JACKSONVILLE – Jalen Ramsey wanted to make a few things clear.
That's why he said he spoke to the media before practice Tuesday, and here is what the All-Pro cornerback emphasized:
*He doesn't want to be a distraction to teammates.
*He wants his teammates to win.
*He's preparing for Thursday's game.
"That's where my focus is right now," Ramsey said early Tuesday afternoon during a press conference at TIAA Bank Field in which he mostly stayed intentionally vague about recent reports he wants to be traded by the Jaguars.
Ramsey answered multiple questions vaguely, apologizing for giving the gathered media "the runaround."
"I don't want to keep on running around y'all's questions," he said. "I'm not trying to be rude or nothing. But at the same time, I don't want to answer them, either. I don't want to be no distraction. I know y'all are going to make the headlines off of one little thing I'm going to say, so I'll try not to say anything to y'all to really make a headline.
"I know the deal. I don't want to give y'all headlines because I don't want it to become a bigger thing around here. I'm chilling here. I'm trying to be a good teammate."
Ramsey spoke for about 15 minutes before the Jaguars' practice in preparation for Thursday night's game against the Tennessee Titans, with defensive coordinator Todd Wash speaking moments later.
"He's on our football team," Wash said when asked if he believed Ramsey would play Thursday. "We're status quo, moving ahead. He was in walkthrough and meetings today, taking notes. He's a competitor. If he's in our building, we anticipate he's going to play and play well.
"That's just who Jalen is. … I'd like to see him on the grass."
Wash added, "Obviously we want what's best for Jalen, but me being selfish … I want him to be a Jaguar forever. He's an elite player. Stuff gets misconstrued – that he's a hothead … he's just very competitive. He wants to win. I hope he's a Jaguar for a long time."
Ramsey, who had words on the sideline with Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone after Marrone did not challenge a reception by Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in a 13-12 Jaguars loss this past Sunday, said he has not spoken to Marrone this week. There also were reports Monday that Ramsey is unhappy with how he is used in the Jaguars' defensive scheme.
"I have nothing negative to say about none of my teammates, of course – and none of my coaches," Ramsey said. "I have nothing negative to say."
Said Wash: "We go in each week as a staff figuring out what gives us the best chance to win as a team. Obviously, that's the most important thing as a team. With not only Jalen but some of our other players, we kind of give them a heads up – usually on Monday nights, 'Hey, this is what we're planning on doing and this is what our major calls are.'
"There's communication back and forth all the way. The bottom line for us is we're going to do what we need to do as a staff what it takes to win the football game."
Ramsey, asked multiple times Tuesday why he wanted out of Jacksonville, declined to discuss specifics. Ramsey, still playing on his 2016 rookie contract, said he was not concerned about not having received a contract extension.
"I don't care about that; God can work that out," he said.
Ramsey also emphasized that neither he nor his agent informed the media of his desire for a trade.
"We are not the ones who leaked that information," Ramsey said. "I was very strict about that, because I did not want it to be a distraction. Let me be real clear about that."
Ramsey said for this week he will focus on preparing for Thursday's game and supporting his teammates.
"I'm focused on this Thursday," he said. "I'm focused on being the best teammate I can be while I'm here in Jacksonville."
Ramsey said and reiterated multiple times that he had nothing bad to say about anyone within the organization.
"It is what it is," he said. "I think everybody for the most part knows what's up."
Ramsey also said people who believe he doesn't love the city of Jacksonville or Jaguars fans are incorrect.
"None of that's true; I love Duval," he said. "The city embraced me and the fans have embraced me. Ever since I was drafted here, I've done nothing but give the city my all. Everybody knows that. They've gotten some really good years out of me, and for however long I'm going to be here I'm going to continue to give it my all out there.
"All I care about is winning. Everybody knows that. I want to win – straight up. That's who I am. That fire, that passion, that heart … it's what you all love.
"I'm going to continue giving that as long as I'm here."
