DeAndre Hopkins' Promise' vs. 'Frustrated' Stefon Diggs? Source Clears Up Bills Rumor
Since the start of the mandatory minicamp, rumors have been swirling of a disconnect between the Buffalo Bills and Stefon Diggs. Since going (sort of) missing in action for Day 1 of minicamp, leading to coach Sean McDermott admitting to being "very concerned" about the situation, the star receiver reported back to Orchard Park and has been present ever since.
Then, when everyone thought the drama was over, Tuesday morning, a new report from Fox Sports' Craig Carton stated a reason for Diggs' absence is due to his "frustrations" with the franchise for not pursuing free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins ... with the suggestion that Diggs' contract restructure was designed to add Hopkins.
A pair issues here: One, an NFL source close to the situation tells BillsCentral.com that the FS1 story is "bogus.'' (We shouldn't be shocked; Carton is the media person who seems to have also made up the story of Aaron Rodgers not wanting to be traded to the Patriots to play for "Satan'' Bill Belichick.'')
And two: We believe that while Diggs' main issue is truly about "involvement in play-calling,'' we also believe he does want Hopkins here. Is that a "hint of unselfishness'' that those inside Orchard Park can take as a positive ... or even a nudge toward re-assessing a pursuit of the ex-Cardinals free agent?
Possibly, and maybe coincidentally with all the rumors of Diggs being upset, Hopkins penned a tweet promising his future receiving corps that he'd make their job easier.
"Whoever's in my future wide receiver group. I promise I will make your job easy," Hopkins wrote.
If Diggs truly wants more help, then a path to getting more cap space is achievable in Buffalo. Using OverTheCap's projections, the Bills have just $5 million in remaining cap space, but they can create more space. ... maybe as much as $16 million, which would in theory give them enough to compete with other contenders for Hopkins's services, like the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans.
The Bills offense would be loaded. Hopkins will make it "easy.'' And Diggs - maybe, as long as he's invited to sit in on the QB meetings, or something - would be happy. Well, relatively speaking.
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