Lamar Jackson is bringing the ache.
That ache isn’t confined to opponents, however Jackson is sticking it to the Ravens simply as laborious. Within the first half of Baltimore’s Week 2 recreation in opposition to the Miami Dolphins, he threw for 210 yards with three landing passes and simply two incompletions, connecting on almost 85 p.c of his makes an attempt.
Whereas Baltimore’s protection melted down within the fourth quarter and the Dolphins got here from behind to win 42-38, that’s not on Jackson. All he did was shine, throwing a 75-yard landing go and scrambling for a 79-yard landing run, turning into the primary participant ever to do each in a single recreation.
Jackson is doing it his approach, which occurs to be by the air. He isn’t seeking to take off and run on many of those performs, though he did rush for almost 40 yards on six carries within the first half-hour of the sport. The underside line is that in his contract yr, the younger star is on a mission to indicate his franchise that they need to’ve paid him what he needed within the offseason.
The Ravens are reportedly not inclined to supply Jackson the absolutely assured $200 million contract he wishes. Jackson allegedly turned down a suggestion simply earlier than the beginning of the season price $290 million as a result of the cash wasn’t absolutely assured. Within the meantime, he’s on observe to earn $23 million this yr — a cut price for Baltimore given his lights-out play.
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And at this level, irrespective of how eye-popping Jackson’s request is likely to be, the Ravens and their proprietor, Steve Bisciotti, can be loopy to not pay.
Baltimore could possibly be in massive hassle on the bargaining desk if Jackson continues on this scorching streak. In Week 1 in opposition to the Jets, Jackson threw three TDs and one interception. Then got here his stellar play this week. And with each large recreation, Baltimore appears sillier and sillier if they permit him to stroll.
If Jackson can sustain this stage of play, the Ravens might be in a tough state of affairs subsequent offseason. Averaging wherever close to three passing TDs per recreation is MVP territory — a trophy he’s already taken as soon as, when he turned solely the second participant to ever win the award unanimously. (Tom Brady was the primary.)
Jackson is sticking to his plan, and it’s figuring out to date. The truth that he’s negotiating with out an agent feels far much less related than some need you to consider. He’s not the primary participant to have accomplished it and absolutely received’t be the final — Richard Sherman dealt with his personal contract talks with the 49ers in 2019 (and was criticized after settling for simply $3 million assured). The distinction is that Sherman had been seen as “previous his prime,” though he did make the Professional Bowl in 2019. Additionally, Sherman wasn’t a quarterback, so the highlight wasn’t as shiny.
Baltimore is months away from having to make an especially powerful choice. One of many hardest within the historical past of the franchise. They will persist with their weapons and refuse to totally assure Jackson’s deal, or danger him strolling away on the finish of the season after finishing the fifth and last yr on his rookie deal. The chances of Baltimore discovering one other once-in-a-generation franchise QB to comply with Lamar are slim. It occurred for the Colts and Packers that approach, nevertheless it’s extremely uncommon.
Whether or not it’s with the Ravens or a special group, Jackson is setting himself up for a monumental payday with how he’s taking part in early within the season. There might be a workforce keen to take that likelihood on a former MVP and one of many 10 greatest QBs within the league right this moment. Hopefully, Baltimore doesn’t let the sort of expertise get away.
It’s laborious to discover a QB that may put your workforce in playoff rivalry yr after yr once they’re wholesome. The Ravens have that however appear keen to danger all of it and probably let Jackson stroll over to a different workforce with none compensation. When you’re a Ravens fan, that may be the hardest tablet to swallow.
