ExtremeRavens Posted July 29 Posted July 29 Lamar Jackson didn’t waste many words describing the malady that laid him up for the start of Ravens training camp. “You really never know when a bug hits you,” he said Monday, speaking to reporters for the first time since his illness and subsequent return to full-time work. “I had a bug, but I’m good now.” That’s typical Jackson — little apparent interest in past travails, attention turned toward what’s next, in this case his latest campaign to bring Baltimore the Super Bowl he promised on the night the Ravens drafted him more than six years ago. In the context of that grand ambition, a few days feeling run down in the summer don’t amount to much, though Jackson is surely aware of how hungry fans and teammates were for his presence at those four practices he missed last week. They let him know when he returned Saturday. A chorus of children screeched at his every step. Fellow players slapped his hand and bumped his helmet after his first touchdown drive of camp. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player is the heart of Ravens world, and that’s never more apparent than when he’s missing. “I’m not thinking they’re missing me,” Jackson said. “I’m missing them. I’m just trying to get back out to those guys and just be happy around my teammates. The kids missing me? I love them.” While Jackson was out, coach John Harbaugh made his grandest proclamation yet about what the team hopes to achieve behind its franchise quarterback. Five years ago, it was an offensive revolution Harbaugh touted. This time, he upped the ante: “The vision that we have together is that Lamar Jackson is going to become and be known and be recognized as the greatest quarterback ever to play in the history of the National Football League.” What did Jackson make of this? “I was out, so I wasn’t really paying attention to it,” he said when first pressed on the subject. “But I appreciate it.” No, really though, does Jackson like his coach pinning GOAT — greatest of all time — expectations on him? “I’m not the GOAT,” he said hastily. “Tom Brady’s the GOAT.” So does he see it as a motivational ploy? “Yeah, I believe that’s motivation. I appreciate that. I’m still on my way.” Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, right, talks with backup Josh Johnson during practice on Monday. (Amy Davis/Staff) He seemed none too concerned that the delayed start to camp would hamper his preparations. “Just because I was down … I’m still locked in,” he said. “I know what time it is right now; it’s camp time. So me going down for a couple days, my mind was still in it, like, ‘I’ve got to hurry up and get better so I can be out there with my guys.'” He has missed practices and two games because of illnesses in past seasons, but Jackson does not see any pattern at play. He laughed at the idea he might be facing a chronic issue with his immune system. “At Louisville, I never got sick,” he said. “But it comes and goes.” Harbaugh said only that: “Lamar [Jackson] gets tested, Mark [Andrews] gets tested, all of our guys get tested thoroughly, especially when you’re sick, so they look at every possibility.” With the medical discourse complete, Jackson addressed an array of queries about the new season. On tight end Isaiah Likely sparkling through the first week of camp as he aims to form a true partnership with Mark Andrews: “From day one, I’ve seen the potential of Isaiah Likely. He shows it each and every day. Each and every day, he wants to be a better player.” On how quickly he built trust with second-year wide receiver Zay Flowers: “It was pretty easy. I’m seeing him attack the ball, [and] I’m seeing him when the cornerback has outside leverage on an out-breaking route; he’s dropping him, and he’s winning. Off back, he’s had my trust. [With] him catching the ball and doing what he does, that’s all a quarterback wants.” On first-year coordinator Zach Orr’s defense: “Throwback Ravens defense — bloodshed, a lot of smack talk, a lot of big hits. Guys are actually tackling out there a little bit. I don’t think we should be, but they’re looking good, man. I’m loving it.” On his attorney filing a complaint to block Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman from trademarking the term “EIGHT” to use on apparel: “That’s outside noise. I’m sticking to camp. We’re talking camp, football, that’s it.” Coming off a season in which he won his second MVP Award, led the Ravens to the AFC’s No. 1 seed and reached the AFC championship game for the first time, Jackson reiterated a point he’s made since his rookie year: Individual accolades and regular-season dominance give him only so much satisfaction. Like many Ravens fans, he sees the Super Bowl as a be-all, end-all. The road there begins in the summer heat, with friendly insults flying between teammates and children losing their minds each time No. 8 trots on the practice field. But success or failure will be determined in the biting cold of January and February. “This is the highest level of the game we play,” he said. “You’ve got to go out a champion, and that’s what I want to be labeled as — a champion. [I don’t] just want to be labeled as MVP here and there; I want to be a champion.” View the full article Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.