Eric Decker wants to be respected and he’s tired of hearing about how Peyton Manning is the reason he got such a huge deal from the New York Jets.
Despite accounting for 172 catches, 2,352 yards and 24 touchdowns in the past two seasons with the Broncos, Decker told the New York Daily News that he’s out to prove that he’s simply a really good wide receiver.
“From Year 1 to Year 5 now, I’ve gotten better at my craft,” Decker told the Daily News. “I’ve become a better receiver. I’m not going to make assumptions because assuming doesn’t really do anything. In this league, you’re only as good as your last play. That’s what people remember. Numbers and statistics come and go away. And then you start over.”
Decker insists that he doesn’t believe in No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3 receivers, but the X’s and O’s truth is that defenses rotated coverage to second-team All-Pro Demaryius Thomas on the outside and attempted to bracket Wes Welker in the slot, creating plenty of 1-on-1 matchups for Decker, who proved that he could consistently beat single coverage.