Tag: Stephon Gilmore

Richard Sherman recognizes Stephon Gilmore’s greatness, but still disses Darrelle Revis

As all NFL fans know, Richard Sherman is an intense player and a future Hall of Famer – for sure – (Five times Pro Bowler and All-Pro five times, including three times to the first team) and in addition to not being afraid on the field, he also …

As all NFL fans know, Richard Sherman is an intense player and a future Hall of Famer — for sure — (Five times Pro Bowler and All-Pro five times, including three times to the first team) and in addition to not being afraid on the field, he also speaks his mind off it.

These quotes from Sherman were made before Gilmore won the Defensive Player of the Year award Saturday. The first-team All-Pro and 2020 Pro Bowl selection tied for the league lead in interceptions with six and his 20 passes defended also led the NFL in 2019. Gilmore became just the fifth cornerback to win the award and the first since 2010 when Packers DB Charles Woodson won.

“It’s been outstanding, man,” Sherman said. “I’m just happy that he’s getting the credit that he deserves. He’s had great years before, and he was stuck in Buffalo, and it didn’t matter how great he played. And it’s cool that Tre’Davious (White) is in Buffalo now and he’s having great years and (he and Gilmore) are getting the attention that they deserve. Because it’s a brotherhood of cornerbacks.

“I think everybody who plays the position at least watches film of the other guys’ play and sees their technique and sees what tricks and what techniques that they’re using to be successful, and he’s been playing in a really tough defense, because (the Patriots) have been running a ton of (Cover) Zero. It’s kind of a feast-or-famine defense, and he’s stood up incredibly well.”

But he’s always been in Twitter beefs with Darrelle Revis. In the end, was it just the competitive nature of the two who have different styles as defenders?

At any rate, Sherman isn’t letting up anytime soon.

 

Here are the top 2020 ‘NFL Honors’ award winners

The NFL announced several awards during its ‘NFL Honors’ show on Saturday night. Here are the most prominent.

Turns out some NFL scouts know what they’re doing and recognize what they see — but then again, Lamar Jackson.

Anyhow, here are the biggest ‘NFL Honors’ award winners that were presented Saturday in Miami.

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Stephon Gilmore wins Defensive Player of the Year

The New England Patriots cornerback took home a prestigious honor on Saturday.

A New England Patriots cornerback has won a prestigious honor. Stephon Gilmore has won the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Gilmore becomes the first cornerback to win the award since the 2009 season. Charles Woodson won the award that year.

Gilmore had a stellar season. He recorded six interceptions on the year, which was tops in the National Football League. He returned two of those for touchdowns, and defended 20 passes overall. For comparison sake, he recorded a total of four interceptions in 2017 and 2018 combined.

He was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for October after recording two interceptions and eight pass deflections.

In addition, Gilmore was a First-Team All-Pro. He was on the field for 95% of New England’s snaps in 2019. That number is down just slightly from the 97% he recorded in 2018.

His best game statistically came against Cincinnati. He recorded two interceptions in a 34-13 win.

Ever since being signed by the New England Patriots in March 2017, he has become a crucial member of the secondary. Heading into the 2020 season, it will be interesting to see how he can follow up these past two years. He could definitely go down as one of the best free agent signings of the Bill Belichick era.

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Michael Thomas named NFL’s 2019 Offensive Player of the Year

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas was named the NFL’s 2019 Offensive Player of the Year, and was presented by Drew Brees.

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New Orleans Saints superstar Michael Thomas became just the second wide receiver in NFL history to be named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year, joining Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Jerry Rice (who did it twice, in 1987 and 1993). Thomas was presented with the award at the NFL Honors ceremony in Miami, and was introduced by none other than his quarterback, Drew Brees (who won this recognition in 2008 and 2011).

Thomas broke the NFL’s all-time single season record for receptions (149), while also leading the league in receiving yards (1,725). He caught 9 touchdown passes in 16 games, ultimately playing 942 of 1,063 snaps on offense — the most of any Saints player besides the offensive linemen. He posted the second-best catch rate of his career (80.5%) and appears to already be on a Hall of Fame-bound trajectory. It’s going to be fascinating to see where his Saints career goes next.

