Well now, it’s been a little while, Flockers. What have I been up to? Well, I graduated college and moved over 1000 miles North to North Dakota. Fun times were had during the drive.
The last time I popped up on this website, I had rather pessimistic and skeptical views regarding the negotiations between Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. Lamar had no contract extension. The Ravens had just lost another early playoff game. Every single week it felt like there was a new piece of drama that felt so un-Raven-like. That kind of thing just doesn’t happen here.
In the article, I wrote some things that drew the ire of Ravens fans. I don’t regret what I wrote. The negotiations dragged out for far too long and were made even messier after the NFLPA decided to meddle in the affairs. It was an incredibly messy situation. In the article I wrote “I would not lose a wink of sleep if Eric DeCosta pulled the trigger and traded Jackson tomorrow.” Yeah, I probably should have guessed that would have gotten me into some trouble. All I can say is this: thank God he didn’t!
I should have exercised patience and trusted this franchise to do the right thing. They did. Lamar Jackson got his money. He then authored another MVP-caliber season and led the Ravens to another AFC North division title and the number one seed for the second time in his career.
Seems pretty quarterbacky to me.
So, yes, I’m feeling much less burnt out on the Ravens than I was a year ago. Lamar, once again, came into the new season an improved football player. Todd Monken was a fantastic find and his influence really helped this offense take the next step. This is the best group of offensive talent the Ravens have ever had.
With that talent, however, comes expectations. The lack of playoff success since Super Bowl XLVII looms large. The Ravens still sit at two playoff wins since Ray Lewis retired as a champion, one of which came with Lamar at QB. That needs to change. This is year six of the Lamar Jackson era. If the Ravens go home early again, with a home field advantage again, the disappointment would be off the charts.
There is no position that garners more scrutiny in North American sports than the starting NFL quarterback. Jackson is a starting NFL quarterback, and one of the best. He’s going to be criticized. That’s part of the gig. I still think there are some in this fanbase who are far too “protective” of Lamar on social media. He’s a grown man. We don’t need to keep dragging out the takes from early 2019 after the Ravens had just been embarrassed at home in the playoffs by the Chargers. To be honest, I don’t think Lamar cares very much about what Richard Sherman and Shannon Sharpe or anyone else in sports media have to say. He definitely sees what these talking heads say, as Mike Florio can attest, but all that noise is just fuel to this man.
Is Jackson capable of winning in the playoffs? That’s the question we’ve all been asking for the last half decade. I believe that he is. He’s on a different level mentally this season. I watch the games, and I see Odell Beckham and Zay Flowers busting out some serious dance moves on the sideline. Then the camera cuts to Lamar and he’s wearing a serious scowl on his face. He is playing pissed off. He wasn’t satisfied after embarrassing San Francisco on national television. He wasn’t satisfied after slaughtering Miami to lock up the one seed.
He won’t be satisfied after probably winning another MVP award.
There’s one trophy on his mind, and its name is Lombardi.
4 Responses
Deeds, not words are what define us. I’m still right now at a point where Lamar not going to Cincinnati in last year‘s playoff game was abject failure. So, at the end of the day, we’ll see if they can at least show up at the Super Bowl, winning it isn’t my main focus, it’s just doing the job.
And Joe Flacco, I look forward to Cleveland coming to Baltimore, and rubbing his selfish antics of not playing in that 2019 playoff game literally in his face on the ground, because he was offended he wasn’t the starter. How did people put up with his nonsense, it’s a team sport, again, no “I” in that word.
So you’re upset Lamar didn’t travel with the team to Cincinnati or you’re upset he didn’t play hurt and further injure himself?
Because if you believed the nonsense ESPN was stirring up about he could play and he sat out then that’s on you, and there’s nothing Lamar can do to change your opinion on the matter.
If you listen to how he’s always spoken, he’s clearly a team first guy. He doesn’t speak about MVPs or personal accolades ever. He only talks about winning a title, or giving praise to his teammates. He never even throws guys under the bus when it’s obviously on them.
There were games where the OL was getting abused, and Lamar still gave them credit post game for protecting him etc.
At the end of the day, he’s not the type of player to leave his team hanging, after all he didn’t have to take a single snap last year. He could have easily held out for a contract and left Ravens in a hole.
Those that can, do. Those that can’t, write? Or maybe become broadcasters or talk show hosts? We all have our views and opinions. Sometimes we’re right and sometimes we’re wrong.
There’s an old saying though “You don’t know what it’s like to be someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes”.
Many of judge others with not knowing them firsthand which is sad. It’s only human nature.
Another life lesson. Learn to not judge people without knowing them. Nowadays this happens way to often.
It’s a New Year. Maybe we should add this into our resolutions. Be compassionate and understanding of others.
I too was quite tired of Lamar last year. I thought his failure to travel with the team to Cincinnati was weak and showed an utter lack of leadership. I would not have been disappointed if he signed elsewhere, and I said that the Ravens should not reward him with a big contract.
On the other hand, I understand that the Ravens’ brain trust is much closer to the realities than I am, and I trust them to make the right decisions, as they so often do. In this case, they were right and I was wrong.
I’m happy that the contract appeased Lamar. It has been a pleasure to watch this team play, largely due to his excellence.