Pats Pulpit
Two of the New England Patriots’ most important players are dealing with some legal issues. One day after wide receiver Stefon Diggs facing charges of strangulation and assault became public, news broke that defensive tackle Christian Barmore was dealing with a similar situation: he is looking at a domestic assault charge stemming from an incident in August.
We already discussed Diggs’ outlook from both a legal and professional perspective. Now, let’s do the same with Barmore’s case.
Whereas Stefon Diggs’ arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 23, Barmore’s will not take place until Feb. 3, five days before the Super Bowl. Should the Patriots advance that far in the playoffs, one would expect that he will not be present in person but rather represented through his attorneys.
At the arraignment itself, the charges against Barmore — misdemeanor assault and battery on a family/household member — will be read. Given that he has denied the allegations through his legal representatives, the expectation is that he would plead “not guilty.”
From there, just like in the Diggs case, the legal system would run its course. How long any prosecution would take is impossible to tell. Depending on the available evidence and cooperation of those involved in the case, several weeks could pass before a verdict is handed down.
Of course, the two parties could also reach a settlement out of court. That might not necessarily prevent the prosecution from moving forward, but it could favorably change the case for Barmore.
The NFL released a statement on Wednesday in regards to both Barmore and Diggs, confirming that neither is currently headed for the commissioner’s exempt list:
Regarding both the Diggs and Barmore matters which are under review of the Personal Conduct Policy: There is no change to the status of Diggs or Barmore. Both are eligible to play at this time.
Pursuant to the Personal Conduct Policy … consideration for placement on the Commissioner Exempt List may be considered following formal charges in the form of an indictment by a grand jury, the filing of charges by a prosecutor, or an arraignment in a criminal court.”
New England is familiar with the commissioner’s exempt list from last year’s Jabrill Peppers case. The then-Patriots captain was arrested on charges including strangulation and drug possession last October, and subsequently ended up missing eight games on the list.
One crucial difference between Peppers and both Barmore and Diggs is that he was charged shortly after his arrest. The latter two, meanwhile, have not gone through that same process yet; based on the NFL’s statement, that could be a crucial moment for both. As noted above, Barmore’s arraignment is set for Feb. 3, with Diggs’ taking place on Jan. 23.
Until those respective dates, no action on the NFL’s part should be expected. Afterwards, however, anything is possible.
The NFL, after all, has a different threshold to consider discipline under its personal conduct policy. League commissioner Roger Goodell will...
