HOUSTON -- It started in April, before C.J. Stroud was the quarterback of the Houston Texans.
He was sitting at a table eating lunch at the team's facility during a pre-draft visit when he was joined by safety Jalen Pitre. Stroud was familiar with Pitre and held his play in high regard.
The two exchanged pleasantries, but then it happened.
"He started talking trash," Stroud told ESPN of the interaction with a laugh. "I'm like, 'Man, I'm not backing down against nothing. I respect you, but that doesn't mean I'm backing down.