Luke Jones and Nestor lament the fatigue of the ongoing Lamar Jackson contract talk all over the country as NFL owners and teams appear reluctant to show Number Eight the (guaranteed) money.
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
teams, lamar, lamar jackson, ravens, quarterback, signed, talking, week, year, point, draft, offer, tampa, play, money, free agent, first round pick, maryland, agent, luke
SPEAKERS
Luke Jones, Nestor Aparicio
Nestor Aparicio 00:01
What about W and S T Towson, Baltimore and Baltimore positive we are positively back into the march groove and all things Lamar and Lamar and more Lamar will be doing the Maryland crabcake tour on April 5, in my homeland of Dundalk. Weโre going to be at Costas and Iโm going to be giving away these fantastic instant scratch offs. They look. Looks mom will remember these because these were old school. And they came out like many, many years ago, back in the 70s 50 years of doing the Maryland lottery of friends. And when donation put us out on the road as well. 866 90 nation, I will have the floppy hat on April 5, honoring costs for being one of the original purveyors of all things Maryland lottery tickets back in 1973. Iโm wearing my drugged city shirt, Dundalk, Maryland 1954. And they also were original lottery purveyors, we had a great conversation with my dear friend Calvin said, weโll be coming back down to the fountain down there in the tasting room. But you know, Lukeโs never been to drug city. So at some point, do when I go back to drug city, youโre coming into an unstable me drug city, youโre gonna have to, because I want to show you my neighbor, and youโre showing me all around your little Little League in your home run fences. And by the way, weโre gonna do a football segment here. I will get came up to your homeland over the weekend. And I have some Show and Tell for this segment that Iโm going to break out here at some point. And weโre going to have a little bit of fun. I have shown tell for the baseball part a segment for the football part of the segment as well, because I went antiquing in Shrewsbury Pennsylvania, at the behest of my son and his daughter who sent me up there looking for my Pacific belt buckles. And all I found was small Baltimore Sun things with John Stebbins, and a whole bunch of old clippers stuff. And then I went to State College, Luke, football capital of the big 10. At least they think so they were independent for a long time. And I ran into Ross Tucker, who gave me some peachy Paterno at the Bruce Springsteen concert. And the only thing he wanted to know. And I think he was lubricated. If you donโt have savings prior to show all he wanted us. Hey, whatโs up with Lamar? Whatโs going on with Lamar, man? Whatโs the ice cream? Letโs talk about Lamar. And Iโm thinking man, it stretched all the way to Princeton and say college just Lamar thing. So I want to give it to look whatโs going on with Lamar.
Luke Jones 02:27
Well, to quote the great Bill Murray and one of his films. Well, itโs Groundhog Day. Again. Whatโs going on with Lamar? Itโs whatโs been going on for weeks and months and years, even? Maybe not quite. Yeah, maybe not quite that dramatic with the fully guaranteed contract thing. But look, we talked about it going into the start of the new league year, when we knew that the Ravens were officially placing a franchise tag on him whether it was going to be the exclusive one, which would have been 45 million around there, there abouts, or whether itโs the nonexclusive, which was 32 million, we said that the Ravens were going to be in a tough position here, not just because of that cap number, because 32 point 4 million is not exactly prohibitive, as it pertains to franchise quarterbacks and kept dollars and things of that nature. But when it comes to maintaining flexibility to match, a potential offer sheet from another team, whether thatโs going to come or not, is another debate. But you have to Maurice Smith is wondering where we find, right. But thatโs but thatโs where we find the Ravens at this point where weโre a week into the negotiating period, at least and certainly almost a week into the official signing period. And the ravens are one of only two teams, the Jaguars being the other one that finished the weekend with having not signed an outside free agent. Thatโs where the Ravens find themselves right now theyโve lost some guys. Theyโve resigned some guys, they certainly have a number of free agents that they are still talking to of their own that could still come back I think, you know one name Iโll throw out there Marcus Peters, you look at the cornerback market, it hasnโt been lucrative. So someone on the wrong side of 30, someone whoโs now a year plus removed from an ACL injury, probably not a lucrative deal out there for him. So could they have they increase their chances of bringing him back? Sure, I would say but you keep coming back to the Ravens need to maintain flexibility here and you and I have debated this a lot in terms of whether Lamar was going to be back or not. And look, Iโm not saying itโs 100% that heโs returning but at the same time. Youโve seen the veteran quarterback market disappear, right I mean, guys have found homes and weโve talked about which teams have signed a veteran quarterback and say okay, well that seems to take them out of the Lamar market. But as you and Iโve talked about whether the rain Didnโt work out something long term or not. Each day that passes feels like itโs more and more likely Lamar Jackson is going to be the Ravens quarterback at least this year. And weโll see what happens from there. But
