Tick tock.
"You have to be prepared for any situation, what that means, what your cap looks like." pic.twitter.com/07SPUTVqf5
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) March 6, 2023
The Ravens continue to rest squarely at the center of a “hurry up and wait” saga. With a 4:00 p.m. deadline looming for the application of a franchise tag to Lamar Jackson, Ravens Flock is holding their collective breath. No matter what you’re hoping for in terms of a resolution, I think it’s safe to say that we’re all hoping for some kind, ANY kind, of relief. But at this point, it feels like even an offseason deadline is just kicking the can down the road and creating more frustration.
As of yesterday afternoon, former GM Ozzie Newsome still seemed optimistic that an 11th-hour deal could be struck, but expressed the reality that the franchise tag could be a necessary next step.
BREAKING NEWS: Will the Ravens extend Lamar Jackson by tomorrow's deadline?
"If not, we will put the franchise tag on him."
–#RavensFlock EVP Ozzie Newsome 👀 pic.twitter.com/TG15JjesR5
— Bernie Kosar Show w/ Hanford Dixon (@BernieKosarShow) March 6, 2023
I’ve granted absolutely zero credence to anyone outside of the building saying that Jackson and the Ravens aren’t close in terms of negotiations. By design, you’re also not going to hear either side of the negotiations confirm or deny those reports. Where that leaves us at the end of the day is an exhausting guessing game during a slog of an offseason.
The closest thing in recent memory that I can compare this to is what Packer fans went through with their (still ongoing) odyssey involving Aaron Rodgers last offseason. The Green Bay fans that I know personally were exhausted by it, so much so that a lot of them were just ready for Rodgers to leave if that was what it was going to take to stop hearing about it. Like the Green Bay situation, even if we get some decision by this afternoon, chances are that it’ll only serve to generate more questions than answers.
Living outside of the Baltimore media market, I can’t tell you the number of times in the last few months that I’ve worn a Ravens shirt or jersey and had total strangers ask, “So what are you guys going to do with Lamar?” I wish I knew, random stranger, because I’ve gotta tell you, I HATE that our team is the center of attention for all the wrong reasons. I despise that perhaps the best offensive player in our franchise’s history is at odds with ownership, and seemingly the guinea pig for the NFLPA’s ulterior motives.
The main thing that bothers me about the contract situation. Is neither Lamar nor the front office
It’s that the NFLPA didn’t step in and “advise” Kyler or Russell to get the 230+ in guarantees since Watson “reset the market” as they claim
They waited for the guy with no agent pic.twitter.com/1Ol4CY1nc6
— RavensFlock20 (@Bateman_Szn7) March 6, 2023
There was a period during the contract discussions that I held out hope of new QB deals helping to stabilize the market after the Browns screwed everything up. Now, even as fresh QB contracts are being inked around the league…
The #Seahawks and Pro Bowl QB Geno Smith are finalizing a new multi-year contract, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
Smith, 32, would’ve become a free agent. Instead, he’ll stay in Seattle, where he won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year last season. pic.twitter.com/3fFmVzdl8E
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 6, 2023
From NFL Now: Derek Carr lands with the #Saints on a 4-year, $150M deal. The perfect landing spot for all parties. pic.twitter.com/1JniK5TVVR
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 6, 2023
…it doesn’t feel like it matters. This isn’t just any contract negotiation, it’s a negotiation as unique as Lamar is as a player. Lamar wants to be compensated as “one-of-one”, because that’s what he is. The Ravens recognize this, but they have a business obligation to 52 other starters next season and beyond. I understand both sides, and it does absolutely nothing to ease this situation.
At times, football is a great excuse to escape the stress of the everyday routine. At others, you take it on the chin as a fan, gritting your teeth until next week. It’s a grit your teeth kind of week, kids.
The next 24 hours on this app are going to be a true #RavensFlock hellscape. Buckle up.
— Will (@wearpurplepants) March 6, 2023
10 Responses
If the Ravens don’t get a deal done today with Lamar Jackson, they just don’t value Lamar as much as another team will. Then the Ravens will be in a world of hurt. smh
IF Lamar cared about winning and having the best players around him that will help him get to the SB, he would lessen his demands. Blee-dat.
It’s really a pretty simple game. What is important is the impact on cap, not the full cash value of the contract. It’s the percentage of cap that matters. Management needs room to be able to manipulate the numbers to make that work. The cash value stays the same but payments become ‘signing bonuses’, incentive clauses, deferred payments, any accounting and reporting trick that keeps total salary under the cap.
The Ravens are not trying to stiff or low-ball anybody, they are trying to get as much talent on the field as possible while staying under the cap. The only way you can really do that is to assign every player a percentage of the total money available and make salary offers based on what that number works out to be. It’s not like they ever hold a big chunk of cap in reserve like a team like the Falcons have.
If Lamar takes a 22.25% fully guaranteed bite out of the cap there is no way to spread that hit out, a lot of talent is going to have to go in order to stay under the cap. Lamar’s generational wealth goes way up and the competitive quality of the players around him begins to go down. The choice is simple, take all the money now or leave a little on the table for your teammates.
RS – Which is the way this works. If Lamar, in the market place, thinks team X is going to offer him a deal for more than the Ravens offer on the table – the Ravens have given Lamar the green light to go and find out. Personal opinion – I think # 8 is going to be shocked and saddened that the folks writing the checks aren’t in any hurry to given him one for $250M.
I buy that Lamar was 1 of 1 in 2019, but that just has not been true for the past 3 years. He’s more like 12 of 32. The Ravens would be fools to pay him based upon 2019, and I don’t believe them to be fools.
This is a sad situation where Lamar’s personal greed, misplaced self-overconfidence, and belief that there is another Cleveland Browns out there is undermining him. If the Ravens tag him and don’t trade him, they are going to gut the team while Lamar sits out training camp.
We will then be in this same spot next year. No thanks. Either sign him to a reasonable long-term deal, or get him traded.
I wish we could trade him but what could you really get for; a diva QB, that hasn’t won but 1 playoff game in 5 seasons, missed 10 games over the last 2 seasons, 4 of which he missed last season were just because he didn’t wanna play because they wouldn’t give him a fully guaranteed deal? What could you really get for him, Besides maybe a Big Mac and A Coke.
You should delete this.
All this Lamar haterade for the most talented PLAYER on the roster. Lol. Some negotiations are tough. Go Ravens.
Since the SBs inaugural year in 1967, no QB known primarily for his running ability has won a championship! And, for all his immense unique talent, Lamar has regressed from his stellar 2019 performance and been injury plagued the last two years! He wanted to prove his worth by his performance last season and…..failed! Without an agent, he’s getting bad advice, particularly from the NFLPA, who cares more about their agenda and are using Lamar as a bargaining chip! That’s life in today’s NFL! All the posturing doesn’t change the facts……pay him or trade him and move on…..
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