Jalen Ramsey and his agent respond to Jaguars EVP Tom Coughlin
By David Levin
Will the comments made by Jaguars EVP of football operations Tom Coughlin concerning cornerback Jalen Ramsey cause a disruption for the franchise this season?
Will the most recent comments made by Jacksonville Jaguars executive vice-president of football operations Tom Coughlin over the fact both Jalen Ramsey and Telvin Smith are not with the team for voluntary workouts have a lingering effect on the franchise this season?
Do the comments made by Ramsey and his agent through social media have more to do with the fact the Pro Bowl player wants to improve on his current rookie deal or is it a matter of the former FSU star is training like he normally does in Tennessee this offseason?
Whatever the case, the comments made by Coughlin at the Jaguars State of the Franchise luncheon this week have caused a stir not only in Jacksonville but across the NFL. By definition, Ramsey and Smith are well within their right to skip the team’s workout program.
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Coughlin, who is known for his hard-driving style of coaching, called out his two defensive stars (not by name) for not being at TIAA Bank Field with their teammates.
Does the back and forth present a challenge for the Jaguars as an organization this coming season? Will there be lingering effects in how Ramsey, who has said in the past he wants to play for one team his entire career, negotiates a new deal with the team that drafted him fifth overall in 2016?
This might be a soap opera in the making, but it should not affect how Ramsey prepares for the upcoming season. Last year, Ramsey did the same thing – spending time working out with his father at his football camp in Tennessee before attending mandatory meetings and workouts with the Jaguars. He did miss time away from Jacksonville, which was agreed upon by both sides, for the birth of his daughter last offseason.
Jalen Ramsey was one of the team’s standout players on a 5-11 team that faded all season and missed the playoffs one season removed from the AFC Title Game. He was the only player on the roster initially named to the Pro Bowl and played while dealing with a knee injury part of the year.
To be clear, Jalen Ramsey is exactly where Jalen should be during his off season. He’s spending time with his young daughter & family while training in his hometown of Nashville. In addition the Jags are fully aware of why he is not taking part in the voluntary off season program
— David Mulugheta (@DavidMulugheta) April 19, 2019
Coughlin’s comments drew criticism from the NFLPA, which led to president Eric Winston responded that players, under their agreement with the league, do not have to appear for non-mandatory activities.
"“As the NFLPA noted, Ramsey is well within his right to miss voluntary OTAs, and given his contract situation as an underpaid star on a rookie deal who could be one injury away from losing millions without a long-term deal after 2020-21, his stance is more than understandable,” writes Joe Soriano of FanSided.com."
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According to spotrac.com, Jalen Ramsey will make a base salary of $3,634,227 this season a and $3,795,638 signing bonus. The Jaguars have already stated they will pick up the fifth-year option of his rookie deal that will keep him in Jacksonville through the 2020 season.