Justin Hunter is one of the more talented young wide receivers in the NFL.
The 6-foot-4, 203-pound former Tennessee star flashed moments of brilliance in his rookie season last year, but the Tennessee Titans are still waiting for him to break out. And the coaches aren’t going easy on him.
On Monday, Hunter’s name plate was removed from the back of his practice jersey and replaced with “JAG.” That stands for “Just Another Guy,” and it was a form of punishment after Hunter reportedly ran a bad route during Saturday’s preseason game against the Green Bay Packers.
“The receivers have been talking about it for a minute, since last year, just playing around,” Hunter explained, per Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. “But then coach (Ken Whisenhunt) said something about it in a meeting .. and said, ‘Justin, you can be a great player, but after that play, you look like ‘Just Another Guy,'”
Wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson was actually the one who asked the team’s equipment manager to make the change to Hunter’s jersey.
“He has no remorse for me,” Hunter said. “He holds me to the highest standard, so he asked them to put it on my jersey. With coach Jefferson, it is all the same. I take it all in.”
That’s what we call tough love. Whisenhunt wants to spread the ball around, and his offense would be a lot more effective if someone like Hunter emerged as a playmaker. Hunter has the size and strength to beat a lot of defensive backs in one-on-one coverage — he just has to put in the work. Perhaps trying to earn his own name back will inspire him.
H/T Pro Football Talk
Photo: Twitter/Jim Wyatt
