The Lamar Jackson contract saga grows stranger by the day.
Two days after Pro Football Talk reported that a representative for the Ravens quarterback had been contacting teams in an effort to spark contract negotiations, the NFL issued a memo to the 32 teams instructing them not to negotiate with Ken Francis, a Florida businessman who isn’t certified by the NFL Players Association. Only a certified NFLPA agent — which Jackson has declined to employ throughout his NFL career — or a player himself is permitted to negotiate a contract or discuss a potential trade with teams.
The story only got weirder after Jackson went on Twitter to deny that his “business partner” was trying to negotiate for him. Francis also denied contacting teams on Jackson’s behalf, according to ESPN.
Roughly an hour after the league’s memo leaked via multiple outlets, the Ravens quarterback posted an infomercial-like video of a home fitness invention one might expect to see airing on MASN in lieu of an Orioles spring training game.
Seriously.
My business partner Ken and I will be Dropping the @TheEntireGym this Summer
#STAYTUNED #TRUZZ pic.twitter.com/7ZkkUKa5qk
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) March 23, 2023
What’s the benefit of Jackson forgoing using a certified agent in his quest for a monster contract if his ability to carry out the negotiating process is coming into question?
Any chance Francis can play wide receiver?
When does Jackson plan to post the “exclusive” interview on his YouTube channel that he teased nearly a week ago?
And does “The Entire Gym” come with a full guarantee?
