Our Luke Jones attended the Monday practice in Owings Mills that Lamar Jackson missed. Does this sound the alarm about his hamstring injury? Or is it just another day of rest? Either way, the Baltimore Ravens have two games in four days next week and we’re reading the purple tea leaves about the desperation of a 1-5 football team on the edge of disaster.
Nestor Aparicio and Luke Jones discussed the implications of Lamar Jackson missing Ravens practice on Monday due to a hamstring injury. They expressed concern about Jackson’s readiness for upcoming games, noting his history of slow recoveries. Luke highlighted the importance of Jackson’s practice participation, suggesting that if he doesn’t practice by Wednesday, it could indicate a serious setback. They also discussed the team’s overall performance, noting a 1-5 record and the need for Jackson to lead the team to victories against the Bears and Dolphins. The conversation emphasized the critical nature of the next two games for the Ravens’ season.
- [ ] @Nestor Aparicio – Prepare for potential scenarios where Jackson may not be able to play this week.
- [ ] Follow up on Lamar Jackson’s practice status on Wednesday.
- [ ] Discuss the team’s offensive strategy if Jackson is unable to play.
Lamar Jackson’s Absence and Its Implications
- Nestor Aparicio and Luke Jones discuss the implications of Lamar Jackson missing Ravens practice on Monday.
- Nestor recalls past experiences with Lamar’s injury history and the team’s communication about his status.
- Luke acknowledges the concern and uncertainty surrounding Lamar’s hamstring injury.
- Nestor expresses his skepticism about the team’s transparency and the impact on the season.
Historical Context and Team Dynamics
- Nestor reflects on the team’s past performances and the impact of Lamar’s injuries.
- Luke discusses the potential reasons behind Lamar’s absence and the team’s cautious approach.
- Nestor emphasizes the importance of Lamar’s presence for the team’s morale and performance.
- Luke highlights the challenges of playing two games in five days and the need for Lamar to be fully prepared.
Media and Fan Perception
- Nestor criticizes the team’s communication strategy and the impact on fan confidence.
- Luke acknowledges the media’s role in shaping public perception and the importance of transparency.
- Nestor discusses the potential consequences of Lamar’s absence on the team’s record and future.
- Luke emphasizes the need for the team to win both upcoming games to stay relevant.
Impact on Team Morale and Performance
- Nestor and Luke discuss the emotional impact of Lamar’s absence on the team and its morale.
- Luke highlights the importance of Lamar’s presence in practice for the team’s overall performance.
- Nestor expresses his frustration with the team’s current state and the need for improvement.
- Luke emphasizes the importance of winning both games to keep the season alive.
Future Outlook and Team Strategy
- Nestor and Luke discuss the potential strategies the team might adopt if Lamar is unable to play.
- Luke suggests the team might need to adjust its approach and rely on other players.
- Nestor emphasizes the need for the team to find a way to win despite the challenges.
- Luke highlights the importance of the team’s overall performance and the need for a cohesive strategy.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
- Nestor and Luke reflect on the potential outcomes of the upcoming games and the team’s future.
- Luke emphasizes the importance of winning both games to keep the season alive.
- Nestor expresses his hope for the team’s success and the need for a strong performance.
- Luke highlights the challenges the team faces and the importance of staying focused and determined.
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
Lamar Jackson, hamstring injury, Ravens practice, game schedule, team morale, offensive line, defensive line, injury impact, player availability, game strategy, fan confidence, team performance, coaching decisions, upcoming games.
