A great debate ensued on ESPN’s “First Take”. Stephen A. Smith announced his top five NFL teams following the conclusion of Week 1 of the NFL season. The rankings sparked a fiery debate between the show’s hosts. This spirited discussion was a great testament to the passion and commitment both fans and professionals have for the league.
The Baltimore Ravens are coming to town and excitement is in the air! Cleveland Browns safety Grant Delpit found himself in the news recently after he went on record with an ambitious plan to stop Ravens star running back Derrick Henry. Last October, Delpit provided the biggest hit on Henry’s end, illustrating his aggressive and fearless playing style. Looking back at that meeting, Delpit coolly stated, “It ain’t difficult to stop Derrick Henry.”
Henry, who measures 6-foot-3, 252 pounds, took immediate offense to Delpit’s remarks late Thursday afternoon. He said he was looking forward to letting his performance speak for itself.
“He had a quote. We’ll see on Sunday.” – Derrick Henry
On a somewhat related subject, remember Browns cornerback Denzel Ward. He actually initiated a low tackle on Derrick Henry on the very same play last year. The Browns’ defense has had relative success against the formidable running back, managing to hold him under 75 yards rushing in two of their three matchups since Jim Schwartz took over as Cleveland’s defensive coordinator in 2022.
The war of words doesn’t stop with Delpit and Henry. Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy has risen to the occasion. He publicly expressed concern about the Ravens’ secondary, which contains five first-round selections. That’s the same Ravens’ secondary that gave up 394 passing yards last week against Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Jeudy waved away their skills, and with utmost confidence, said, “No challenge.“
Ravens’ secondary Kyle Hamilton didn’t seem to be fazed by what Jeudy said. He argued that it just doesn’t matter to him if players need to be further motivated by opposing players.
“That’s the thing with bulletin board material that I never understood.” – Kyle Hamilton
“Was I not going to play hard before he said that? If you need bulletin board material to go play … that’s a problem with you.” – Kyle Hamilton
Both teams are preparing for an intense battle. The world will be paying rapt attention as these exchanges themselves influence how well all of these players do on the field. Henry has started strong this season with 169 rushing yards in Baltimore’s season opener, raising the stakes for both defenses.
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