Jalen Ramsey seems happy to be out of Jacksonville: 'I just feel free'
Jalen Ramsey got his wish.
Ramsey requested a trade when he had a problem with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ front office. The Jaguars’ owner said he didn’t want to trade Ramsey, arguably the best cornerback in the NFL, but perhaps the Jaguars felt forced into a move when Ramsey missed multiple games with a curiously timed back injury.
[Watch live NFL games on the Yahoo Sports app, here's how]
The Rams acquired Ramsey in a trade this week for a hefty price, but they’re clearly getting one of the NFL’s most talented players. And it sounds like they’re getting a happy player too.
Jalen Ramsey feels ‘free’
In an interview with Rams’ in-house reporter Sarina Morales, Ramsey said he is “super excited” to be a part of the Rams.
“I just feel free,” Ramsey said. “I feel free. I feel like I can be myself. A fresh start with a team who values who I am, obviously, with what they gave up to get me. And I truly respect that. I’m ready to do what I can to help this team win.”
Ramsey is outspoken, and that’s not going to be a good fit with every team. As Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson wrote, trading Ramsey was practically choosing vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin over Ramsey and not shaking up the front office for one player. Ramsey once famously attacked just about every quarterback, including calling Rams quarterback Jared Goff “average to above average.”
"In relation to what he was calling a lot of people, that wasn’t half bad,” Goff said, according to ESPN.com’s Lindsey Thiry.
Hopefully for the Rams, Ramsey’s swagger will fit right in.
“The best corner in the NFL,” Ramsey told Morales when she asked what the Rams were getting. “The best corner in the NFL for years and years and years to come.”
Taco bout an exciting 🌮 Tuesday! @jalenramsey on the last few days, what he brings to the team + more! pic.twitter.com/AjAphurtIN
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 17, 2019
Will Ramsey play on Sunday?
Now, for the back injury. Just because Ramsey’s back injury came shortly after his trade demand doesn’t mean it’s not a legitimate injury.
Rams coach Sean McVay said he hopes Ramsey can play Sunday at the Atlanta Falcons.
“The goal is to be able to do that, but we’ll be smart about it,” McVay said, via ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Thiry reported Ramsey was expected to participate in the Rams’ practice on Thursday.
If Ramsey plays on Sunday, there will be some angry folks in Jacksonville. But Ramsey’s Jaguars days are officially in his past.
– – – – – – –
Frank Schwab is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
More from Yahoo Sports:
