DJ Swearinger felt “disrespected” when he saw a Pro Football Focus graphic of the top safety grades in the NFL this season. The Washington Redskins safety was rated No. 1 of all league safeties, yet, his image was not the featured. Instead Ha Ha Clinton-Dix of the Green Bay Packers was.
Y’all DisRespectful! EveryBody That’s At The Top Get They Picture Up But Gu Right!? #Motivation Ima Make Y’all Feel Me!! 🤫
— DJ Swearinger (@JungleBoi_Swagg) October 27, 2018
Following Sunday’s 20-13 win over the New York Giants in which Swearinger recorded his second two-interception game of the season, he referenced the omission by PFF as motivation for his big game.
“Disrespected,” Swearinger said in general about how others view him compared to others in the league per NBC Sports Washington. “Very disrespected. I wanted to show them that I am the best safety in this game, and I’m gonna keep doing that every week, week in and week out.”
PFF heard word, and did their best to apologize with a very customized graphic just for Swearinger.
Hey @JungleBoi_Swagg, we wanted to say sorry for not using your image on the highest graded safeties graphic last week. Is this better? pic.twitter.com/Z0u96BftFt
— PFF (@PFF) October 29, 2018
Social media editor Gordon McGuinness served up a detailed explanation to why Swearinger was not used on the initial image. Sometimes there are not good shots from the league’s licensed image partners. And to avoid using the same image repeatedly, depending on the graphic, PFF will use someone other than the No. 1 player.
I'll give everyone the hot scoop on why we do this…
Sometimes we just don't have a good image of the player at number one that we have access to or cut out ready to use. Sometimes we only have one image and we've used it a few more times that we'd like. https://t.co/WTrolbDk5z
— Gordon McGuinness (@PFF_Gordon) October 29, 2018
Makes sense, right?
As you can see in the apology graphic, the image of Swearinger comes from last season in which he was a captain and had a “C” on his jersey. Mason Foster is now the team’s defensive captain and wears the “C” this season.
While Swearinger noted he had accepted PFF’s gesture, he made sure to let them know their initial slight is still his motivation.
“I Appreciate It!! Yall Still My #Motivation Though ?,” Swearinger tweeted in response.
If that’s what it will take for him to continue to have the breakout season he is having, then PFF can stay a villain. Redskins fans will thank them later.
