NFL

Why We Love It When No-Name Players Trash Talk Superstars

Jaguars receiver Jason Hill, a fifth-year NFLer, got his season off to a solid start last week in a 16-14 win over the Titans, catching four passes for 53 yards. If he keeps that pace up over the entire season, he’ll produce easily his best year as a pro (to date, his most productive season was 2008, when he caught 30 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns for the 49ers). It won’t be easy, though: this weekend, Hill (if he can even play; he’s dealing with a hip injury), goes up against the New York Jets and their defense led by arguably the best cornerback (and one of the best players, period) in all of football, Darrelle Revis. To hear Hill tell it, though, maybe it won’t be as much of a challenge as it sounds:

“This is a league full of great players. I think sometimes they get overhyped. I talked to [Jaguars safety] Drew [Coleman], Drew played there. He says it’s just the aura of New York. They got a big media. That’s not the Jacksonville paper, that’s the big New York Times paper so they get more pub[licity]. That’s what it is.

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This is a game full of good players making plays. He just made a lot more plays on TV than we’ve made being here in Jacksonville…He’s a good player, Pro Bowl player, I’m trying to make it to the Pro Bowl, too. This’ll be a good game to put some notches on our belts too. It’s the New York Times vs. the Jacksonville paper. New York Times, they got a lot more viewers than you got.”

“The Jacksonville paper” is the Florida Times-Union. So not only did he trash-talk one of the league’s best players, he also trash-talked his hometown paper. Surefire way to get yourself liked, that.

But Hill’s not out to get himself liked. Sure, it’s worth pointing out that Revis, in his four prior years in the league, made three Pro Bowls and is a two-time First Tem All-Pro, and that Hill is…not that. But this is why trash-talking is fun. It’s part of the game. It makes the competition more intense. It leads to stuff like this. It’s often hilarious, either intentionally or not. And whatever happens, we have a nice new subplot for Jaguars-Jets: either Hill looks dumb on Sunday, or he actually backs up his tough talk about hype (less likely, admittedly). Here’s what’s certain: it’s going to be fun to watch. Jason Hill, for your probably-misplaced bravado, we thank you.

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