Clowney is putting a new spin on ‘trash’ talk
Bortles’ insult a result of frustration linebacker hopes not to have Sunday
Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney would not admit Thursday he regrets calling Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles “trash” after the Jaguars’ 45-7 victory in December, but he did explain his mood after the Texans’ humiliating defeat.
“Man, frustrated — we were losing,” he said. “It was a bad season, (but) it’s a new year and we’re trying to win a game.”
The Texans and Jaguars are in a three-way tie with Tennessee for first place in the AFC South entering Sunday’s game at TIAA Bank Field. No matter what Clowney says after the game, it’s doubtful he’ll create a controversy as huge as last season.
Clowney was able to turn his “trash” comment into a clever Christmas promotion for kids.
Jaguars fans sent trash cans to Clowney at NRG Stadium, and he filled many of them with toys and delivered them to mothers and their children at Mission of Yahweh. Clowney earned a lot of forgiveness with his thoughtful gesture.
“I appreciate all those trash cans they sent me,” he said before practice. “It helped. I got to send them to the kids. Maybe they’ll send me something this year. Hopefully, not trash cans. Hopefully, something else. We’ll see after the game.”
In other words, there’s no telling what Clowney night say after the game that, barring a tie, will leave the Texans or Jaguars in first place. Possibly by themselves because the Titans play the Los Angeles Chargers in London. The Chargers are 4-2, and the Titans have lost two in a row.
So what does Clowney think about Bortles this week?
“What’s their record, 3-3, the same as ours,” he said. ‘We’re just trying to win a game.”
The Texans were trying to win a game last season when Bortles completed 21 of 29 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. In so doing, the Texans suffered a fourth consecutive defeat that dropped their record to 4-10. The victory elevated the Jaguars to 10-4.
Clowney was asked Wednesday if he was embarrassed losing by 38 points to the Jaguars?
“Man, tell me about it,” he said. “It was very embarrassing. I don’t think we’re going to get embarrassed like that (Sunday), though. They got us twice last year, so we owe these guys. We’ve got to get ready and try to win one in their house.”
Clowney will have more help than he had in December when injuries depleted the roster and left the Texans playing with backups in a lot of starting spots.
Players who’ll play against the Jaguars on Sunday but missed that December game are J.J. Watt, Whitney Mercilus, Deshaun Watson, Ryan Griffin and Brennan Scarlett.
The Texans should be better on both sides of the ball.
“It’ll help a lot because we need these guys,” Clowney said. “It’s a big game that means a lot. It’s all hands on deck. We’ll have our best players on the field.”
The Texans own a threegame winning streak with victories over Indianapolis and Dallas in overtime and Buffalo.
The Jaguars have lost back-to-back road games to Kansas City and Dallas.
At this time last season, both teams were 3-3, but they went in opposite directions. The Jaguars wound up in the AFC Championship Game. The Texans won one more game the rest of the season and finished 4-12.
If the Texans are going to leave Jacksonville still in first place in the AFC South, they must do a better job against Bortles. He played one of the best games of his career against the Texans in December. In the Jaguars’ sweep, he had four touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Texans’ defense was outstanding against the Cowboys and Bills. They cannot allow Bortles to torch them like last season.
“Our defense has been playing well lately, but we’ve got to improve,” Clowney said. “Nobody wants to peak at this time of the year. We just want to keep getting better.
“Bring that same attitude we’ve been having and, hopefully, come out with a victory.”
Or risk getting shredded by Bortles again and showing, for the second season in a row, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.