'Last Time That Happened!' How Jaguars Disrespect of C.J. Stroud Set Tone For Season
The Houston Texans won the NFL Draft last year, picking quarterback C.J. Stroud with the No. 2 pick.
In his first season with the team, Stroud would go on to have a historic campaign, throwing for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns with just five interceptions, while guiding Houston to an AFC South title - likely securing himself the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award along the way.
And according to Stroud, some perceived disrespect from his division rival Jacksonville Jaguars, may have been the spark he needed to put together such a dynamic season.
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What 'disrespect is he referring to? Well apparently, Stroud felt as though the Jaguars treated him too much like a rookie.
"I had so much respect for Jacksonville," Stroud said during his appearance on the Pivot Podcast. "I they kinda came in like, ‘Oh, this a rookie quarterback.’ That was the last time that happened. We played the Steelers the week after. They didn't treat me like a rookie quarterback. The rest of the season I wasn't treated like a rookie quarterback. They would just blitz me, blitz me, blitz me. I would pick it apart."
Stroud would go on to take advantage of the Jaguars approach, throwing for 280 yards and two scores in the 37-17 Week 3 win.
Nine weeks later against Jacksonville, Stroud did it again, throwing for 304 yards and two more scores - albeit in a 24-21 loss that ostensibly ended on a missed field goal by Matt Ammendola.
Suffice it to say, Stroud was no mere rookie, shattering records and expectations along the way to a likely Rookie of the Year nod. Still, Stroud never cared about being the best rookie. Instead, he wanted to be the best player, period.
That wasn't my goal," Stroud said. "I wanted to be the best in the league... I want the MVP."
