Diggs left Minny for… [Thielen’s] Money? [ESPN]
Joe Johnson
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I recently commented on Twitter that former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs has finally received what he wanted in 2020. Not the stats, or the “legitimate Super Bowl contention”, the wins, any of that. I meant, this:
Attention.
The gaze of the nation.
I said this in a comment to one of my countless Diggs stories, that Diggs would rather get a magazine cover than win a Super Bowl in a game where he’s a decoy/not MVP.
Just ask this situation, when the Vikings were winning in a game they won:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=nFIGoQa_42Y
But I know what the comments will say, which is one of two equally odd lines of reasoning:
- Get over it. I’m a Bills fan and am ignoring the fact that I’m on a Minnesota Vikings NEWS site bemoaning that said site is doing it’s main function. Diggs has “matured” now, like every 27-year-old does over one magical summer. It’s called second puberty and it’s magical!
- Get over it. We have Jefferson now and the trade worked out for both sides.
I wish I could.
I really do.
Full disclosure? Diggs was my favorite Vikings player, and despite what I’m learning about the state of the franchise… If what I’m hearing is consistent, which I have every reason to believe is the case from my sources, Diggs very well could’ve said as much and looked a lot better in the eyes of… Everyone.
But he did get what he wanted and perhaps took the path of least resistance. I mean, outside of Zimmer’s coaching philosophy, the Vikings treated Diggs (a man who had yet to cross the 1k-yard mark or complete a full 16-game season at the point of his extension) pretty well.
As I pointed out, here:
https://purpleptsd.com/what-exactly-did-you-have-to-be-mad-about-diggs/
Two things can be true at the same time (coaching issues interpersonally and a self-centered player, it’s called pulling a Keyshawn Johnson era football team/book).
And it appears that, despite his recent ESPN article where Diggs stated Minny’s run-first philosophy was both a betrayal (which I predicted here) and not good for his career…
… Despite his pretty hefty contract.
https://purpleptsd.com/did-the-vikings-betray-diggs-espn-com-offers-new-insight/
Speaking of his contract… There’s a new angle from ESPN that supports that Diggs is all about… Diggs.
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky / Damien Woody posted on Twitter that Diggs wanted out of Minny after the Vikings extended his “BFF” Adam Thielen (to a four-year, $64 million extension during the 2019 offseason).
Here’s Thielen’s deal, per Sportrac:
Here’s Diggs’ deal:
So, Diggs makes more money, in case you were wondering. That means, as I presumed in the off-season, Diggs may have wanted to move to a larger media market for the sponsorship opportunities (especially after the ‘Minneapolis Miracle’ lead to no major national sponsorships of note).
Clearly, Buffalo isn’t that, despite it’s East Coast locale. So, Diggs instead told ESPN on-the-record that it was about the run-first stuff he sees people bemoaning on Vikings Twitter (he follows our sites, so, he knows (or the ad agency of Antonio Brown LLC helped him craft that message). Off the record? He told them the REAL reason.
Either way, yes, Jefferson is younger with a higher ceiling and everyone is happy. But, we do need to report on things we sometimes don’t want to. It feels like I’m sending unviewed texts to my estranged Dad. But, thems the ropes and I will be the first to apologize to Stef personally if my internet sleuthing digs up (unintentional) other reasons Diggs may have wanted out.
But, again, two things can be right at the same time.