Sauce Gardner, Darrelle Revis and Asante Samuel have given NFL fans some drama to follow before training camp starts: a Tuesday Twitter feud.
It all started when Gardner was ranked as the second-best cornerback in the NFL in a poll done by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Samuel, a corner in the league for 10 years who was a First-Team All-Pro selection once, took a problem with the ranking.
“The New York media will take your career to another level,” Samuel wrote on Twitter, throwing some shade at Gardner.
Gardner clapped back at Samuel, defending his spot in the poll.
“The tweet literally says those were the cornerback rankings by PLAYERS, EXECUTIVES, SCOUTS, & COACHES… I’m trynna figure out why you keep bringing up NY Media,” Gardner wrote in a tweet.
Samuel, who went to four Pro Bowls, also said the “New York media” treatment had a similar effect on Darrelle Revis, a seven-time Pro Bowler who is getting inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer.
“Quit being a hater when it comes to young rising stars @ the cornerback position,” Revis wrote on Twitter to Samuel. “Be mad @ the voters who never considered you shutdown.”
Samuel didn’t let the controversy stop there, continuing the back-and-forth in another tweet directed at Gardner.
“Just like the pro bowl votes use to be. Yes you have the best media behind you,” Samuel wrote. “I challenge you to turn some of those pass break up to interceptions this year. You will hear from me.”
Revis went on an extended rant, sharing a story of how former Jets head coach Rex Ryan told receivers how to prepare for Samuel.
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“I really don’t know much about this guy. never was inspired to watch his film but something does jog my memory. I do remember we played Falcons + Rex Ryan made a highlight clip of him being doubled moved on almost every single route. I recall Rex saying to receivers in our weekly team meetings,” Revis wrote.
“The game plan was if he line up across from you, double move him every time. So in practice our receivers referred to him as the “DOUBLE MOVE KING.”
After Samuel retorted that Revis was beaten on more double moves over the course of their careers, the Jets legend had a quick and simple reply.
“Try again mother sucker.. I’m a 1st ballot Hall of Famer,” Revis said.
Gardner, while playing in one of the world’s biggest sports markets, had an incredibly productive rookie year with four interceptions and a league-high 20 passes defended.
He claimed NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year while also being named a First-Team All-Pro.
“And I challenge myself to do the same thang. Along with my coaches,” Gardner said in response to the shade. “Ion need you ‘challenging’ me to do nothin after all this sub tweeting you been doing when you could of just hit me privately like all the other OG’s do. Safety bro.”
Samuel is now 10 years removed from his playing days, retiring from the NFL in 2013 after 11 seasons in the league.
His son Asante Samuel Jr. is now a corner for the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Jets and Chargers match up on Nov. 6, giving Gardner and the younger Samuel a chance to play against each other.
