As the preseason winds down, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s self-imposed Week 1 deadline to signal a contract extension creeps nearer. In the eyes of Hall of Fame signal-caller and NFL analyst Steve Young, Jackson shouldn’t be in any rush to shut a deal.
In an look Thursday evening on ESPN, Young stated that if the Ravens don’t develop a “sophisticated” passing offense round Jackson, the 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player may be higher served enjoying elsewhere.
“Lamar Jackson is a complete player that is [not being trained] in being a sophisticated passer,” Young stated. “And now you’re asking, ‘Why isn’t he paid to be [Kansas City Chiefs star] Patrick Mahomes?’ Because they haven’t given him a chance to be Patrick Mahomes. So until they do, Lamar Jackson’s damned because of what the Ravens are doing, not because of Lamar Jackson.”
A change in surroundings early in Young’s profession served him nicely. After being drafted first general within the 1984 NFL supplemental draft, he spent two disappointing seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier than becoming a member of the San Francisco 49ers to function Joe Montana’s backup. Once he took over the full-time job in 1991, he turned a star, incomes two MVP awards, a Super Bowl MVP and 7 Pro Bowl picks over the following decade.
While Jackson has had a record-setting begin to his NFL profession, together with probably the most wins by a quarterback below the age of 25, Young believes Jackson isn’t being given an opportunity to achieve his full potential whereas working the Ravens’ run-heavy offense.
“I can’t wait for someone to train Lamar Jackson in a sophisticated passing game. I think he’d be the greatest player in the history of the game,” Young stated. “But he keeps getting held back by the Ravens year after year because they keep doubling down on this [rushing] thing Lamar Jackson is great at. No question, he’s the best at that. But that’s not the championship football they need to play. That’s not what Lamar Jackson wants to be.”
That sort of criticism is nothing new to Greg Roman, who’s served because the Ravens’ offensive coordinator since 2019, when Jackson turned a full-time starter. Roman understands the scrutiny, however he stated in June that it hasn’t shaken his perception within the offense’s course.
“As a professional, we’re all our harshest critics, and I think we know the truth, and you just believe in that and keep trying to get better every day,” Roman stated throughout organized staff actions this offseason. “Don’t get set in your ways; just keep trying to adapt, evolve and adjust, and don’t worry about a thing.”
Robert Griffin III, the previous star Washington quarterback who spent three seasons with Jackson in Baltimore, instructed Young and his fellow ESPN colleagues that Jackson shouldn’t accept something lower than being the highest-paid quarterback within the league — the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers tops the record with a $50.3 million common annual wage. Every day Jackson will get nearer to free company, Griffin stated, he beneficial properties leverage in negotiations. But Griffin doesn’t assume that’s going to drive Jackson out of Baltimore.
“I simply think this is negotiations,” Griffin stated. “The Baltimore Ravens, they love Lamar Jackson. They love Lamar. Lamar loves Baltimore. The bottom line is, this is just negotiating power, and Lamar is willing to call their bluff. If they’re not offering what he wants, he’s willing to say, ‘All right, I’ll just play it out.’ He’s not going to do something that will turn that city against him, I can promise you that.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com