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Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey, shown at practice, had his most productive game as a pro during a victory over the Saints last week. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Preston Poag had the night planned. The North Murray, Ga., football coach looked ahead at the Georgia Bulldogs’ schedule to see when Ladd McConkey had a free weekend. He convinced the then-Georgia receiver to skip out on a planned hunting trip. The occasion called for it: North Murray was going to retire McConkey’s jersey number.
But two weeks after Poag nearly moved McConkey to tears by telling him of the honor, the receiver called his former coach with a request. He pleaded to not have his jersey retired.
There are plenty of other great players at the school that could deserve the honor, McConkey told him.
“Shut the crap up and get your butt here,” Poag responded.
Even as his star outgrows his small hometown in northern Georgia, McConkey has maintained his humble nature with the Chargers, who the 22-year-old rookie leads with 30 catches for 376 yards and four touchdowns entering a road game against the Cleveland Browns (2-6) at 10 a.m. PST Sunday.
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After his 111-yard receiving, two-touchdown effort against the New Orleans Saints — a game in which he became the first Chargers rookie since Keenan Allen in 2013 to have 100 yards receiving in a game — McConkey smiled shyly when the faintest whiff of praise was directed toward him. He was simply happy to get into the end zone and make plays for his team.
His teammates were ready to sing his praises instead.
“Beast,” safety Derwin James Jr. said. “Dog. Y’all seen him. … Ladd that guy.”
As the Chargers (4-3) looked for replacements for longtime stars Allen and Mike Williams, McConkey quietly has turned himself into one of quarterback Justin Herbert’s most sure-handed targets.
McConkey, a second-round selection who was the ninth…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/chargers-ladd-mcconkey-went-small-100002443.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-11-01 10:00:02
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