Perhaps, of even likely, lost in the controversial finish between the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys late last season is the start of a feud. On "The Pivot" podcast back in July, Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown said this about the trash-talking Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis was doing during that game.
"He was talking crazy,” St. Brown said. “Some sh*t I’ve never heard before. He was talking crazy out of pocket," St. Brown said. "Even (Jameson Williams) heard it, too. He was coming in. At that point, it's like, I don't know what he's saying. I'm trying to make plays, win the game. I'm not worried about him. But once he starts talking like that, it's like, 'all right'...."
No long after those comments from St. Brown, Lewis responded on Instagram: "I am passionate about my craft and I don’t want to be friends with everyone, especially not a Detroit Lion (who's) not from Detroit," Lewis wrote. Lewis is a Detroit native, and a University of Michigan alum.
On Wednesday, heading into Sunday's rematch, Lewis sounded ready to reignite the feud with St. Brown.
"I just remember him going on a podcast trying to air me out. We're going to play each other, so we're going to see each other and we're going to have a game together," Lewis said. "We're going to see what's real and what's not."
Lewis claimed he didn't remember what he said to St. Brown during last year's game, but will not shy away from going wherever he went again.
"Sometimes I just black out and go somewhere else. Just go somewhere with it," Lewis admitted. "If I said anything disrespectful , I'll probably say it again."
Amon-Ra St. Brown ready to hold up his end of feud with Jourdan Lewis
Not that he's quiet, with his own podcast and all, but St. Brown likes to let his play speak for him on the field. That said, he's ready for whatever Lewis has in store.
"Yeah, typically don’t get too involved,” St. Brown said Thursday, via the Detroit Free Press. “I might say something back a little, but for the most part, it fires me up, gets me going. So, I love it.”
St. Brown had six catches for 90 yards against the Cowboys last season. He was targeted twice when matched up against Lewis, with a touchdown reception on one and Lewis getting a pass breakup on the other.
Lewis has been one if the top slot corners in the league early this season, with the second-lowest yards per target (3.4) among slot defenders with at least 10 targets against them. St. Brown has 14 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown on 21 targets on routes when he has aligned in the slot thus far, while being targeted on a career-high 30.9 percent of his routes out of the slot.
So there should be quite a few opportunities for St. Brown and Lewis to battle physically and verbally on Sunday. And both guys are ready for it.