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The expectations for Josh Hines-Allen are sky high for the upcoming season.
No matter how much people around the league expect from him, nobody has higher expectations than Hines-Allen himself. He was recently voted the NFL's 48th-best player by his peers. Hines-Allen was honored, but he wants more. He wants to be the best. To win a Super Bowl. He wants Defensive Player of the Year.
Hines-Allen admitted to reporters at Jacksonville Jaguars' training camp that his goal to be the best is almost an obsession, but says he obsesses about it in a "healthy" way.
"I like to be obsessed with it, but you have to be healthy with it. When I go home, I'm not obsessive about it," Hines-Allen said. "I'm spending time with my family and relaxing my brain. I wake up thinking about football, I go to sleep thinking about football, but like, when I don't need to, and I'm spending time with my family, I'm in that moment."
Hines-Allen isn't the only one who thinks he can become the best. According to Juston Lewis of the Florida Times-Union, JHA received a surprising text from his former teammate, Calais Campbell, who gave him an encouraging prediction.
Campbell, who helped mentor JHA to a Pro Bowl season as a rookie in 2019, sent Hines-Allen a text telling him what he thinks he can accomplish this season. JHA, during his media availability, told reporters how much that text from Campbell means to him.
"I got a surprisingly good text from Calais Campbell right before we went out to practice," Hines-Allen recalled. "He said, 'I love you, Josh, and you're going to lead the league in sacks this year.' For me, that's just more validation that I'm on the right path."
Hines-Allen is the type of player who gets a text like that and uses it as motivation to get better rather than confirmation that he is already good enough. Getting the text from Campbell makes it even more meaningful.
Campbell is 39 and has played 18 seasons in the league. He is still extremely productive and one of the NFL's most respected players.
The former "Mayor of Sacksonville" made quite an impression as Hines-Allen when he was a rookie, and continues to help motivate him now.
That Campbell took the time to text JHA while going through an unspeakable family tragedy shows just how much the esteemed veteran still cares about his former teammate.
Hines-Allen is determined to get better year after year. He has already spoken about wanting to not only break his own team record of 17.5 sacks this season, but also Myles Garrett's NFL record of 23.
He also wants his duo with Travon Walker to be the best pass-rushing combination in the league. Both he and Walker are committed to bringing out the best in one another this season, and Walker's return to health should help take some pressure off Hines-Allen.
Campbell's belief in Hines-Allen's ability should only motivate him even more. If JHA does lead the league in sacks this year, it should not come as a surprise to anybody.
That is his goal, and nobody will work harder to achieve it than JHA.
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No matter how much people around the league expect from him, nobody has higher expectations than Hines-Allen himself. He was recently voted the NFL's 48th-best player by his peers. Hines-Allen was honored, but he wants more. He wants to be the best. To win a Super Bowl. He wants Defensive Player of the Year.
Hines-Allen admitted to reporters at Jacksonville Jaguars' training camp that his goal to be the best is almost an obsession, but says he obsesses about it in a "healthy" way.
"I like to be obsessed with it, but you have to be healthy with it. When I go home, I'm not obsessive about it," Hines-Allen said. "I'm spending time with my family and relaxing my brain. I wake up thinking about football, I go to sleep thinking about football, but like, when I don't need to, and I'm spending time with my family, I'm in that moment."
Hines-Allen isn't the only one who thinks he can become the best. According to Juston Lewis of the Florida Times-Union, JHA received a surprising text from his former teammate, Calais Campbell, who gave him an encouraging prediction.
Lead The League In Sacks
Campbell, who helped mentor JHA to a Pro Bowl season as a rookie in 2019, sent Hines-Allen a text telling him what he thinks he can accomplish this season. JHA, during his media availability, told reporters how much that text from Campbell means to him.
"I got a surprisingly good text from Calais Campbell right before we went out to practice," Hines-Allen recalled. "He said, 'I love you, Josh, and you're going to lead the league in sacks this year.' For me, that's just more validation that I'm on the right path."
Hines-Allen is the type of player who gets a text like that and uses it as motivation to get better rather than confirmation that he is already good enough. Getting the text from Campbell makes it even more meaningful.
Campbell Is One Of The NFL's Most Respected Players
Campbell is 39 and has played 18 seasons in the league. He is still extremely productive and one of the NFL's most respected players.
The former "Mayor of Sacksonville" made quite an impression as Hines-Allen when he was a rookie, and continues to help motivate him now.
That Campbell took the time to text JHA while going through an unspeakable family tragedy shows just how much the esteemed veteran still cares about his former teammate.
Final Thoughts
Hines-Allen is determined to get better year after year. He has already spoken about wanting to not only break his own team record of 17.5 sacks this season, but also Myles Garrett's NFL record of 23.
He also wants his duo with Travon Walker to be the best pass-rushing combination in the league. Both he and Walker are committed to bringing out the best in one another this season, and Walker's return to health should help take some pressure off Hines-Allen.
Campbell's belief in Hines-Allen's ability should only motivate him even more. If JHA does lead the league in sacks this year, it should not come as a surprise to anybody.
That is his goal, and nobody will work harder to achieve it than JHA.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