Nestor Aparicio 05:11
and the Ravens will have no motivation to give them $120 million now, right? Like itโs 32 you play or you donโt play, right? I mean, I donโt know where the hard ball and all of this is. Where youโre hardball on the kid, youโre expecting the lead your team? Whoโs been an on again and off again, leader from the very beginning, and is like, I donโt know how I keep going back to Dennis, like, how can they kiss and make up? And how could this be happy with ravens, you know, other than the fan base, Lamar is out dancing party and, you know, people bringing their selfies in, like whatever, like Iโm watching seeing all this stuff, and thinking, if heโs not sitting which immersi now when, if thereโs, you know, if heโs not looking to get another gig right now, like, as the market dries up to your point, like Tampa, Atlanta, the Carolina these teams that have other chairs that were in our chairs back in November, December and the chairs of all the internet out there, and indeed the Morris Smithโs mind. And in Lamar Jacksonโs agents mind, these teams would all be out there. Man we were so post St. Patrickโs Day all the early moneyโs gone. A lot of teams donโt have that kind of cap room laying around. And we had predicted that with Tampa and some other places where maybe he thought he did a good tax situation, that you know that Miami obviously valued a cornerback, you know that these teams valued other things other than Lamar Jackson. And I guess in his mind, everybody was going to make Lamar number one, when the Ravens were the only one willing to make them number one five years ago, and now heโs hitting the market, whoโs gonna make Him their priority? And itโs, this is fascinating to watch, dude, itโs, itโs unbelievable, really. And thatโs why Ross Tucker is bringing it up with me 10 minutes before Springsteen sit in the stage over some peachy Paterno? Yeah, well, the
Luke Jones 07:06
one thing you said that Iโll push back on a little bit is heโs not really hitting the market, because you know what he wants, right? He wants to pull a guarantee deal. And oh, yeah, you need to give up two first round picks. So teams like Miami who donโt have a first round pick, even if they even if that deep down, they wanted to move on from two, you canโt do it until after the draft. So weโve said this all along. And this is why itโs, frankly, frustrating when you see the talking head shows on ESPN and what have you where people just keep saying, well, they need to go get Lamar, itโs like, okay, well, itโs not that simple. Heโs not a unrestricted free agent, where you just sign them. And thatโs that, right? Thereโs so many layers to this that speak to it being much more complicated is demands, draft compensation, the idea that you could go down the road and sign an offer sheet with him and think, Hey, we got a chance. And then the Ravens just said, Okay, weโll match that, you know, weโll match that. But weโre not, weโre not just going to give away our franchise, quarterback, and we actually feel like whatever the offer sheet, hypothetically, would be. And again, whether Lamar is going to even sign an offer sheet that wouldnโt be fully guaranteed. You know, thatโs, thatโs certainly at least a strong debate, whether that would even be a reality. Now, thereโs a lot to it. So, you know, I what you said in terms of teams, not making him their top priority? Look, I mean, heโs not an unrestricted free agent, thereโs a lot more to it. So thatโs when you look at each teamโs individual situation. And to me going into last Wednesday, when teams at 4pm, on the 15th, when they could officially start talking to him putting aside agent, you know, the lack of an agent and all the other factors, you know, there was still the sense of who was going to make sense who, all those different variables that weโve mentioned over and over and over, who kind of lines up and at the time, I kind of thought it was Indianapolis, you know, based on the fact that they had cleared some cap space, and they hadnโt made a lot of signings, could it still be them? Sure. But each day that passes, you just wonder, you know, I mean, is there going to be a team thatโs gonna be able