ExtremeRavens Posted 9 hours ago Posted 9 hours ago “I have the power.” As Ravens’ owner Steve Bisciotti explained Lamar Jackson’s involvement in the coaching search Tuesday, he drew a clear line, one that will help shape the franchise’s next phase as it attempts to replace 18-year head coach John Harbaugh. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player will have input, and the quarterback’s voice is expected to be valued. But the authority still ultimately resides with the organization, even as Jackson holds a different type of leverage. Everything Bisciotti candidly laid out spelled a dynamic built on commitment with boundaries, and a public challenge for their franchise quarterback as necessary contract negotiations await. Bisciotti, sporting a beige suit, fielded questions for more than an hour alongside general manager Eric DeCosta in what was his first meeting with local media since 2022. The Ravens rarely offer this level of transparency from ownership. The last time Bisciotti held a news conference at the team’s headquarters in Owings Mills was in 2018, Jackson’s rookie season. Bisciotti confirmed that he spoke with Jackson before firing Harbaugh last week and added the quarterback will have “a lot of say” in the next coaching hire. But he soon followed his comments with more clarity that felt intentional. “I have the power,” Bisciotti said. “I care about my players very much, but I can’t give them power.” Jackson, of course, is central to everything the Ravens do. Bisciotti made it clear, though, that Jackson is not directing the franchise’s next major decision, especially coming off one of the worst years of his accomplished career, a season in which he missed four games because of several lower-body injuries. Jackson completed 63.6% of his passes, finishing with 2,549 passing yards, 21 touchdown passes and seven interceptions across 13 starts. His 349 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns both marked career lows. Amid all of this hovers Jackson’s looming contract situation. The 29-year-old quarterback is under contract for three more seasons, but his cap number skyrockets to $74.5 million next season, representing roughly a quarter of the team’s salary cap. It’s an untenable figure for a team looking to desperately rebound from missing the playoffs completely after Baltimore was widely labeled a Super Bowl favorite. “The urgency of [settling Jackson’s contract] matters to me because we’ve got free agents and I don’t want to go into free agency with that hanging over our head,” Bisciotti said. “And I made that clear to Lamar and I think he was very appreciative of my stance and hopefully willing to work with [DeCosta] and not get this thing dragged out into [May] like the last time. “It’s very hard for him to build a roster when that thing is not settled.” Biscotti speaks from experience. The last round of negotiations involving Jackson dragged and spilled into public view, including Jackson’s trade request in March 2023 and stretches of uncertainty that followed. At one point, Jackson even claimed that he couldn’t field calls from the team because his phone microphone was broken, a sign of just how disconnected the process had become. Eventually, Jackson, who does not employ an agent, signed a five-year extension worth $260 million with $185 million guaranteed that made him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time. Bisciotti noted Tuesday that in the scenario in which the two sides can’t reach a new deal, the Ravens could lower Jackson’s cap figure by spreading out the cap hit in void years. “You can play with that money all you want. That’s not what we want,” the owner said. Jackson, who turned 29 last Wednesday, declined to discuss his contract situation after the team’s season-ending loss to Pittsburgh earlier in the month. “We just lost a game — a divisional game — a game to put us in the playoffs,” he said. “I’m not even thinking about [my contract] right now, to be honest with you. I’m still caught up in what just happened. That’s not my focus right now.” Just over two weeks later, Bisciotti made sure Tuesday to convey the team’s dynamic related to Jackson. He also outlined a potential path forward with a deal that mirrors Jackson’s previous contract structure. “I want him to be my quarterback,” Bisciotti said. “We want another [Super Bowl] window and Lamar knows that.” This actually is where Jackson’s true leverage lies. The Ravens are signaling the need for alignment that is dependent on how Jackson will soon navigate and prioritize his timing, structure and levels of communication and collaboration. Jackson rightfully doesn’t control the coaching hire. DeCosta is hopeful to narrow down the list of more than a dozen candidates to four or five finalists by next week, and he’s invited Jackson to be part of those important conversations with the final group. Ultimately, Jackson doesn’t have the power, according to Bisciotti. Jackson, though, does control how quickly the lingering sense of uncertainty clears. He controls whether the Ravens enter free agency and the NFL Draft with comfort and clarity or unnecessary constraint. By extension, Jackson controls how easily the front office can build the kind of roster that gives him another legitimate shot at his first elusive Super Bowl title. The ball is in Jackson’s court. Is he ready to dabble in expected tough conversations? Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, left, and executive vice president and general manager Eric DeCosta hold a news conference at the Under Armour Performance Center. The two say they're eager to discuss Lamar Jackson's contract with the star quarterback. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) “I think communication can always be better,” DeCosta said of Jackson’s relationship with team officials. “Just if you think you’re a great communicator, then you need to be a better communicator. You have to overcommunicate. I believe in that. …That’s what the most successful organizations do on a consistent basis, whether that’s with your star quarterback or your third-string inside linebacker — you have to set expectations, hold players accountable, foster a relationship where they love this place and love this culture, and football’s the most important thing in their lives.” Tuesday served as a public declaration for Jackson to engage with his employer and move forward with contract discussions. Over the following days, Baltimore will continue its ever-important coaching interview process. Jackson remains a key piece to the team’s future plans and is being kept abreast regarding his next potential head coach. With Jackson’s contract status up in the air, it has created a riveting dynamic between the franchise and its most important player. “[Jackson will have] a lot of say, but he has no power,” Bisciotti said. “I have the power. They have opinions, and I want them all. I care about my players very much, but I can’t give them power.” The Ravens insist on remaining to true to the organization, while they also continue to lift Jackson. In return, they’re hoping for smoother cooperation from an unpredictable wild card. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article Quote
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