ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith Claims Stefon Diggs Wants Out of Buffalo
Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs wants to be traded, according to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
On ESPN’s First Take, Smith stated that the three-time Pro Bowl wideout said that friction has existed prior to training camp, dating back to his decision to skip the first day of Buffalo’s mandatory minicamp in June.
“You got Stefon Diggs, this brother all-world receiver but clearly wasn’t happy, walked out, didn’t want to talk to nobody. Then he came into training camp, they had some friction they had to get settled and all of this stuff,” said Smith.
Citing anonymous sources, Smith went on to express that the NFL’s 2020 leader in receptions and receiving yards would prefer to be traded because he has “lost a level of belief” in the club.
“Brother wants out. I’m just telling you what I know. I’ve got my own sources. Brother wants out. He don’t want to be in Buffalo anymore. I have my sources. Stefon Diggs got to be there, but he would prefer to be gone, because he’s lost a level of belief in the Buffalo Bills. That’s right, I said it.”
Stephen A Smith confidently says that Stefon Diggs doesn’t want to be with the #Bills anymore
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) August 21, 2023
“He wants out. I have my sources”pic.twitter.com/uQzLlNCfRF
The popular TV personality, expecting resistance to the validity of his claims, highlighted that despite Diggs’s reported discontent, he realizes he has a job to do and will not seek to force his way out.
“I am telling you what I know. [The Bills] can deny it. I have my sources. I am telling you what I know. He is not going to force his way out,” Smith said. “He knows he has got to be there and has to perform, but he ain’t feelin’ the Buffalo Bills the way that he once did, because he feels there’s a window of opportunity that they have missed out on. Josh Allen has got to show them that is not true.”
If what Smith is reporting is true, it runs contrary to a recent public comment by Diggs, in which he said he “100%” wants to retire as a member of the Bills.
“100%” - #Bills Stefon Diggs when @SalSports asked him if he “still wants to retire a Buffalo Bill?”#BillsCamp #BillsMafia @Cover1 pic.twitter.com/vNPhfoRq3N
— Greg Vorse (@GregVorse) July 26, 2023