Dion Dawkins has aggressively trash-talked the New York Jets this offseason
Who in the NFL hates the New York Jets the most? Well, outside of Bill Belichick, it might be Buffalo Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins.
First, Dawkins called the Jets’ defense “weirdos being weird,” saying he hates all of them and that they play the sport just to be cool and take pictures on Instagram. Shortly thereafter, he said he was fine with acquiring any player as long as they weren’t from the Jets.
Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson subtly got back at Dawkins by lampooning his shirtless physique on a podcast.
Kay Adams asked #Bills Dion Dawkins if getting Tee Higgins would work …
“As long as we’re not getting no #Jets guys, like I’m good.”
(🎥 @UpAndAdamsShow) pic.twitter.com/D6NHf2u7ss
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) March 12, 2024
Later in the offseason, Dawkins referenced his altercation with Micheal Clemons in the tunnel while saying, “Every year it’s just that with the Jets.” He also took exception to the Jets’ players trash-talking Josh Allen.
The near fight in question. Michael Clemons and Dion Dawkins have to be separated. Two big dudes almost locked horns. Spilled over from beef during the 32-6 Bills win. 📸 From my iPhone pic.twitter.com/P7xE0ADi3f
— Otis Livingston (@OlivingstonTV) November 20, 2023
On the Up & Adams Show, Dawkins tried to walk back the worst of the animosity. He reiterated his stance on barking at Josh Allen, though.
#Bills LT Dion Dawkins clarifies why he has an issue with certain Jets players 🗣️
"If MJ is on the court and there is a player that has NO NAME… he should not be talking to MJ like MJ ain't who MJ is… Josh Allen is my Michael Jordan."@heykayadams @DDawkins66 @BuffaloBills pic.twitter.com/czwCvkWxEa
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) August 1, 2024
The question remains whether Dawkins is referring to anyone other than Clemons. If it’s just Clemons he’s angry about, point taken. Clemons hasn’t accomplished anything in the NFL and is a no-name player to anyone but Jets fans. Aaron Rodgers took exception to similar trash-talking from Giants no-name edge rusher Jihad Ward in the 2023 preseason, telling him, “Show some respect. I don’t even know who you are!”
However, that’s not a reason to badmouth an entire organization and say they play football to look cool. Dawkins can try to walk back the idea of “beef” all he wants, but the repeated comments he made about the Jets indicate significant bad blood.
Ultimately, all that matters is how Dawkins performs on the field against the Jets’ defense. He’s struggled with penalties against them over the past two seasons, committing eight in four games — a pace of 34 in a full season.
If the Jets hold Josh Allen in check as they have in three of the past four matchups, they can trash-talk Allen all they want — no matter who’s doing the talking. And the same is true for Dawkins and the Bills.
