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On the issue of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s absence from the OTA, coach John Harbaugh told Jackson, “It’s up to him to speak for himself.”
He has. Sort of.
Reacting to an excerpt from our recent discussion of the situation on PFT Live, during which Chris Simms argued that if Jackson aspires to be Tom Brady of this generation he should be there, Jackson said this: “Lamar wants to be Lamar Chris: This part of the OTAs is voluntary, my boy will be there, but not on your watch other QBs probably won’t attend the voluntary OTAs either, but since it’s Lamar, it’s a big deal. to talk”.
We talked about every starting quarterback who is absent from the OTAs. Some are absent for business reasons. The two-time reigning MVP, Aaron Rodgers, is absent for no reason. (Rodgers was called quite aggressively on PFT Live on Friday for not helping with the effort to get the new-looking reception body up to date).
With Jackson, the problem is less that he is not there and more that this is just the last chapter of the mystery that Jackson has deliberately or accidentally created. By persistently refusing to associate with a team that wants to make him one of the highest paid players in NFL history, Jackson has confused many experts and observers in the league. And if Jackson isn’t involved with the team because he’s so committed to his craft, why isn’t he present at the low-season internships during which much of the offensive playbook is set for next season?
It is unconventional to the point of unprecedented. The Ravens want to pay him. She won’t talk to him. In doing so, he willingly accepts the risk that injury or inefficiency will make him less attractive to the Ravens or another team.
He insists he doesn’t want to leave. His actions suggest otherwise.
It’s great if you work with a personal mechanic coach. But these practices represent a handful of opportunities to work with the attack, which will take place without Hollywood Brown in 2022, under the supervision and direction of the coaching staff. Lamar can, frankly, do both.
Finally, with regard to his request / demand that “we find something more to talk about,” we must respectfully reject his editorial advice. Lamar is a former MVP. He is one of the most important players in the NFL. When he decides not to show up for the low season workouts, it’s worthy of news.
Chris’s comments about Jackson represent fair criticism, not a troll. Fair criticism is part of being a high profile athlete in a high profile sport.
It goes with the territory. Territory that will give generational wealth to Jackson. If you simply enter it and grab it before the window closes, without warning.