SPEAKERS
Nestor Aparicio, Luke Jones, Speaker 1
Nestor Aparicio 00:01
Welcome home. We are W, N, S T. Am 1570 Towson, Baltimore. We are Baltimore, positive. We are getting ready for kickoff on Sunday and also kick off of the fall edition of the Maryland crab cake tour, presented by the Maryland lottery, has some Raven scratch offs to give away. We’re going to be in Costa santimonium on Wednesday of this week. Got some great guests set up for that next week, breakfast at State Fair in Catonsville in the middle of the World Series. We’ll do some baseball talk in the heart of the Ville. Also Coco’s pop on the fifth of November. Be back with Marcelo. I’m looking forward to that. They’re celebrating their 40th anniversary all year long. Stop by on burger night on Tuesday night as well. I’ll be there on Wednesday the fifth, and then on Friday the seventh, we’re going to be back at this guy’s favorite place, pizza, John’s in Essex, having big fat cheese steaks and crinkle cut french fries and don’t sleep on that chef salad with the peppercorn ranch. And as my wife always says, you know, if we eat the pizza there, we can get a beer. She’s always thinking. Luke Jones is always thinking as well. You and I got up early on Monday morning and we were thinking, thinking, thinking that Lamar is just gonna play. And I was probably 20 minutes into the segment. You and I did. I’m like, what if he doesn’t? What if this isn’t? What if he can’t? What they hand me in the and I asked you where roquan was where everybody else is. I remember this from a couple years ago. I really do. I remember Chad steel and the Ravens feeding. It was a reporter. It was a female. I’d have to go back on my Twitter feed that that the Nazi boy took away from me a couple years ago, where I put up on Twitter that the ravens are telling the inside media, their people, he’s coming back, he’s coming back, he’s coming back. He never came back. And we began this long journey of, is he playing? Is he not? This is where, when I call Harbaugh dishonest, come on, man, you know like, I mean, we go back to the history of this, and whether he was going to play or not, and when he doesn’t show up on the practice field on Monday. I don’t know if it’s international news, but the league is playing in Dublin and Madrid and everywhere else, but it’s certainly beltway news in Baltimore as I wear my Derek Henry jersey, I’m trying to change the Mojo. Yeah. I
Luke Jones 02:19
mean, it is, and I’m not going to sit here and say that it’s not raising some concern. It raising uncertainty. It doesn’t mean he’s not going to play this week. A couple things, obviously, when, when you’re talking about, you know, given the history, look, I this isn’t going to turn into Lamar misses the rest of the year, right? I mean, you know, it’s not if he would have torn the hamstring off the bone, there would have been a much different reaction and all of that, right? But it is a hamstring. It is something that can be finicky. It is something that can have a setback rate. I’m not saying Lamar Jackson did have a setback. I don’t know anything along those lines. By
Nestor Aparicio 03:02
the way, nobody has said he’s playing is, I guess is my point, like couple years ago, when I’m locked out and you’re in and John’s doing whatever zigzag he’s doing in his press conferences, the fact that you later saw him walking on the field and he couldn’t walk after the team was in games in November and December, having the it wasn’t Evan who was the it was a reporter, though, who said, All signs are, you know that Lamar will be. All signs were two weeks ago when Tom Brady is saying Cooper rush can’t play, and his Tyler Huntley thing and whatever. I mean, had three points in three turnovers in 60 Minutes football, right? So we know how bad it can be. There was just this rainbow over the hill that like it, from the fan bases perspective, from you and I, the way we spoke about it, even on Monday, it’s he’s gonna play. I don’t know, I to your point, it’s a hamstring, and maybe we should have been a little bit more raised eyebrow all along. But I’m sitting here saying they’re going to go seven and seven, and I’m writing to John, and I’m wearing my Derek Henry, and I’m still a true believer. Dude, if Lamar can’t play two football games in the next nine days, two football games in the next nine days, I’m not a believer anymore. And to your point, I wouldn’t be a believer unless I was a bleeding heart purple idiot. Anyway, because they’re one in five, and the odds are way stacked against them, historically and in every other way other than they have Lamar, and they have kind of a lousy schedule coming up with winnable games if Lamar is playing.
