Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs built his NFL career and huge income on his ability to run and pick up the ball.
On Wednesday, he interrupted a reporter before he could be asked the full question. Trevon, there’s a list that came out recently… “What does it say?” Diggs interjected.
Maybe Diggs already knew the answer. To compile its rankings of the top 10 players at each position in the league, ESPN conducted an anonymous survey of scouts, coaches and executives at the beginning of the offseason. One thing that stood out in particular was the cornerstone. Diggs’ fellow All-Pro teammate Darron Brand wasn’t on the list. Diggs didn’t explicitly acknowledge this, but it seems he looked at the list. “I feel like there’s no one who can accomplish what I do,” he said. No one can do it as well as Brand. In my opinion, we seem to be in a class of our own. It doesn’t matter to us that we don’t have a list. The playing field will prove the results of our work. Can you find another [defensive back] on this list who has completed our assignment? Let me see. Diggs was referring to the total number of interceptions he and Brand have had in the NFL thus far. Diggs has played in 47 games and recorded 18 interceptions. Those were also his 2020 elevens. Brand, with 34 career games played and 14 interceptions, isn’t far behind. Brand set the single-season record with five interception returns last season. “He’s the best defensive back,” Diggs said. When asked if Brand is better than him, Diggs replied, “1A and 1B.”
This season, Diggs will soon have a chance to be one of the best cornerbacks in the league. He was removed from the disabled list on Tuesday. He continues to recover from a torn ACL he suffered before the Week 3 game against Arizona and is in the good stages of recovery. “When you’re comfortable, you’re comfortable,” Diggs said. “It’s better to be safe than sorry, but right now I can handle whatever happens.” We are not winning football games at the moment.
Diggs seems motivated to return. Micah Parsons, who considers Diggs a brother, said he’s never seen Diggs more motivated. He made the suggestion last week before the evaluation. “I think you pissed him off,” Parsons told reporters.
Being left off a top 10 list can have an impact on a player who takes pride in himself.
