadn’t heard anything that would keep either player from being available to play against Miami, though Diggs’ status for the postseason remains unclear.

“It means that everybody that we care about and that we have been close to for a while … means that we support, and we do,” Vrabel said. “We understand that there’s allegations, but we also want to support each and every player, and each and every coach, and each and every staff member.”

The Patriots’ tumultuous week comes after a stress-free 42-10 victory over the New York Jets during which quarterback Drake Maye threw a career-high five touchdown passes. Maye threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another in Week 2 when the Patriots beat the Dolphins 33-27 in Miami.

Since being eliminated from postseason consideration, the Dolphins have turned their focus toward their future over the past two weeks. That has included benching starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Rookie Quinn Ewers is expected to make his third career start — and first on the road — on Sunday. After struggling during a 45-21 loss to Cincinnati in which he threw two interceptions, Ewers bounced back last week and led Miami to a 20-17 win over Tampa Bay. Ewers tossed his first two touchdown passes, committed no turnovers and completed 14 of 22 passes for 172 yards.

“It’s what I always dreamed of is playing in this league at the highest level in this position, and it’s special whenever you’ve got a group of guys like we do this year,” Ewers said. “We’re not playing for a Super Bowl, so I thought we did a really good job of coming out here and playing for each other and playing for our last names and playing for the organization.”

The Dolphins took the pressure off Ewers by again running the football effectively, led by Pro Bowler De’Von Achane. The third-year pro has rushed for 1,350 yards and caught a team-high 67 passes for 488 yards. Achane’s rushing yardage is the third-most in a single season in Dolphins history behind Ricky Williams, who rushed for a league-high 1,853 yards in 2002 and 1,372 yards in 2003.

The Patriots had several players who didn’t practice on Wednesday, including Barmore due to an illness. The others were tight ends Hunter Henry (knee) and Jack Westover (ankle), linebackers Harold Landry III (knee) and Robert Spillane (ankle), defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga (foot) and guard Jared Wilson (concussion). Cornerback Alex Austin (wrist), receiver Kayshon Boutte (concussion), linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson (illness) and offensive tackles Morgan Moses (rest) and Thayer Munford Jr. (illness) were limited.

For the Dolphins, Achane (shoulder), linebacker Jordyn Brooks (hamstring), safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (calf), tight end Darren Waller (groin), receiver Jaylen Waddle (ribs) and linebacker Chop Robinson (concussion) did not practice Wednesday. Center Aaron Brewer (neck) and kicker Jason Sanders (right hip) were limited.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Patriots LT Will Campbell has sprained MCL

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New England Patriots left tackle Will Campbell is believed to have a sprained MCL and is awaiting MRI results on his right knee, multiple outlets reported Monday.

The rookie blind-side protector for quarterback Drake Maye was carted off the field during the third quarter of New England’s 26-20 victory Sunday in Cincinnati.

Campbell, 21, is a candidate for injured reserve with the hopes he can return in time for the playoffs for the Patriots (10-2), who won their ninth consecutive game.

Campbell, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has started all 12 games. He appeared despondent after the injury, draping a towel over his head as he rode in the back of a cart to the visitors’ locker room.

Vederian Lowe replaced Campbell at left tackle following the injury.

–Field Level Media

Patriots put seven-game streak on line, welcome surging Jets

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The New England Patriots have ascended to the top of the NFL standings. New York Jets fans could do without the flashback to their rival’s glory days.

The Patriots ride a seven-game winning streak into Week 11 and will put their stellar defense up against Justin Fields, Breece Hall and the Jets on Thursday in Foxborough, Mass.

New England (8-2) has tied Indianapolis and Denver for the best record in football thanks to a run that dates back to Sept. 28. The Patriots have benefited from a schedule that afforded victory laps against bottom-feeders New Orleans, Tennessee and Cleveland.

But the Patriots also beat Buffalo on the road during this stretch to overtake the AFC East division lead — and they played four solid quarters Sunday to prevail 28-23 at the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Drake Maye threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns and his offensive line performed better, allowing just one sack after surrendering 16 over the three previous games.