Luke Jones 04:38
Yeah. And I mean, so is it going back to what I said. There’s a few factors at work here. One, maybe this is part of the plan in terms of you say, Okay, we have a game Sunday, we also have a game next Thursday, we have a bonus day practicing. We typically aren’t going to practice the day after a game on a Monday. Day, but because we’re coming back from the bye week where we have this opportunity to hit the field, and we’re going to do that, but we’re going to be careful with Lamar. Now, I would say, in response to that, well, why? If that’s the thought, then why is roquan Smith out there today compared to waiting till Wednesday for him? And he was someone where it was reported he had a grade two hamstring strain which cost him two games. So, you know, it kind of pokes holes in it from that standpoint. You know, the scenario you don’t like, which is possible is Lamar got on the field Monday morning with trainers, or Sunday or sometime during rehab. You know, rehabbing over there and and isn’t necessarily this major setback or anything like that, but it was a little tight. And said, you know, I’m not quite ready yet. We’re going to find out. We’ll find out very quickly. As I said to you, on Monday, we are now past the point where he can just show up on the practice field on Friday on a limited basis, and then he’s going to play. He’s going to have to log some real practice time this week, because it’s been three plus weeks now since he hurt his hamstring in Kansas City. Does that mean he’s not throwing the football
Nestor Aparicio 06:12
right? I mean, like hamstring, pivot, move, relax, rest, stem, ice, whatever the hell they’re warmth, whatever they’re doing, from a PT standpoint, for a hamstring pull. And I guess I could get Doug Miller. I could get some Steve, I could get somebody around here, GBMC, I’ve got the whole army to tell me what happens with the
Luke Jones 06:31
hamstring. I mean, I’m guessing he could probably do like he’s not gonna wind up and throw at 60 yards,
Nestor Aparicio 06:38
I’m just saying for timing and accuracy, for what he has to do to go out there and do it to be the best in the world on Sunday, it is tick tock. Tick tock when he’s not out there Monday, and you and I are dedicating this segment to it, in regard to he might be out there by the time they hear this segment or find this segment. But it is, it’s, it’s worrisome, I mean, and it is a, it is a point where the point spread reflects this, the betting reflects this. All of our confidence reflects this. And more than that, there was the feeling amongst broadcasters and what was being sold to the community as it’s a hamstring, he’ll be back. It’s not as bad as roquan. Maybe it was worse. And if it was, they would lie about it. They would cover it, because that’s who they are, as as accused by me and my dear John, letter for competitive purposes, I guess it’s certainly it’s not honest for gamblers, I promise you that. And I’ve never thought the whole thing was on the up and up with all that. So which is why you need more media around, not less. Chad but all that being said, one in five season in the balance the pressure on him to play, sure, right? I mean, like it’s combustible in the building at this point, if it’s Friday and he can’t play and or if it’s Wednesday, you go back out there, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and it’s clear that ifs and buts and candies and nuts, and they’re going to dress it up however they do, and you’re going to have to speak hardball ease and interpret whether he’s playing or not. But this is a revelation. I mean, were you shocked that he wasn’t out there Monday? You’re expecting to see him, right?
Luke Jones 08:16
I mean, I was surprised. I can’t say I’m shocked because I remember 2021 and I remember 2022 and let me be clear, I’m not even saying that in a way that is questioning his integrity, or anyone’s integrity, just from the standpoint of in the very best light that you could portray, what happened in 21 and what happened in 22 is he doesn’t seem like he’s the quickest healer. And let me be clear. I do want to recognize and this doesn’t apply to you, but it applies to a lot of football fans, because this my generation and younger has grown up with playing Madden Football, right? And with Madden, if you play that game and you play a season, players get hurt, but it’s a very cut and dried, Oh, this guy’s gonna miss the next three weeks, and then he comes back, and he’s 100% right? And maybe that’s changed a little bit. I haven’t played video games in years, but the point was, I think that created a mindset amongst fans and even media. I’ll say that you think about these injuries in terms of being cut and dried, understanding that it’s the human body, and some people quick healer or quicker healers than others, and depending on everything else you do, your rehab, your diet, your sleep schedule, all those different things that any athlete has to be mindful of in terms of healing. It can vary. We’ve seen someone, some people with a hamstring, they come back and play, usually not the next week, but maybe the week after that. We’ve also seen individuals have more severe hamstrings. And obviously there’s grade one, grade two, grade three, right? I mean, there’s all of that. So the point is, it’s not a one size fits all anyway. But when we go back and look at 22 and we go back and look at 21 and for me, 21 That was a bone bruise, and I saw him practice in mid December, and from all of my the information I gathered at that point in time, Lamar wanted to give it a go and try it, and he could barely
