The dog ate Lamar's homework

[tsylvester]

The landmark, 61-page ruling finding that the NFL encouraged teams to collude (but inexplicably concluding the teams ignored the encouragement) contains plenty of stuff we didn’t already know — and that they didn’t want us to know.

Specifically, the document includes details regarding the negotiations that finally culminated in quarterback Lamar Jackson signing a five-year contract with the Ravens in 2023.

During the hearing on the collusion case, Ravens G.M. Eric DeCosta testified that his difficulties in negotiating directly with Jackson, who has no agent, were exacerbated by (as Jackson explained it to DeCosta) technical difficulties.

“Mr. Jackson said that the microphone on his phone was not working, making communications with Mr. DeCosta difficult,” the ruling explains at page 30.

Whether that was true or a simply an avoidance technique is open for interpretation. Regardless, it’s a tangible example of the practical impediments to getting a deal done between Jackson and the Ravens. And we never would have known about it, if the NFL and NFL Players Association had been allowed to continue to conceal the ruling.

The document also explains that Jackson wanted a fully-guaranteed contract. Before the 2022 season, Jackson texted DeCosta: “I’m going to continue to request a FULLY GUARANTEED contract I understand you all DON’T and that’s fine.”

After the 2022 season, with Jackson’s five-year rookie contract completed, he again sought a fully-guaranteed contract. The Ravens offered two different three-year deals that the team “considered” to be fully guaranteed. Jackson declined both offers and requested a trade.

DeCosta asked for a list of teams to which Jackson would accept a trade. Jackson never provided a list.

Only a couple of teams expressed interest in Jackson before the non-exclusive franchise tag was applied by the Ravens. After application, no team reached out directly to Jackson.

The two sides were at impasse. Jackson wanted out. No one was contacting him. The Ravens believed he wouldn’t take a deal that wasn’t fully guaranteed.

So how did it get resolved? Here it is, from page 32 of the document: “Mr. DeCosta was preparing for the 2023 draft in April 2023 under the assumption that Mr. Jackson would no longer be playing for the Ravens, but on the eve of the draft, sent Mr. Jackson a new offer. . . . Much to Mr. DeCosta’s surprise, Mr. Jackson quickly accepted it.”

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/lamar-jackson-cited-broken-mic-on-his-phone-during-negotiations-with-ravens

[oldno82]

That is really weird stuff especially the microphone part and the deadline offer that was hastilly accepted. I find it very hard to understand why Lamar won't get an agent. It can't be just the cut the agent gets, can it? What else is in play here and I wonder what the team is going to do about reworking his contract for next year.

[papasmurfbell]

No it’s a penny wise and a pound foolish.  I will save 4% but give up on getting a deal early to get to my 3rd deal faster.  Also I will forgo all the endorsement money being an mvp gets me.  Literally by my estimate he left about 150 mil on the table doin* it himself.

[tsylvester]

It's worked out for him and his mom, who gets a cut of the contract as she is listed as a business partner. $350 mil, what's another $100?

He will get his next huge deal in a few months. It's enough money for him, his kids & family for generations, longer if invested properly.

Another $100 + mil the agent MIGHT have gotten would really only hurt the franchise, not him

[papasmurfbell]

If he had done th3 deal after yr 3 he would have made probably 70 mil more than he did before he did do he deal.  He would have done his 3rd deal probably 2 yrs ago and made maybe 20 mil more than on this deal.  Now 6 yrs as an mvp endorsements he should be getting at least 30 per.  So we are looking at 270 mil of lost income.  So doing his deal on his own he save 10.4 mil roughly.  If he had an agent after paying commission he would have 259.2 mil he doesn’t now.  Like a said a penny wise and a pound foolish.  

[tsylvester]

That is assuming the Ravens or another team were willing to go that high!

As it stands, other teams were not willing to: trade that much capital for him, pay that much money to him.

Why? Injury risk, his constant illness that keeps him out of practice, caused him to miss plays, even a game. IBS? Drones? Who knows.....

Then of course was the type of offense he needs, needed to be in.. All of which left few, if any teams, including the Ravens, from paying that much more to him.

I'm glad they could meet in the middle, that he is a Ravens qb, as are they, he is special and has gotten a handle on the illness front for the most part, save spicy taco Tuesday from time to time...

[oldno82]

So much is a fair contract renegotiation price range? How much cap hit?

$200mil guaranteed with $25mil/year in salary for 10 years with a cap hit around $28mil? That would be slightly more than what Hurts signed for.

Or, does he still want an all guaranteed contract which I wouldn't want to see?

If we do nothing, his cap hit for next year is around $75mil and we can't allow that as it would gut the team around him.

[tsylvester]

Listening to him, he clearly wants a title and knows that he alone cannot get one. He also knows that his completion %, his td to int ratio, his average yard per pass, his rushing all make him one of the best in the game. These, if he continues on this path, will lead to the Hall of Fame.

So yes, he wants top dog dollars but in a way that also allows the team to keep key players.

[papasmurfbell]

I’m sure a deal would have got done after yr 3 with an agent.  Also he says he wants a ring.  I don’t know how dedicated he is to it.  

[oldno82]

I wonder how long it'll take this deal to happen? Months? Next off-season? 

The last deal went down to the wire.

[tsylvester]

18 minutes ago, oldno82 said:

I wonder how long it'll take this deal to happen? Months? Next off-season? 

The last deal went down to the wire.

That was the most difficult one because of the size and the frenzy of guaranteed money.

This one is more of an extension of sorts and should not take as long.

He found out that other teams are not as interested in trading 2 #1's, plus all of that guaranteed money

[tsylvester]

1 hour ago, papasmurfbell said:

I’m sure a deal would have got done after yr 3 with an agent.  Also he says he wants a ring.  I don’t know how dedicated he is to it.  

He has worked harder each year, you can see it in his play. He works out in the offseason with 2 of his receivers. What else, besides winning in the playoffs, do you want him to do above what other qbs do?

[papasmurfbell]

4 minutes ago, tsylvester said:

He has worked harder each year, you can see it in his play. He works out in the offseason with 2 of his receivers. What else, besides winning in the playoffs, do you want him to do above what other qbs do?

Be at every practice.  Be the leader that shows the work put in works.