The New England Patriots (1-0) are letting Ramsey’s chatter carom off their shoulder pads as they visit the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) on Sunday in a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship Game.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick, not surprisingly, will discuss his admiration of Ramsey’s skill level but isn’t the least bit interested in questions regarding Ramsey’s verbal shots.
“Look, we know when the game starts and we’ll be ready to go,” Belichick said on a conference call. “I’m sure they will, too. That’s when we’ll see what happens.”
Ramsey recently took aim at New England tight end Rob Gronkowski in an ESPN The Magazine article, saying in part: “I don’t think Gronk’s good. Let me say - I don’t think Gronk is as great as people think he is. Any time Gronk has been matched up with a corner, he’s had a very bad game - and that corner has had a very good game.”
Gronkowski, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, said he is drawing motivation from Ramsey’s words. “I mean, if that’s how he feels, that’s how he feels,” Gronkowski said on a conference call. “It’s a big game this Sunday, we’re playing them. I’m sure I’m going to have opportunities to go versus him. I’m sure he’s going to have opportunities to go versus me. I’m just preparing like I always prepare.”
Jaguars coach Doug Marrone has a much different view of Gronkowski’s talents.
“He’s probably one of the best guys, if not the best, that’s ever played the game at his position,” Marrone said on a conference call. “And we know that he’s a challenge in many different ways in what he can do. That’s how I feel and that’s how our team feels.”
Tensions would be flying high in this game under any circumstance because of what happened in the AFC Championship Game in January. The Jaguars held a 20-10 lead in the fourth quarter before Patriots quarterback Tom Brady engineered a rally and fired two touchdown passes to Danny Amendola to claim the Super Bowl berth.
Brady is expecting a fierce battle with the Jaguars, who never have defeated New England in seven regular-season meetings and are 1-11 overall counting postseason matchups.
“They were a great team last year and gave us everything we could handle into the championship game, and they’re at it again this year,” Brady said on a conference call. “They’ve got the same players, similar scheme - I mean, as good as any defense we’ll face all year. They’ve got an incredible rush, great linebackers, great secondary. It’s going to be very challenging, tough environment and we’ll see what we’re made of.”
Jacksonville defensive end Calais Campbell said Sunday’s matchup is not a revenge game.
“We weren’t happy with losing the game. Nobody’s going to be happy losing when you’re one game away from the Super Bowl,” Campbell said on a conference call. “But that was last year. We had an opportunity, we didn’t get it done and now it’s a whole different scenario, whole different season, whole different situation.”
Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette (hamstring) is unlikely to play, according to a report from ESPN on Saturday night. Fournette did not practice all week, and the team promoted running back Brandon Wilds from the practice squad for depth at the position.
