JACKSONVILLE – Twenty talks on Thursdays.
And when Jaguars All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey held his weekly Thursday media availability at TIAA Bank Field, two of the main topics were unsurprising.
One topic:
The Jaguars' opponent, Sunday: the Dallas Cowboys, the team that selected running back Ezekiel Elliott No. 4 in the 2016 NFL Draft – one selection before the Jaguars selected Ramsey.
"God works things out how He wants them to work out," Ramsey said Thursday as the Jaguars (3-2) prepared to play the Cowboys (2-3) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Sunday at 4:25 p.m. "You just have to trust His plan."
Ramsey in two seasons with the Jaguars has developed into perhaps the NFL's top player at his position; he was an Associated Press first-team All-Pro selection last season. Elliott is considered by many the NFL's best running back, leading the NFL in rushing through five games with 480 yards and two touchdowns on 93 carries.
"I would say it has worked well for me, being here in Jacksonville with this team," Ramsey said. "I would say it has worked out well for him as well. He has been producing since he has been there."
Ramsey's other primary topic Thursday was logical, too:
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who during an appearance on 98.5 the Sports Hub with Marc Bertrand and Scott Zolak on Wednesday discussed Ramsey's propensity to talk trash: "I mean, it's his personality, you know. It's not my style. But, a lot of guys that talk are mostly zone guys, so they have a lot of energy to do that."
Ramsey was asked on Thursday about being "a zone guy." He smiled.
"Some people have been saying something about it," Ramsey said. "We know it strays from the truth. But I'm going to continue to do what the team asks me to do, either man-to-man or zone. Maybe he should try it. I was All-Pro."
Ramsey was asked if he found the comments funny.
"It is, especially from somebody like him," Ramsey said. "It's cool, though. I've never understood why somebody on the same side of the ball would hate on another guy like you. … I really don't know. It was weird to me."
Ramsey said he didn't consider being called a zone guy an insult.
"I do what the team asks me to do," he said. "I'm good. If the team is happy with my production out there, whether I'm playing man or zone I'm good with it. I'll do whatever: if I'm a zone guy, a man guy, I'm going to do what the team asks me to do and do it at a high level. It's cool.
"We know that's furthest from the truth, though. I play a good mix of both. I think everybody knows I plan man."
Ramsey also was asked if it was odd that Gilmore would speak about Ramsey considering the Jaguars' 31-20 victory over New England in Week 3 of this season. Ramsey laughed.
"Hey, you said it; not me," he said. "You said it not me. That ain't my style. I don't want to talk about another corner. Much success to him. I hope he turns it around."
Ramsey also on Thursday was asked about comments made by CBS Analyst Tony Romo that Ramsey appeared tired at times covering Tyreek Hill of the Kansas City Chiefs this past Sunday.
"I was," he said with a laugh. "I was tired. After the New York [Giants] game this year [in Week 1], we got back and that Monday. They told me according to the GPS, that was the most I've ever ran in a game since I've been in the league. It was tough, chasing [wide receiver] Odell [Beckham Jr.] around everywhere.
"Going back to last week, it was pretty much the same – chasing him around everywhere when he's the fastest guy in the league, trying to stay on my Ps and Qs. Traveling alone, going back and forth [defending a team's best receiver], is tough – especially when they do a lot of deep routes."
Ramsey added with a smile, "It felt like a track meet. But I love track."
