Reggie RAGLAND

Ahead of Sunday’s clash with the rival Eagles, Giants linebacker Reggie Ragland tackles some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.

Q: Describe fellow former Alabama Crimson Tide player Jalen Hurts.

A: That’s little bro. My senior year we’re in the bowl game, and the early enrollees can come and practice with you. Everybody was like, “Who is this kid with these dreads playing quarterback?” He was acting like Deshaun [Watson], I kid you not. He had kept it, and he was running, and he did a dead leg on me — I was like, “Who the hell is this guy here y’all?” (chuckle). And everybody’s like, “Hell, he’s quick and can move.” His dead leg’s able to stop at any time and make the tackle pass you, so he has a helluva dead leg. And ever since then, man, I’ve been proud of him, facing all the adversity he’s faced, and then putting himself in the position that he’s in now to keep being successful. He’s a good dude, too.

Q: What kind of problem does he present on Sunday?

A: He can throw and he can run, and he’s smart, so he’s gonna put his guys in position, and he makes plays, that’s the biggest thing in this league, you gotta make plays, and that’s what he does. So we gotta do a great job of stopping him, and keep him inside the pocket. We can’t let him get out of the pocket, gotta keep him in the pocket.

Q: Describe your late high school teammate Dez Dennis.

A: A true brother, a true friend. He always kept me out of stuff. He always made sure to tell everybody if anybody got a chance at being successful at playing sports, I got a chance. So ain’t nobody gonna let him do nothing around us. He made sure that I was protected as a friend.

Q: Describe your on-field mentality.

A: Whatever it takes to get it done. Make every tackle — pretty or ugly.

Q: You seem like you’re too sensitive and too nice a guy to play inside linebacker in the NFL.

A: I’m the youngest of seven. Trust me, ain’t nothing sensitive about me (chuckle). Even though everybody loves to call me like a teddy bear ... everybody loves to call me “Unc” ’cause I like older music. It’s just something about this game for me. Off the field? I want to be known as the nicest guy, but when I turn on that film ... it’s just something about me that clicks ’cause I just love playing the game. I guess that comes from getting beat up around my older brothers. I have five brothers and one sister. I guess that comes from them.

Q: Off the field you’re a teddy bear, on the field you’re a what?

A: I say a gorilla (laugh).

Q: What is it like playing for the New York Giants?

A: There’s nothing like having that N and that Y on your helmet, and going out there in front of them fans.

Q: What do you think of Sunday’s Michael Strahan’s jersey retirement?

A: The beast. I was a big fan of Michael Strahan growing up seeing him come off the edge and make plays and watching him being vicious and being a leader, and then you hear some of the stories about him, how he always kept guys accountable. I’m excited for him and all that he’s accomplished. Q: Describe defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. A: Smart as hell, great dude. he loves old-school rap.

Q: Coach Joe Judge.

A: Great dude. All the stuff you hear about Coach Judge, man, it’s really not true, he loves guys that work hard and want to be successful.

Q: How did winning two national championships at Alabama compare with winning Super Bowl LIV with the Chiefs?

A: I’ll probably say my favorite moment was winning the national championship my senior year ’cause I actually got to play the whole year and I was up for all the accolades and everything like that, so it made it much sweeter being it my last year at Alabama with my guys. As a freshman, winning the national championship, all I did was play kickoff, so I was just being happy to be in the moment. Winning a Super Bowl, I’m not gonna sit here and lie — it still really hasn’t hit me yet that I won a Super Bowl. Being around everybody that I grew up around, like, “Man, wow, you won a Super Bowl?” And like my dad even cried on the field. I was really more excited for my family to get the experience of coming down and watch me win a Super Bowl. Crazy as it sounds.

Q: Describe your third-andgoal of Tom Brady at the 1-yard line in the AFC Championship game following the 2018 season.

A: I knew we needed a play, ’cause they’re about to go 14-zero on us if I don’t catch that. My only regret in that moment is not bringing the football out of the end zone. I had space to run, and everybody was telling me to get down. But losing that game ... it hurts to be so close to your goal, and then you just lose. We had ’em up against the ropes towards the end of the game, we had every chance and every moment, but we just didn’t capitalize on it. That’s why you gotta have some type of motivation, and so the next year, that was our whole goal is to get back and win the whole thing.

Q: If you could can pick the brain of any linebacker in NFL history, who would it be?

A: Growing up my favorite linebacker was Ray Lewis. But I’ll probably have to say Dick Butkus, for the fact that if remember correctly, I think his team was like the worst team in the league, and he still was the MVP of the league as a linebacker . ... My favorite player was Rolando McClain because me and Rolando [live] probably like 15, 20 minutes away from each other ... then he went to ’Bama, too.

Q: If you could go one-on-one with any running back in NFL history to test your skills, who would it be?

A: Probably “Sweetness,” Walter Payton. He was just that guy. Everything about him was smooth, everybody loved him.

Q: What are your thoughts on former Bills coach Rex Ryan, who acquired you in a 2016 trade before you tore your ACL?

A: I wish I’da truly got to play for Rex. Rex is a good dude, man, despite what a lot of people say about him. That defense of his was truly made for like my body type and the player that I am. Before I got hurt, he was truly trying to implement me into the defense and make it easier on me, and I respect him a lot for that.

Q: What is one motivational or inspirational quote you like best?

A: Tim Duncan: Good, better, best, never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Martin Luther King [Jr.]; Jennifer Lopez, she was my first celebrity female crush ever; Muhammad Ali. Q: Favorite movie? A: “Life.” Q: Favorite actor? A: Denzel Washington. Q: Favorite actress? A: Angela Bassett. Q: Favorite singers/entertainers? A: Luther Vandross, Mary J. Blige. Q: Favorite meal? A: Seafood. Q: Any message for Giants fans? A: Keep hanging with us. We’re gonna turn the corner. We got a great plan in place, we just gotta go out there and do it. It’s easier said than done, I know this city is all about producing. And I know one thing about me: I’m never gonna give up and I’m never

gonna quit.