"That contract did create some problems" - Ravens EVP Ozzie Newsome blames Cleveland Browns for Lamar Jackson contract situation
Lamar Jackson and his current contract situation have dominated the headlines this offseason. There have been rumors about what the Ravens quarterback is seeking in a new deal, but it leans back to the issue of guaranteed money. Many fans are looking at the fully guaranteed contract the Browns gave Deshaun Watson last March.
Ozzie Newsome admitted as much in an interview on "The Bernie Kosar Show" earlier this month. The Ravens executive vice-president noted that Watson's contract generated some issues for the team, including from owner Steve Bisciotti.
Newsome said:
“Every club has to do what they have to do with contracts. I don’t worry about what other people do, but our owner did say that contract did create some problems. We have to figure out if that’s going to be the norm or is that an outlier. We don’t know.”
Did the #Browns contract with Deshaun Watson complicate things for the Ravens?
"Our owner did say that contract did create some problems! We have to figure out if that's the norm or an outlier."
-Ravens EVP Ozzie Newsome
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At the NFL league meetings last year, the longtime Baltimore Ravens owner said the Cleveland Browns giving Deshaun Watson $230 million in guaranteed money would make negotiations tougher.
Bisciotti said:
“It’s like, ‘D---, I wish they hadn’t guaranteed the whole contract. I don’t know that he should’ve been the first guy to get a fully guaranteed contract. To me, that’s something that is groundbreaking, and it’ll make negotiations harder with others.”
Lamar Jackson was given a non-exclusive tag by the Ravens this offseason, meaning he could speak to other teams in hopes of a new deal. Both sides seem to be far from reaching a new deal as Jackson is reportedly being sought after by several teams.
Lamar Jackson and his NFL accolades
The former Heisman Trophy player remains hopeful for a new deal because he is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. In 2019, he won the NFL MVP award in just his second season in the league.
Lamar Jackson also broke former Atlanta Falcons star Michael Vick's record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a season that year.
He's second to Joe Flacco in Ravens history in passing yards and touchdowns and third in rushing yards and touchdowns. The 26-year-old has done a lot in the first 70 games of his career. We'll see if he gets rewarded with a new deal from the Ravens or another team.
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