It’s a fun time to be a Baltimore sports fan. The hometown Orioles are hotter than ever while chasing a potential wild card spot, and we’re now a little over two weeks away from the start of full team training camp for the purple birds in Owings Mills. As anticipation continues to build for the first day the Ravens put on their big boy pads, so too does the conversation surrounding Lamar Jackson and his contract.
Lamar Jackson, who still hasn’t signed a contract extension, updated his Twitter header 🤣 @brgridiron pic.twitter.com/68hXfe2jiL
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 9, 2022
While most of us know at this point that Jackson’s social media presence is one of fun and fan interaction (more on that later), the national pundits once again ran with a story linking a simple photo post to his triple digit million dollar contract negotiations.
Now, at the risk of sounding like this big to-do over nothing was justified (which is not the case), you can at least put yourselves in the shoes of someone who may not know Jackson very well and understand why they’d draw that conclusion. On the surface it appears cut and dry, “he’s negotiating for money, his post says I need money, the Ravens must not be offering enough.” The difference between the Baltimore faithful and those aforementioned people is that we understand it was likely much less calculated and more benign. He probably saw the picture, thought it was cool, and posted it. In fact, Jackson said so himself.
“I don’t know why people are blowing it up,” Jackson told Safid Deen of USA Today while attending his youth football camp this weekend. “I just saw Bleacher Report post it. They just take anything that’s posted on social media and just blow it up, and try to think for you. I don’t take it too seriously. They’re making it seem like I’m talking to the Ravens when I’m not. Our contract discussion is going on already. But it ain’t about that though. I’m not putting my business life on social media. I won’t ever do that. I won’t put my personal life on social media.”
When asked at his 4th annual funday with LJ event if he’ll agree to a new deal before training camp, Lamar Jackson said “hopefully.”
“I’m not going to say ‘yeah’ right now. Hopefully. But it’s God’s timing.”
Seems like a slight change in tune. Hope it works out! pic.twitter.com/YyPQy4mMJB
— Raven Up (@RavenUpPod) July 10, 2022
He also mentioned that he was hopeful to have a deal in place before training camp, which would be ideal in many ways. All-in-all, we can chalk this up as yet another in a long list of stories and headlines we’ll see about Jackson’s contract until he actually signs one. Hopefully that day is soon, because it’s just going to be a constant talking point and annoyance to himself and the team on a weekly basis before that day comes.
#Ravens QB Lamar Jackson allowed kids to draw a route on the football before throwing to them in 1-on-1 drills during his “Funday with LJ” event Saturday in South Florida.
He lined kids up, gave them advice on their routes and even threw his towel for penalties. @Lj_era8 pic.twitter.com/vcokz91U9A
— Safid Deen 💯💯💯💯 (@Safid_Deen) July 9, 2022
Jerry Jeudy showed up for Lamar Jackson’s annual Fun Day today in Broward County.
(via IG/araps305) pic.twitter.com/ASB9p8VsDU
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) July 9, 2022
Speaking of Jackson’s youth football camp, it appears as if the fourth edition of the “Funday with LJ” was a resounding success as always. Even other NFL players like Jerry Jeudy were getting in on the fun (Jeudy to Baltimore confirmed?)! Few players give back to their hometown the way Lamar does, and seeing him host events like this on a regular basis really speaks to the type of man he is. The off-season is precious for NFL players, especially this close to camp. While some are getting in the last of their partying for the Summer, the Ravens’ QB1 is spending that time being charitable. An enviable trait if ever there was one.
In ESPN's latest fantasy piece, two Ravens were named 2022 breakout players …
Matthew Berry: WR Rashod Bateman
Tristan H. Cockcroft: RB J.K. Dobbins
https://t.co/59oCV4rqoN— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) July 7, 2022
For our fantasy football players out there, it appears that some of ESPN’s most knowledgeable pundits have high hopes for a certain couple of Ravens this year. Matthew Berry has Rashod Bateman as his breakout player for the entire season (of any position), while Tristan H. Cockcroft chose J.K. Dobbins for that same distinction. Make sure you all keep an eye out for both of those guys in the middle-to-later rounds, as they may just help you bring home some championship gold. Then again, the Ravens flock already knew that!
In enemy news, Heinz Field is no more.
Breaking: The ketchup bottles are coming down. Heinz Field will be renamed Acrisure Stadium. After the Michigan-based insurance brokerage firm. An official announcement could come as soon as Tuesday.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) July 11, 2022
Awful. Never let a Steelers fan give you grief for PSINet or M&T Bank Stadium names ever again.
Lastly, for the return of our Ravens photo of the week, we present to you this masterful work of art by rookie first round pick Kyle Hamilton. All I’ve gotta say is thank God he chose football over art. While the world may have missed out on the next Pablo Picasso, the Ravens gained a potential All-Pro safety in the deal. However, if Eric DeCosta and company are planning on changing the midfield logo any time soon, this portrait 100% has my vote. Go groundhogs!
