Earlier this week, New York Jets head coach Adam Gase called Stephon Gilmore the best cornerback in the NFL ahead of the Jets' Week 3 matchup with Gilmore's New England Patriots.
Gilmore was appreciative of Gase's proclamation, but, as with all Patriots players, he is not letting the praise get to his head.
“It’s a big compliment, but you kind of have to shift your focus to what you have to do this week to be successful and I try and be consistent each and every week and do whatever I can to help the team win and make plays for my team,” Gilmore told reporters, according to Lance Reynolds of Patriots Wire.
Gilmore signed a lucrative deal with the Patriots in March 2017, but his first year with the club was actually somewhat disappointing, as he played in 13 games and registered 50 tackles, a couple of interceptions and nine passes defended.
But last year, Gilmore asserted himself as one of the top defensive backs in the league, totaling 45 tackles, a sack, a pair of picks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and 20 passes defended, making the Pro Bowl and earning a First-Team All-Pro selection as a result.
The 29-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of South Carolina, was originally selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 10th overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft.
He spent the first five years of his career with the Bills, making the Pro Bowl during his final season with the club in 2016.
The Patriots are 2-0 and are coming off of a 43-0 win over the Miami Dolphins.
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