Dolphins’ Jalen Ramsey says this is just the beginning after big debut

MIAMI GARDEN — Sitting at his new locker, both knees on ice, Jalen Ramsey was handed the phone of teammate DeShon Elliott with a video rolling a half-hour after Sunday’s win. Several other members of the secondary leaned closer to the scene.

“OK, let’s see,” Ramsey said.

This wasn’t to watch his dramatic introduction to the Miami Dolphins (6-2), Sunday’s game-changing interception of New England quarterback Mac Jones just before half. That football that now sat in his equipment bag beside the shoulder pads with an under-plastic $5 bill attached to them.

“That’s me,” he said about the bill, meaning he’s No. 5 and he’s tangible money in games like Sunday’s 31-17 win against the New England Patriots (2-6).

The phone video involved Ramsey’s other big play Sunday, the one that wasn’t, the one earlier in the second quarter where his hit on New England running back Ezekiel Elliott sent the fumbled ball bouncing toward the sideline at the New England 32-yard line. The Dolphins’ Elliott made a play for it.

“I told him he should’ve picked it up and run it back,” Ramsey said.

The ball trundled out of bounds, he saw now, handing back the phone without a word. His standard, it was clear, was set. You either made big plays or you didn’t. Ramsey even downgraded his interception despite his baiting Jones into a sideline throw, then stepped in front of receiver Kendall Bourne with at the 10-yard line and began running down the sideline.

“It was a good play, but in order for it to be a great play, in order for me to help the team out a little more, I should have scored,” he said. “I’ve got to find a way to do that.”

He returned it 49 yards to the Patriots’ 40-yard line. New England’s scoring threat wasn’t just canceled, but the Dolphins added a field goal before half to widen their lead to 17-7.