Oct 20, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy (76) before the game against the St. Louis Rams at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports.

The trash talk is really revving up in anticipation of this week’s matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers.

For the second straight year, Panthers’ defensive end Greg Hardy is going after Falcons’ kicker Matt Bryant.

Last year, Hardy called Bryant “small and weird shaped.”

He defended those comments Thursday.

“He is, is he not?” Hardy told David Newton of ESPN.com. “See, y’all are going to get mad at me for just stating facts, now. I’ve been doing this for a long time, telling the truth. The truth is, that’s what it is. I’m sure he’s a good guy when he’s not in pads.”

Hardy is clearly still bothered by the war of words last year. When the Falcons defeated the Panthers last season, Falcons’ quarterback Matt Ryan told the Panthers players to “get the f— off our field.”

When the Panthers returned the favor later in the season, Hardy said the same thing. Bryant responding by telling Hardy to “enjoy watching us in January.”

The Panthers and Falcons will kickoff from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina at 1:00 pm EST Sunday.