Bills GM Beane defends Diggs after controversial actions

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane. Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Bills GM Brandon Beane defends WR Stefon Diggs after controversial actions

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 1/24/23

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane has defended Stefon Diggs following the receiver's controversial actions during and after Sunday's 27-10 playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

"I'd rather have guys I got to cool off and just, you know, he wants to win and I can live with that versus, I've been around people that I question, are they just here for the Monday paycheck," Beane said of Diggs during Tuesday's end-of-season news conference, per Grant Gordon of the NFL's website. "Stefon Diggs has been paid very handsomely, OK? He could say, 'Man I'm good, I'm set. I can take my private jet, so I can do whatever I want.' He wants to win and so he wears his emotions on his sleeve, but that's what makes him really, really good."

Diggs caught just four of 10 targets for 35 yards and no touchdowns against Cincinnati.

His memorable highlight-reel moment of the afternoon occurred when he went viral in the fourth quarter after he seemed to offer not-so-pleasant words towards quarterback Josh Allen:

Stefon Diggs exchanging some words with Josh Allen on the sideline pic.twitter.com/J2heSTBMrc
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) January 22, 2023

ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg reported that Diggs nearly left Highmark Stadium before some coaches returned to the locker room for the post-game talk.

Practice squad running back Duke Johnson eventually helped convince the 29-year-old to briefly stick around.

Diggs later addressed his frustrations via Twitter:

Want me to be okay with losing ? Nah
— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) January 23, 2023

Want me to be okay with our level of play when it’s not up to the standard ? Nah
— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) January 23, 2023

It’s easy to criticize my reaction more than the result.
— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) January 23, 2023

"I'm an emotional guy, too, and if I was losing out there, sometimes I probably think I'd be worse than Stef. So, does that answer it?" Beane added.

Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle noted Tuesday that Diggs was not "the only (Buffalo) player who bolted before the media was even allowed in the room, or made sure they were nowhere to be found, or simply declined to say anything when approached" shorty after Sunday's disappointing result.

Maiorana also mentioned that Diggs normally speaks with media members only on Wednesdays during seasons when he does, at all.

Whatever Diggs' teammates truly think about how he handled himself, everyone involved will now have plenty of time to reflect on what could have been as the Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs prepare for the upcoming AFC Championship Game.

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