Blake Bortles remembers the first time Jalen Ramsey got under his skin.
Bortles was trying to get through a two-minute drill during the 2016 season. It was a weekly walkthrough routine in which players were supposed to go half-speed while practicing plays. Normally http://www.buccaneersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-jordan-whitehead-jersey , therer17;s no contact and every pass is complete.
At least that had been the case until Ramsey arrived.
Bortles threw several passes in Ramseyr17;s direction. The rookie intercepted or knocked down each one.
It happened week after week until Bortles finally stopped throwing Ramseyr17;s way.
r1;It was so annoying,r1; Bortles recalled Thursday.
It also set the tone for Ramseyr17;s career. The trash-talking cornerback has a flair for frustrating quarterbacks and receivers and the ability to essentially shut down one side of the field. After 33 games, Ramseyr17;s already considered among the best players in franchise history r11; a 23-year-old rising star who openly aspires to be as good as Hall of Famer Deion Sanders and often looks the part.
r1;The best Ir17;ve ever seen in person,r1; Bortles said. r1;Her17;s freakish.r1;
Ramsey is a major piece of Jacksonviller17;s defensive turnaround, and her17;ll take center stage Sunday when the Jaguars (11-6) play in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs at Pittsburgh (13-3).
Ramsey will shadow Antonio Brown , widely considered the best receiver in the NFL.
All-Pro vs. All-Pro, undoubtedly the most intriguing matchup of the postseason game.
r1;Itr17;s not many receivers Ir17;m going to come in here in front of yr17;all and say theyr17;re one of the best in the league,r1; Ramsey said. r1;He is, though. Thatr17;s the truth about him.r1;
Brown caught 10 passes for 157 yards in the first meeting against Jacksonville http://www.titansauthorizedshops.com/authentic-rashaan-evans-jersey , which won 30-9 in early October. Ben Roethlisberger targeted Brown a staggering 19 times, with three of those ending up as interceptions.
r1;Her17;s an elite player,r1; Ramsey said. r1;Highly regarded by everybody, honestly, around the nation or maybe internationally. So, yeah, itr17;s going to be a challenge. Wer17;re going to have to be on our Ps and Qs and try to execute the game plan as best we can.r1;
Jacksonviller17;s game plan has changed slightly since the first meeting.
Ramsey and fellow Pro Bowl cornerback A.J. Bouye played sides to start the season, covering whatever receiver lined up in front of them. But Ramsey has since started following the top wideout for every opponent all over the field, and her17;s had rousing success against Houstonr17;s DeAndre Hopkins http://www.titansauthorizedshops.com/authentic-harold-landry-jersey , Indianapolisr17; T.Y. Hilton, Cincinnatir17;s A.J. Green, Arizonar17;s Larry Fitzgerald, Los Angeles Chargersr17; Keenan Allen and San Franciscor17;s Marquise Goodwin.
Ramsey angered Green so much with his constant verbal jabs that the mild-mannered receiver grabbed the cocky cornerback in a headlock and tossed him to the ground. Both players were ejected.
r1;Her17;ll get in a guyr17;s head now,r1; linebacker Telvin Smith said.
Added Bouye: r1;Everything her17;s accomplished, her17;s worked for it. Her17;s capitalized. Her17;s learned from his mistakes and he keeps getting better week in and week out.r1;
According to Pro Football Focus, Ramsey has allowed 47 receptions for 586 yards and three touchdowns this season. He has five interceptions, including one to seal a 10-3 victory against Buffalo in a wild-card game.
It was about what the Jaguars have come to expect from the fifth overall pick in the 2016 draft. He has a rare combination of size, speed http://www.redskinsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-da_ron-payne-jersey , instincts, ball skills and body control. And her17;s no longer a rookie.
r1;You see the maturity in the meetings and you see the maturity on the grass,r1; defensive coordinator Todd Wash said. r1;We always knew he was a freak athlete and we always knew he could play. But that maturity level is getting better and better each day.r1;
His matchup against Brown will be his next r11; and maybe his best r11; challenge.
r1;Itr17;s going to be an unbelievable thing,r1; Jaguars safety Barry Church said. r1;Ir17;m just glad Ir17;m on the field for it. Those guys, they both like to talk a bit of trash and theyr17;re going to be matched up with each other the whole game. Itr17;s going to be a great one. Wer17;ll see who gets the better of the two, but my moneyr17;s on Jalen.r1;
r12;
San Francisco Giants third baseman Evan Longoria is going on the disabled list after injuring his left hand when he was hit by a pitch at Miami.
The Giants announced the move shortly before their series opener at Dodger Stadium on Friday night.
Longoria fractured the fifth metacarpal in his hand in the fourth inning of the Giantsr17; 16-inning victory over the Marlins a day earlier. He remained in the game as a runner before being caught in a double play. He was replaced defensively in the bottom of the inning.
Longoria said after the game that the last time he broke a bone in his wrist he went to the World Series in 2008 with Tampa Bay.
He is tied for the Giantsr17; lead with 34 RBIs, is second with 10 home runs and is tied for second with 27 extra-base hits.