to create enough cap room, or theyโre gonna have to cut theoretically, theyโd have to cut so many different players. And then itโs like, alright, you get Lamar, but whatโs the rest of your roster look like? So thereโs just a lot to it. And thatโs where I look at it from the standpoint of each day passing it feels more and more likely that itโs kind of the Ravens or who for him right now. Now. Lamar Jackson, Andy Murray Smith and Lars Campton anyone else whoโs advising him at this point could say in a big picture sense well, you know, you go the Kirk Cousins route or you know, Dak Prescott playing on the tag. I mean, you know, itโs not itโs not unheard of that a player would do it. I mean, cousins did it played on the tag two years and eventually got to mark and thatโs when he got his three year Garen fully guaranteed deal. So but the problem is if youโre Lamar Jackson is still a lot of time. until you can do that, you know, youโre still two years away from that. So
Nestor Aparicio 10:04
what did you see the numbers that Josh Allen, the money heโs made versus what Lamar would make if he plays? Sure.
Luke Jones 10:11
Yeah, I mean, the Mooreโs the money that heโs missed out on over the last two years. I donโt know how youโre gonna get that back. Even if you get a fully guaranteed deal. I donโt know how youโre getting that back at this point. I mean, thatโs, thatโs whatโs so difficult for him. So
Nestor Aparicio 10:24
itโd be different if he had two Super Bowls under his wing. But heโs got two incomplete grades at the end of these two years. In addition, that works against him for anybody to sign him for it for anybody to sign him. Heโs got to incompletes when he was betting on to deep runs, and my value and being the number one, heโs not the best quarterback in the National Football League. And I know youโre higher on him than I am and probably always have been because of the style. But nobody stepping up in the way that they all got couldnโt get out of their own way for Deshaun Watson and you talk about the trade part, the two picks and whatever in Miami and this and that. I want to say this because I havenโt said this because I havenโt had an opportunity to say this, because heโs only been on the market for half a week, right? If you love that kid, and you think that kids your quarterback, and you think youโre gonna win a championship with that kid the next three to five years, and you would be on the phone with Eric dโacosta right now saying what do we have to give him and what do we have to give you? Letโs figure it you like if we love the kid, you love the kid, too? Well yeah. Tyler Haney key who did the Tampa Tampa got somebody right. Who didnโt who to Tampa sigh. Tampa? Jeff Garcia? I donโt know. Yeah. No, but I mean, whatever
Luke Jones 11:44
off guard. I wasnโt thinking about that. No, Iโm
Nestor Aparicio 11:46
not thinking about it either. Because they signed somebody that canโt wait with. So like, I donโt even remember who was Jameis Winston somewhere. But that was yesterday in Tampa. But Baker? Thank you. Yeah, they canโt win. So
Luke Jones 12:03
I knew that it just wasnโt
Nestor Aparicio 12:07
working looking to embarrass either one of us on our trivial knowledge of who what quarterbacks and what hot chair, itโs either you can win or you canโt. And if this is the week, this is the week where if Mr. Big Shot white owner wherever he is on his plane on his boat, and then the general manager and the coach are like, we got Baker Mayfield or we could get Lamar Jackson we have two or whatever their situation is or we have the number one pick, or we could go get Lamar Jackson. Last year was Deshaun Watson bright shiny objects. As I talked to Dennis about selling cars and Pacific a belt buckles and you know, all of that the bright shiny object here Lamarr thought he would be the bright shiny object and call it collusion Call it whatever you want. Like I mean, theyโre all spending 100 You know, $240 million dollars in cat money. So theyโre all spending the money now who they spent it on, you know, whatever and how they collude against quarterbacks, but I donโt think theyโre gonna go to market with a guarantee deal for a guy whoโs got two incomplete grades who now have teams are deciding theyโd rather have Baker Mayfield then give up half a draft or two drafts and give him too much money or more than Eric and Steve who love him. And John love him. Weโre gonna give him and like, this is itโs dude, itโs fascinating. And I guess this is why why Peter came on last week, right? To your point at Aaron Schatz on last week. I want to talk about anything else. Like I they all get two minutes on their respective shows unless they write a column about it. This thing is so complex that Peter King and I did 32 minutes on it didnโt get a breath on anything else, because he had a lot he wanted to say. Because thereโs just so much to say about all of this.
