1. Stefon Diggs is feeling inspired and motivated after AFC Championship loss
As the confetti fell and the Chiefs were crowned AFC Champions, Stefon Diggs and Josh Norman stayed on the field to watch. It couldn't have been an easy thing to watch but it provided a motivation to make sure they are the ones raising the Lamar Hunt trophy at this time next year and preparing to play in the Super Bowl.
In just one season, Stefon Diggs has found a family in Buffalo. A family that consists of teammates, coaches and the best fans in the world – Bills Mafia. Now with a full offseason to train and prepare as a Buffalo Bill, his chemistry with his teammates will only improve on and off the field. The All-Pro wide receiver posted this message on Instagram Tuesday and is thankful for everyone making his first year in Buffalo so special.
"Feeling inspired, feeling motivated... yea that sh*t hurt but it's going hurt when you give it everything you got and come up short. To my teammates, coaches, & Bills mafia Thank you ❤️💙 yaw made my first year in Buffalo truly special."
2. Harrison Phillips is a 2021 Alan Page Community Award Finalist
Ever since Harrison Phillips came to Buffalo, he has given his time and resources to help others in the WNY community. Phillips is the Bills 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year Nominee, and he also one of the finalists for the NFLPA's Alan Page Community Award.
The APC Award is the NFLPA's highest honor and is presented every season to the player who has an outstanding impact on his community. As a finalist, Phillips will receive a $10,000 donation from the NFLPA that will go toward the foundation or charity of his choice.
Phillips has worked closely with the Playmakers Organization and back in week five, he was named the NFLPA Community MVP. This was after he hosted a drive-in movie event for more than 200 families with children who have special needs and developmental differences. He provided prizes for the kids and the opportunity to meet members from local police and fire departments.
NFL Players can start voting today and the winner will be announced on February 4th at the NFLPA's annual Super Bowl press conference. The winner will receive $100,000 towards his foundation or charity of choice.
3. There's not an exact science to keeping this Bills culture intact
Sean McDermott brought a winning mindset with him when he was hired back in 2017, and that has grown into a championship culture for the Bills organization. It is so important to him and his staff that he has the right people on this team – people that want to be here and people that want to win. Players that have been here since the beginning of the McDermott era like Micah Hyde, Tre'Davious White and Dion Dawkins understand the process and the culture that has been implemented. With another offseason approaching and players coming and going, here is what McDermott had to say about the best way to keep the Bills culture intact.
"I think there's an inexact science to that," McDermott stated. "There are a lot of factors, what I'm saying, that kind of feed into that bucket, where you got to have the right people. You've got to have the right veterans and those veterans, your core group, has to be able to lead the new players. But the same with staff. You bring in new staff, and I'm not saying we're doing that, but when you add new pieces, some pieces in particular that have come from outside the building. Some older than others, with more experience in other locker rooms, other cultures, you just have to be very careful. And I'm very protective of our roster and our team because of that, and our staff. So, then once you get them in you have to continue to farm and manage and cultivate the culture because if you don't, it'll grow up in the form of weeds all around you before you know it."
