Patriots' mind games don't seem to be working on 1 Jaguars player
Going into the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers saw fit to talk a lot of trash regarding their opponents, the Jacksonville Jaguars.
While the Steelers players weren’t calling out any players in particular, they certainly didn’t shy away from flaunting their dismissive attitudes toward the Jaguars.
Star running back Le’Veon Bell was talking about how much Pittsburgh loved “round 2’s” — referring to the fact that their game against the Jaguars would be their second this season, and predicting another “round 2” against the New England Patriots.
I love round 2’s…we’ll have two round 2’s in back to back weeks…
— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) January 14, 2018
Safety Mike Mitchell took things a bit further, essentially ignoring the Jaguars and also predicting an inevitable second matchup with the Patriots.
Mike Mitchell on a potential rematch with the Patriots in the AFC Championship. pic.twitter.com/M4Pf8qWknU
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 10, 2018
Jacksonville beat the Steelers 45-42 in the AFC divisional round.
For the Jaguars, who won their division with 10 wins during the season, it’s nothing new.
Despite the wins, many players, oftentimes on the losing end against the Jaguars, saw fit to criticize the team and its quarterback, Blake Bortles.
“He trash,” Houston Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney said of Bortles — after a 45-7 loss to the Jaguars.
Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Jurrell Casey called Bortles a “choke” artist. Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas described Bortles as “subpar.”
The New England Patriots? They certainly won’t be taking the same approach.
The Jaguars’ AFC championship game opponents have nothing but praise for them in advance of the matchup Sunday.
“When the good Lord made [Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey], he said, ‘Let there be corner.’ And there he is,” Patriots special team ace Matthew Slater said.
Patriots Pro Bowl safety Devin McCourty called Bortles a “winner.”
Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski described the Jaguars as the “best team we’ve faced all year.”
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said Jacksonville would present “the biggest challenge we’ve faced all year.”
The closest the Patriots came to trash talking the Jaguars came when reserve defensive lineman Adam Butler told ESPN that Ramsey had better back up his trash talk, and that it’s time to “be humble or be humbled.”
But while New England is showering the Jaguars with praise, linebacker Telvin Smith isn’t buying it, saying on Twitter he knows “what’s really being said” by the Pats in their building.
Bruh this the oldest trick…pump us up in the media but in the buildin I kno what’s really bein said. ✊🏿Respect 🐐 https://t.co/1I0954GF8C
— Telvin Smith (@TelvinSmith_22) January 16, 2018
Perhaps it is the “oldest trick” in the book. But the opposite approach hasn’t exactly been working out for previous Jaguars opponents.
Can’t blame the Patriots for trying.
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