Jaguars loudmouth needs to become as quiet as his trash talk
In this bland, politically-correct world in which we in, we as journalists love it when subjects we’re covering speak their mind instead of hiding behind a barrage of milquetoast clichés.
In the case of Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who during the offseason in a magazine interview with GQ went scorched earth in his assessment of just about every quarterback in the NFL, his candor proved to be way over the top.
Now, with his team — one year removed from an AFC Championship appearance — in a stunning struggle this season, Ramsey has found himself faced with eating his bold words on an almost weekly basis.
Ramsey’s most recent stop on the Humiliation Tour was last week, when the Steelers erased a 16-0 deficit to hand the Jaguars their sixth consecutive loss, 20-16.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger engineered that rally with two touchdowns passes and a rushing score. In that magazine piece, Ramsey called Roethlisberger “decent at best,’’ suggesting his success was more a product of the players around him.
Roethlisberger, of course, had the pleasure of handing Ramsey a full portion of humble pie.
“They are a really good defense,” Roethlisberger told reporters of the Jags after the Steelers win. “They like to talk a lot — before the game, during the game. But I’m carrying the game ball home.”
Ramsey and the Jaguars play the Bills on Sunday. In that GQ interview, the Jaguars defensive back said of rookie Buffalo QB Josh Allen, “I think Allen is trash. And it’s gonna show too. That’s a stupid draft pick to me. We play them this year, and I’m excited as hell. I hope he’s their starting quarterback.’’
Ramsey also ripped the No. 7-overall draft pick out of Wyoming for playing poorly against larger football programs.
Allen, who missed the past four games with a right elbow injury, practiced all week and is expected to return and start Sunday.
Allen told Buffalo reporters during the week, “Honestly, I don’t even remember what he said, but I could care less.”
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Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was another player Ramsey tweaked, saying, “I don’t really think he’s that good.’’
Luck and the Colts beat Ramsey and the Jags, 29-26, the week before Roethlisberger and the Steelers did.
Allen, like Roethlisberger did, has the chance to make Ramsey think twice about his chirping. I have a golfing friend who, when the trash talking begins, likes to say, “Not with the mouth,’’ a suggestion that you defeat him with your golf clubs and not your trash talk.
Ramsey is not defeating anyone with his trash talk. He’s only making himself look bad. Maybe he should take my friend’s advice.
“Not with the mouth.’’
