Wide receiver Terrelle Pryor against cornerback Josh Norman won’t be the only great matchup on the field at FedEx Field on Sunday when the Browns visit the Washington Redskins.
Also featured will be Terrelle Pryor against Terrelle Pryor.
Pryor has done a nice job in the first three games this season, especially in last Sunday’s 30-24 loss in overtime to the Miami Dolphins when he ran the ball, passed the ball, caught the ball, defended against others catching the ball and did just about everything but drive the team bus, do bed check on Saturdaynight and be a flight attendant on the flight back home.
These lazy, pampered athletes. Pryor needs to start earning his keep.
But Pryor will get his stiffest test thus far in facing Norman, one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. In addition, Norman is among the best players in the league when it comes to baiting opposing wide receivers into committing unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
Enter Pryor, who must have majored in on-field celebrations at Ohio State. When Norman watches him on tape and sees him dancing around whenever he does something positive, which is quite often, he must feel like a hungry bear with an opportunity to bite into fresh meat.
If Pryor isn’t careful, he’ll set a Browns record for most penalties in a game, if indeed things like that are tabulated. If not, then perhaps it will be after Sunday.
But Pryor can stay clean. He’s smart enough. But is he disciplined enough?
We’ll see.
You would assume that head coach Hue Jackson might have talked with Pryor about the potential problem 27 times already this week. Not so. We estimated 27 times too many.
Asked Thursday at his daily press conference if he had discussed the issue with Pryor, Jackson responded, “No, I haven’t. I think Terrelle understands that we have to do what is best for our team.
“We can’t get into any personal battles. It is not about Terrelle Pryor and Josh Norman. It is really about the Cleveland Browns and the Washington Redskins. That is what we have talked about as a team. It is not about any of those other personal matchups.
“I think Terrelle will do what is right. I think our whole team will, and that is what I expect our guys to do.”
But one guy – No. 11 – might have a better chance of doing so if he were reminded about that.
Again and again and again.
