On Sunday, January 4, Stefon Diggs, a wide receiver for the New England Patriots, stepped onto the field amid recent accusations of assaulting his personal chef in an incident that reportedly took place in December.

The 32-year-old athlete is currently facing charges that include felony strangulation or suffocation along with misdemeanor assault and battery. Despite these serious allegations, Diggs continues to play, stirring questions about why he remains active on the team. He has, however, denied all accusations against him.

“Stefon Diggs emphatically refutes these claims,” stated his lawyer, David Meier, in a release to Us Weekly on December 30. “The allegations lack evidence, remain unverified, and were never subjected to any formal investigation because they never happened. The motives behind these claims are transparent: this is a result of a financial disagreement between employer and employee that didn’t resolve to the latter’s satisfaction. Stefon is eager to clear his name in a court setting.”

As the case unfolds, there is a possibility that Diggs may be placed on the NFL’s Commissioner Exempt List. This status would mean he is on paid leave, unable to engage in team practices or participate in games while the legal process is ongoing.

Stefon Diggs has publicly addressed the accusations, which stem from a purported financial disagreement leading to the alleged assault. “It’s been a challenging few days. Normally, I speak to you all on Wednesdays, but these are unusual times,” Diggs remarked to the press on Friday, January 2. “It’s a very emotional moment.”

Diggs seems to meet the criteria, laid out in the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy, last updated in 2022. The policy states a player “may be placed” on the Commissioner Exempt List when “a player is formally charged with: (1) a felony offense; or (2) a crime of violence.”

“The formal charges may be in the form of an indictment by a grand jury, the filing of charges by a prosecutor, or an arraignment in a criminal court,” the policy reads.

The policy also lays out what can happen if a player is accused of violence but “further investigation is required.” In that case, “the Commissioner may place a player on the Commissioner Exempt List on a limited and temporary basis to permit the league to conduct a preliminary investigation.”

Yet Diggs played in the Patriots’ regular season finale against the Miami Dolphins and is poised to take the field against the Los Angeles Chargers in New England’s first playoff game on Sunday, January 11.

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel addressed the strangulation and assault charges against his wide receiver Stefon Diggs — but not everybody was thrilled with his response. “I would say not disappointing at all. These are allegations,” Vrabel, 50, told reporters on Wednesday, December 31.  In addition to the claims made against Diggs, 32, […]

“The New England Patriots are aware of the accusations that have been made regarding Stefon Diggs,” the Patriots said in a December statement. “Stefon has informed the organization that he categorically denies the allegations. We support Stefon. 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.”

Us Weekly has reached out to the NFL for comment on Diggs’ status, which is still subject to change.

For now, it should be noted that the language in the Personal Conduct Policy is vague enough to give the league some wiggle room. For example, it says a player “may be placed” on the Exempt List, not “will be placed.”

Stefon Diggs and a woman who served as his private chef appeared to have an argument via text message about money she believed the New England Patriots star owed her, court documents revealed. The documents, obtained by Boston 25 News, show a screenshot of an alleged conversation between Diggs, 32, and the woman, who is […]

It is possible that the NFL has decided more evidence needs to be presented of Diggs’ alleged actions before making such a move.

It may also be beneficial for the NFL to hold off as the investigation unfolds. If the league suspended Diggs now, he could take the case to court, presenting an argument that the NFL somehow did not adequately conduct the investigation.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott and former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady both had suspensions overturned after being granted injunctions by a judge.

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs used a curious food analogy to describe his team’s consistent play just days after being accused of strangling and assaulting his private chef. “We have this little saying, ‘Don’t switch the macaroni and cheese,’” Diggs, 32, told reporters after the Patriots’ 38-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins on […]

In Elliott’s case, a judge decided that he did not receive a fair hearing before an arbitrator before he was suspended six games in 2017 for a series of off-field incidents.

As for Brady, a judge determined the NFL handed out his “deflategate” suspension with “inadequate notice” and that it denied Brady’s team the right to examine the NFL’s legal counsel and certain investigative files.

In both cases, an appeals court eventually reinstated the suspensions and the players had to sit out.

Diggs will be arraigned on January 23, two days before the AFC Championship game. For now, he remains good to go for however long the Patriots remain in the playoffs.