KEY POINTS

  • Jalen Ramsey showed support for Leonard Fournette following the latter's release from the Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Ramsey had played with Fournette in Jacksonville for two years before he was traded to Los Angeles in 2019
  • Coach Doug Marrone said the decision to waive Fournette was purely based on the running back's performance in training camp

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey offered words of encouragement to his former teammate Leonard Fournette after the latter was waived by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday.

“I know whoever gets my lil brudda (Fournette) is getting a dawg and a great man! I’m happy you free brudda, you know you’re valuable to this game don’t ever doubt it! I’ll refrain from saying what else I wanna say. It’s all God, (though),” wrote Ramsey, who had spent two seasons with Fournette before leaving the Jaguars in October 2019 as he was traded for several draft picks to join the Rams.

Fournette was forced to pack his things up after the Jags refused to pick up his fifth-year option following a series of failed attempts from the team to trade the 25-year-old to seemingly uninterested squads.

Asked on what propelled the release, coach Doug Marrone stressed that the decision was merely based on his assessment of Fournette during his team’s training camp and has nothing to do with off the court issues regarding the young running back’s attitude.

"At the end of the day, we feel ... the skill sets of the guys that we have (can replace Fournette), and really that's what led to the decision," Marrone said, per ESPN. "And it's been something that we've done it with every single position we've been looking at. We've done cutups, we've done tapes, we've gone back, we've looked at everything, what we've tried to get done. So it's not just the running back position; it's all positions.

"And I wanted to make sure we had the best look of, hey, what's going on right now? That's the best indication of what we're going to be able to get when we start this season, and I just feel that was the best -- is what's best for our team."

Shortly after the announcement, Fournette addressed the organization and its fans in a statement.

“I want to thank the city of Jacksonville and all of the fans for embracing me the past 3 seasons. We have been through some ups and downs but y’all have had my back through it all,” said the former LSU standout, who rushed for 2,631 yards and 17 touchdowns as a Jaguar.

“You have my deepest respect and appreciation. I would like to thank the Jaguars organization for giving me the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing in the NFL. To all of my brothers in the locker room from 2017 until today, y’all are family for life.”

Fournette would become a free agent if he clears waivers. He is due $4.17 million in salary this season if a team claims him.

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