The Patriots are angling for their first eight-game winning streak since 2019. That’s also the last time New England started a year 8-2 or better — Tom Brady’s final season in town.

“We never want to take the cheese and get into all that,” first-year Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said about his team’s national attention. “Certainly there’s a human element to it. When things are going good, you have to be able to prepare for things when they’re not.”

New England owns the best run defense in the league at just 792 yards allowed through 10 games, which could force more passing downs for the struggling Fields.

The Jets (2-7) won their second straight game Sunday despite Fields going a meager 6 of 11 for 54 yards. Star running back Hall was responsible for 42 of those 54 yards on one play when he took the go-ahead touchdown catch to the house in a 27-20 victory over Cleveland.

Hall’s season has run hot and cold, but he’s 10th in the league at 664 rushing yards and he put up 133 yards and two TDs in the Jets’ first win over Cincinnati.

“He’s that man,” Fields said. “It’s simple. He’s that man.”

The Jets need Fields to be the man as well.

Any hopes of ending their 14-year postseason drought have evaporated, but New York has stuck with Fields over veteran Tyrod Taylor at the most important position.

“I don’t care if it’s three games. I don’t care if it’s one game. We just want to win,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn said. “The more you win, the more confidence you get as a player, the more confidence you get as a team. That’s the only thing that we care about.”

Both head coaches have experienced the Jets-Pats rivalry as players — Glenn with the Jets from 1994-2001, Vrabel from 2001-08 at the outset of the Brady era. The Pats won 15 in a row against the Jets from 2016-23, but the Jets broke that drought at the end of the 2023 season and split the two meetings last year as well.

New York returned a kick and a punt for touchdowns in the first quarter against Cleveland – the first time in franchise history that combo occurred in the same game — and Will McDonald IV tied a team record by logging four sacks. Vrabel said the Jets don’t look like a team on tape that dealt away two top defensive players (Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams).

“That didn’t show up at all,” Vrabel said. “I saw an energy, I saw excitement that jumped off the screen. This will be a challenge. I know they’ll be ready to go on the road and we’ll have to continue to prepare and ultimately play well.”

The Patriots’ biggest injury concerns are in their backfield. Rookie TreVeyon Henderson (430 yards) has a knee injury but practiced in full Tuesday. Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) has missed two straight games, and he and third-stringer Terrell Jennings (knee) were limited Tuesday.

Also limited for New England were receiver Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) and linebackers Christian Elliss (hip) and Jack Gibbens (hamstring).

The Jets will reportedly be without top receiver Garrett Wilson (knee sprain) for 3-4 weeks, though Glenn left media at his press conference baffled by directing them to find out which players are injured by grilling the reporter who broke the Wilson re-injury news on Monday.

When the official team injury report dropped, defensive lineman Harrison Phillips (foot) and cornerback Azareye’h Thomas (concussion) were estimated to have missed practice while McDonald (quad) and DL Braiden McGregor (shoulder) were limited.

–Field Level Media

Rob Gronkowski to sign 1-day contract, retire as a Patriot

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Carrying out the wish of a friend who died of cancer earlier this month, former four-time All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski will retire as a New England Patriot on Wednesday when he signs a ceremonial one-day contract.

Gronkowski, 36, who won three Super Bowls during his nine seasons with the Patriots, made the announcement on Sunday on Fox, where he now serves as an analyst.

The five-time Pro Bowl selection, who still lives in Foxborough, Mass., where the Patriots play their home games, won a fourth Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020.

Through his charity work in New England, Gronkowski developed a friendship with local philanthropist Susan Hurley, whom he said inspired him to build a new playground in Boston. At the unveiling in August, Hurley asked, “Can we just make it official and sign him for a day so he can retire as a Patriot?”

“I like that a lot, and the reason that we’re really going to do that is because of Susan Hurley,” Gronkowski said about Patriots owner Robert Kraft supporting Hurley’s proposition.

Hurley, 62, died on Nov. 1 of ovarian cancer.