Nestor Aparicio 10:12
walk. Dude, I will never, ever question that kid’s integrity about trying to
Luke Jones 10:17
win, right, right, ever. And I’m not eating I’m to be clear, what I’m spelling out here is not me doing that either. But the point is, there is gray area when you’re talking about these injuries, and that’s why I said to you at the time of the injury that I didn’t expect to see him until after the bye week, because you looked at it through the lens of, if he’s not going to play week five, Is he really going to be ready week six? And as much as much as you don’t want to lose those games, as much as you don’t want to be one in five, you don’t want to be in a position where he has a setback and suddenly he’s out six weeks, and then your season is totally cooked unfortunately, now that that mentality, that mindset, you’re running your margin for errors next to none, right? I mean, if you lose Sunday, whether Lamar is on the field or not. In my mind, it’s over, because it’s a tougher game than right? I mean, the bears, look the bear and not they’re going to Miami on three days rest against them. You know, whatever they are, Miami is a disaster. I mean, there’s no even if Lamar doesn’t play, there’s no excuse to lose, to lose to the dolphins. That’s how bad and how much of a disaster and how dysfunctional they are. But that’s, that’s still next week’s game. When you look at this and okay, I don’t think the bears are this juggernaut. I don’t think they’re a great four and two team. However, they are a four and two team, and they ran the ball very well this past week. They have a quarterback in Caleb will, Caleb Williams, who flashes but is still looking for consistency, which is most young quarterbacks in the league. And they have a team that is on a winning streak and feeling really good about themselves, and they’re going to look at this game and say whether Lamar Jackson plays or not, we have an opportunity to go into Baltimore and bury that team and get to five and two and then move on to our next opponent. But we know that they’re kind of reeling. So the you would expect, you’re going to get the bears best effort. And as much as you’d like to be optimistic about the ravens, generally speaking, coming out of a bye week with extra rest and extra time to prepare. You do now look at the Lamar factor, and it’s funny. You asked me if I was shocked if he didn’t come when he didn’t come out to the field on Monday, the quarterbacks typically, now this isn’t an everyday thing, but typically they trot out coming from the garage door, exit from the field house, so it’s a little bit further away from the actual building, you know, the actual facility. I know a lot of people listening can’t necessarily picture this, but if you’ve been out to training camp, you probably have an idea what I’m talking I haven’t been there lately, but, but you saw Cooper rush jog out, and you saw Tyler Huntley jog out. And there are plenty of times where those guys come out first and then Lamar comes out 15 seconds
Nestor Aparicio 13:04
later, no different than the 1000s of people out there who’ve been to camp in July where Lamar runs out in a red jersey and kids scream and yeah, it’s nothing. It’s birds chirping and it’s a lawn mower in the distance, literally, right? It is, but it’s that same and all you hear are the players hands and men’s voices and like that. That’s the sound, the echo out on that field. I mean, dude, you’re but I know you know this, you’re in a unique position to be out there with eight other reporters wondering whether Lamar is going to show up. You’re fully expecting him to run around the corner, right? So,
Luke Jones 13:41
so as they came out, you keep looking, you’re looking, you’re looking. And when I’m saying that, we’re talking five or 10 seconds here, it’s not really that long. Okay, where is he? Where is he? Then one of the staffers shuts the garage door, and I’m like, Oh, I guess he’s not practicing today. So that was your sign, yeah. So I wasn’t shocked, but I expected him to be out there. And, you know, if he’s not out there Monday, the cynic would say, Well, what’s, is it really going to be that different
Nestor Aparicio 14:14
two days? What is your level of concern like? I mean, I mean, how concerned should this way fans be betters be, let’s get the numbers. Let’s, you know, let’s, that’s the most important thing. But, like, really most important things are one and five. And Is he really going to play? Are they playing coy? Are they resting him up? I don’t know. I mean, if they were more transparent, I guess fine, but they’re never more transparent. So they put us in this position. I call them liars in many cases, because, like, they’re not honest about this stuff, so we are forced to play this tea leave game about whether he’s going to play or not, because John likes it that way. He thinks it’s gamesmanship.