Luke Jones 13:56
Yeah, there is. I mean, Iโll be honest, Iโm fatigued beyond belief talking about Lamar Jackson. I think national guys itโs a little bit different because theyโre covering the rest of the league. But I mean, look. letโs also be clear here. Other teams making these decisions like like, letโs not get these other teams that much credit either by the Buccaneers arenโt winning anything with Baker Mayfield? I mean, come on now. So So at the same time, letโs also not give all these teams too much credit that they look at the set of variables and say, Oh, weโre making the smart decision. There are some teams that absolutely should be in on Lamar Jackson, quite frankly, bought 137
Nestor Aparicio 14:33
miles away laid out. Thereโs thereโs one right down the street date that he would make them instantly better.
Luke Jones 14:41
Well, but weโve been saying the Washington commanders football teams black slash blank skins. Weโve been talking about them making bad decisions for 25 years at this point in time. So thereโs that but you mentioned Deshaun Watson, letโs be clear here. Though there was interest in Deshaun Watson of multiple teams until the Cleveland Browns offered a fully guaranteed deal. And then how much interest was there, one, a team that would had already been eliminated from the content from contention. And those other teams that were trying to sign him, they, some of them still need a quarterback. But we go back to the fully guaranteed ask, and thatโs where this thing continues to be at its impasse, at the impasse at the ravens and Laura that for a year now, you know, your plus. And you know, the rest of the league looking at this and saying, Iโd like to talk theoretically, you know, hypothetically, Iโd like to talk to the kid. But if thatโs a stretch is asking point, and the Ravens havenโt even been able to negotiate with them, because thatโs what heโs wanted. You know, theyโve tried and he really hasnโt been willing to negotiate. I mean, I think that seems to be apparent at this point. Look, he has his asking price. And thatโs that, and he has the right to do that. But if youโre that other team who doesnโt have a rapport with them, he doesnโt have an agent. So communication is an issue, draft compensation, the fact that heโs had some injuries over the last couple of years, as it pertains to a fully guaranteed deal. I donโt think Lamar Jackson being injured at the end of each of the last two years, disqualifies teams from being interested at all. But I think it does certainly make them take some major pause as it pertains to a fully guaranteed contract. Absolutely. I think the Ravens felt that way. If Lamar had taken the ravens to the Super Bowl last year, or this year, or he had won another MVP this past season, I donโt think weโd be talking about this, I think they would feel that we donโt really have a choice. This is Joe Flacco post Super Bowl 47. Again, I think theyโd have no leverage. And that would be that theyโd have to pay him. But it hasnโt worked out that way. So thatโs where this is more complicated. So what you have is the Ravens being in this holding pattern where they have started, the second week, letโs call this a second week of free agency at this point in time, with around $8 million in cap space. Now, they have a number of players that they can restructure contracts and create more cap space as needed. So theyโre just kind of in a holding pattern waiting and seeing if thereโs going to be a team that steps up and sniffs around Lamar Jackson, at this point, who is that team? Again, weโve talked about Indy, I saw some national reporters over the weekend speculating a little bit about a team like a New England, but that doesnโt feel patriot like quite frankly. And, again, so many of these teams have already spent free agent dollars elsewhere, that you just look at and say, from a cap standpoint, from a contract structure standpoint, how feasible would it be so in the same way, we talked about, you know, the Miami Dolphins donโt have a first round pick the San Francisco 40 Niners donโt have a first round pick, so they canโt even talk to Lauren. So after the draft as it pertains to him being on the tag and an offer sheet, so yeah, thatโs where you just kind of go through the list and you just start disqualifying teams for any number of reasons. You know, I mean, the teams that have a franchise quarterback certainly arenโt going to be in on him. Teams that have signed another veteran quarterback, you know, at least in like the Jimmy Garoppolo bracket, you know, and above. Now, theyโre not signing Lamar Jackson, whether they made a good choice or not with the guy that chose instead is debatable, but itโs itโs what they did.
