Practice? We're talking about practice? Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins went full Allen Iverson during a Zoom session with the media on Wednesday, as he forcefully responded to those criticizing him for missing various practices over the course of his stellar 2020 season.
Apparently, he only heard the commentary through his grandfather, who is more plugged into the local media than the star wideout.
“I heard a lot of negativity about me not practicing when I came to Arizona. I don’t watch like the Arizona local news and the channels and the sports station, but my grandfather is an avid listener to everything and every single one,” the Cardinals wideout said, per Arizona Sports. “If one of you guys say something bad about me, my grandfather, he’s told me,” he added. “I’ve seen all the blogs and all this stuff. I’m sure some of you guys have been in there egging it on, but I’m not going to name any names.”
DeAndre Hopkins has not missed a game this season, though he has appeared on the injury report every week and has consistently taken practices off.
He has been listed with a couple of ailments: an ankle injury coming out of training camp, as well as a shoulder/neck issue a few weeks back. However, he has been listed as “non-injury absentee” for most of his missed practices, which is a designation used for resting veterans.
Hopkins' production dipped during a recent stretch in which the Cardinals dropped four of five games, and some critics pointed to his lack of time on the practice field.
Yet, Hopkins leads the NFL in receiving yards through 15 weeks (1,324) and he's second in receptions (103).
“For those people who don’t understand football and don’t watch — there’s a reason I play football and they watch. People are in positions for a reason,” the Cardinals star added. “I really didn’t listen to (the criticism), I don’t listen to it. … I just listen to my grandfather and he was saying, ‘Man, Arizona, they’re really kind of on you right now because you’re not practicing … all the critics and the sports people.’ My grandfather knows who I am, also, and he knows how productive I am on that football field. He knew what I was going through and the people who were giving me stuff, they don’t know what I’m going through or dealing with. I don’t let my news or really what’s going on with me be publicized.”
Most recently, Hopkins caught nine balls for 169 yards and a TD in Arizona's 33-26 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 14. He missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday for non-injury reasons.
“Next year, please tell your friends and all you guys on the local stations, if you got any negative thing to say about DeAndre Hopkins: I charge to come on shows, but I’ll give a discount to come on a show for those people,” Hopkins said. “Tell those people who said I don’t practice to come watch me play the game.”
The Cardinals host the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16.
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