JACKSONVILLE, Fla. _ Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey made a guest appearance on the ?17 Weeks? podcast for the second consecutive week and said his trade request still stands, but he doesn't know if he's played his final game with the franchise.
?I'm not sure if I've played my final game for the Jags yet or not, but my trade request still stands,? Ramsey said. ?For me, respect is a huge thing. I kinda touched on it a little bit in last week's podcas. But once respect is lost for both parties, I think it is time to part ways. I'm going to continue being a top corner in this league for years to come. The money will come, but money isn't everything. Peace and happiness means a lot more than the money."
The podcast was posted on NBA star LeBron James' website "Uninterrupted." Ramsey said on the podcast last week that unspecified Jaguars team officials said ?disrespectful things? to him after their Week 2 game against Houston, and Ramsey then told his agent that he wanted to be traded.
Ramsey got into a verbal exchange with Jaguars coach Doug Marrone during their Week 2 13-12 loss to the Texans after Marrone chose not to challenge a catch by Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in which it appeared Hopkins may have lost hold of the ball briefly as he was being tackled.
Following the game, Ramsey said a majority of his teammates knew about his trade request before the news broke on Sept. 16. And Ramsey said not one teammate didn't show their support for his decision.
?After the trade request went through and it hit the media and it kinda blew up throughout the week last week, I mean, the majority of my teammates, I'm pretty close with all the guys, I'd either told them previously already just so they wouldn't be blindsided by it. Or if they did hear about it and come holler at me they all showed their support honestly,? Ramsey said. ?They understand, and at the end of the day it's a business. I'm sure it's a little battling of emotions for some of them as well, ut they all definitely were super supportive, no matter what. And that was something I really appreciated. They were all super supportive and understanding."
In what has become the Ramsey saga since his trade request, the Jaguars announced Wednesday night they are allowing the two-time All-Pro cornerback to leave the team to be with his family in Nashville, Tenn., for the birth of his second child and said he will return "when he's ready."
At his news conference Wednesday morning, Marrone indicated he didn't know exactly when Ramsey's back issue flared up but said he reported it to the team on Wednesday morning. But Marrone said Ramsey did not complain about having any back injury issues after last Thursday night's game against the Tennessee Titans.
Three hours later after Marrone spoke, the Jaguars clarified with a statement that Ramsey reported that he was experiencing back soreness to the team's medical staff during the fourth quarter of the 20-7 victory at TIAA Bank Field.
Also, Ramsey said he was really sick Monday when he called in and missed practice.
?Had the flu, was throwing up,? Ramsey said. ?Threw up at least four times ... had to go to the doctor, had to get IVs, had to take all type of medicine and eat chicken noodle soup, do all the remedies that I could do. So that wasn't fake as people may think. I don't know, people can get a mixed view or a screwed view on the players or the organization or whoever during tough times like this.
?That's why I've tried to keep it all positive even in my press conferences, on this podcast try to keep it all positive and just give a little insight. And so I'm going to keep it that way. Just because people are thinking this or that, they can think what they want to think and be miserable on their own time. I'm gonna keep it all positive, man. It's only positive vibes and positive energy all 2019."
