Darius Slay takes offense to being left off list of NFL's best cornerbacks
Darius Slay wants the NFL world to put some respect on his name.
After cutting his teeth with the Detroit Lions and leading the way for the Philadelphia Eagles defense last season, the former Mississippi State defensive back expected to be on every list of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. However, an ESPN poll for the position left Slay outside the top ten, and he’s taking exception.
“Noted!” exclaimed Slay, quote-tweeting the list that included players like Trevon Diggs, Marlon Humphrey and Pat Surtain over the veteran.
Last season, Slay filled a huge need for the Eagles, leading their secondary to the tune of three interceptions and nine pass deflections. Quarterbacks continuously avoided Slay, but he still isn’t getting the respect he deserves.
Nevertheless, expect Darius Slay to be supremely motivated to prove the doubters wrong in 2022 while locking down whatever wide receiver he opposes.
Miles Sanders message to the Eagles: ‘I need more opportunities’
Moreover, former Penn State running back Miles Sanders is looking for his respect in Philadelphia, much like his teammate Darius Slay on the defensive side of the football.
To illustrate, Sanders emerged as an impact player in the NFL early in his career, but struggled throughout the 2021 season to find consistent opportunities with the Eagles. As he enters the fourth year of his career, the dynamic player is making sure the team knows how he feels about the way they use him.
During an appearance on the Take Off podcast with NBC Sports’ John Clark, Miles Sanders addressed his need for more opportunities in 2022 with the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Being consistent, more consistent,” Sanders said, referencing the areas he must improve. “And I’m going to be honest, opportunities. I’m just going to say it simple like that. I need to be more consistent, but I need more opportunities.”
Last season, redzone opportunities in particular were hard to come by for Sanders, who finished the year with no touchdowns in 12 games. He also saw career lows in rushes and receptions as the Eagles leaned more on quarterback Jalen Hurts’ feet and distributed carries to rookie running back Kenneth Gainwell.
Over his three seasons, Sanders has rushed for 2,439 yards and nine touchdowns, adding 104 receptions for 864 yards and three touchdowns. However, after scoring three receiving touchdowns as a rookie, he has not scored through the air over the past two seasons despite still getting targets.