Is Ryan Jensen Unfairly Targeted By Refs?
June 8th, 2022
Bad rep?
So Joe is already liking this Akiem Hicks, and it’s not for football reasons.
Hicks made his debut appearance as a Bucs defensive lineman yesterday, after which he met with the local pen and mic club following underwear football practice. Hicks is intelligent, thoughtful and gave awesome insight.
The line about why the Bucs have a winning culture was Joe’s favorite.
So while speaking yesterday, Hicks mentioned half-jokingly he’s glad he doesn’t have to worry about facing Tom Brady this year. So Joe asked Hicks if he felt that way about another teammate, Bucs gnarly center Ryan Jensen.
This threw Hicks off.
“What do you mean?” Hicks sort of growled to Joe.
Joe explained that Jensen has a richly deserved reputation of a nasty guy that likes to get under people’s skin. He plays through the whistle; fans know all the clichés. So then Hicks understood what Joe asked. And it turns out, Hicks said, Jensen plays like lots of centers.
“That’s a lot of centers – a lot of centers across the league, they have to play with that type of tenacity,” Hicks said. “I think that it gives them an extra bit when they’re going on those help-blocks and stuff like that.
“I think the way Jensen plays the game is something that a lot of centers would want to emulate.”
So this got Joe wondering whether Jensen is unfairly targeted by the zebras? Joe’s heard stories of how the Bucs’ Pro Bowler is often pulled aside by refs before a game and told to watch himself because they are watching him and he ought to tone his edge down.
Hicks telling Joe that Jensen’s aggression is common suggests referees are unfairly bird-dogging Jensen.
June 8th, 2022 at 3:26 am
Like a red headed stepchild.
June 8th, 2022 at 6:15 am
I’m a Buc fan so of course I’m going to say Jensen is unfairly targeted and that comes with his way of play that the refs keep their eyes a little more focused on Jensen but I wouldn’t have him any other way he’s our arm & leg man which means you screw with any of our players Jensen is the enforcer and he may just break your arm or leg. 👍
June 8th, 2022 at 6:32 am
Jensen was one of the best signings Bucs have ever made.
June 8th, 2022 at 7:01 am
Of course they are and it will get even worse once Brady is gone.
June 8th, 2022 at 7:28 am
I think Hicks was being a great teammate. Jensen gets as close to the back side of the whistle as possible. He also gets as close to the dirty side of clean as he can. Players don’t like it and Refs don’t like it. He gets the occasional dumb flag because of it but I’m glad he’s on our team.
June 8th, 2022 at 7:45 am
Whatever, it certainly hasn’t changed how Jensen plays….keep it up, Ryan!!!
June 8th, 2022 at 7:45 am
Tom Brady is the BOSS. He sets the tone, the day he walked into the locker-room for the first time the culture changed….
Brady demands great effort in practice because he understands that you play the way you practice…..
It’s not “practice-makes-perfect” — it’s “perfect-practice-makes-perfect” Brady sets that tone
Sadly, I think everyone remembers what we got with Ja-miss running things on offense
June 8th, 2022 at 8:06 am
No, he’s a dirty b@#tard and I love it.
June 8th, 2022 at 8:12 am
Jensen has cultivated a reputation for fighting and continuing to grapple well after the refs whistle the play dead. As a result, the refs look his way often and are prone to throw the flag more easily.
It’s like that throughout the league. That was one of my concerns with JTS. His first step is very explosive and his timing is pretty good. Unfortunately, the refs were blowing the whistle on him early, even when he wasn’t jumping offsides. It was all perception, and the problem is that once a player cultivates a rep for doing something, all the refs in the league start to watch for it.
June 8th, 2022 at 8:15 am
Jensen alone has changed the attitude of the Bucs Oline.
June 8th, 2022 at 8:30 am
Maybe Jensen should dye his hair and change his number. They might leave him alone for a while.
June 8th, 2022 at 8:31 am
Watching the press conference didn’t seem like he knew what you were talking about as if you were making something out of nothing. Didn’t seem like he though there was alot that was unique to how he plays as he said alot of centers are that way.
June 8th, 2022 at 9:47 am
Jensen’s temper is well known among NFL Referees, but there is a big difference between a fight with Jensen. If you are a NFL Player, the last thing you ever want to do is pick a fight with Ryan.
You will very likely get your AZZ Kicked!
Some might not be aware that Ryan Jensen is a 6th degree Tae Kwon Do Black Belt! His entire family is a Martial Arts Family, so he has been training in Martial Arts since he could walk.
June 8th, 2022 at 11:17 am
If I looked like a red-headed Garbage Pail Kid I’d play pissed too.
He nasty.
June 8th, 2022 at 11:26 am
No. I love the Bucs and Jensen but he makes a lot of dumba$$ PF penalties that equal first down and 15 yards.
June 8th, 2022 at 11:28 am
…but I do love that firey red hair. Got me steamin down stairs.
June 8th, 2022 at 11:52 am
WTF!?!
June 8th, 2022 at 12:19 pm
I think Jensen pushes the limit and it used to worry me about penalties. Since the Super Bowl I have been fine with his emphasis on finishing the play and protecting his teammates.