Stephon Gilmore takes shot at Jalen Ramsey

FOXBORO – Stephon Gilmore has quietly become one of the Patriots best defensive players over the past year. The cornerback, who has a laid-back demeanor, typically lets his play do the talking. On Wednesday, however, Gilmore took a shot at Jacksonville cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

While talking to 98.5 The Sport Hubs Zolak and Bertrand show, Gilmore was asked about Ramsey’s comments on Kansas City receiver Tyreek Hill. Last week, leading up to the Jaguars matchup with the [...]

FOXBORO – Stephon Gilmore has quietly become one of the Patriots best defensive players over the past year. The cornerback, who has a laid-back demeanor, typically lets his play do the talking. On Wednesday, however, Gilmore took a shot at Jacksonville cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

While talking to 98.5 The Sport Hubs Zolak and Bertrand show, Gilmore was asked about Ramsey’s comments on Kansas City receiver Tyreek Hill. Last week, leading up to the Jaguars matchup with the Chiefs, Ramsey referred Hill as a return specialist. (He’s actually the Chiefs leading receiver.)

Said Gilmore: "I feel like a lot of guys that talk, they're mostly zone guys, so they have a lot of energy to do that."

Shots fired.

Ramsey, a 2017 Pro Bowler, isn't a stranger to trash talk. Earlier this season, he told ESPN he thought Rob Gronkowski was over rated. Meanwhile, Gilmore has excelled in man coverage for the Patriots and has been lights out this season. Currently, he’s second in the NFL in passes defensed (eight).

Last week, against Indy, quarterback Andrew Luck was 2/7 for 22 yards when targeting Gilmore, who had three pass breakups. This season, opposing quarterbacks are 12-for-31 (39 percent) and have a 58.5 quarterback rating when targeting the Patriots No. 1 cornerback.

On Wednesday, Bill Belichick said that Gilmore has elevated his play from last season.

“He’ done a good job for us. Way better than last year. Just overall everything,” Bill Belichick said. “I mean, he’s a good player. He was a good player last year. I think his ability for us to utilize him in our system and for him to have maybe a better understanding for us as a group in the secondary — not just him, but the entire group — to function as one. It improved last year over the course of the year, and I think it’s improved this year, too. So, yeah, he’s done a great job for us.”