Welcome to The Jalen Ramsey Show. We’re glad to have you joining us because, I don’t know about you, but I work too damn hard to be broke. Lot of guys do it though and, sadly, they don’t even know how it happens. So dial us up to discuss your life and your money. We got open lines at 818-338-0011. Let’s start off the Jalen Ramsey Show with today’s first caller, Kemah in Tacoma. Kemah, what say you?

Hey Jalen. Thanks for taking my call man. How’s it going?

Better than the Jaguars under Tom Coughlin. How can I help?

Hey I recently fell into unemployment. You know, with all the restrictions and cutbacks for a lot of employers, I kind of got caught in the crossfire and unfortunately lost my job last week.

I see. Your outfit just requires less help from payrolled employees now? You a restaurant server or wedding planner or something?

Cornerback, actually.

Corners are a high demand product right now. Miami is in their full-on rebuild and they have the first and third highest paid cornerbacks in the league. I get the impression that they understand shutting down the aerial threat is pretty much the key to controlling an NFL offense in this pass-happy league.

Hey, yeah, I mean I’m looking for a place to play right now actually. You know, I’m hoping this virus takes down some DBs and that might get me a call for a tryout or signing. But with a ten day incubation period, I’m not confident that this call is coming like today and I wanted to ask you about how to prepare for my recent move to the unemployment line.

I don’t think I’m quite following along here. You didn’t choose to sit out the season. You were just cut is all?

Yeah I’d say that’s it.

But then how it is a virus thing? I mean — why’d they cut you, exactly?

Yeah I was just, with the whole quarantine thing, I mean. I didn’t check all the quarantine boxes and so it got me in trouble.

Check the boxes? What box didn’t you check? You honestly can’t even tell where people pick the thing up at.

Well, I accidentally brought a guest into the team hotel and so, even though she was just with me, I guess that’s not allowed.

Oh, I get it. You just fucked up your priorities and thought you’d sneak around and try to get away it because you honestly can’t even tell where people pick the thing up at.

I know she don’t have it.

How so?

She’s a cool chick.

Well, look man. You’re the unfortunate example. I get where you’re coming from — I do — but this just boils down to one of those commitment/following the rules/focus on the game things. Things are fucked up enough right now without you bringing in unnecessary distraction. And, I mean, then what? Your teammates gonna trust you? You’d have had to keep it a secret from everyone man. That’s ludicrous.

Nah I’m owning up to it. Just not sure where to go next.

You’re done. Whatever other career path you’re qualified for, go get on it. If there was a place for you in the NFL, your GM would have quietly let you go. They made an example of you. You never want to be the guy from which an example is made. You want to be known as a winner or champion or whatever but you never want your name to be like the name of something bad. You don’t want to be Lou Gehrig.

I mean, I think I can be okay.

What’s that even mean, man? You’re done in the NFL. I know what you want to hear. I know you want me to say you need to get back in there and grind. I’m not gonna say it. You’re done. Magic Johnson got to play with AIDS. You’re an undrafted FA rookie. My honest suggestion, go get a Blacks for Trump hat and start a YouTube channel ranting about how you were mistreated. You got about 75 days left to cash in on your stupidity.

Alright. next up on the lines we have Jadeveon in South Carolina. Jadeveon, what’s up?

Hey Jalen. Thanks for taking my call, man. I wanted to talk to you about some negotiations I’m working on.

Alright man, what’s the situation here?

I’m a free agent, former first overall pick, three-time Pro Bowler, knocked Carson Wentz out of a game, defensive player of the y–

Bro, I could knock Carson Wentz out of a game. Dude’s made of glass. Way overrated. Big Dick Nick won ’em the Super Bowl.

Well, my point is, I’ve been through a contract and no one is offering me the money I’m worth. And I get how these GMs are with long term deals so I’ve told ’em I’m flexible to a one or two year deal but I gotta get paid. And, I gotta be honest here, dealing with the clowns and listening to their stupid arguments about why they all need a discount — the whole damn thing is wearing me down.

Let your agent do the work, man. That’s what you pay him for. Give him your terms — you’re real terms; what you’ll actually take — and cut him loose. That’s what I’m doing and I couldn’t be happier about the decision.

But it’s just bullshit man. Seriously. Houston drafted me, never extended my contract but picked up the fifth year on it, then franchise tagged me AND traded me off to Seattle. And I told Seattle I wouldn’t accept being tagged this year too. They agreed so anyone can sign me but these idiots just aren’t doing it.

You sound like you’ve had a pretty rough ride on the contract front. Why didn’t you work out an extension with the guys who drafted you?

Cuz they’re fucked. They say I take plays off. Say that, once I get the big payday. I’ll phone it in. Like it’s my fault.

Well, is that the case? You gonna sign the contract then put your feet up?

Well, I mean probably some of the time, yeah. It’s tough playing on the end. And, honestly, you get the number of sacks you’re gonna get. I can work my ass off all the time but, every time, coaches scheme and load up my side to stop me. Or, I phone it in and lull them into a sense of comfort and then, WHAM, come in hard with the strip sack! So why work hard when you can work smart?

And you don’t see the value in your pressure benefiting the stats of others on the team?

I’m tell you the GMs don’t value that because they don’t put it in my contract. I was drafted onto a defensively sound team. We all did our part but the GM wouldn’t give me a bump for the line picking up sacks. They wouldn’t give me a bump for the backs snagging interceptions on pressured throws. They’d give me a bump if the team won. If fucking Brock Osweiler could keep it together, then I’d get a bump. That’s bull.

Man, as much as that dude swindled from this league, I should have Brock on here sometime. Anyways, I get where you’re coming from man so I’m just gonna say two things. First, get with your agent and set some realistic numbers. If you think you need to show teams you won’t hang it up after the big payday, then figure out how you’re going to communicate that these front offices. It’s gonna be tough because you’ve been half-assing it since college and, if you start playing soft after getting a huge contract, some GM is gonna get fired. So you can see why he’d rather have a gaping hole in his line than take a chance on you.

I think we’re gonna get some kind of video or something made to show that to them.

Yeah however you want to do it is fine. Second thing is, you might want to think long and hard about sitting out any longer. Who knows what the revenue plans are for the league but these are shrewd fucking negotiators who take the NFLPA at every turn. Don’t put it passed the owners to find a deal with the PA to grandfather in old contracts and increases while setting the stage for future new contracts to be vulnerable to league revenue drops. And, I know, you scoff at the idea of these billion dollar organizations to start pinching pennies on their product, but look at who we’re talking about here. Holding out is fine. I don’t think anyone should risk injury, especially on a lost year like this, for less than they are worth. But you got more good playing years — meaning more good negotiating years — ahead of you but you start to lose leverage when teams see they can get by without and the narrative becomes a consensus that you’re worth it — whatever “it” is.

But that’s all the time we have for this hour. Keep your priorities straight and don’t be losing your mind just because all these gold bugs and MLM scammers are trying to convince you that complicated times call for complicated financials vehicles. Stick to your budget, mask up. and we’ll see you next time on The Jalen Ramsey Show.