Happy Friday, Ravens Flock. We have some news about player visits and our favorite, yearly Wide Receiver talk. We also have another chapter in the Lamar Jackson contract saga coming at you.
Let’s get into this WR news first.
The Ravens have a huge hole at receiver (as any fan online will constantly remind you, whether you asked or not.) This free agent market wasn’t the best in terms of talent, so the trade market was always going to be the way. Unfortunately, a lack of picks can complicate this process. Perhaps some good news, however?
Update: The #Bills, #Patriots, #Ravens, #Raiders, and #Falcons are the 5 teams in on WR DeAndre Hopkins, according to Pacman Jones on the @PatMcAfeeShow: pic.twitter.com/rXziEx2xCw
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 23, 2023
Hopkins has been a popular name for the Ravens for a while. He was almost traded here in 2020 but now would be the perfect time to get him. Hopkins’ stock is a bit down due to his age and regression in numbers (partly due to suspension), but he would be a clear number one receiver in Baltimore. Add in the fact that the Bills and Chiefs – who don’t have any Cap space either – are in on him as well, and this makes perfect sense. The Cardinals want a second rounder plus, but that market doesn’t seem to exist right now. It would make sense if EDC’s lack of moves has been due to them trying to get a Hopkins deal to go through without the second rounder.
Even if they don’t get Hopkins, at least the Ravens are in the mix. Right? Right??
#Cardinals DeAndre Hopkins' trade market headlined by #Bills, per NFL sources. Five-time Pro Bowl selection has plenty of interest on trade market, but financial expectations might impact any further interest from #Chiefs #Ravens not among bidders, per sources.
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 23, 2023
So apparently, they aren’t in? Don’t you just love it when two reports saying the opposite things come out in a ten-minute window from one another? So either one of these sources is wrong, and somebody is lying to muddy the water, or the Ravens saw something in ten minutes that made them exit the negotiations.
Isn’t this fun? This might be a lesson in not listening to every source and letting things play out.
The Ravens also hosted a player for a visit yesterday.
Veteran FA safety and Baltimore native Adrian Amos is visiting Ravens today. The former Calvert Hall standout hasn’t missed a start since 2017 and us preparing for his 9th year in NFL. Ravens traded Chuck Clark and have room for another veteran in secondary.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) March 23, 2023
The story of a Baltimore native and Maryland High School legend returning home to play for the Ravens is a nice one, but the football aspect confuses me. The Ravens had to trade Chuck Clark because they couldn’t afford to keep him, so their solution is to sign another 30+ safety? Amos was good for a long time but fell off a cliff last year, so why is he exactly in the Ravens’ plans? I mean, I guess if you need Kyle Hamilton to be the chess piece, you need another safety, but my preference would be to just let Hamilton play safety. He worked as a chess piece last year because Mike Macdonald had Chuck and Marcus Williams as starters, but there is an opening for Hamilton to take Chuck’s spot.
I don’t know; this doesn’t sit right with me. I get it’s only a meeting, but you can’t sign a washed-up safety with these receiver needs.
Before 5:00 pm or so Thursday, this seemed like a typical day. Ravens fans complaining about wide receivers, the constant hum of “Ravens failed Lamar,” washed-up veterans visiting The Castle, you know, everyday Ravens things.
However, the Lamar Jackson drama reached a new height of ridiculousness that turned from misery to laughter.
It all started with this tweet late in the day:
Source: NFL sent a memo to all clubs letting them know that the NFLPA informed the league that a person by the name of Ken Francis, who is not an NFLPA certified agent, may be contacting teams and attempting to persuade team personnel to enter into negotiations with Lamar Jackson
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 23, 2023
If nothing had come out in the day and this was all we got, this would be enough laughs for a week. So apparently, the man negotiating Lamar’s mega contract is some dude named Ken Francis, who isn’t even certified by the NFLPA. This alone was a hilarious comedy that Twitter ran with, but then it got better.