Here are how all of the 2019 NFL Honors awards shook out:

  • Offensive Player of the Year: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas
  • Defensive Player of the Year: New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore, while the
  • Comeback Player of the Year: Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
  • Offensive Rookie of the Year: Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray
  • Defensive Rookie of the Year: San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa

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Chandler Jones snubbed as NFL Defensive Player of the Year award goes to Stephon Gilmore

New England’s Stephon Gilmore wins the award after leading the league with six picks and 20 pass breakups.

Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones had a special season. He set a franchise record with 19 sacks and won defensive player of the week twice and defensive player of the month once.

However, he did not win the official Defensive Player of the Year award.

That went to New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore, the league announced on Saturday.

Gilmore had a fantastic season. He had a league-high six interceptions in 2019, two of which he returned for touchdowns. He also broke up a league-high 20 passes as well.

He made the Pro Bowl and was a first-team All-Pro.

Jones had two four-sack games, something that had not been done since in the 1980s. However, he fell one sack short of 20 for the season and Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett had three sacks in Week 17 to pass Jones for the league lead with 19.5.

Had Jones gotten one more sack, he probably wins the award.

Gilmore was certainly great but what Jones did was incredibly impressive.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 256

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Ep. 255

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Steelers LB T.J. Watt gets snubbed for DPOY

Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore beats out T.J. Watt for DPOY.

Once the media falls in love with a player it’s hard to get them to see them in an objective light. For whatever reason, this is what happened New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore. The NFL named him Defensive Player of the Year on Saturday night despite a less-than DPOY type of season.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, who dominated last season gets snubbed. Watt was the best all-around defender in the league, equally as adept at rushing the passer as he was dropping into coverage or creating turnovers as a run stuffer.

Gilmore had a good season, no denying that. But if you look at the numbers, Pittsburgh’s own Steven Nelson was just as good if not better in some categories.

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Richard Sherman applauds Stephon Gilmore, endorses him for DPOY

Richard Sherman, one of the more outspoken players in the NFL, has nothing but positive things to say about Stephon Gilmore. 

Richard Sherman, one of the more outspoken players in the NFL, has nothing but positive things to say about Stephon Gilmore.

Sherman has been the league since 2011 and has spent the last two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. If he’s felt that any player was subpar, he wasn’t afraid to outright admit that. On the flip side, he wasn’t afraid to give the New England Patriots cornerback the respect he deserves.

Gilmore established himself as a top-tier cornerback over the past two seasons — his Pro Bowl nods and First-Team All-Pro honors put an emphasis on it. The only thing he’s missing on the resume is a Defensive Player of the Year award — which he’ll likely earn this season.

Sherman’s comments on Gilmore came during Super Bowl media availability on Tuesday, via NESN.

“It’s been outstanding, man,” Sherman said. “I’m just happy that he’s getting the credit that he deserves. He’s had great years before, and he was stuck in Buffalo, and it didn’t matter how great he played. And it’s cool that Tre’Davious (White) is in Buffalo now and he’s having great years and (he and Gilmore) are getting the attention that they deserve. Because it’s a brotherhood of cornerbacks.

“I think everybody who plays the position at least watches film of the other guys’ play and sees their technique and sees what tricks and what techniques that they’re using to be successful, and he’s been playing in a really tough defense, because (the Patriots) have been running a ton of (Cover) Zero. It’s kind of a feast-or-famine defense, and he’s stood up incredibly well.”

When it comes to Defensive Player of the Year conversation, Sherman had an extended response.

“I don’t think corners get enough credit,” Sherman said. “The Defensive Player of the Year conversation is something that I’ve always thought should go to one of the guys on the best defense — just like the Offensive Player of the Year. Just like MVP. Could you imagine MVP going to a dude on an average offense? Like, ‘Oh my God, he has crazy stats, but his offense is ranked 26th.’ You know? It wouldn’t go. But every year, you see a guy get Defensive Player of the Year but then his defense is ranked middle of the pack or low. I think it’s something about great defense, and it’s selfless.”