Luke Jones 14:48
Yeah, and look, I’m not going to dismiss the possibility of them being coy, but I think if anything, either this is he’s not ready and. The hamstring didn’t respond quite as well to the treatment of the bye week. And you know, that
Nestor Aparicio 15:06
doesn’t mean he won’t play on Sunday, on Tuesday and Monday night, right?
Luke Jones 15:11
Well, I guess what I was presenting was more the scenario that maybe he’s not ready, like and maybe he’s not going to play this week, or the training staff and those that have been really in the center of his rehab these last three weeks, and Lamar kind of looked at it, and he’s feeling pretty good, but they thought, You know what? Let’s give this two more days like this is a bonus practice. We want to make sure you’re totally right. That way you can go out there and practice fully, not have this in the back of your mind, not tweak it a little bit, and then suddenly we’re not back to square one, but we’re back to where we were two weeks ago. Let’s say so. Is there a scenario to be extra cautious in that way, because it’s Monday, sure if he’s on the field Wednesday, and if someone’s listening to this, you know, you and I are talking in real time on Tuesday, if he’s on the field Wednesday, then I kind of shrug about Monday and say, All right, well, I guess they were just, you know, they’re trying to be extra cautious. And maybe Lamar wanted one more day, wanted one more day of
Nestor Aparicio 16:07
treatment. Hey, that’s great news. That’s a W NST text. Brought to you by Cole roofing, Gordian energy, right? Literally, that’s a big news.
Luke Jones 16:13
If it turns out that way, that’s fine. But if he’s not out there Wednesday, then yeah, flags are up. My I’m very concerned at that point in time, because when you’re talking about someone that’s been away now for three weeks, I think, you know, it’s one thing. If this were the Texans game week, or even the Rams game week, you know, I could have seen a scenario, even though I didn’t expect it, but I could have envisioned a scenario where Lamar is feeling really good after missing one game, and he’s on the field on Friday against the Rams, and he feels excellent, and he looked good, and suddenly he plays. But now you’re so far removed from the last time he played and and that even gets into what you were mentioning, the timing with your receivers and just your game clock and all of that, where, if he’s not out there Wednesday, then my confidence level in him playing on Sunday plummets, you know. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying him missing Mondays and nothing burger either. But I’m not at my concern level being an eight, you know, my concern level, I don’t know a three or a four, you know, based off of Monday, right? If I was and I was never at zero, right? I was never at 100% that he’s definitely playing, no questions asked, because it’s a hamstring. And you never know. You never truly know, especially for someone who relies on his speed and his athleticism and his quick Twitch movement and his agility, right? I mean, there’s always going to be some question about that. I mean, I don’t
Nestor Aparicio 17:46
love 92% of Lamar, to be honest with you, legs, especially his arm, either. I mean, I guess, but just in a general sense, yeah, that’s maybe, that’s why people think I’m Anthony Lamar, or whatever. I just always envision him getting dinged up, and that being a factor in being a little hurts a lot hurt when it’s your legs, and your legs are your gravy, you
Luke Jones 18:13
know. And it’s going to be that. It’s going to be that way for most players, too. I mean, there are a hamstring what positions can play through a hamstring injury? There might be a couple that you could, you know that that’s not, yeah, good business. I mean, it’s tricky. I mean, tree trunk, baby. You know, you’ll hear, you know, sports medicine types, you know, whether you’re talking about athletic trainers, team doctors, whatever, you know, you’ll hear this when you’re talking about hamstrings, they’ll say, how long is it? Give it another week after
Nestor Aparicio 18:42
that. Yeah. Sean Merriman said that on the show with me two weeks. Yeah,
Luke Jones 18:44
so. But the problem is, you could say that about the Texans game. You could even say it about the Rams game. We’re now at the territory where, if he’s not out there, and you can’t find a way. And this is where, at some point you need to circle the wagons, right? And this is why, to me, it was so wildly disappointing how crummy their offense was with Cooper rush at quarterback, someone that you gave a little bit of real money to, right? I mean, this speaks to the offensive line, it speaks to the O line, but it speaks at the entire operation, coaching everything, right? I mean, it’s an indictment,
Nestor Aparicio 19:20
and also the decision to bring in a different style of quarterback, and saying, when things go wrong, we’re going to play a different kind of game well.
