ExtremeRavens Posted Thursday at 10:30 AM Posted Thursday at 10:30 AM The only thing missing from Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s Pro Football Hall of Fame resume is a Super Bowl title. It’s also absent from other Hall of Fame quarterbacks like Fran Tarkenton, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino. They are all enshrined in Canton, Ohio, but it’s the Lombardi Trophy that distinguishes the greats. Jackson is considered the best dual-threat quarterback in NFL history. In seven seasons, he has already rushed for 6,173 yards. No other quarterback is even close, not even former Falcons and Eagles star Michael Vick nor 49ers legend Steve Young, a three-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer. So, what’s missing from Jackson’s game compared with other great ones before him? It’s called maturity, but not in a physical sense. The 28-year-old Jackson isn’t mean or vicious, but a kid locked in a grown man’s body, and that has to change to win a title. I grew up in the eras of great Baltimore quarterbacks like Johnny Unitas and Bert Jones. Of course, some will say that they were white and Jackson is Black, but race has nothing to do with it. It comes down to being a leader because that’s the nature of the position. Both Unitas and Jones were fiery competitors and never hesitated getting in the faces of teammates. As a franchise quarterback, Jackson has yet to accept that role, so a change is necessary. Instead of slamming his helmet down after a poor play or going into isolation on the sideline, he needs to rally his teammates because deeds can speak louder than words in tough situations. It was tough a year ago when the Ravens lost to Buffalo, 27-25, in the AFC divisional round. A leader shows up shortly afterward, once the emotions die down, but Jackson was barely seen at The Castle during the offseason. Leaders show up, not disappear. He was more vocal in training camp practices this summer, but that has to carry over into the season as well. The Ravens are to blame, too. The franchise hides behind those 3 p.m. summer training camp practices, but it’s a well-known fact that those sessions were scheduled later in the day because of Jackson’s habits. Here is another example: Last season, Jackson missed practice Wednesday and Thursday ahead of a Week 9 matchup against the Broncos after being listed on the injury report with knee and back issues, but Harbaugh said that the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player was just getting a “rest” day. Jackson then missed the team’s only full practice the following Tuesday ahead of a “Thursday Night Football” game against the Bengals but still played without any obvious limitations. Imagine that, a quarterback healthy enough to play not practicing on the most important day of the work week. Lamar Jackson is one of the NFL's most dynamic and entertaining quarterbacks, but he's yet to lead the Ravens to a Super Bowl. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) That goes hand-in-hand with him not checking his text messages or emails during offseason contract talks. In details from an arbitration hearing over a November 2022 grievance filed by the NFL Players Association against the NFL over concerns about teams colluding to limit fully guaranteed contracts, Jackson cited a broken microphone on his phone as a reason for difficulties in his previous negotiations with Baltimore in 2022 and 2023 before he signed a five-year, $260 million contract with $135 million fully guaranteed. Coach John Harbaugh shared a revealing sentiment after the Ravens’ final preseason game against Washington last month. When asked whether Jackson was going to practice after exiting a previous session early with an apparent injury, Harbaugh said that he would, “unless he doesn’t want to,” which drew laughs from the reporters in Landover. “He is Lamar,” Harbaugh joked. Standards change for different players, especially quarterbacks, but this has been extreme. In the past, the Ravens had veterans who would fill leadership roles. During their 2000 championship season, defensive linemen like the late Tony Siragusa, Sam Adams, Michael McCrary and Rob Burnett and safety Rod Woodson ran the team. Twelve years later, middle linebacker Ray Lewis, safeties Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard and receiver Anquan Boldin accepted the mantle that was passed on as the Ravens won another title. There is a void on this 2025 team of charismatic or dominant personalities. A year ago, we saw Buffalo toning down quarterback Josh Allen in the postseason. The Bills rushed for 147 yards against Baltimore and Buffalo kept Allen under control as he completed 16 of 22 passes for only 127 yards but had two short touchdown runs. Meanwhile, Jackson completed 18 of 25 passes for 254 yards, but his fumble and interception lead to a 21-10 deficit at the half. Ravens running back Derrick Henry became a nonfactor after rushing for 1,921 yards during the regular season. In 2024, Jackson got so caught up in trying to outduel Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the AFC championship game that he failed to execute several run-pass option plays that would have hurt Kansas City. Instead, the Ravens hurt themselves, losing 17-10 at home. Baltimore has committed three turnovers in each of its past two playoff losses. It’s a mind game. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson fumbles the ball as he is tackled by Bills safety Damar Hamlin in the 2024 postseason. Jackson's recent playoff performances have included turnover-fueled defeats. (Frank Franklin II/AP) The Ravens have to keep Jackson focused for three or four straight games to reach or possibly win the Super Bowl. In the playoffs, attention to the finer details are a major key and Jackson has yet to focus for four full quarters in any playoff game. The term “locked in” is more than a phrase. It’s been incredible to watch Jackson’s progress during the past seven years. Remember when he would scramble without a purpose? Now, he looks to buy more time to find a receiver. He previously had to roll to his right because he couldn’t throw to his left, but that wasn’t a problem during training camp this year. Years ago, he was criticized for not having touch on the long ball and that has improved, even though there needs to be more consistency. As a passer, Jackson can make every throw imaginable. As a runner, there are no quarterback comparisons. Only two running backs in the modern era, Chicago Bears legend Gale Sayers and former Detroit Lions star Barry Sanders, have been able to make cuts and change directions running at full speed like Jackson can. But like Marino, Tarkenton and Kelly before him, Jackson is missing the title that has eluded him, one that he promised this city when former general manager Ozzie Newsome selected him as the last player in the first round of the 2018 draft. Since then, Jackson is 3-5 in the postseason. A Super Bowl win further legitimizes his greatness, as it did for Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway when he won titles in 1998 and 1999. Now, it’s Jackson’s turn to win, but growing up has to come first. He has to carry this team both mentally and physically. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. 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.