Lamar Jackson, the star quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, is channeling his disappointment from last season into motivation for the upcoming year. Jackson recently told general manager Eric DeCosta that the team is in the “beginning phase” of contract extension talks. Jackson is just beginning to prepare for the upcoming season. He is hell bent on getting his team back to the top after last season’s playoff flameout in early rounds.
At the start of Baltimore’s first minicamp practice, quarterbacks coach Tee Martin inquired about the film Jackson has been analyzing during the offseason. This year, Jackson is focused on using his previous playoff experience to his advantage. Last year he floundered with two first-half turnovers in their first-round playoff exit. Reflecting on the experience, he stated, “I don’t think I get over any losses, to be honest. I got losses from youth football that still haunt me.”
Head coach John Harbaugh expressed confidence in Jackson’s future, predicting that he will become the NFL’s highest-paid player on his next contract. When this claim was made, Jackson moved closer to the mic and said, “Good deal. That’s music to my ears.” This optimism arrives as Jackson has been doing contract negotiations this offseason without an agent, choosing to represent himself.
Jackson also spoke on the recent game-day blunder with his teammate Mark Andrews, saying he wished it never happened. He stood up for Andrews on his critics on social media. He made his feelings known about the people who “dogged” the three-time Pro Bowl tight end. Jackson pointed out how crucial support from teammates could be, particularly in the wake of difficult situations involving policing.
As part of his efforts to strengthen the team, Jackson is advocating for the Ravens to pursue two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander. After playing with Alexander at Louisville, Jackson said he would be excited to reunite in Baltimore. Most interestingly, he went right at DeCosta on this, telling him specifically, “… go get him, Eric.”
Since 2018, Jackson has produced a stellar 70-24 record and won three AFC North crowns. These days, though, he’s eager to tackle the task of getting the Ravens on top again. After Tuesday’s minicamp practice, he expressed confidence in the team’s potential for growth and improvement. “And when we come back, I feel like we’re going to have vengeance on our mind,” he declared.
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