Luke Jones 19:28
And that’s where, yeah, no question. And that’s where I look at this thing. And I would say, and this is not me saying, I expect this if, if Lamar is not playing this week, I’m starting Tyler Huntley. I mean, I just am, and I’m going to try to play 2018 2019 Raven. Play bumper car where you have Eric Henry is I’m wearing a shirt. You have Derrick Henry. You have a more mobile quarterback. Get get keep Mitchell involved. Get Justice Hill more involved. Yeah, we’re
Nestor Aparicio 19:55
talking about a whole different slog here on Sunday, and you’ve got to win. And I tell you what that. It’s Thursday morning, you and I go wake up if he doesn’t practice on Wednesday, be talking about that. It’s gonna be like, I mean, literally,
Luke Jones 20:05
right, grim. It’ll feel grim if that’s the case. I mean, no question, because the bears are the bears again. I don’t think the bears are a great football team, but they’re not. They’re not a scrub, they’re four and two. I mean, they’ve got a way better record than the Ravens. So you can’t just roll the ball out with your backup quarterback and feel good about that. I mean, you just don’t this team’s one in five at some point, you know, we could keep holding on to this idea of what the Ravens were supposed to be, and what you thought they were going to be, and what I thought they were going to be, and even what they’ve been the last four or five, six years, right, which they’ve won a heck of a lot of football games in the regular season, going back to 2000 you know, the end of 2018 but they’re one in five. They’ve beaten one team all year, and it’s the stinking Cleveland Browns. They haven’t won a football game in over a month. Now, you know you’re not in a position to be well, this is like
Nestor Aparicio 20:57
John Harbaugh can lose his job, losing two games, being one in seven, like one in seven and getting embarrassed in Miami running around with Tyler Huntley next Thursday night at that I mean, listen, this thing could go a lot of ways. I’ve predicted it to be seven and seven and all that. And by the way, we’re gonna keep this segment relatively short, because we’re going to be doing longer form look at the bears this weekend based on what the real game is, not the game of is Lamar practicing or not earlier in the week. Luke is here. Any breaking news happens first in the wnst tech service. Aforementioned. Also gonna be doing the crab cake tour on Wednesday at Costas, and then next week at State Fair, and then onward to Cocos on the fifth and and the pizza John’s on the seventh. So I just want to push back, kick you back a little bit on this or that, because you said, I said dolphins, and you’re like, No, no, that’s not this week’s that is this week’s game, bro. You know what I mean, and that is that has to be over the hill here. They can’t win one and then lose the other. Sure. Lose one, win the like, they’re at a point now where they have to win both. The dolphins thing is on my mind, because you and I aren’t going to sit here for a long stretch time next week and talk about it on Monday and Tuesday, because, boom, it’s going to be here, and whether Lamar is up, right down, right in, out. Tyler Huntley Cooper, rush, Joe Flacco, whatever, whatever you know, whatever they’re going to do to try to win these two football games. The next time you and I gather, with or without Lamar, they’re gonna have to cobble together two wins, not one win. And these games come back to back, and they are shotgun and they are which really speaks to what Flacco did against Pittsburgh last week in regard to not even knowing guys names. I mean, it really is amazing, like it’s an amazing story. I’ve been texting with his dad the last couple days, and I would just say for me, I mean, this is a perilous week for the franchise. In regard to, as you and I sit here, we don’t even know if Lamar can play well.