Nestor Aparicio 18:17
Yeah, well, the st. So Raiders, they have guys in those chairs now, right? Like the the chairs are getting full. I mean, his agent didnโt see this. And his agent and he were out clubbing over the weekend. And Iโm thinking to myself, if youโre a dude, again, if youโre not on the plane now, when right? I mean, the moneyโs going away, whereโs the interest in him? Theyโre screaming collusion, but weโre trying to as journalists put the pieces together because I believe me. These are dastardly men who own these teams. So like, I have no thoughts about their integrity or their ethics. Iโve seen it at work. But all that being said, how this is going to play out where heโs going to go and quarterback and what the circumstance would be here. If he comes back again, plays for 32 million doesnโt show up in the offseason. We donโt hear from his agent all we do is see these bits and pieces of this guy playing video games and live in a millionaireโs life and kind of having a good time in the offseason. Itโs this is give me the popcorn. Iโm like Michael Jackson thriller is what Iโm like, Luke, you know?
Luke Jones 19:28
Yeah, I mean, like, I mean, thatโs him going to concerts and stuff like that. I mean, thatโs thatโs not
Nestor Aparicio 19:34
know but this week his agent would be out trying to get him in desperately right now of course well,
Luke Jones 19:39
but the agent would be doing the groundwork for that and there is no agent so sure. No, I hear you. So then
Nestor Aparicio 19:44
thereโs nothing happening. If heโs not on the plane to here or there are there are theyโre not, then thereโs really nothing. Nobodyโs giving him money without meeting him. Iโve met him.
Luke Jones 19:54
Well, but but it also comes down to if, if his starting point is more than what teams are willing to do. And then then thereโs a draft compensation. And then thereโs the lack of an agent. And then thereโs talking about the injury. And then thereโs talking about, you know, restructuring your offer up. Again, all these variables start to pile up. And thatโs where teams have clearly said, Well, weโre gonna go in a different direction. If
Nestor Aparicio 20:19
I wanted $150 million from Jim or say, Iโd be on a plane to Indianapolis and sitting in his office and telling him what I could do to to help his football team. But I present myself Lucas isnโt
Luke Jones 20:30
hard. Thatโs me. But thatโs but thatโs not the asking price. He wants more than that. So thatโs what
Nestor Aparicio 20:35
well, then heโs not getting on the plane in Jim Mercer, heโs not getting on the plane. And heโs gonna have to come back and play for $32 million with his tail between his legs. And I donโt think thatโs good for as good as Ravens fans think that is for them. I donโt think itโs good for them. And as much as Kevin Byrne used to preach to me and all the Ravens brass would say we like a pistol football player that wants to go earn his money. We you know, we we like him pissed off. I donโt think that this is good for them. I you know, like,
Luke Jones 21:01
let me let me ask specifically, but what why is this different than Terrell Suggs playing on the tag back in 2008? Why is this different than
Nestor Aparicio 21:11
because youโre the quarterback? And I think there was questions last year about his decisions, and not I think there were bruised feelings. And I think that
Luke Jones 21:20
oh, I donโt, I donโt necessarily disagree with that. Iโm just asking why that canโt work. But look, let me be
Nestor Aparicio 21:25
honest feelings with your franchise players. Not good ever, ever, ever, ever.
Luke Jones 21:30
I donโt disagree with you. But my point is, like, whatโs the alternative?
Nestor Aparicio 21:35
I guess, you have to ask themselves that, right?
