(Trash Talk is an occasional feature chronicling the very best in pre-game word wars around the NFL)
You’d think the Dallas Cowboys would have learned their lesson the first time. But then, NFL history does tend to repeat.
Two years ago, in the week before the Cowboys lined up against Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions, then-Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was asked about attempting to shut down the NFL’s best receiver. At the time Johnson was on his way to a 96-catch, 1,681-yard and 16-touchdown season. Ryan wasn’t too impressed.
“We work against better receivers (in practice), with Miles Austin and Dez Bryant,” he told the Dallas Morning News. “I know he’s on some touchdown thing (Johnson had caught two TDs in three consecutive games), whatever.”
Four quarters, eight catches, 98 yards and this later…
…it was Lions coach Jim Schwartz delivering the perfect post-game sound byte: “I am just glad that the third-best receiver on their team is on our team.”
So naturally, with a Lions-Cowboys rematch coming this Sunday, it was the perfect time to renew the war of words—this time with one of those Cowboys receivers weighing in.
“I believe I can do whatever he can do,” Bryant told a local radio station, while somehow managing to claim that, “Calvin’s the best at what he [does]. I think I’m the best at what I do.”
(Both players are NFL receivers.)
Just like last time, Johnson had no comment—which is never a good sign—but his teammate and oft-designated spokesperson, fellow receiver Nate Burleson, spoke up.
“Listen, I like Dez,” Burleson said after a Lions practice. “I think he’s one of the best receivers in the game right now. Very talented. Fast, big, strong. He possesses all the tools to possibly be as good as Calvin.
“But he’s not Calvin Johnson. No way, no how. Sorry, Dez. Keep it real.”
If that above Johnson highlight seemed familiar, by the way, it’s because you saw the same thing this past Sunday…
