via Getty
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 10: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball during their AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on January 10, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Ravens defeated the Titans 20-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
via Getty
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 10: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball during their AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on January 10, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Ravens defeated the Titans 20-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
When the starting quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens played against the Denver Broncos in December, he injured his left knee. Lamar Jackson was not able to participate in any further games. The news only became true when the Heisman Trophy winner announced that he suffered from a Grade 2 PCL sprain with inflammation surrounding the knee. This kept him from participating in the NFL Wild Card Round that the Ravens played against the Bengals. Unfortunately, the 2022-23 season foiled whatever plans the 26-year-old had. Additionally, Jackson’s contract extension appeals did not bear any fruitful results.
The Ravens failed to offer him a contract extension last season. Both parties tried to work things out between them, but could not reach an agreeable end. And now, the team has less than a month to put a franchise tag on Jackson, otherwise, he will become a free agent. But, his new demands have changed the way things were going.
Fresh development in the contract fiasco suggested that the two-time Pro Bowl QB’s counter-offers to the team were for fully guaranteed contracts. The counter-offers exceeded the contract Deshaun Watson signed with the Browns. When fans got to know about this new revelation, they were not happy about it.
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The new request Lamar Jackson made to the Ravens has divided fans
Deshaun Watson agreed to a five-year contract worth $230 million in guaranteed money with Cleveland in March 2022. The money is the most assured in the NFL. Many thought that the deal Watson signed with the Browns nuked the market and was one of the worst deals.
The Ravens are a bit hesitant in offering a fully guaranteed deal. Previously in September, the team offered the QB a five-year, $250 million contract that included $133 million guaranteed. But Jackson refused the offer.
Fans are of the opinion that if the Ravens and the star athlete do not come to a decision now, both of them may not work with each other again.
One fan wrote.
Have fun in the unemployment line
— CJ (@CJ07370) February 24, 2023
Turning down a 5 years/133m guaranteed deal is just insane lol
— Mike Nickolas (@mike_nickolas) February 23, 2023
Some fans also thought that the Ravens should let Jackson go.
He doesn’t want to play in Baltimore. I get it. He’s a star. Wants to go somewhere else.
With that being said, trading Lamar for a haul of picks is way better for the Ravens than paying Lamar that kind of money.
Let someone else make that mistake.
— Mikey Gilz (@MikeyGilz) February 23, 2023
If I'm the Ravens, I have a really hard time paying a guy that much guaranteed money when he hasn't been able to finish out either of the past two years. You can only live off of 2019 MVP for so long. It's 2023 now. The league is all about "what have you done for me lately."
— Nate Pelley (@npelley) February 23, 2023
If I’m the Ravens I’m trading Lamar. To me he hasn’t shown enough to suggest he can be successful in an offense outside of the type of offense Greg Roman runs. I’m not betting over 250 million that he will. If I’m the Ravens 150 mill is the max guaranteed I’m offering.
— The One and Only (@kingofdaytona) February 23, 2023
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I’m cool with him breaking the ravens, be my guest. 👍
— Hatfield (@BHatfieId) February 23, 2023
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Everything will come into place on March 7. Fans will finally have answers and possibly will also see an end to the most compelling storyline of the league. What will happen if the Ravens fail to put a franchise tag on the former MVP-winning QB?
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