FOXBOROUGH – Stefon Diggs got the second biggest roar from the full house behind Gillette Stadium on Wednesday.
No. 8 waved his arms up and down to hype the crowd up as he sprinted and skipped onto the practice field for his first training camp with the Patriots, seemingly soaking it all in. Only Drake Maye got a bigger ovation and the buzz was back – at least for one day – like it hasn’t been since the Brady days.
Not only has Diggs brought some immediate interest back to the fan base along with the other new additions and the new head coach, but he’s having an immediate impact on a young receiver room that desperately needs it.
The swagger Diggs continues to bring to the rest of the room from the very first indy drill to each team periods is undeniable. Just like he did in OTAs, Diggs – alongside Kayshon Boutte – started every single drill and fittingly, caught Maye’s first pass of camp in the first team period (after a season-opening false start.)
Boat video aside and with the caveat that it’s only July still, Diggs has been the model teammate so far and everything you hope for when signing a No. 1 receiver.
“Right now, at this very moment, considering I’m coming off an injury, I’m super excited to play football, But, you know, earning the respect of my teammates. Earning the respect of my coaches. Getting back out here, being the leader I know I am, that’s all I want to be right now,” he said when asked about his personal expectations for the season.
“I’m taking it day-by-day. A lot of people want to throw like, a lot of anticipation out there, getting excited…can’t get too excited. It’s day one. I just want to kind of conquer day one, get in here and watch the film. I wasn’t too happy with some things, so, kind of want to get out there, correct it and get back to playing football.”
One of the guys besides Boutte that could really benefit from Diggs’ leadership is Demario ‘Pop’ Douglas. Douglas is heading into year three and now in a Josh McDaniels offense, could be poised for a big season.
“He got that energy and he got that dog, right?” Douglas said of Diggs’ ability on the field. “All it takes is one play for somebody to get it going, so if he make a play, I’m right behind him to make a play. If I make a play, he right behind me to make a play. That’s for the whole room.
“That whole room, we feed off each other. Diggs brings that dog and should I say…leadership to the room.”
Off the field, Diggs’ impact has been even greater, mostly because of his honesty.
“Still a leader. Off the field, man, he’s a dog man. He talks, he talks a lot of junk,” Douglas added with a smile. “It’s good though, you need that. He’s a constructive criticism type of guy. He’s gonna tell you want you need to hear, not what you want to hear.
“I feel like that’s what you need. That’s what you need as a big brother.”