"You're not a victim" - Jason Whitlock urges Ravens QB Lamar Jackson to stop chasing money amid contract saga
If Lamar Jackson is to receive offers from other teams, then he needs to convince them that he wants more than to get paid.
Ever since the Baltimore Ravens quarterback put out his trade request earlier this month, speculation has been rife about his next landing destination. Most recently, the New England Patriots announced that they would stop pursuing Jackson, despite his interest in them.
If Jason Whitlock is to be believed, it is because Bill Belichick and the rest of the Patriots' decision-makers think Jackson wanted in only for the money, not the culture.
Speaking on his Fearless podcast, Whitlock had some words of advice for the disgruntled quarterback. He said:
"You can have a good, a great NFL career. Don't just run away from Baltimore - an organization that truly loves and cares about [you]... They've turned their entire franchise over to you. Lamar, you're not a victim."
He also gave Jackson some precautionary tales of past players changing for the worse once they got their wish for a big contract:
"You can go after this big amount of money and satisfy your ego... I just don't think that's for you. ...I've seen so many people accept the bag and then be forced to come out of characher and start doing things that don't come naturally to them."
He closed his statement with a telling selection of words:
"Lamar Jackson is not Patrick Mahomes, and that's fine. Great quarterback, lot of money, get to be yourself and work in an organization that best knows how to exploit your physical gifts..."
Lamar- you’re not a victim. #lamarjackson https://t.co/efRKyrqCRv
Why did the Baltimore Ravens refuse to give Lamar Jackson a fully-guaranteed contract?
According to ESPN, early in the season Jackson refused a $250 million five-year extension, out of which $133 million is guaranteed and would have begun in 2023.
Sources said that he had been seeking a fully-guaranteed deal like the one Deshaun Watson received when he was traded to the Cleveland Browns. No reason was given as to why Jackson was rebuffed, but it could be related to his regression in the 2021 season.
That year, he experienced major drops in his passing numbers when compared to his 2020 season, where he also threw a career-high 13 interceptions. He also missed the last three games of the season, as the Ravens finished last in the AFC North for the first time since 2005 and missed the playoffs.
Although he cut back on his interceptions in 2022, his passing numbers dipped even further as he missed both the Ravens' last five regular-season games and the Wild Card Round, likely further explaining the lack of offers coming his way.
If he can convince team executives that he can stay healthy and productive relative to the money he wants, maybe they will take him up on his offer.