Luke Jones 22:50
And I think I made this point, but let me reiterate it in case I, you know, went off in a on a tangent, which I’m apt to do,
22:57
as we both are apt
Luke Jones 22:57
to do, which is why they love us so much. Well, numbers are up, but that’s but that’s but that’s also why. That’s another reason, if you’re looking for the positives, and why Lamar might not have been out there Monday, but it’s not a big deal, and he’s going to be on the field and practice this week and play is you do think about that Miami game and you say two games in five days, that’s a lot physically for any quarterback or any player, let alone someone who’s coming back from a hamstring. Maybe that was, hey, let’s err on the side of caution here. We don’t need Lamar out there Monday, he’s going to be out there Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Maybe he’ll be limited Wednesday, and then Thursday, Friday’s full go, and then he’s ready to go. Maybe that’s the mentality. But as and I did mention that because I said the, you know, the devil’s advocate to that in response is, okay, well, why? Why is roquan Smith out there? Then, you know, why is Shinobi Woozi a out there Monday? Then, if that’s the mentality, those guys are older, or, I guess roquan’s not, but those guys are, you know, they’ve had multi week hamstring injuries, so we’re gonna find out. I mean, we’ll find out. And that’s why I said, I mean, this isn’t a week where there’s much ambiguity. If he’s not out there Wednesday, then I’m guessing he might not be playing, then probably isn’t playing then, because we are far enough away from that injury where you would think he needs to have at least close to a full week of practice, right? I mean, this isn’t, you know, come out there one day, stand around, take a few snaps. Yeah, and they’re not nine and two, I see other and that’s the other part here, like, and that’s why I don’t think they were. I felt
Nestor Aparicio 24:27
game seven the other night. I felt all that urgency that sports urgency that you can’t feel in Buffalo on opening night. You know, you can’t feel like the season’s going down the crapper, because it, you know, it is a slow boil, right? Like, you know, you lose one, then you lose another, then you lose another, you’re one and three, then your quarterbacks hurt, and then, oh shit, you know, like that. Then we’re here, then, and then where, oh, the seasons could be over before we, like,
Luke Jones 24:54
have Halloween, literally, so. And that’s why I don’t think they were being coy Monday. Like, I. I, I mean, well,
Nestor Aparicio 25:01
then, then that tells me that Lamar, you know that they’re either real ginger with Lamar, or to my I go back to this. They got to play two football games
Luke Jones 25:09
in four days. They’ve got to play well like, they have to play like, again, they’re one in five like their offense needs their offense needs their quarterback out on the field in practice too. Because their offense wasn’t, well put, wasn’t put, trending in a good direction, even the last couple, you know, the last four quarters of football they had played with Lamar, when you go back to late in that Detroit game and how they looked in Kansas City, right? This wasn’t trending. Well, that’s why I won’t I. You know, so many national talking heads have just point said, the injuries, the injuries, the injuries and sure, the injuries have been a big part of it, as they were for the Orioles in baseball season, but this wasn’t moving in a good direction, even before the injuries started happening. So that’s where, yeah, you need your quarterback out there. And I would also say, if you know, to kind of poke holes in the idea that they’re being coil on Monday, you’re telling me that the other 52 guys on that roster and the 16 guys on the practice squad aren’t getting an emotional lift whenever number eight runs onto the practice field. So for him not to be out there Monday again, if he practices Wednesday, fine, right then, then it’s all systems go and you’re ready to play and you got to go win two games in five days. But for the rest of those guys, if he’s not out on the practice field, how deflating is that for them? Because as much as we talk about this from a fan and media perspective, as an outsider perspective, you know every single guy in that locker room is thinking the same thing. They know they can’t win football games with Cooper rush or Tyler Huntley, week after week after week, they need number eight. That’s why he’s making $52 million in the same way that the chiefs would know they’re screwed without Patrick mahomes. The bills know they’re screwed without Josh Allen the Bengals, okay, maybe they feel a little better with Joe Flacco arriving, but they know that things aren’t great without Joe burrow obviously. I mean, that’s if that didn’t matter, then why did those guys make all that money? Right? That’s how important these franchise quarterbacks are. So yes, it’s also that important for the morale of this football team right now to get Lamar Jackson back out there. But all that said, if his hamstrings not right, I don’t know what you’re really what your alternative is. I mean, you can put them out there, and maybe you’ll give it a go less than 100% if it is, if that is the reality. But, man, you sure don’t like that. You don’t like their chances whatsoever. You know, if he’s a much diminished version of himself, they need Lamar to be healthy, upright and an MVP level, like the best version of Lamar that we’ve seen. If this team is going to win nine of its next 11, if not, well, then we’ll be talking about futures of coaches and players and draft pick and all that come December. So you know, they don’t have any more wiggle room here that they’ve got. They have to win these next two football games, or it’s all over.
