"Bulls**t" - Dolphins star calls out Falcons HC with franchise making Lamar Jackson stance clear
Lamar Jackson continues to be one of the biggest storylines of the entire 2023 NFL offseason as his future could shake up the league.
Jackson appears destined to part ways with the Baltimore Ravens this year after their contract negotiations have apparently gone south. They failed to reach an agreement on a long-term deal and Jackson has formally requested to be traded to a new team.
The Atlanta Falcons are one of the teams that has been most closely connected to rumors involving acquiring the superstar quarterback in 2023. While the rumors continue to circle, the Falcons' franchise leadership (including head coach Arthur Smith and owner Arthur Blank), have claimed that they will not be pursuing Lamar Jackson.
Miami Dolphins defensive back Jevon Holland recently chimed in on the story with one simple word on his personal Twitter account:
"Bulls**t"
Bullshit twitter.com/_mlfootball/st…
Holland's reaction was in direct response to another tweet quoting both Arthur Smith and Arthur Blank in relation to the Falcons' take on Lamar Jackson.
Here's how Smith explained their process, while claiming that Jackson is not a target this year:
“I mean everything that becomes available around the league, if it can improve our roster, we discuss.”
Blank also outlined some of the concerns surrounding Jackson, leading to their decision to pass on acquiring him:
“Looking at it objectively, I'd say there's some concern over how long he can play his style of game. Hopefully a long time, but he's missed five, six games each of the last two years. Each game counts a lot in our business.”
It's strange that the Falcons aggressively pursued Deshaun Watson last offseason, but have no interest in Lamar Jackson this year. If they are looking to make a major upgrade to their quarterback position, they may have been targeting the wrong potential option.
Who will the Falcons' starting QB be in 2023 if they pass on Lamar Jackson?
Unless the Falcons make a blockbuster move, Desmond Ridder is expected to be their starting quarterback for Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season. He received limited playing time during his rookie year last season, mostly serving as a backup for Marcus Mariota.
It appears that Atlanta is prepared to give Ridder an opportunity to prove whether or not he's a long-term option for them at the position. If he fails to secure the job, the Falcons will likely be in the market for another quarterback next year.