data-mm-id=”_tt2ufrqwr”>Lamar Jackson is still unsigned after the initial free agency rush and it seems almost inevitable that he'll have to sign the non-exclusive franchise tag and play for the Baltimore Ravens next year. Very few teams have the money to sign Jackson outright at this stage and something would've happened by now if anybody was truly interested. The draft will be the final deadline for the Ravens to theoretically move Jackson for the maximum possible return, but it is very likely he'll play on a one-year deal worth $32 million in 2023 and do this all again next offseason. Everybody always talks about how football is a business but that doesn't mean feelings do not get hurt in the process of conducting that business. It is natural to wonder if Jackson's relationship with the Ravens has deteriorated, fair or not, as a result of these negotiations. There have not been many leaks from either side to suggest as much, but the whole thing at the end of the year with Jackson not playing or even attending the team's playoff game in Cincinnati didn't seem to sit well with everyone in Baltimore. Now he's in a stand-off with the front office. Things may not be terrible but they are far from great. First Take touched upon the player-team relationship on Tuesday and Stephen A. Smith expressed his opinion that things have gone far enough south that Jackson will never be happy to represent the Ravens again. "Here's where I'm coming with this: I don't think he'll ever be happy representing this organization again… Could he show up to work because he has no choice? Sure. Collect the $32 million that the non-exclusive tag gives him? Sure. Show up for his teammates, who he's got love for? Yeah. But I don't think that he'll ever have the respect, the affection, or the affinity for the organization that he once enjoyed." This opinion comes at an interesting time, as Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported earlier in the day that a "representative" of Jackson's has been reaching out to other teams around the league trying to kickstart negotiations on an offer sheet. It's notable because the representative is not certified by the NFLPA (Jackson famously does not have an agent), and that representative is apparently telling those teams that the MVP quarterback is ready to move on from the Ravens. Stephen A. is not reporting anything in the segment above and most of his takes are usually just takes, but occasionally his opinion is informed enough that it portends future news. This could be one of those times. It wouldn't really be surprising. And it may even prove to be meaningless in the long run. Players leaking that they are unhappy is as reliable a negotiating tactic as teams leaking they are looking into trade packages for the same players. Jackson is not going to be able to pressure the Ravens into giving him what he wants if he tells anybody who will listen that things are fine and dandy. The contract dance will continue until training camp and perhaps even beyond that. But even if things don't get that bad, the history of star players who play under the franchise tag is not great for the Ravens. Usually they leave as soon as possible and/or go to extreme measures to get their way. So no matter what is true and what is a negotiating tactic, it's hard to imagine a long-term future for Jackson in Baltimore unless a deal gets done in the next few months.
Related Posts
According to Bild, Mats Hummels status as a Bayern Munich could be in some danger courtesy of him not featuring all too much under Nico Kovac. The defender was once considered to be one of the top stars in all of European football, but now, he appears to have fallen down the rankings with the German giants.
It was hoped that the situation would be resolved by this point, but if Bayern aren t willing to accommodate him, it certainly seems as if there s a handful of clubs around Europe that would take him on. The 29 year old joined Bayern from rivals Borussia Dortmund back in 2016, and while he s certainly had some flashes of brilliance in Munich, his time in Dortmund will likely always be remembered as his finest days which begs the question as to whether or not he d ever return…
Greuther Furth 1-3 Bayern Munich: Champions win despite Lewandowski missing record and Pavard red ca
Robert Lewandowski s scoring streak ended and Benjamin Pavard was sent off, but Bayern Munich still cruised to a 3-1 victory over Greuther Furth in the Bundesliga.
In a Bavarian derby battle between top and bottom on Friday, Bayern were in control at half-time following goals from Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich at Sportpark Ronhof.
There was hope for Furth when France full-back Pavard was shown a straight red card early in the second half for a professional foul on Jeremy Dudziak.
The champions remained a class apart from their newly-promoted opponents despite Pavard s dismissal and a Sebastian Griesbeck own goal increased their advantage, with a late Cedric Itten header no more than a consolation for the home side.
Lewandowski was unable to match Ger…
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Christophe Galtier said his players held a feeling of frustration after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Benfica in the Champions League.
Lionel Messi became the first player to score against 40 different sides in the Champions League with a superb 22nd-minute strike, but a Danilo Pereira own goal ensured the teams went into half-time level.
Despite the French champions having the better chances in the second half, they failed to find a winner as they took just a point back to Paris, though they remain top of Group H on goals scored.
