Bouye-Hopkins rivalry has a new catch
Cornerback, receiver face each other as foes, not teammates
A.J. Bouye shadowed DeAndre Hopkins all over the Texans’ practice field last year, mirroring his footwork as he tried to match wits and moves with the team’s star wide receiver.
Bouye and Hopkins would twist and turn their bodies, relentlessly trying to outmuscle each other for the football. They transformed routine practice sessions into must-view activities.
A Pro Bowl selection, Hopkins was already one of the most accomplished young receivers in the NFL. Bouye emerged as one of the better young corners in the NFL last season.
Bouye’s skills were honed significantly by his daily battles with Hopkins on his way out of town as he landed a blockbuster, $67.5 million free-agent deal with Jacksonville in March.
Now, Hopkins and Bouye will take their friendly rivalry onto the field Sunday as opponents for the first time when the Texans host the Jaguars at NRG Stadium.
“I know what he brings, just like he knows what I bring,” Bouye said. “It’s going to be a dogfight, we already know. … I’m not going to say I have the inside edge because, I mean, he can probably say the same thing.”
Different routes
A former undrafted free agent, Bouye didn’t enter the league with the pedigree of Hopkins. Hopkins was a first-round draft pick from Clemson who signed a five-year, $81 million contract extension last week that included $49 million guaranteed.
For Bouye, testing himself and winning matchups against Hopkins provided a boost to his confidence and helped him improve technically.
“It helped out a lot, definitely, going against one of the best receivers in the league,” Bouye said. “He had plays on me, I made plays on him. One thing I tried to do was see what I could do better. I’d ask him that and I just took it a day at time, not really focusing on the negatives, just trying to make myself better as a player to help the team win. I’m appreciative for the coaches never giving up on me and giving me an opportunity to go on scout team and to follow him.”
Bouye and Hopkins would joke with each other throughout their practice sessions, a steady beat of one-upmanship with no clear winner declared. Sometimes, Bouye would come down with the interception. Other times, Hopkins, who has 317 career receptions for 4,487 yards and 23 touchdowns, would catch a touchdown.
“I remember the first play we went against each other,” Hopkins said. “I remember my first conversation (with Bouye). Going against A.J., it’s not going to be something new. We know each other’s game a little bit, so it should be challenging.”
Bouye defended a career-high 16 passes and had one interception last season.
At 6-0 and 190 pounds, Bouye is an imposing cornerback who excels in press coverage. Rangy and aggressive, Bouye did a much better job last season of not dwelling on mistakes and playing instinctively.
Bouye intercepted two more passes in the playoffs last season, including picking off New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady once.
“A.J.’s grown a lot since we first came in the league,” Hopkins said. “He’s developed a lot on and off the field, just asking questions every day after practice to me, coaches and everybody. He was picking everybody’s brain. So, you could tell that he wanted to be one of the best in the league, and he is, but I don’t think I gave him too much.”
Bouye’s inquisitive nature paid off with major dividends this offseason when he left the Texans for a five-year contract that included $26 million fully guaranteed at signing, a $44 million payout in the first three years and a $10 million signing bonus.
The Texans made competitive offers to try to retain Bouye, raising their annual average more than once during negotiations to try to keep the ascending young corner. At one point, the Texans made a five-year, $60 million offer that included $22 million guaranteed. However, Bouye indicated that the Texans’ offer was the lowest on the front end of any serious suitor.
At the time, Bouye expressed disappointment, telling the Chronicle: “The Texans kind of waited. They offered the lowest money at the front of the deal, so we got a feeling we weren’t going to be there.”
‘A fresh start’
Reflecting on the situation this week, Bouye was philosophical about what happened and expressed confidence that he had made the right decision.
“I just felt like it was a fresh start,” Bouye said. “I miss all those guys over there. They know it, I know it, but it’s a business. I knew exactly what I was doing. I’m glad to be where I’m at now, making new friends, developing new friendships.”
The rise of Bouye from an obscure rookie from Central Florida and his development in concert with the Texans’ coaching staff into one of the highestpaid corners in the NFL was referenced by Texans coach Bill O’Brien during a team meeting Wednesday.
“Everybody knows his story: Played a little bit in our first year here and then, basically, became a starter,” O’Brien said. “A lot of that was obviously because of his own work ethic, his ability to be here day in and day out and work. Obviously going against Hop on the scout team, that was a very important part of his development, too. They made each other better.
“I know they’re close friends and I think when the game starts, all that goes out the window. It’s just a matter of executing and making sure you’re doing your job on both sides of the ball. We have a lot of respect for A.J.”
Bouye was relieved that his daughter Zoe, who lives with her mother in Houston, was able to make it out of town safely during Tropical Storm Harvey.
Bouye has stayed in touch with former teammates, including cornerback Kevin Johnson. He remains on a group text with the defensive backs. He has fond memories of going out to eat and going bowling with his now-former teammates.
Bou ye is trying his best to maintain an even-keel nature as he returns to play against his old team.
“I’m thinking like I’m not going to be emotional,” Bouye said. “I’m just going to be really focused, ready to make plays and help the team win. I’m definitely going to tune out all the other noise, whatever’s being said and everything before the game starts. I’m going to say what’s up to my old teammates out there and everything, but we know what it is once we step across those lines.”