Lamar responded to such claims by saying Francis actually didn’t negotiate (faster than he ever has responded to news about his contract).
Stop Lying that man never tried to negotiate for me 🤣🤣 https://t.co/DIMXtxOAnR
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) March 23, 2023
So, again. Either Lamar is lying to save face of criticism of a massive oversight (the man helping him negotiate not even being certified by the NFLPA), or the NFL AND NFLPA are somehow lying here? Did the player’s association really notify the league about Mr. Francis? Are they somehow upset that Jackson is using him as a liaison? Can anyone make sense of this?
Isn’t this awesome? How about four more months of this, Ravens fans? Constant back-and-forth drama and arguing got me feeling like I am in High School again.
But. IT. GOT. WORSE.
This is the point where it goes from perplexing drama to perplexing-but-hilarious drama.
My business partner Ken and I will be Dropping the @TheEntireGym this Summer 🚀🚀🚀❤️ #STAYTUNED #TRUZZ pic.twitter.com/7ZkkUKa5qk
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) March 23, 2023
So was this all for a marketing ploy? Is all this drama just for Lamar to market his new partnership? Did the NFL just do a free commercial for something called The Entire Gym?
That about sums up this whole entire Lamar Jackson saga. While I did laugh while this chaos was going on, this drama has got to stop at some point. Something has to give because this is the most insane situation I have ever seen from a player trying to negotiate his contract.
Try to enjoy it, Flock. All we can do is sit back and watch. Who knows what twists and turns await us this weekend?
7 Responses
I think Lamar is full of BS. He agreed to let this guy do this and they came up with the fitness thing as a CYA when they got burned. Lamar needs an agent and doesn’t want to admit it. As far as the rest goes, I would happily take 2 first round picks for this franchise cancer that is Lamar Jackson. 5 years from now he’ll be the next Vince Young. He is well on his way already.
Unfortunately, teams, coaches or organizations do the gifted athletics no favors by coddling them in a supposed” support” they never grow up and this is what it appears to be here.
So, this ” invention” is … a couple of dumbbells and a mat. In a handy dandy suitcase on wheels. Wow, we don’t need to worry about Lamar and his contract, I’m sure he’s going to make MILLIONS with this thing.
Btw, that throw he made in that video is probably the best throw he’s ever made. Sure would be nice if he’d make a throw like that in a game every now and then
I’m finally done with this clown. EDC needs to pack him up and get whatever we can for him. He’s already done significant damage to the Ravens roster for this season being the spoiled brat who holds his breath until he gets his own way. Move him before he does more damage in the locker room
Calling the GM’s who reported his cockamamie business partner for trying to illegally negotiate his contract a bunch of liars just reflects back poorly on the Ravens. This clown doesn’t care about the reputation of the team, the people who helped him get where he is, the jobs of his teammates, doing everything it takes to win or anything other than getting his ego massaged.
We talk a lot about playing like a Raven, apparently that is not this guy. Just playing for himself. He needs to take his Entire Gym and wheel it on out of here before that ‘me first’ attitude becomes infectious.
Being a ‘generational talent’ is only half of the equation, it takes a kind of grit and determination I’m not seeing from him. I don’t think he’s ever going to take that last step and win it all. He’s never going to be the guy with the high ankle sprain who limps back onto the field to help his guys win – two games in a row.
Please just cut Lamar loose and move on. Feel like he has already ruined our season next year. Selfish. Not what Baltimore needs or deserves. Only team to take a shot on him when drafted.
Jarad do you have an opinion whether “Ravens failed Lamar”? Do you not agree Ravens coach/management failed to: move on from OC; replace Hollywood or otherwise provide enough help at WR; get sufficient offensive tackle help in 2021? It doesn’t mean management is totally to blame, of course not. But I’m curious if you feel it bears zero responsibility? Maybe you’ve written on this, and if so I apologize but it sounds weird belittling fans for trying to hold coach/management at least partially responsible.
Where can I buy “The Entire Gym”……NOT