Broncos CB Patrick Surtain Defends Teammate Riley Moss Amid Race Discussion
Denver Broncos cornerback and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II spoke out in defense of fellow starting cornerback Riley Moss. Regardless of Moss's performance, conversations around him often return to race. This is largely because Moss, a white player, became the NFL’s first white starting cornerback in 22 years at the start of the 2024 season.
Moss’s Rise as a Top Young Cornerback
Since then, Moss has emerged as one of the NFL’s best emerging cornerbacks. He faces a high volume of passes, not due to poor play, but because the other starter, Surtain, is highly respected by opposing teams, which rarely target him. In fact, in 2024, the probability of completing a pass against Surtain was so low that teams statistically preferred to throw the ball away rather than try passing his way.
Controversy Over Defensive Pass Interference Calls
Surtain also draws many defensive pass interference penalties. He joked that the same might be happening to Moss, hinting at racial bias in officiating. Surtain, who is expected to miss three weeks due to a pec strain, shared on the Closed on Sundays With Pat and Terrion podcast featuring Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold:
“I ain’t gonna lie, I think they racial profiling my dog. They calling all these flags on my boy … I ain’t gonna lie, these flags is egregious. He had a rep against CeeDee Lamb where he played the ball, where he was in perfect position, and he still got a flag.”
Summary
Patrick Surtain II highlights racial controversy surrounding Riley Moss, emphasizing his teammate’s skill and the questionable penalties called against him.
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