The Patriots finished the season with the No. 1 defense in yards per game (275.9) and points per game (14.1), while coming in at No. 2 in passing yards allowed (180.4).

“You almost aren’t going to get a ton of stats (when you’re) on a great defense, and Stephon has,” Sherman continued. “And Tre’Davious has. But it’s so difficult to get great stats and get a lot of stats on a great defense because you have to be so sound, so disciplined, so unselfish. Like, on these plays, you might not get targeted at all. You might have to be involved in a run fit. You might just have to take on a double-team or take on this block or hold leverage.

“And that’s why I think that the Defensive Player of the Year should go to a guy on a top-five, top-10 defense every year, because that’s what it takes. Just about every good player in this league could be selfish and just say, ‘I’m going to line up here, I’m going to do my own thing and I’m going to get a ton of stats.’ A lot of guys, it’s possible. But you won’t play on a good defense. You’ll give up some touchdowns. You’ll jump some routes you shouldn’t have. To be on a great defense like Tre’Davious is and like Stephon is and still play at a high level, they deserve a lot more credit than they’re getting.”

Gilmore finished the year with six interceptions, two returned for touchdowns, while the Patriots led the league in interceptions with 25. He’s the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year and Sherman’s endorsement will do nothing but help his case.

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6 takeaways from Patriots’ unpredictable 2019 season

Here are 6 major takeaways from New England’s 2019 season.

What a wild ride for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in 2019.

Coming off of a Super Bowl victory, the Patriots were equipped and prepared to make another run. After eight weeks of the season, people were ready to crown them as one of the greatest Patriots teams ever. By the time playoffs came, many claimed the end of a dynasty. New England was unpredictable from the beginning of the offseason and and that theme was glaring throughout the entire year.

Brady came out firing at the start of the season, but his production plummeted as the weeks flew by. The defense started off as one of the greatest units in NFL history, and turned into a pretty solid group.

However you interpret the season, you can’t deny that they finished 12-4 and entered the playoffs. This was a really good season — if you don’t look at it from the Patriots’ standards.

Let’s take a dive into seven takeaways from the season.

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T.J. Watt snubbed for PFWA Defensive Player of the Year

Did T.J. Watt get robbed for DPOY?

For most of the season, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt was among the frontrunners for Defensive Player of the Year. And when the NFL gives our their awards just before the Super Bowl, he still might win. But the PFWA put our their big end of the year awards and they decided to go with New England Patriots Stephon Gilmore instead.

We realize this award is more than just the numbers but compared to the top edge rushers in the league we aren’t sure how Gilmore really stacks up. Watt had 55 tackles, 14.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles and two interceptions in 2019. When you compare him to the other top edge rushers in the league like Shaq Barrett in Tampa Bay, it is a crowded group at the top.

But where does Gilmore fit in? Well, compared to another Steelers cornerback, not great. Steven Nelson, who got no postseason accolades at all put up similar numbers to Gilmore.

Nelson might be the most underrated defender in the league. But just seeing this brings into question how Gilmore beat out Watt.

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Patriots’ Stephon Gilmore named PFWA Defensive Player of the Year

Stephon Gilmore has put together an unforgettable season. 

Stephon Gilmore has put together an unforgettable season.

He was unanimously named First-Team All-Pro, earned a Pro Bowl nod and led the best secondary in the NFL with six interceptions. The New England Patriots had a league-high 25 interceptions and ranked No. 2 in passing yards allowed per game.

Since the Patriots got knocked out of the playoffs — the next biggest accomplishment for Gilmore is AP Defensive Player of the Year. He hasn’t earned that honor quite yet, but he was named Defensive Player of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America.

Gilmore has full confidence in the fact that he’ll win the more prestigious award, but this is a good sign. He finished the 2019 season with six interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 20 pass deflections and he only allowed one touchdown all season.

No defensive player was more dominant and overbearing than Gilmore this season, and it reflects in the individual honors that he’s earned.

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