GREEN BAY, Wis. -- If an opportunity presents itself, Packers nose tackle B.J. Raji is not one to withhold his feelings on any topic. This week, it was the New York Giants' offensive line and tight ends on the receiving end of the 337-pound Pro Bowler's sharp tongue.
"Not to say they're soft, but they're not the toughest group I've been against," Raji said Thursday when asked about the Giants' offensive line with New York coming to town Sunday for a playoff game against Green Bay.
Raji went head-to-head with that group six weeks ago when the Packers went into New York and beat the Giants. In that game, Raji recorded one tackle in a 38-35 win.
This was just the latest in a war of words between the two teams this week that was originally just a one-sided affair. Immediately after New York beat the Falcons last weekend, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul guaranteed a victory in Green Bay, saying he knew it would happen because the Giants were "the best."
Later in the week, Giants tight end Travis Beckum -- who is from Wisconsin and played for the Badgers in college -- had his own inflammatory remarks.
"You just see guys flat-out getting beat," Beckum said to a group of New York media. "I don't know if it's miscommunication in the secondary or what, but there's been several times that you've seen guys just run past them.
"You look at their numbers -- they're not very good at all."
Beckum had only five catches, 93 yards and one touchdown all season, but the vast majority of that production came on one play against the Packers. Catching only his second pass all season in Week 13, Beckum got by Green Bay's secondary for a 67-yard touchdown. Green Bay finished last in the NFL in passing yards allowed but led the league in interceptions.
"I don't think any of their tight ends are in any position to say too much," Raji said. "They're not the best players at that position that we've seen."
When Raji was told that he had just insulted New York's tight ends, he replied, "That's just what it is. We'll leave it at that."
Earlier this season, Raji let his opinion be known about the Falcons after the Packers went into Atlanta in Week 5 and won, just as they did in the playoffs last season.
"Now that we abused them, for the second time in a row, at their home, there's nothing really to do," Raji said. "For it to be a rivalry, you have to win meaningful games. They're just another opponent. They have a long way to go. I wouldn't talk like this, but when people don't respect you, I don't take it lying down. Those people don't respect us, so, in turn, I'm not going to give them any respect."
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