Gronkowski, a member of the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, had 621 receptions for 9,286 yards and 92 touchdowns in 143 games (128 starts) over his 11-year career with New England (2010-18) and Tampa Bay (2020-21). In 22 playoff games, he amassed 98 catches for 1,389 yards and 15 touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Aug 21, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger (23) reacts after intercepting a pass during the first half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Reports: Patriots trade S Kyle Dugger to Steelers, DE Keion White to 49ers

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The New England Patriots moved on from a pair of former defensive starters on Tuesday by trading safety Kyle Dugger to the Pittsburgh Steelers and defensive end Keion White to the San Francisco 49ers, according to multiple media reports.

Both swaps are framed the same: The Patriots are sending a seventh-round draft pick along with their former player while collecting a sixth-round choice in return.

Dugger and White had been starters under previous Pats head coaches Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo, but their roles diminished for first-year coach Mike Vrabel this season. White, 26, was a healthy scratch for the Patriots’ 32-13 victory against the visiting Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Dugger signed a four-year, $58-million contract with New England last year after receiving the transition tag. He started just four of seven games for the Patriots this season after starting every game he appeared in during the past three campaigns.

The 2020 second-round pick has contributed just 17 tackles in 2025. He has recorded 441 tackles, 3.5 sacks and nine interceptions across six seasons.

Dugger joins a Steelers defense that just lost veteran safety DeShon Elliott to a hyperextended knee in Sunday night’s loss to the Green Bay Packers. Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that Elliott is week-to-week, according to ESPN.

White, meanwhile, played in the Patriots’ first five games with one start this season and totaled six tackles. The 2023 second-round pick started 13 of 17 games last year and totaled 56 tackles, five sacks, seven tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits and two forced fumbles.

In parts of three seasons, White has 88 tackles, six sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 21 QB hits in 38 games (18 starts).

White’s new club, the 49ers, has amassed just nine sacks in eight games — only the Jacksonville Jaguars (eight in seven) have fewer. San Francisco has been trying to compete without five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Nick Bosa, who sustained a season-ending torn right ACL in Week 3.

The 49ers’ depth is thin with ends Bryce Huff (hamstring), Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) and Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) also dealing with injuries.

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) looks to throw downfield during the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

Drake Maye’s big day gifts Patriots third straight, win over Saints

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Drake Maye passed for 261 yards and three touchdowns and the visiting New England Patriots defeated the New Orleans Saints 25-19 on Sunday afternoon.

Maye completed 18 of 26 passes as the Patriots (4-2) matched their win total from last season while improving to 3-0 on the road.

Spencer Rattler completed 20 of 26 for 227 yards but no touchdowns and Blake Grupe kicked four field goals for the Saints (1-5).

A high-scoring first half was followed by a second half featuring defense.

The Patriots received the second-half kickoff and drove to a 24-yard field goal by Andy Borregales that increased their lead to 25-16, which held up through the end of the third quarter.

On the third play of the fourth quarter Grupe kicked a 54-yard field goal to pull the Saints within 25-19.

New Orleans got the ball back and drove across midfield, but Juwan Johnson fumbled and Craig Woodson recovered for New England at its 49.

The Saints got the ball again after a punt but wound up punting themselves and the Patriots ran out the clock.

On the first offensive play of the game Rattler connected with Chris Olave for a 53-yard completion, leading to Grupe’s 34-yard field goal.

On the fourth play of the ensuing possession Maye hit DeMario Douglas for a 53-yard touchdown that gave the Patriots a 7-3 lead. Grupe added a 48-yard field goal that pulled the Saints within one point with 5:09 left in the quarter.

Maye’s 25-yard touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte gave New England a 14-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Taysom Hill’s 1-yard touchdown run pulled New Orleans within one point. The Patriots crossed midfield on the next possession, but on fourth-and-7 an errant snap got past Maye and he fell on the ball at the New England 47.

That led to Grupe’s 38-yard field goal that gave the Saints a 16-14 lead with 1:51 left in the half.

Maye and Boutte teamed up once again on a 29-yard touchdown pass and after two penalties on New Orleans, Maye sneaked for a two-point conversion, giving the Patriots a 22-16 halftime lead.

–Field Level Media