Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey continued taunting the New England Patriots ahead of their Sunday AFC Championship Game. Earlier, Ramsey declared that the Jaguars would win the Super Bowl after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in their AFC divisional round showdown. Some of the Patriots' players downplayed Ramsey’s taunt, saying that trash talking is part of the Jaguars cornerback’s game. Earlier, special teams member Matthew Slater and safety Duron Harmon shrugged off Ramsey’s bold declaration.
Slater said Ramsey’s confidence stems from his outstanding season where he tallied six interceptions and was selected to the first-team All-Pro.
Harmon, for his part, called Ramsey a good player on a really good football team. Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler also expressed respect for Ramsey, calling him a big and physical guy and a hard match-up for New England come Sunday.
Even Patriots quarterback Tom Brady reacted to Ramsey’s comment. In an interview with Kirk and Callahan, Brady said in his 18 years in the NFL, he has learned that “it’s always how you play, and not what you say.” Brady added that the issue will be settled on the field. Patriots rookie defensive tackle Adam Butler had a different take on Ramsey’s boast, saying the Jaguars' cornerback should be able to back it up. "It's a bold statement to make," Butler told ESPN.
Ramsey has new target
In their Sunday clash, Ramsey will have a tough assignment in Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. However, Ramsey is confident that he will emerge victorious in his match-up with the All-Pro tight end. In Friday’s interview with reporters, Ramsey boasted that Gronkowski hasn’t faced a cornerback like him.
When asked what he meant by his statement, Ramsey replied, “everything.”
Tashaun Gipson usually occupies the tight end slot for the Jaguars, but with his status questionable on Sunday due to a foot injury, Ramsey and Barry Church will be tasked with limiting Gronkowski’s damage. In their showdown with the Steelers, the Jaguars surrendered 18 targets, 11 catches, and 124 yards to Steelers tight ends.
Ramsey accuses Patriots of gassing him up
In his interview, Ramsey accused the Patriots of gassing him up after they threw some kind words despite his Super Bowl claim. However, Ramsey said the Patriots don’t need to gas him up, as he is pumped up and motivated ahead of their Sunday clash: “I mean, that is what I do. That didn’t really matter to me,” said the cornerback.
