Stefon Diggs' ongoing conflict with Buffalo Bills management doesn't seem to concern his teammates.
Stefon Diggs made headlines when he yelled at Josh Allen, then proceeded to leave the locker room early following the Buffalo Bills' loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the divisional round. In the months since, the relationship between Diggs and the franchise has only deteriorated further.
Diggs is reportedly upset about his role within the team's offense. He was absent at the beginning of mandatory team workouts, which led to head coach Sean McDermott expressing his deep concern about the situation.
Of course, the Bills would love for the situation to resolve sooner than later. Diggs is of paramount importance to the team's offense and he's an important leader to have on the field in training camp. If he doesn't buy into what's happening on the field, Buffalo could be staring down the barrel of a very disappointing season.
Ask Diggs' teammates, however, and the panic meter is floating at a comfortable zero.
Teammates not concerned about Stefon Diggs' feud with Buffalo Bills
"I think it's so funny how the world is so much more concerned than the actual teammates," Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins told Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd (h/t NBC Sports). "We don't care at all."
"There's nothing to really be worried about. An example, let's say you have a conversation with one of your best friends. And let's say one word is maybe tweaked a little bit where you're like, 'Oh, did he just say that?' whatever, we're a group of men who love each other, play with each other, have been around each other for such a long time."
Dawkins is cutting right to the core of a prominent issue in how controversies of this sort are displayed in the media. NFL players are more sympathetic to the "business" of football than your average fan, or even your average head coach.
From the outside looking in, there is undeniable concern about Diggs' disposition toward the team. If he doesn't like his role, if he's of a mind to create chaos with the coaching staff, that can certainly disrupt Buffalo's title pursuit in the very competitive AFC.
But, players hardly ever care about drama the same way "we" do unless that drama is between players. Diggs yelling at Josh Allen on the sidelines was enough to generate headlines, but Allen has since professed his deep respect for Diggs as a teammate and a friend. There's nothing there.
The players can only control what happens on the field. As long as Diggs is out there playing when the games count, there's no reason for the men dressed in pads and helmets to care one iota about what's happening between Diggs and management off the field. It doesn't really impact them.
If the Diggs' saga does eventually influence the Bills' ability to win games, then Dawkins and his teammates may start to adjust their tune. But, for now, a lot of the Diggs-related pressure is external. Pundits want to see a resolution; pundits want to know when and where and how often he will be at practice.
As far as his Buffalo teammates are concerned, as long as Diggs is on the field winning football games, there's nothing to be worried about.
