Maybe they’re just not used to someone grabbing them by their shoulder pads and telling them to come over here.
Especially when that person is a rival quarterback who has only six weeks more experience than him and is a senior who had a very impressive rookie season.
On Sunday, moments after the Houston Texans beat Williams’ Chicago Bears, 19-13, at home to NRG Stadium, Stroud was on the microphone, giving the impression of a wise veteran offering advice to Williams.
“Good job, stop taking hits,” Stroud said.
Williams was sacked seven times, hit by the quarterback 11 times and had two passes intercepted, but he responded with a blank look on his face and tried to walk away, but Stroud grabbed him by the shoulder pads and pulled him back.
Last season, he continued his advice: “Come here. Learn from your mistakes. Everything you have is already inside of you. You’re going to be a great player in this league.”
Perhaps the comment contained the word “mistake.”
Maybe he just wasn’t in the mood for small talk after his first loss as an NFL quarterback.
Maybe he just didn’t want to hear it from the guy who also finished third in the 2022 Heisman Trophy voting.
However, Williams seemed less than thrilled with the advice, with some on social media going so far as to say: ” ”
Stroud made it clear at a press conference on Wednesday that he had only good intentions and was not concerned about Williams’ reaction.
“I never tried to treat him like a little brother, and he knows that,” Stroud said. “I have a lot of respect for him.”
Stroud said he received similar advice last season when he was a freshman at Ohio State.
“I had a lot of guys come up to me after games last year and it was really nice for me that they wanted to give me advice,” he said. “So I’m just trying to give back for what the game has given me. So I wish him the best of luck and I want him to do great in this league and I think he will.”
is growing rapidly and gathering information from everywhere to gain an edge. After hearing Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson reveal how he fakes coverage to fool quarterbacks on the show, he approached Johnson before Sunday’s game and laughed, “Dude, you can’t tell me anything by the look on your palm!”
then a year later. The two young stars would enjoy a fierce rivalry for the next decade or so, and while their first on-field exchanges may have been awkward, Williams will probably have the advantage the next time the teams meet.
“He’s just upset about losing,” Stroud said. “That’s completely understandable.”
He wasn’t asked Wednesday about his interaction with Stroud, but he said it was shocking to be slapped for the first time since then.
“I’m just going to get used to getting hit again. It’s been a while,” he said. “I haven’t gotten hit since Nov. 18, so I’m just going to get used to it.”
Williams also said he remains optimistic despite the loss to the Texans, and flashed a smile that was a stark contrast to the blank look he had while listening to Stroud speak.
“It’s amazing, it’s amazing,” he said. “When you apply for this position, you’re applying for a match like this.”
