Jaguars RB Travis Etienne mocks Tiki Barber after Calvin Ridley joins Titans

The Jacksonville Jaguars seemed to be close to re-signing wide receiver Calvin Ridley but the Tennessee Titans stepped in at the last minute and made him an offer he couldn't refuse. While it certainly stings to see Ridley cross enemy lines, running back Travis Etienne is taking his departure in the best possible way.

Not long after Ridley signed a four-year deal worth $92 million, Etienne took to social media to say that the star wideout was dead to him. While that seems harsh, Etienne was simply poking fun at former New York running back Tiki Barber, who wasn't a fan of Saquon Barkley signing with the Philadelphia Eagles.

in case you missed it, Saquon Barkley inked a three-year, $38 million with the Eagles, and Barber reacted in an overly dramatic way, saying that he was tainting his legacy in New York by joining a division rival. As Barkley noted when he responded to Barber, the Giants didn't pay him, and Philly made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Moreover, he pointed out that unlike him, he never turned his back on his teammates.

A three-time Pro Bowl nod, Barber didn't leave New York on good terms. Besides publicly calling out defensive end Michael Strahan for wanting a new deal, he questioned quarterback Eli Manning's leadership. In a surprising turn of events, Barber abruptly retired before the 2007 season and the Giants went on to win Super Bowl 42, showing they were just fine without Barber.

On a related note, Lamar Jackson also poked fun at Barkley and every time one of his Baltimore Ravens teammates signed with another team, repeating the "you're dead to me" line.

The Jaguars will miss Calvin Ridley but they should be fine

Calvin Ridley went over 1,000 yards and scored a team-high eight touchdowns last year. His departure most definitely leaves a void on the offense but the Jaguars have options to fill it. They could still go after Hollywood Brown, who remains unsigned.

The Jags could also go after Mike Williams, who was recently released by the Los Angeles Chargers. Another alternative is to target Tee Higgins, who got the franchise tag but requested a trade after not getting a long-term deal from the Cincinnati Bengals.

When you take into account that the Jags got to keep their second-round pick and only gave up a third — one of the terms of the trade they made in 2022 — they're not necessarily in bad shape after losing Ridley.

Another option would be to wait until the draft to look for Ridley's replacement. While they also need to add a cornerback and bolster the interior defensive line, they may not want to pass up the chance to take a receiver in the first round. At No. 17, they should be in a position to select either Keon Coleman, Brian Thomas Jr., or Rome Odunze, depending on who's available.

The bottom line is that losing Calvin Ridley to the Tennessee Titans isn't a pleasant feeling. But like Travis Etienne, the Jacksonville Jaguars must take it in stride.

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