Preston: It’s time for the Ravens and Lamar Jackson to part ways

[oldno82]

So far as Head Coach is concerned, I really think Harbs is lacking in X's and O's knowledge. He is an outstanding team leader and knows what buttons to push so far as motivation is concerned but he doesn't seem to know as much about play calling and for sure time management.

But I believe he's here until his contract runs out.

[tsylvester]

46 minutes ago, oldno82 said:

Apparently Roman's contract is up but the club does hold an option to extend him for 2023. If they exercise that option I'll be sick. To me they should take the easy way out and just tell the guy NOW that they're not exercising the option.

Still having doubts that Lamar can ever be the quarterback that's needed to go deep into the playoffs. Either the team's ability to develop him is piss poor or he just doesn't have the tools to be anything more than he is now.

I'm afraid the answer is yes to both of those options.

I do agree, but up until now he has never been asked to be a pocket passer, to focus more on throwing than running.

This was the first year where he tried to be a true pocket passer, for any number of reasons, one I am sure to increase his value.

So if that is true, it does not happen over night. Even Josh Allen took a few years, okay, 2 years to get to the point he is now. Keep in mind, the same Josh Allen who, in his playoff game, threw several picks and had a lost fumble.

So, barring injury and with a full off season to keep working on his mechanics, and hopefully on learning how to diagnose a defense, perhaps next year is the year he turns the corner in passing. The only question is, will it be here or elsewhere. Given that he had turned down such a lucrative deal, one that only the ludicrous deal by the Browns can beat, I doubt it is here.

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48 minutes ago, oldno82 said:

 

But I believe he's here until his contract runs out.

If my understanding of marketing and how corporations dont like to look foolish I think he will not get to the end of the contract.

[vmax]

I totally believe Eric on how private the negations are between he and Lamar, and that the only leaks are from the NFLPA. So any other "source" leaks we hear will be BS speculation to get websites hits and fan bases needing a QB aroused. He is the #1 story line in Free Agency and deserves to be talked about and speculated about,  except the story is totally private. The next fact will be either a signed contract or the 3/7 FA tag.

From the Harbaugh / DeCosta presser today:

 

 

GM believes Lamar Jackson wants to finish career with Ravens (espn.com)

[tsylvester]

Max, what else is Eric going to say? Risk alienating Lamar or make the draft capital smaller if you do plan on tag & trade.

Eric played it correctly, praise him, say it is between he and the team, that you expect, not just want, but expect him to be the qb of this team.

Yes, I do believe the numbers Jefd Z has leaked via the union, $250, $135 guaranteed. Bigger than everyone except Watson, who the Biscuit has said was way out of whack.

Now will Lamar come down? Will the Ravens raise the $135 to $180?

[vmax]

I believe Eric yet understand nothing is certain. Like he said...it takes 2 to tango.

."I truly believe Lamar wants to finish his career in Baltimore," Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta
"I have every faith that it's gonna get done," Harbaugh said. "Eric wants him here. I want him here. Steve [Bisciotti, Ravens owner] wants him here, and Lamar wants to be here. So, it's going to work out."

 

[tsylvester]

Yeah I believe them too, as far as wanting him here, I wonder if Roman walking will have Lamar reconsider his position on the guaranteed portion of the contract.

[oldno82]

Tsyl said it right when he posted that Eric played it correctly. You don't want to rule out Lamar playing here yet, nor do you want to bad mouth him if you think it's going to come down to a trade. You'd just diminish his trade value.

The other thing is... because it's all private so far between Lamar and Eric, anything else they would say here would be inappropriate.

[vmax]

There will be so much speculation over Lamar the next 6 weeks on what is happening despite hearing nothing from both sides.  Enough to make you vomit. People will make anything up ....make it sound logical..... and that's the "Right of a Fan."

If Lamar lifts his left eyebrow, we'll hear "Did you see that! Did you see that! Oh, he's pissed off and wants out!!!"

Edited January 19, 2023 by vmax

[tsylvester]

The problem Max is that Lamar is still a kid, so to speak. Those apparently cryptic tweets, that only he and his loyal friends know the meaning, he also knows stir the pot of the fans, media, hungry for some stew.

So while I applaud his wanting to play games with the media, I also shudder, not knowing what he means by them.

I've no doubt that the Ravens offered a fair deal, are trying to build a team around him. Now they have even parted ways, mutual possibly, with their oc who did provide for record setting stats at one point.

I also know that this is one of the best orgs a player can be a part of, I've spoken to past players, current at the time who have all said as much, players we all respect.

So his "mind games" if about the team, need to stop. He either wants to play here, or he doesnt.

[oldno82]

Ya know, this must not be easy for Lamar either. He gambled his value on having a super season and it didn't pan out that way. Maybe he's feeling let down by both himself and the front office. I don't know and I don't want to speculate but he may have ambivalent feelings about the organization at the moment and hence the cryptic tweets.

But I've come to the conclusion that I want to see this process pan out through March 7. If they can't strike a deal in 2 months then I'll lean more to the tag and trade process.

But I'm going to give the negotiations some time here to see it play out.

Meanwhile what good OC candidates are there? We can speculate about who we'd want.

I think Harbs has a couple years left on his contract. Maybe Eric Bieniemy the KC OC would come here with the understanding he'd be in the running for HC here when Harbaugh retires.

[GrubberRaven]

I see a lot of people throwing the Passing Specialist for the 9ers out there.

A LOT of pieces need to fall into place at once, the first was Roman being gone.  

