DENVER – Most of the Patriots had already departed the visitors’ locker room inside Mile High Stadium when Stefon Diggs walked in.
The veteran receiver was still running on adrenaline over an hour after the Patriots beat the Denver Broncos to punch a ticket to Super Bowl 60. Diggs approached assistant equipment manager Devin Charles-Hubbard about turning on music from a big black speaker in the middle of the locker room.
At 5:15 p.m., Diggs turned on ‘Diamonds Dancing’ by Drake & Future.
Sitting inside his locker, with two diamond-laced chains around his neck, Diggs started to sing along.
“The stage in my life where I’m… Where I feel like I can conquer anything and everything.”
Emotions ran high inside Mile High Stadium on Sunday night. Diggs is one of many players on the Patriots roster who haven’t played in a Super Bowl. The team’s AFC Championship win over the Broncos meant everything to these players, and more to several veterans who had been waiting a long time to capture their first championship.
“I fought long and hard. It means the world to me,” Diggs said. “I’ve been playing this game since I was five years old. I always wanted to be a champion, always wanted to be a Super Bowl champion. The opportunity is right there in front of us, and we’re one game away.
“For me, I’ve been in the league 11 years. I fell short so many times. I can’t say nothing but perfect timing. I was coming off of an ACL injury. New team, new situation, new coaches, new teammates. It all happened exactly how it was supposed to. I appreciate everything.”
Out of the Patriots’ entire 53-man roster, five players (Carlton Davis, Christian Elliss, Mack Hollins, Austin Hooper, and Milton Williams) have played in a Super Bowl. Only Davis, Hollins, and Williams have a championship ring.
The odds of playing in a Super Bowl are slim, which is why so many players were emotional on Sunday night.
When Morgan Moses walked into the locker room, the first thing he did was pick up his phone and call his family. A veteran of 12 NFL seasons, Moses has never played in a Super Bowl. When he rang home, tears were flowing as he spoke to his three sons.
“I got in the locker room, I called my sons. They were crying on the phone,” Moses said. “Lots of excitement. Everything that we put together in April starting this thing to be here right now.”
Patriots center Garrett Bradbury has played in the NFL for seven seasons. Before this season, the veteran had been to the playoffs three times and never played in a conference championship.
On Sunday, after winning in his first conference title game, Bradbury was at a loss for words, but couldn’t stop smiling.
“It doesn’t feel real,” Bradbury said. “It’s surreal. It hasn’t sunk in yet. The vibes in this locker room and the celebration with this team mean everything.”
NFL players go through a lot. This season, Kayshon Boutte opened up about his gambling addiction and how he tried to quit football during his first training camp with the Patriots. This season, Boutte established himself as a bona fide No. 2 receiver and came up big for the Patriots in their playoff wins over the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans.
Now, he’ll play in the Super Bowl and likely start for the Patriots.
“It means a lot. Been through a lot in my life,” Boutte said. “Where we’re at today, I’m still cherishing the moment. Super Bowl in two weeks.”
Coming off back-to-back 4-win seasons, expectations weren’t overly high for the Patriots. But Mike Vrabel and his front office overhauled the roster with veterans and rookies, who have all made impacts.
One of the first-year players is Elijah Ponder. He made the Patriots roster as an undrafted free agent this offseason. On Sunday, he recovered a fumble to set up the Patriots’ only touchdown.
Now, in his first NFL season, he heads to the Super Bowl.
“Everyone keeps saying it’s been like a fever dream. It really is,” Ponder said. “Grateful. Truly blessed. It’s a crazy situation to be in, especially as a rookie, undrafted. It’s amazing.”
Back in the visitors’ locker room, the song changed to “Scholarships” by Drake & Future.
Diggs was still sitting in his locker room, singing out loud.
“I need acknowledgement. If I got it, then tell me I got it.”
As that was happening, Drake Maye walked in with his head down, wearing a button-down flannel. The quarterback smiled as the receiver called his name and reminded him what was next.
“You got two weeks,” Diggs said.
