If things couldn't get worse for the Buffalo Bills after a 22-16 loss to the Aaron Rodgers-less New York Jets, a new distraction has emerged.
During media availability on Wednesday, a hot mic picked up a Bills reporter saying some not-so-kind things about star receiver Stefon Diggs. The reporter appears to insinuate on the recording that the Bills let Diggs run wild, adding, "He'll look in my face and say F you - that's how he treats everybody."
Yikes: A #Bills reporter was talking trash about Stefon Diggs but didn’t realize the mics were still on and caught everything..
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) September 13, 2023
“There’s no control over Stefon Diggs. Dudes gonna do what he wants to do. He’ll look in my face and say F you…that’s how he treats everybody.” pic.twitter.com/tel1IYjH4j
With only a few seconds of audio, it's impossible to know the context of the reporters' comments or even if they were serious. Regardless, they're bound to be a topic of conversation for Diggs and his teammates ahead of their Week 2 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Shortly before the hot-mic comments began to spread, Diggs addressed rumors during the offseason that he potentially wanted out of Buffalo and that his relationship with starting quarterback Josh Allen had soured. While Diggs said he "never" asked to leave the Bills and he's happy with Allen, he shared comments about how misconceptions can run wild, which are more intriguing considering recent events.
"Some people dive too deep into things, or take it where they want to take it," Diggs said. "I'm not responsible for how people react to things. I'm not responsible for how somebody feels."
The situation surrounding Diggs is only the latest black eye on the Bills.
Not only did they fall to Zach Wilson and the Jets in a heartbreaking come-from-behind loss in overtime on Monday, but their owner, Terry Pegula, is also in hot water. This week, troubling quotes attributed to Pegula emerged amid journalist Jim Trotter's racial discrimination lawsuit against NFL Media.
According to Trotter's suit, Pegula allegedly said in response to player protests against racial injustice, "If Black players don't like it here, they should go back to Africa and see how bad it is." The Bills entered the year as one of the favorites to win the AFC, but after only one week, things look bleak in Orchard Park.
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