PSG have now won just once in their last seven away Champions League matches and are without a clean sheet in their last 11 games in the competition, and Galtier told RMC Sport: There is a feeling of fru…
Ten-man Real Madrid scored in a record 30th consecutive UEFA Champions League game as they beat Galatasaray 4-1 to qualify for the last 16.
Carlo Ancelotti s side shrugged off the first-half dismissal of Sergio Ramos, the 17th red card of his Real career, with goals from Gareth Bale, Alvaro Arbeloa, Angel di Maria and Isco eclipsing Umut Bulut s strike.
Ramos match was ended for a foul on Bulut after just 26 minutes, although the Turkey international appeared to make the most of minimal contact when he was through on goal.
Bale rifled in a long-range free-kick eight minutes before the interval, only for Bulut to level almost immediately.
However, Arbeloa provided a collector s item of a goal in the second half, finding the net for the first time since November 20…
Former German champions Wolfsburg have reached an agreement to sign Brazilian playmaker Diego from Juventus, the Bild newspaper claimed in its Saturday edition.
Wolfsburg finalised negotiations with Diego s father who is also the player s agent.
Djair da Cunha wanted an annual salary for his son of eight million euros over three years while Wolfsburg general manager Dieter Hoeness has proposed six million a year over four years.
Now it remains for a transfer fee to be agreed with Juventus demanding 19 million euros while Wolfsburg offer 17 million.
The German Bundesliga is not unfamiliar to Diego, who played three seasons with Werder Bremen in 2006-2009. The Brazilian failed to light up Serie A in his first season in Italy with Juventus.
Wolfsbur…
Paco Alcacer is desperate to seize his opportunity for Spain when they travel to face Ukraine in their final Euro 2016 qualifier on Monday.
The Valencia striker scored twice in a 4-0 win over Luxembourg on Friday, a result which guaranteed the European champions place in France next year, but both David Silva and Alvaro Morata were forced off with ankle and leg injuries respectively.
With Diego Costa having been left out of the latest squad, Alcacer is now determined to make the most of his playing time in Vicente del Bosque s side as he looks to build some consistency at international level.
We re happy to reach the finals, but that s tempered by the first-half injuries. Hopefully they can be with the group soon, he said after the match.
Obviously fo…
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany insisted there is no rift between himself and manager Manuel Pellegrini after returning to the starting XI to help the Premier League leaders to a 0-0 draw against rivals Manchester United.
Kompany started City s previous two matches on the bench having gone against Pellegrini s wishes to play in Belgium s Euro 2012 qualifier against Israel – his first action after missing five club matches with a calf injury.
The City skipper was restored to play a full part in his 19th and, arguably, most forgettable Manchester derby – a turgid contest of few chances at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Everyone knows how much this game means to me, Kompany told Sky Sports. I was disappointed to be left out of the team but it is all about o…
Market: Portugal win
Odds:
Already booking their spot in the final four of this years UEFA Nations League, Portugal will look to continue their unbeaten run when they host the already relegated Poland on Tuesday.
Starting with the hosts, although Portugal s World Cup run may have come to an end at the last 16 stage, Fernando Santos side have enjoyed an impressive post-Russia run. Picking up a point and their spot as group winners thanks to their 0-0 draw with Italy over the weekend, the 2016 European champions are now unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions, they have also managed to do this without Cristiano Ronaldo. Putting three past Poland in the reverse fixture last month, we re backing Portugal to end their campaign with yet another vi…
Arsene Wenger says the best approach for Arsenal is to pay no attention to the Premier League table as his players prepare for what he expects to be a physically testing clash against West Brom.
The Gunners are level on points with leaders Manchester City ahead of Saturday s trip to The Hawthorns, where they face Tony Pulis 13th-placed side, who have lost their last two matches to Leicester City and Manchester United.
Arsenal go into the game with an impressive away record having picked up 31 points from a possible 36 in their last 12 Premier League contests on the road.
But Wenger is certain a difficult challenge awaits and warned his team to forget the form guide and ensure they do not make any key mistakes.
I watched West Brom against Manchester Unite…
Market: Both teams to score
Odds: 12/11 @
Two sides who are seeking a much-needed boost this weekend, Coritiba will welcome Santos to the Couto Pereira on Saturday night.
Starting with the hosts, although Coritiba might have clung to their Serie A status last season, the Coxa appeared destined for another relegation scrap in 2023. Only continuing to show a string of domestic issues since opening the 2023 campaign, Antonio Carlos Zago’s side already sit rock-bottom of the table and tipped as a landslide contender to be hit with a second-tier return this time around. Last seen putting in another worrying display as they slumped to a routine 3-1 loss away at Brazilian giants Palmeiras, the Parana-based outfit have remarkably failed to collect a single win from an…