- franchise Lamar

- new OC

- proven WR
- Lamar signs

I think the first three NEED to happen before Lamar signs.

[tsylvester]

Well Harbs & Eric did say that they plan to revamp the wr room. Hopefully that doesn't mean putting in a juice bar. But given that this organization has always had issues at this position, I won't get my hopes up

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10 hours ago, oldno82 said:

Ya know, this must not be easy for Lamar either. He gambled his value on having a super season and it didn't pan out that way. Maybe he's feeling let down by both himself and the front office. I don't know and I don't want to speculate but he may have ambivalent feelings about the organization at the moment and hence the cryptic tweets.

But I've come to the conclusion that I want to see this process pan out through March 7. If they can't strike a deal in 2 months then I'll lean more to the tag and trade process.

But I'm going to give the negotiations some time here to see it play out.

Meanwhile what good OC candidates are there? We can speculate about who we'd want.

I think Harbs has a couple years left on his contract. Maybe Eric Bieniemy the KC OC would come here with the understanding he'd be in the running for HC here when Harbaugh retires.

Bieniemy would need a promotion.  So OC/assistant HC.  I just would not want to look at it as when will Turdy retire.  Those deals tend to bite the guy who takes them in the ass.  Also with Turdy on the hot seat would you want to hitch your wagon to a dying horse?

[oldno82]

I could see him with the type of deal Eric had as GM in waiting with Ozzie.

[tsylvester]

I would love to see them reach into the college ranks, the game seems to be morphing into that style any way. I doubt a guy like Todd Monkton from UGA would make the move, two nation championship titles, a very good play caller with outstanding game feel, route combinations, knows how to adjust. Yes, I am a big UGA fan going back to the 70's....

But someone like that, who adjusts well not just to his players, but in game adjustments. Not everyone is good at, they have their game plans and stick to them.

[varaven45]

9 hours ago, GrubberRaven said:

I see a lot of people throwing the Passing Specialist for the 9ers out there.

A LOT of pieces need to fall into place at once, the first was Roman being gone.  

- franchise Lamar

- new OC

- proven WR
- Lamar signs

I think the first three NEED to happen before Lamar signs.

Agree on the above steps.  Not sure of the proven WR - everyone keeps saying D-Hop.  IDK.

IMHO, the OC and QB together need to work together and figure out the offense, ID the needs, and acquire the personnel.

IDK they can figure it all out in time to acquire the guy (s).  How do we know the new OC and Lamar will mesh; what if the new OC completely scraps the whole monster created by GRO?               

[tsylvester]

Hopkins is a phenomenal talent, but he is always missing games for one reason or another. I know, he put up huge stats since coming back from his suspension, but that contract, plus Smith and say Lamar, wowza, 3 players taking up that much of the cap?

To me he is not needed. All that is needed is a healthy group, proper route combinations, a line to hold up, a qb to make the right read.

Joe proved that the Super Bowl season, shoot, Lamar proved that in 2019, even earlier this year, with the same group of receivers mind you.

What they do will be dependent on who they chose for an OC, then one what happens with Lamar.

If you look over the all 22 for each game you will see, often, receivers open, just not thrown to in a timely manner or not at all.

So why do we need a Hopkins? For that price, a contract + the draft capital to aquire him.

Get a speedster in the draft, use what what we have...

[tsylvester]

Also to keep in mind, KC traded away one of the best wide outs in the game, one who is so quick & fast he is extremely difficult to cover. So clearly, having one of the best is not always needed

[oldno82]

Rashod Bateman's coming back from a Lisfranc injury. I've never seen a WR come back from that and have a good year his first year back. Duvernay has a broken foot to come back from and again it make take two seasons before his really healthy.

Yes we had some replacements this year but mostly they came off the street or belong there.

We only have 5 draft picks and no number 2. So who is available that we could afford in free agency? I am disturbed over our WR availability.

Hell, maybe we could contract out to the Steelers and let them pick for us. They always seem to have depth at WR and it's always come via the draft. I wonder how the hell they do it.

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11 hours ago, oldno82 said:

I could see him with the type of deal Eric had as GM in waiting with Ozzie.

 

Ozzie was close to retiring.  Turdy could be there 5+ yrs.  Like I said I have seen those coach in waiting spots fall apart on the guy waiting.  Honestly if he wants to be the guy waiting stay in KC.  Looks like Andy is going to fall over and die at any moment.

8 hours ago, varaven45 said:

Agree on the above steps.  Not sure of the proven WR - everyone keeps saying D-Hop.  IDK.

IMHO, the OC and QB together need to work together and figure out the offense, ID the needs, and acquire the personnel.

IDK they can figure it all out in time to acquire the guy (s).  How do we know the new OC and Lamar will mesh; what if the new OC completely scraps the whole monster created by GRO?               

Hopkins from 5 yrs ago sure.  But now he is hurt so often.  They will want a 1st rounder plus.

[tsylvester]

I wonder is Lamar is now waiting to see what Burrow gets this off season now that he is eligible for an extension

[deeshopper]

1 hour ago, tsylvester said:

I wonder is Lamar is now waiting to see what Burrow gets this off season now that he is eligible for an extension

lol @ Lamar if he is. See my previous post. 

[tsylvester]

Good thing Lamar and the Ravens are not playing in Buffalo today with that snowy, slippery field. He always has trouble getting his cleats right, slipping and sliding all game...

[papasmurfbell]

If we had won last week we would have played KC yesterday.