This bad blood includes shared DNA.
The stage is set Sunday for potentially the most combustible matchup of the NFL season, when Giants showboating receiver Golden Tate faces infamous trash-talking Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey for the first time since a family feud boiled over into public space.
Ramsey is the father of two of Tate’s young nieces, but he reportedly ended a long-term relationship with Tate’s sister during her pregnancy last summer to date a Las Vegas dancer. Breanna Tate — a former track-and-field standout at the University of Mississippi — gave birth in September 2019, shortly before Ramsey was traded from the Jaguars to the Rams.
Ramsey’s social media photo with his new girlfriend in October 2019 brought the spat to social media. A fan replied, suggesting the Giants star should “have words” with Ramsey and Tate said, “He know he gonna have to see me.”
Tate later told The Post, “I’m not happy at all with the disrespect that he’s shown towards my sister, and the things he’s done in the past, but I don’t really want to go too much into it.”
The last word at the time went to Ramsey, who Tweeted, “We live in a society where ignorant people feel that they are owed an explanation of what goes on in our day-to-day lives … and why we make the decisions we make … we don’t have to answer to anyone but the man above. S—t is beyond overrated.”
Well, the wait is over and the hot mics in a crowd-less SoFi Stadium might want to listen in. Neither Tate nor Ramsey was available Thursday upon request to their teams, but there won’t be any avoiding each other if chatter gets personal.
Giants fans surely recall how cornerback Josh Norman caused Odell Beckham Jr. to lose his cool in a couple of Panthers-Giants matchups and the ripple effect that had on the games.
Ramsey is regarded as one of the premier trash-talkers in the NFL and has a history of getting inside the mind of opponents. Normally mild-mannered Bengals star A.J. Green reacted to what he felt were cheap shots by putting Ramsey in a chokehold and throwing several punches during a 2017 melee. He also feuded with Chiefs star Tyreek Hill.
Giants coach Joe Judge doesn’t tolerate self-inflicted mistakes that could draw a penalty and certainly would not want Tate or others to take Ramsey’s bait.
“We’re looking to go ahead and focus on the next play and move play to play,” Judge said. “You have to be alert for this guy because he’s coming after the ball every play. You can say he’s talking trash, but this guy definitely backs it up on the field. He’s a special player.”
Ramsey trashed a handful of NFL quarterbacks, including Giants great Eli Manning, during a GQ magazine interview before the 2018 season. Manning quipped “Who?” in his response to the All-Pro cornerback, but successor Daniel Jones was in college then and avoided the barbs directed at the likes of the Bills’ Josh Allen.
Allen threw a touchdown pass on Ramsey last week as the Bills beat the Rams.
“There are certainly a lot of players in the NFL that talk trash,” Jones said, “so that’s something you have to be ready for. We won’t let it affect our mindset in the game.”
Because Ramsey and Tate both are versatile enough to play on the perimeter or in the slot, there is no telling how frequently they will line up across from each other. Their teams last shared the field during Ramsey’s rookie 2016 season.
When he is right, Tate is known for turning small gains into big plays after the catch — and pushing the limit of taunting defenses, with somersaulting, high-stepping and back-pedaling into the end zone. It’s all in good fun, he likes to say.
Tate’s yards-per-catch average last season (13.8) was his highest since 2014 but he is off to a slow start — as is the entire low-scoring Giants offense — this season. He has 10 catches for 83 yards in two games since returning from a preseason hamstring injury.
“You have to win one-on-ones in this league,” offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said.
This one-on-one battle is worth watching.