Stefon Diggs was named a Buffalo Bills captain this week, which prompted the star wide receiver to reminisce a bit. As he did, he offered some interesting thoughts on his messy exit from the Minnesota Vikings.
Diggs admitted he was a “bad teammate” when he wanted to leave Minnesota, and understands how the reputation became attached to him as a result.
“Coming from my old team, up to me wanting to leave and wanting to go to another place, I was a great teammate. It wasn’t until I wanted to do something else is when I became a bad teammate. It’s all good until it’s not good,” Diggs said Tuesday. “For me, even then, always try to play with a chip on my shoulder and lead my team the best way I know how.
“Coming here, I had a fresh start. It was fair for people to make their assumptions or their assessment from the outside looking in. I just look at it as when I get there, I’ll show them who I am and we’ll go from there.”
Diggs definitely wasn’t the model of good behavior when he was forcing his way out of Minnesota. He offered up plenty of passive-aggressive hints about wanting to leave, but it definitely worked in getting him what he wanted. To say it was a success would be an understatement, as Diggs’ 127 catches and 1,535 receiving yards during his first season in Buffalo led the league.
Diggs’ admission might placate some Vikings fans, but probably not. It may come as a surprise to the team’s coach, who was somehow convinced that Diggs wasn’t disgruntled at the time of the trade.
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