Bengals safety Jordan Battle said before Sunday’s game that he had identified a tendency of Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis to pet the ball before throwing, and that he would use that tendency to pin his breaks on Willis’ passes. At the time, it seemed like a silly thing to say out loud, but Battle backed up his speech and intercepted Willis twice as the Bengals won.
However, Willis doesn’t believe he has a say.
Asked after the game about Battle’s comments, Willis indicated that he wasn’t even sure who Battle was, asking a reporter to clarify which Bengals player had said something.
“Who said that?” Willis asked.
A reporter replied, “Battle of Jordan.”
Willis then asked, “What number?”
A reporter told Willis that Battle wears No. 27, and Willis said he didn’t even realize Battle had caught both of his interceptions. Willis mistakenly thought No. 44, linebacker Demetrius Knight, had caught one of the tackles.
“I thought 44 caught one. I thought 44 caught one pick. Anyway, you said he caught both? Come on,” Willis said.
Willis disputed that the wiretaps were about a story. At one point, Willis’ hand was hit as he was throwing the ball, and at the other, Willis felt pressure on his left, crashed to his right and jumped right at Battle.
“That’s not an indicator, he caught tipped balls. Good for him, that’s what defenses at this level have to do,” Willis said. “They hit one ball down and the second one was a scrimmage practice disaster. This has nothing to do with the stories. I don’t think I petted either of them. I don’t think they’re related.”
Willis said he was told what Battle said, but didn’t put any stock in it.
“I didn’t think too much of it. Everybody pet the ball. That’s funny. Really funny,” Willis said.
It was the Bengals who had something to laugh about after the game, as Battle backed up his speech.
