Jacksonville Jaguars star cornerback Jalen Ramsey is one of the NFL’s greatest trash-talkers, but it may not have made much sense for him to call the Buffalo Bills “trash” during their Week 12 battle in Buffalo.
Prior to the start of the 2018 regular season, Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey had some choice words for Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback Josh Allen, who was taken with the seventh-overall pick despite accuracy concerns.
Ramsey said that Allen was “trash” in an interview with GQ (he also insulted other notable quarterbacks, calling, for example, Matt Ryan “overrated”). When given the opportunity to back-track on those comments prior to Jacksonville’s Week 12 game against the Bills, Ramsey did not retract his harsh criticisms of the rookie signal-caller.
Despite going into the half tied 14-14, Ramsey decided to talk some more smack to the Bills bench, pointing towards the sidelines and calling them “trash,” perhaps as a reference to his offseason comments about their quarterback.
Jalen Ramsey pointing to the #Bills bench and calling them "trash" pic.twitter.com/SA6kTDIrIE
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 25, 2018
Calling the Bills “trash” may have been a smart move on Ramsey’s part if it gets in their heads, but it could also give Allen and the Bills even more motivation. It also doesn’t make much sense for a player on the Jaguars to call the Bills “trash,” given that both teams are 3-7 and well out of the playoff race.
Jacksonville was supposed to be favorites in the AFC South after making it to the AFC Championship Game last year, but Blake Bortles’ ineptitude has been the biggest blow to a team that has under-performed as a whole.
Despite being singled out as a “trash” player by Ramsey, who said he was excited to face the Bills offense, Allen had been the biggest star on the field for Buffalo. He completed a 75-yard touchdown pass to Robert Foster to head into the half with 15.6 yards per pass attempt and a team-high 39 rushing yards.
Allen was outplaying Bortles, as the Jaguars had to rely on the exemplary Leonard Fournette, 89 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, to head into the half at 14-14 after previously being down 14-0.
After insulting the Bills and calling them “trash”, Ramsey and the Jaguars defense will have to provide an answer to Allen’s rushing ability and big passing plays in the second half, otherwise they could fall to 3-8 despite all of Ramsey’s mind games.