Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey firmly in Noah Lyles' corner over viral Anthony Edwards take
Marlon Humphrey is the latest person to jump into the Noah Lyles vs. NBA stars debate. The Baltimore Ravens cornerback commented after the recent reports about Lyles' comment on Anthony Edwards went viral.
Lyles, who won the gold medal in the 100-meter men's race in the 2024 Paris Olympics, was reportedly upset by Adidas for giving Edwards his own line of shoes.
He declined Adidas' invitation for an event hosted for the launch of Edwards' AE1 shoe and said the following:
"You want to invite me to an event for a man who has not even been to an NBA Finals?... and you're giving him a shoe? ... No disrespect, the man (Edwards) is an amazing athlete... I love that they saw an insight to give him a shoe; all I'm saying is, 'How they (Adidas) could not see that for me?'"
Humphrey said this after seeing Lyles' comments:
"Noah basically says what most top athletes say/think."
Like Lyles, the Ravens star also caught a lot of flak for his comments about the rising NBA superstar, i.e., Anthony Edwards. It seems like the amount of attention the basketball players get from everyone in the media and brands has visibly bothered various players from other sports.
The argument from Humphrey and Lyles is kind of pointless since the revenue generated by marketing Edwards will be much more profitable for Adidas. Similarly, not many brands will sacrifice profits to make sure other sports athletes get the same type of marketing as the basketball players in the USA.
Moreover, we have seen prominent athletes like Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Aaron Judge, and Mike Trout receive significant exposure from their respective brands due to their high marketability compared to their peers.
Marlon Humphrey, Ravens could find it tough to defend AFC North title
Marlon Humphrey and the Baltimore Ravens finished 13-4 last season and had the best record in the AFC. However, winning another division title will be very tough for the Ravens this year.
The Steelers have significantly upgraded their quarterback room. Deshaun Watson and Joe Burrow are also fully healthy again. The other three teams in the division have as great a shot at winning the AFC North as the Ravens.
Baltimore also lost key players like Patrick Queen, Jadeveon Clowney, Geno Stone, and Odell Beckham Jr., along with their defensive coordinator, Mike Macdonald, in the offseason, which will make things much tougher for the team.
Marlon Humphrey only played 10 games last season due to a foot injury, so it's crucial for the Ravens that he stays healthy this season.