Morning Sports Update

Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski explained why they like Stefon Diggs signing with the Patriots

"It’d be really good for these younger guys to be able to see how a professional works daily."

Stefon Diggs
Stefon Diggs while a player for the Texans in 2024. AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

By Hayden Bird

3 minutes to read

Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski on Stefon Diggs: With the news that Stefon Diggs is set to become the newest Patriots wide receiver on a reported three-year contract, two of the team’s former pass-catchers have already weighed in on the prospect of the ex-Bill playing alongside quarterback Drake Maye.

Both Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, speaking on their “Dudes On Dudes” podcast, addressed Diggs coming to New England.

“I like Stefon Diggs in New England, that situation, because Stefon Diggs is still pissed off at the Bills,” Edelman explained in a clip shared on the podcast’s social media Tuesday night after the report was announced. “There’s going to be hunger and there’s going to be urgency and there’s going to be a fire under his a** in the meeting room when he’s in New England at practice, which they could use a little fire under their a** in that receiver room.”

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Edelman dismissed concerns about Diggs’ ability to gel with Maye and the rest of the roster.

“No one ever second-guesses how hard he works and the amount of work that he puts into his craft,” the former Patriots wide receiver said. “So, if you’re getting a motivated Stefon Diggs, that could be really beneficial to the young football players in that young football room that they call the receiver room in New England.

“They have a lot of young football players there,” he added. “It’d be really good for these younger guys to be able to see how a professional works daily. How a professional prepares daily. How a professional takes care of his body.

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“They need a little veteran leadership in that room,” Edelman concluded.

Gronkowski concurred with the assessment.

“New England needs a guy,” the ex-Patriots tight end explained. “They need wide receivers. They need a No. 1. Stefon Diggs might not be that No. 1, but he’ll at least be a solid No. 2, and I’m sure he’s got some big playmaking ability still left in the tank.”

Trivia: Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman occupy two of the five top spots in the Patriots’ all-time receiving yards ranking. Can you name the other three?

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: The final years in which they played in New England are 1989, 2007, and 2012.

Scores and schedules:

Tonight, the Celtics face the Suns in Phoenix at 10 p.m.

The Bruins also play at 10 p.m., facing the Ducks in Anaheim.

Early in the evening, the Boston Fleet play the Toronto Sceptres at Agganis Arena at 7 p.m.

And tomorrow, the Red Sox begin the 2025 MLB season in Texas against the Rangers at 4:05 p.m.

More from Boston.com:

Digging into the Diggs details: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport offered some context around the newest Patriots’ wide receiver’s reported deal.

On this day: In 1979, one of the great rivalries in basketball was born when Magic Johnson’s Michigan State prevailed over Larry Bird’s Indiana State in the NCAA Tournament national championship game. It would be the first of many battles between the two Hall of Fame talents, setting the stage for a central NBA storyline over the ensuing decade.

Bird Magic

Daily highlight: Harvard men’s lacrosse defeated Boston University 16-7 in the first edition of the Charles River Rivalry, with Jack Speidell netting a plethora of goals (including this behind-the-back gem).

Trivia answer: Stanley Morgan, Troy Brown, Wes Welker

Hayden Bird

Sports Staff

Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.

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