Luke Jones 21:38
I mean, Iโm just, you know, youโre not just gonna just, you know, theyโre not just gonna let them go.
Nestor Aparicio 21:43
They may no, think heโs done there. Heโs gonna play somewhere else. And heโs got to be my guy. And Iโm gonna get my price. You know, especially draft compensation. You know what I mean? So, I donโt but but but the
Luke Jones 21:56
but the See, see, thatโs where I disagree with you. I donโt see the Ravens. Why would the Ravens be motivated to move Lamar Jackson at a less than optimal? Price? I mean, say what you want about him? Heโs an extraordinary asset. Because when a lot of football games, I donโt disagree, but I donโt
Nestor Aparicio 22:10
know what an asset he is, if heโs gonna show up in August and be an asshat instead of an asset. And not, but he has plenty of motivation on that, but played.
Luke Jones 22:20
But he has, he has an extraordinary motivation to play well, also, right now, that doesnโt mean I think heโs showing up for OT. I mean, he didnโt show up for OTAs. Last year, theyโre voluntary, and heโs not even under contract at this point in time. So how important are OTAs? How important is the first two weeks of training camp? You know,
Nestor Aparicio 22:40
how important is the advice since getting more knighting it from? Thatโs really,
Luke Jones 22:43
I donโt disagree, but Iโm trying to live in reality here though. Like,
Nestor Aparicio 22:48
reality says heโs going to come play football. And John and Eric believe that probably too. And and how is that going to turn out? And how uncomfortable and awkward is that going to be? Well, you know, dude, youโre a professional, youโre paying, youโre gonna pay $2 million. This week, that quarterback and my team, youโre asking the meetings, like, you know, like, thatโs the way it has to be, it canโt be that way. And he canโt be happy here. I think theyโre all fighting an uphill battle of not where they want to be, not where they want to be. And I donโt know that thereโs ever a point, theyโre going to come to him and say, look, hereโs four years, and 160 guaranteed, thatโs way more than you get anywhere else, we love you long time, weโll give you weโre gonna give you more than anybody would give you that heโs even really going to believe that once the union has been in his head about, like, this is really sticky for me. I mean, Iโm wandering through the first Kumbaya, and heโs the quarterback, and week one, and everythingโs cool. And theyโre in there for no and like, because heโs great, because he is great. Iโll hear that, that if my birthday in October, everythingโs cool here and number eights under center. And this works, this would be a great feat for all of them. And I would applaud it. If that happens. I just, it doesnโt feel to me, it isnโt smelled to me for the last 120 days, like thatโs what this is, as a professional as somebody.
Luke Jones 24:16
And letโs be clear, Iโm not saying everythingโs great or groovy, itโs not. But at the same time, you have to look at the reality of where you are. And if thereโs not look deep down. And I donโt know this Nestor, but I think the Raven, as if they got a trade offer, and this is even going back to before the deadline for the franchise tag if they had gotten the trade offer that would blow them away. I think that and a team was willing to meet the Mars contract request because that clearly would be part of it. Yeah, I think they would have been willing to move on. I donโt think thatโs happening, at least at this point in time.
