Winning teams get to talk a certain way. That's especially the case with those who play a big role in their success. That's why, after a breakout campaign with the Seattle Seahawks, Jaxon Smith-Njigba has earned the right to talk some smack.
The Ohio State product isn't known for being the biggest trash-talkers in the league. More than that, he also knows that he's got bigger things to be worried about than another player's feelings. The Seahawks have a clear goal ahead of them, and it's more important than a player's agenda.
That's why he couldn't care less when San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir head-butted him in the NFC Divisional Round. In a recent appearance on The Reset with Gee Scott, the Seahawks' star had a simple, yet blunt answer about his lack of reaction.
Seattle Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba won't get too carried away with lesser players
“One, I got a helmet on,” he said. “Two, when you feel like you're on another level, I'm not gonna let something not on my level distract me of what's going on.”
That's everything you want to hear from one of the faces of the franchise. You need players who can step up on the field, but you also need guys who won't let their emotions get the best of them, and Smith-Njigba seems to be both.
Granted, a 15-yard penalty wouldn't have changed the outcome of the game. The Seahawks jumped to an early 17-0 lead and were in control from start to finish, but that's beyond the point. Also, retaliating could've led to a suspension, and he definitely couldn't afford that.
Mike Macdonald runs a tight ship in his locker room, and you can tell that he's worked wonders for this team's culture. It's never about one individual, and they're all locked in and focused on the task at hand. That's championship-winning mentality.
Of course, these comments will probably rub Lenoir and the Niners the wrong way. That's just the dynamics of a divisional rivalry, and while they may want to get back at him next season, success is the best revenge in this scenario.
The Seahawks are just one win away from returning to the Super Bowl, and that's all that matters at this point. If that happens to hurt another player's feelings, so be it. Smith-Njigba and the Seahawks are above that right now.