Shannon Sharpe is known for his bold commentary on sports, and he recently shared his blunt thoughts on the situation involving Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. However, his comments did not sit well with a former NFL veteran who found hypocrisy in Sharpe’s criticism ‘hypocritical’. The negotiations between Jackson and the Ravens have generated a lot of attention and opinions from fans and analysts alike. Many people are divided on the matter. While some feel that Jackson is desperate to secure a deal, others believe that he deserves fair compensation for his talent and contributions to the team. As the negotiations continue, the constant noise around the situation has polarized many onlookers.
NFL veteran calls out Shannon Sharpe hypocrisy
Marcellus Wiley didn’t like the way Shannon Sharpe reacted the way he did in the Lamar Jackson saga. After the Hall of Famer called the Ravens QB “desperate” on his show ‘Undisputed’, Wiley ripped him with a dive into his own contract negotiations with his employer Fox.
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.@ShannonSharpe says Lamar Jackson is showing “signs of desperation” with reports that a non NFLPA-certified rep is reaching out to teams on his behalf: pic.twitter.com/irRmPEYEaN
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) March 22, 2023
The former NFL defensive end brought up an incident from 2021 to highlight Sharpe’s hypocrisy on the issue. He claimed that just before the Denver Broncos legend’s contract with Fox was up that year, an article about him making less than his co-host Skip Bayless came out. And it also highlighted Sharpe’s African American credentials.
“In that relationship, they weren’t having a normal contract negotiation, based on just the merits. It was a conversation also that was now being supplanted or at least added to with race and that helped Propel the conversation into getting the deal done,” Wiley claimed on his ‘More To It’ podcast.
Wiley hinted that as it was a source story, it might have come from Sharpe’s camp to put pressure on Fox for a bumped-up deal. So according to him, calling Jackson desperate is not right on the part of the legendary tight end.
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The noise around the Lamar Jackson saga
There is a lot of noise around the Lamar Jackson situation. Conflicting reports have come out regarding his contract demands to the Ravens as both parties look to sign a new deal. Many have claimed that he wants a fully guaranteed contract in the region of $230 million. While nobody really knows what is going on, Jackson confirmed that he rejected a $133 million contract of guaranteed money for three years.
Read More: NFL Sends Strange Memo to All NFL Teams on Lamar Jackson Negotiations
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As the Ravens quarterback negotiates his own contract, he finds himself at the center of some controversy. Reports have surfaced about an uncertified agent speaking to teams on his behalf, prompting the QB to speak out and demand an end to the falsehoods. Despite being placed under a franchise tag by the Ravens, which means any team that signs him would have to surrender draft picks, the QB’s willingness to advocate for himself is a positive sign in the negotiations.
Watch This Story: “[Jackson] does more than Rodgers”: Former Super Bowl MVP and NFL legend believes Lamar Jackson is more valuable than Aaron Rodgers