Nestor Aparicio 24:52
So I think maybe Eric went to Indianapolis and figured that out, right? Probably and
Luke Jones 24:57
that might have something to do with the fact that they gave him the nonexclusive 10 And again, then maybe wait and see. And if Indianapolis, theoretically had been, you know, they still could be. But if theyโre a team that would be willing to pony up and pay Lamar, what he wants the fourth overall pick this year and a first round pick next year, or you could work out different draft compensation, you can also have that option as well. But, you know, maybe that would be maybe that maybe the Ravens would deem that good enough. But at the same time, if that market isnโt there, and there isnโt that team, itโs willing to give him what he wants right now. Youโre still better off with Lamar Jackson, even if itโs not kumbaya than Baker Mayfield being your quarterback this year. I mean, if youโre doing that, for what, not beaten Patrick mahomes and Josh Allen, maybe you can make the playoffs that thatโs your thatโs your ceiling. And you know, from that standpoint, I mean, thatโs where you look at this and say, okay, and kick the can down the road another year. Again, Iโm not saying thatโs ideal. I put, letโs be clear, when Iโm when Iโm laying this out there, itโs where they are, I mean, the fact that they havenโt been able to the fact that they havenโt signed an outside free agent, or we can have free and saying, look, the ravens are never that team thatโs throwing silly money around at the start of the new league year. But usually a weekend, theyโve typically signed a guy or two, maybe itโs not a big ticket item like a Marcus Williams, but youโve signed a guard, you know, go back to Kevin Zeitler, a couple years ago, you know, youโve signed a number three wide receiver type, you know, nothing, I mean, they literally over the first week did not sign an outside free agent, which is itโs not unprecedented. But it speaks to where they are right now. Because they are in a position where you know, you, you donโt want to be in a position where you canโt match Lamar Jacksonโs offer sheet. If it had been a team that we talked about this before free agency started Washington, for example. And itโs clear, it seems apparent with them signing Jacoby perset that theyโre not in the Lamar Jackson sweepstakes. And not saying they were going to be because there have been lots of reports suggesting they werenโt going to be but, you know, that was a team that had a middle, you know, a mid first round pick, you know, middle of the first round. Thatโs not good enough for Lamar Jackson. Itโs just not. So thatโs where you look at okay. See, does he at some point in time, and it might not be this week, but maybe itโs a few weeks down the road, or maybe itโs come the draft and he sees no teams have signed him to an offer sheet. At some point to the people that does him, you know, him and the people that are advising him? Do they look at this thing and say, Okay, maybe the Ravens offer wasnโt as bad as we thought. And he comes to that realization, realization? Or does he say Iโm gonna bet on myself this year, and whether thatโs smart financially or not? Itโs his choice, you know, itโs been his choice to not have an agent. Itโs his prerogative at the end of the day. But does he try to have a better season and this coming year, and then weโre doing this thing all over again next year to some shape or form. So itโs weird. Itโs fascinating for people who arenโt exhausted by it. Frankly, Iโm in the exhausted camp at this point in time. But just because youโre tired of it doesnโt mean that you just resign yourself to coming up with a less less than optimal solution. Because, again, heโs that important, you know, heโs that valuable of a player in a vacuum. Again, all the other factors that we talked about that explain this collusion or non collusion, thereโs, itโs complicated. I think everyone would agree with that, whoโs actually taking the time to look at this thing. But at the same time, that doesnโt mean you just you just throw in the towel and take any old mediocre compensation for him and move on. Because then what, thatโs when we keep coming back to the argument, you and I have had a different times or debate, I should say, over the last two or three months where itโs you say, Okay, you move on from Lamar Jackson, whatโs next? And thatโs that, thatโs the complicated piece. Youโve decided youโre gonna move on? All right, trying to replace him. Thatโs thatโs way, way easier said than done. So thatโs where we find the Ravens where even if if they were being truthful, and saying, Yeah, this, this isnโt great. And certainly Lamar Jackson saying the same thing. At the same time, that doesnโt mean whatโs best for them in 2023, at the very least, wouldnโt be for Lamar Jackson coming back, and both sides kind of counting on the other to be motivated and have a good season and see what happens if Lamar bets on himself and has his best season since 2019. And the ravens, letโs say they make it to the AFC Championship game, at the very least, which will be the first time theyโve done that in a decade, then, maybe weโre talking about it in different terms. If Lamar plays all 17 games, and plays at a high level and he looks even better in the Todd Monken On offense