If Redskins defenders are planning to cheap shot Terrelle Pryor during combined Training Camp practices with the New York Jets, they will face the wrath of...something.
Redskins linebacker Zach Brown raised eyebrows during an interview earlier this offseason in which he implied that his defenders would relish hitting Pryor in the joint practices with the Jets. Pryor briefly played for the Redskins last season and disappointed in regular season action after showing tantalizing potential in training camp.
Brown implied that Pryor's training camp success was derived from not being able to rough him up or hit him. Without that threat, Pryor had dazzling (and unnecessary) one-handed catches that got good reactions from fans, and clearly drew the ire of Brown and his teammates.
"If they take dirty shots, I'm sure we'll handle that accordingly. I'm looking to go back there and go against great competition. They've got great players over there. Just get better as a team, as a whole.
"When you start trying to make it an individual thing, it takes away from our team. You know us, as Jets, we're trying to go on this upward, together, as a whole. I don't want to individualize myself. It's about us going there and getting better, day by day, like we're trying to do here."
You could read these comments several different ways, but the two most obvious is that Pryor is worried and trying to hide it, or not worried at all and just being matter-of-fact. It largely boils down to your interpretation of the words "handle that accordingly."
Several years removed from a 1,000-yard season in Cleveland, Pryor has a lot of work to do to make the roster for the Jets. He doesn't gain anything by being petty with his former teammates and has even less to gain by talking about it.
In fairness, it also makes no sense for Brown to diagram an attack on Pryor either.
Teams treat these joint practices as a chance to shake things up in a three-week training schedule. It inspires a competitive edge and gets players to dig deep at a time when they are the most tired and frustrated with one another.
The worst thing that can happen in practice is an injury. Now, even if Pryor sustains an accidental injury during joint practices, it will be cast as a pre-meditated attack. This is a strange position to put his teammates in for a savvy veteran like Brown.
It's likely that all parties hope that Pryor's response is the last word on the topic.