KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The new Hatfields and McCoys of the NFL meet on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium when Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey test their mettle against one another on the field after a series of playful jabs the past few days.
The often outspoken Ramsey got the latest shot in on Thursday. Reporters asked for response to Hill's comment Wednesday when he described Ramsey as "alright" and said he hopes Ramsey presses him at the line of scrimmage Sunday.
"He made All-Pro as a return specialist, let's get that right, as a return specialist his rookie year," Ramsey said of Hill "He went to two Pro Bowls as a return specialist, return specialist two years. I made All-Pro in my position as a corner, I went to the Pro Bowl as a corner, so it's not a wide receiver versus corner matchup, so we can get that out of the way off our back."
Hill fired the first salvo at Ramsey on Wednesday.
"I mean he's a great player," Hill said with more than a tinge of irony. "Obviously he thinks high of his self. He's alright I guess. I can't wait to lineup against and I hope he presses me."
That referenced a call back to an appearance by Ramsey on the NFL Network this summer. Ramsey said he planned to press Hill when facing him in Week 5. Hill said he laughed when he heard that.
"I'm always up for a challenge" Hill said on Wednesday. "Like I said, he's a great player and I'm always up for a challenge, you know. To get my name out there more, I need to go up against more talent like him. I'm not calling (Denver's) Chris Harris or nobody else bad, but he is the top dog right now. I can't wait."
Ramsey said he definitely plans to play press against Hill.
"If y ou look at my film, what do I do every day, every week?" Ramsey asked. "I play press, right? No matter what, who I'm playing.
"If he wants smoke, it will get there," Ramsey added.
Ramsey playfully jabbed back further at Hill.
"I just wished he would have picked a side," Ramsey said. "Either I'm just alright, or I'm the top dog. Pick a side. If I'm the top dog and he I'm just alright, that means he doesn't think that any corner in the league is good, and that's not true."
Ramsey went to on to claim Hill went after him to attract attention.
"I feel like it was a strategic smart move by him," Ramsey said. "He's going to get the clout, get the buzz going around."
Eventually the entertaining war of words must come to an end when they take the field Sunday.
"I'm looking forward to playing the game," Ramsey said. "I'm looking forward to playing their offense, seeing our defense against their offense. I don't like how whoever has made it a matchup me against Tyreek."
Hill said he can't wait for the game.
"The best always go against the best, so we're always ready," Hill said. "We've got the best offense going against the best defense, the fastest defense, the fastest offense, it's going to be crazy, plays made everywhere."