compared to the Greg Roman offense, and letโs say they drafted a wide receiver in the first round, thatโs a legit wide receiver, a number one wide receiver. Itโs gonna be a very different different conversation then. And then maybe at that point, you know, maybe Lamar says, Iโll do a three year fully guaranteed deal. And maybe thatโs what the best solution would be. I donโt know, Iโm spitballing. Here. Clearly, itโs tough for us to figure out a solution because, well, the parties that are directly involved in this havenโt been able to come up with a solution that satisfactory that both sides so you know, this impasse continues. And as every day that that pack passes, it feels less and less likely that a team is going to do an offer sheet. Iโve heard some people talk about, you know, okay, it could come after the draft. I still donโt know how that works from a cap standpoint, unless, unless you just have a roster that is that flexible to do that. I mean, the the cap dollars have been spent last week and this week and the week after that. And then after that youโre talking about mostly minimum kind of deals, right? So if itโs not now then when and thatโs where I keep coming back to it feels more more like Omarโs gonna be here in 2023. I donโt know that. I havenโt heard that from anyone in the know to that. I donโt think anyone knows that with 100% certainty. But if a teamโs not stepping up now, then. And the Ravens havenโt, you know, itโs not as though they went and signed another veteran quarterback or anything. So it looks like itโs gonna be Lamar. And I donโt know, maybe, maybe they come up with a compromise between now and mid July for the deadline. Or maybe weโre talking about this all over again a year from now, which I kind of hope not, I not kind of I definitely hope fatigue, he says fatigue, Iโm fatigued I absolutely am. But at the same time, that doesnโt mean that you just throw in the towel, and you just say see ya, and youโre going to take any any old offer for him either. So weโll see what Lamar has to say with his exclusive interview from his own YouTube channel, which he teased late Saturday night, weโll see if thereโs anything, Iโm not holding my breath, that itโs going to be anything earth shattering. But we havenโt heard Lamar talk in long form since early December. So weโll see what he has to say or if there is any newsworthy items that come from that. But otherwise, weโre just kind of waiting. And meanwhile, as youโve pointed out, those quarterback chairs at places that quite frankly, in a vacuum, absolutely should want to sign Lamar Jackson. Well, itโs not happening. So reality is different from what we think should happen or what could make sense. So weโll weโll see how this continues to play out. But in the meanwhile to Groundhog Day all over again.
Nestor Aparicio 32:46
Well, you know, I know when which has steal for me out of the upper deck and I saved all the money on the season tickets last year and I have all the money from the flights from Tampa that things that in use, I decided that Iโm going to sign my own free agent, quarterback, Luke here for the offseason, I went out on the eBay, and I legitimately got something that I couldnโt afford. In 1989. When I wanted it, I literally couldnโt find it. And if I found that it would have been $129 Then which I would not have spent because it was officially licensed. So I bought this this is old school logo athletics. 1990 edition. I have a Warren Moon. So look at that, you know, and it fit it fits me. So itโs it. Iโve washed it several times, and now smells good enough to wear. And so this is it. Iโm going with this. So no matter what, this is what Iโm gonna be wearing in week one. Number one, Warren Moon so thatโs it. Very cool. I had that for you guys. And Iโm like I was antiquing in Shrewsbury when I went to the Springsteen show, and I have something for the baseball segment that Iโm going to share with you Luke Jones is here. He will be there Owings Mills, breaking news. If youโre on the WNS D tech service, you know all about itโs all brought to you by coons Baltimore for Dennis will be here on Thursday. I will be giving away Maryland scratch offs and these are the 50th anniversary that we had a bunch of winners when we were dealing with drug city a couple of weeks ago weโre gonna be looking for some winners as well at Costas on the fifth and then fade these on the seventh kickin opening day off right man I mean, weโve got Springsteen we got opening day we got the 50th anniversary the Maryland lottery, we got our friends at window nation 8669 You nation during the buy to get to free in the 24 months 0% financing, like my windows like spring. I need an exterminator. somebodyโs out there. I gotta get the spiders and all these crazy things away from me. Weโre gonna get to some baseball because we got opening day we got World Baseball Classic. We have the eternal debate is thereโs something really more important in the World Series. Weโll talk about all that more. Luke will be with us and we got a good week around here as we get ready for baseball. we tip our caps to the Maryland tear Robins and we continue to spin the wheel with the Lamar sweepstakes heโs fatigued Iโm Nestor we are wn SDA and 1570 Towson Baltimore we never stopped talking Lamar Jackson and Baltimore positive