Jacksonville Jaguars All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey took a shot at Miami Dolphins wide receiver Danny Amendola in an ESPN The Magazine interview.
"He just got a brand-new contract and he is terrible," Ramsey told Mina Kimes in the NFL preview issue of ESPN The Magazine. "People think he's so great. No, he's not. Tom (Brady) made him look good. Tom could take me as a receiver and I'd be a first-team All-Pro."
Ironically, Amendola had a stellar performance in New England's 24-20 win over the Jaguars in last year's AFC Championship Game that propelled the Patriots to Super Bowl LII. He caught two fourth-quarter touchdowns, including the go-ahead score on a circus catch in the back of the end zone, as the Patriots rallied from a 20-10 deficit. Amendola caught seven passes for 84 yards, including a clutch fourth-quarter reception on third-and-18.
Amendola is known as "Playoff Danny" because of his postseason success. During his five-year career with New England, Amendola had 57 receptions for 709 yards and six touchdowns in 13 playoff games.
Amendola and Ramsey, who is regarded as one of the NFL's best _ and most vocal _ lock-down defenders, will face each other this season as the Dolphins play the Jaguars in Week 16 at Hard Rock Stadium.
Ramsey, who starred at Florida State, was the No. 5 pick in the 2016 draft by the Jaguars.
The Dolphins signed Amendola to a two-year, $12 million contract this offseason to fill the void created by Jarvis Landry's departure.
The 32-year-old Amendola, in his 10th season, has emerged as one of Ryan Tannehill's favorite targets in the preseason. The slot receiver had 61 catches for 659 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games for New England last season.
Amendola, who began his career with the St. Louis Rams, was undrafted out of Texas Tech in 2008. In college, he drew comparisons to Wes Welker, the ex-Dolphins and Patriots slot receiver who also attended Texas Tech.
