- Troy Aikman said Quinnen Williams calls himself the NFL’s “highest paid decoy.”
- But Williams said he had not spoken to Aikman and called his comments ‘misleading’
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New York Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams has called out Troy Aikman, denying that he ever told the ESPN analyst that he calls himself “the highest-paid decoy in football.”
During Monday night’s broadcast of the Jets’ 27-6 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Aikman analyzed the home team’s defensive line and their pass rush.
In it, he referenced how Williams — who signed a four-year, $96 million contract this offseason — was still making an impact for the Jets defense despite recording just half a sack so far this season.
“He calls himself the highest-paid decoy in football,” Aikman claimed.
Aikman also indicated that Williams asked Jets coach Robert Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to come up with more one-on-one matchups for him.
Quinnen Williams has denied Troy Aikman’s claim on ESPN that the Jets star calls himself the NFL’s ‘highest paid decoy’
Aikman also indicated that Williams asked Jets coach Robert Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to come up with more one-on-one matchups for him.
But Williams took a moment at a news conference Wednesday to dispute Aikman’s comments, insisting he had not spoken to the analyst before the game.
Williams said, “Can I say something real quick? I saw something Troy Aikman said, that I said something about being a decoy.
“Like I never said that, I never talked to Troy Aikman, I never said that to Troy Aikman, I don’t know where he got that from, that never came out of my mouth.
“I was the highest paid decoy or something, he said.”
He also said Aikman’s comments were “weird,” “disturbing” and “misleading.”
Williams has established himself as one of the league’s top disruptors after his first All-Pro season in 2022, and the Jets pushed him to commit to New York in the summer.
His new deal includes $66 million guaranteed, making it the second-largest contract ever for a defensive tackle.
Williams is the second-highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL, behind the Rams’ Aaron Donald, who makes $31.7 million per year.
Williams signed a four-year, $96 million contract this offseason after a stellar 2022
Aikman had a lot to say about the Jets after their home loss to the Chargers, telling the team’s offense and coordinators to “look at themselves in the mirror.”
During Monday night’s game with his usual partner in the booth, Joe Buck, for ESPN, the three-time Super Bowl champion, the former quarterback said, “If you can’t line up without getting a penalty, then you don’t have opportunity. You’ll never have a chance.
“The focus is always on Zach Wilson, the offensive line, yes, because of the injuries, but everyone who has anything to do with that offense, including coaches, needs to look at themselves in the mirror because everyone has to be better than what we did tonight have seen.
“As good as this (defensive) group is, that they don’t get the opportunity to do really special things with this team because an offense can’t score a touchdown? Pretty maddening.”
