Sheldon Richardson: I'm As Good As Any Defensive Lineman In The NFL
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Sheldon Richardson is as confident as they come, and he's never afraid to speak his mind.
The Jets' defensive end has emerged as a star, and in his mind, he's as good as any defensive lineman in the NFL.
"The same people you see mentioned every day, getting big contracts, I'm on the same level," Richardson told ESPN.com. "I don't put them over me, I don't put them under me. Most definitely, it's the same comparison, really.
"You name it, I'll put myself up there. I'm not scared to say it. You don't get to this point not being confident. If somebody calls me cocky, oh well, they'll get over it."
Last years' AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year even dared to compare himself to J.J. Watt, widely considered to be the best defensive player in the league.
"J.J. Watt, he's got a few more sacks than me, but it's the same type of disruption," Richardson told the website. "He's a little more active, I'll give you that, but we have the same type of determination, same heart, same skills. He scores touchdowns, I score touchdowns."
The 6-foot-3, 294-pound 24-year-old has appeared in all 14 games for the Jets this season. He's recorded 60 combined tackles, 6.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
The former first-round pick believes that he's deserving of a spot in the Pro Bowl.
"It would mean a lot to me," Richardson told ESPN.com. "It would be one more step to what I'm really trying to get to, and that's the Super Bowl. Hoisting up that trophy would mean a lot more, but being a Pro Bowler is being recognized among the top guys at my position.
"That's big in my eyes. I want to be recognized as a great, and the Pro Bowl is the way to do it."
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