Cowboys CB Chidobe Awuzie Claims He Was Given PED Test After Chasing Down Saquon Barkley
By Chris Russo
Well, that's one way to put it.
Cowboys cornerback Chidobe Awuzie has an interesting explanation as to why he was forced by the NFL to take a performance-enhancing drug test on Monday. Just hear him out.
That’s why I got PED tested yesterday smh
— Chido ?? (@ChidobeAwuzie) September 10, 2019
Yes, Awuzie says the league tested him because he turned on the jets and ran down New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley on Sunday and prevented a 59-yard scamper from becoming what would have been an 82-yard touchdown.
Though Awuzie's alleged reasoning for the screening could be simply in jest, his speed on the play is truly remarkable.
Holy fast. Check out Cowboys CB Chidobe Awuzie track down Saquon Barkley on this play. Barkley couldn't believe it. Awuzie hit 22.81 mph, per Next Gen Stats. That's the fastest a player has been recorded since 2017.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) September 10, 2019
Barkley's 21.76 mph on play was fastest ball carrier this week pic.twitter.com/O6sUSi2eYF
Not only does Awuzie run three quarters of the way across the field to track down Barkley, but he also sprints about 50 yards downhill to nail down the second-year running back. Plus, he doesn't dive and grab for his ankles. Rather, he gets a full-on tackle by the shoulders.
This was Awuzie's biggest game highlight, though he had 4 tackles and a pass deflection to go along with it.
The argument is technically all for naught in two ways. One: the Giants punched it in later in the drive. Two: the Cowboys, particularly on offense, dominated the rest of the game, winning it by the score of 35 to 17. But don't tell this guy he doesn't have wheels.