Off the field, Jacksonville Jaguars All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey is a hacky comedian.
On the grid iron, the former fifth overall pick (Florida State) is a shut-down defender.
Recently, Ramsey gave an interview to ESPN The Magazine. The loose-lipped defensive back bumped his gums and it has caused a hockey buzz of epic proportions around the hockey world.
Ramsey had the stones to proclaim on the record that he could probably earn an NHL roster spot after only six months of training.
What a weak take.
Is this guy out of his mind?!
Chirping NHLers is not advised, Jalen. Don't dish it out of you can't take it.
Dude says he has NEVER strapped on a pair of ice skates but give him six months and he will make an NHL team's roster.
Easy there, tough guy. Pump the brakes on your Gucci loafers.
There is no doubting that the NFL is a tough place to make a living. Huge men smashing other huge men like demolition derby junkyard wrecks. However, the gird iron features soft landing spots and places to hide. Ramsey wouldn’t last five minutes in Alex Ovechkin’s world, where there is no fluffy turf nor out of bounds. The NHL rink is 200’ by 85’ and its supported by fiberglass and composite walls and plexiglass that doesn’t give because it is anchored into the arena floor by concrete and steel.
I’ve been around NHL hockey players for the past thirty years. I’ve also covered the NFL. I can tell you without hesitation that you won’t find a more passionate, prideful player in pro sports than a National Hockey League player. Most NHLers I know will drop gloves and pop you in the face for disrespecting their game and their teammates.
On Thursday, several A-List NHL players gathered in New York City for the annual preseason media event. At NHL media day, ESPN hockey writer Emily Kaplan asked several NHL stars for their take on Jalen Ramsey’s smack about the NHL being an easy place to play.
Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres future captain and generational talent, cracked back hard on Ramsey.
"I think it's insulting to our league,". "For us as players, we've dedicated our lives to be playing in the NHL. To think after six-months you could come play arguably one of the hardest sports in the world? I mean, I think it's ridiculous he would say that. It's ignorant."
Bang on!
Eichel’s former teammate Evander Kane has been known to turn a phrase and run smack of his own in his NHL career. When asked about Ramsey’s comment, the San Jose Sharks sniping power forward responded with a forearm shiver of his own:
“I think I would be about 1000 percent times better at his position (defensive back) in six months than he’ll be at mine (left wing)."
Eichel with a heavy crack back block on Jags’ Jalen Ramsey saying he could likely make an NHL roster in six months if he trained pic.twitter.com/QtGZUjgeNs
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) September 6, 2018
Jalen Ramsey told @minakimes he could make the NHL in six months if he tried. So I asked a bunch of NHL players what they thought. Let's just say they weren't amused. https://t.co/mqJ2dY9bwV pic.twitter.com/1hbc8DXzNN
— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) September 6, 2018
Shots fired!
Eichel and Kane don’t fear Ramsey. They laugh at his ridiculousness and his empty words. His commentary on the NHL is both arrogant and ignorant.
St. Louis Blues sniper Vladimir Tarasenko echoed Eichel's sentiments when he said: "I can bet any money in the world there's no chance he can play in the NHL in six months. It's impossible. Him saying that ... it de-classes our sport," Tarasenko said.
Detroit Red Wings diplomat Dylan Larkin said: “He’s said he’s never slated before, so there’s no chance….
Columbus Blue Jackets defender Seth Jones added: “You can’t even learn to skate in six months….
NY Rangers power forward Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers tried to find humor in Ramsey’s comments.
"It's funny to me," Kreider said. "I think he's an unbelievable athlete, but skating is a skill set unto itself - just like running is, just like swimming is. Think of someone who has never swam before. If you've never been in the water before, no matter how good of an athlete you are, chances are, you're not going to be an Olympic-caliber swimmer in six months."
Oh, by the way. Ramsey was limited at practice on Thursday. Ramsey had ankle soreness.
Limited? Hockey players tape an aspirin to it and keep playing, Jalen
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) September 6, 2018
Memo to Jalen:
National Hockey Leaguers, be they stars, fourth liners or seventh defensemen skate in practice and games with ankle soreness and other injuries every single day of their eight month season.