There is a certain level of belief in yourself and your own abilities that goes hand in hand with being a professional athlete, no matter the sport. This is very apparent in the NFL, as players on both sides of the ball are just as likely to get involved in a war of words on the gridiron as any of their peers. There is not only a desire to be the best at your respective position, but a sense of pride that comes with knowing you've prevented someone else from laying claim to their spot in the hierarchy.
Cue the addition of defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Adding the veteran to the Bears' secondary gives the defense in the Windy City the type of edge it needs to not only make life difficult on the opposition, but leave them in Chicago's dust. Jaquan Brisker was quick to point out how he believes this trio — which also includes Tyrique Stevenson — will go about getting in the head of the opposition during his time with the media on Thursday.
"Especially the way I talk and the way other people talk," Brisker replied to ESPN's Courtney Cronin when asked how he, Gardner-Johnson, and Stevenson can provide the Bears an advantage. "We get people's heads. Grown men will be really crying out there. Men with kids. Imagine that. Seriously. It's hilarious. I wish I mic'd up every game."
C.J. Gardner-Johnson Gives Bears a New Defense Edge
Defensive backs and wide receivers are some of the biggest talkers on the football field week in and week out. Gardner-Johnson, as Brisker suggested, is not afraid to use his voice as a means of gaining an edge over an opponent, and it seems like this is going to be a tactic employed by Chicago's secondary moving forward.
There is a distinct need for any receiver to be as locked in as possible on the task at hand. Muddying those waters between the ears with trash talk is one way to throw those offensive weapons off their game.
Now, is it outlandish to expect that Brisker, Gardner-Johnson, and Stevenson will ultimately bring grown men to tears with their words? Yes, it very much so is. That doesn't mean that their efforts are not worthwhile, though. If a receiver is more concerned with an ongoing dialogue between themselves and their primary defender, rather than solely focusing on creating separation and reeling in whatever targets come their way, the defense has already won.
Brisker is banking on that being the case for this secondary more times than not as we move deeper into the second half of the regular season.