Quarterback Lamar Jackson had Tuesday off as ordinary. What was uncommon was the place he spent it: wandering the streets of central London together with the remainder of his Ravens teammates.
Baltimore performs the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, about eight miles north of the center of town, and in contrast to the final time it performed right here, in 2017 in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the group arrived practically per week forward of time, touchdown late Monday evening.
The purpose was easy. Last time, the Ravens didn’t arrive till Friday morning, had one follow that day, then two days later promptly received blown out, 42-7, in what was the second-biggest margin of defeat in franchise historical past.
“We’re getting settled in,” coach John Harbaugh mentioned. “We’re all sleeping just a little better than we did a day or two ago. We’re getting a feel for the time. We’re going to be better for it, so we’ll see. There’s no science on it. Teams have come over here early and done well and not done well. They’ve come on Thursday and done well and not done well. Hopefully, this is something that works for us.”
For Jackson, it was simply his third day trip of the United States, he mentioned, and first time to England. He additionally did a bit buying, shopping for his mother, Felicia Jones, a Chanel purse.
“I’m loving London,” he mentioned.
And at the very least some followers appear to really feel the identical manner concerning the quarterback. At one level Jackson was strolling down the road when a few Brits approached him and requested, “Are you Lamar?”
“I’m like, ‘Yes, it’s me,’ he mentioned. “I took an image with these guys. It was a enjoyable expertise for me. … For me to have followers in London, I by no means dreamed about that, in order that’s superb to me.
“I didn’t know [how popular the NFL is here] till folks acknowledged me. I used to be like, ‘That’s loopy. I’m recognized in London.’
The remainder of his teammates won’t be as well-known, mentioned cornerback Marlon Humphrey, however there are many alternatives for followers to work together all week.
After Wednesday’s follow, that included an NFL Play 60 clinic with a number of Ravens gamers, together with Jackson and Humphrey, at Tottenham Hotspur coaching floor. Thursday, the group’s mascot, Poe, cheerleaders and the marching band will maintain an occasion at The Counting House, the unofficial Ravens pub. Friday, there’s a bus tour that may roll previous in style landmarks the Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral, amongst others. And Saturday, there might be one other celebration on the pub.
“You come to London you want to at least see it,” Humphrey informed the group’s web site. “Just about everybody here does not know who any of us are except Lamar and Odell [Beckham Jr.], so it’s really cool to be just teaching them basic fundamentals of the game.”
Humphrey additionally mentioned the expertise of spending further time with teammates whereas in London has been bonding expertise.
Jackson, in the meantime, performed catch with among the children on the clinic and posed for photographs with gamers from Tottenham Hotspur’s U-18 and U-21 groups.
“I need to do my research on the food I want to try, but I’m hearing Hotspurs are No. 1 in their league,” he mentioned of the Premier League membership that’s 6-2-0 and tied atop the standings with rival Arsenal. “Hopefully, they win it all.”
As for Harbaugh, he left a lot of the sightseeing for his spouse, Ingrid, who he mentioned spent a few of Tuesday touring with the remainder of the gamers on the Tower of London and the Churchill Museum.
“There are no days off for coaches,” he mentioned.
Still, he turned reflective about his first day trip of the U.S., visiting Iraq in 2009 and later Afghanistan and the impression that seeing different nations and cultures can have.
“That was kind of an eye-opener, to say the least,” he mentioned. “When you get outside the country it’s kind of cool to see there’s a whole world out there and for guys to see that is a really great experience. And for me, it was one of those things I appreciated home, I appreciated America.”
But after two beautiful losses to the Colts and Steelers within the final three video games, he’d additionally respect his group being extra constant and faring higher than their final journey to London.
“We understand it’s a business trip,” Harbaugh mentioned. “We’re here for a purpose, and the purpose is to put our best foot forward on Sunday.”
Week 6
Ravens vs. Titans
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Sunday, 9:30 a.m.
TV: Chs. 11, 4, NFL Network
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
Line: Ravens by 4
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com