One week after his viral moment, Jerry Jeudy is speaking out.
The Broncos wide receiver, who got eviscerated for the team’s “Thursday Night Football” game in Kansas City in Week 6, finally addressed the incident Thursday.
Before that game, ex-wide receiver and current NFL Network analyst Steve Smith said he wanted to apologize for previous comments he made about Jeudy, whom Smith called “just a guy.”
But when Jeudy, 24, allegedly cursed at Smith and then danced wildly in the background of the NFL Network pregame show, Smith had harsh words.
“I’ll repeat it — I’m sorry I said you were a JAG or just a guy who’s an average wide receiver they used a first-round pick on that doesn’t do anything,” Smith said. “I hope you show up today in a way that you haven’t shown up in the last couple of years since they drafted you.”
Jeudy, who finished the game with just three catches and 14 yards, finally talked with the media about the incident and said he was not aware that Smith was even trying to make an apology.
“If you came to apologize to me, I would have understand that and I would have listened to what he had to say,” Jeudy told reporters Thursday, per 104.3 The Fan. “But where I’m from, if somebody talks bad about you, you don’t go to them in person and try to act friendly toward them like you didn’t just talk bad about them.
“I don’t got no hate toward Steve Smith. He’s a good player and all that stuff like that, I just stand on what I stand on, you feel me? If you feel some type of way, keep that same energy when you see me in person.”
The Denver receiver said he could’ve acted differently and should’ve listened to Smith, but said in a follow-up answer that he went back to his “roots” when he reacted the way he did last week.
He also said it would be the last time he would talk on the subject.
“One thing I do agree on, I feel like I should have just listened to what he had to say,” Jeudy added. “But at the same time, I’m going back to my roots and where I’m from. Once somebody talks bad about you behind your back, don’t expect to come to them in person and think everything is going to be OK.”
Broncos legend Mark Schlereth had previously called out Jeudy for a perceived lack of hustle and saying he was “not a professional.”
With the Broncos sputtering at 1-5, the team has reportedly braced itself for a “teardown” amid Sean Payton’s first year with the club.
Jeudy has 20 catches for 222 yards this season.
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