Nestor Aparicio 28:01
Catch the Joe Flacco thing on the internet.
Luke Jones 28:06
I did not the 40
Nestor Aparicio 28:07
year old version. Yeah, I just want to make sure that I got that out on the internet for everybody that watches us. I did not appreciate you all, even though. So last thing for you on this whole thing is like, what? What a the way the story and the narrative of the season goes to see the lions be banged up, to see the 40 Niners be banged up and win. Harbaugh got this part right, whatever his bull shot is, he got this part right. It would be an amazing story if we wake up next Friday morning and I’m hanging out with Cameron Crowe next Thursday night. So I’m excited about that. We wake up next Friday morning and they’re three and five, and they’ve hung in and they’ve played down the middle of the fairway after having a bad Thursday masters weekend, and they can write their ship and to make the cut and and have a second half of the season, but they’re playing to make the cut now. And this is really, this is a really fascinating week of football, if Lamar can’t get on the field, yeah. I mean, for what, what becomes of all of this as it falls apart, you know? Yeah.
Luke Jones 29:20
I mean, you’re just at a point now where, I mean, you’re already so
Nestor Aparicio 29:24
the offensive line and defensive line, if everything comes together and they get everything back, I still have real question marks. Oh, yeah, as I wrote in my dear John Harbaugh letter, which I encourage everyone to read, and I should read it out loud, but I haven’t been in the mood. You know, I don’t feel angry, so I don’t want to portray anger because like I’m I’m just above the fray. I’ve been killed and thrown out of the plot. I just write about it from the outside at this point, but I look at it and say, this is as the worm turns and where franchises go and where they are, and the kind of finger. Pointing dudes. I feel like they have I don’t. I have some real question marks about a lot of their people running out the back door. Because I’ve been doing this for 40 years, and I’ve never seen any shit like this, ever. I’ve never seen a team full of guys that have all of this expectation run out the back door like when they lose it, just it. It just doesn’t happen. The big dumper sat in his locker and cried last night as we taped this. So like, I mean, have a little bit of humility for the amount of money you make in the fan base you serve, and what what you’re about as a as so I have a lot of questions about them when they lose and they win, and I hope they’re three and five next Friday, because I’ll say this in front of my creator and in front of John’s creator and everyone else. I when they lose, it sucks, like, if they’re one, if in Miss dude, if they’re one in seven next week, and it’s fire. The coach requesting lamar’s heart. The line stinks. Everybody’s finger pointing. Nobody wants to get back on the field. The old guys don’t want to play. You’ve talked about trading them away, dude, that’s a hell of a place that they’re I got to get Jason Cole on, because Jason Cole was the one before cam Cameron that said that they were dancing on the edge of chaos.
Luke Jones 31:14
Yeah, yeah. I mean, I was, and I would even say if they’re two and six, right, right. You know what I mean, like one and seven. I mean, even if they’re two and six, they got
Nestor Aparicio 31:26
to go clean plates here. No, they got to be on the practice field, on point, ready to go, ready to have an offensive line, a defensive line, play the way that the secondaries played in Detroit,
Luke Jones 31:36
when everybody gets injured, yeah. I mean, and that’s, I still go back to Van Nestor, and this will be my last thought, because I know we don’t want to belabor the point here, because, because everyone feels better if Lamar is practicing on Wednesday, right? I mean, everyone feels much better, certainly better
Nestor Aparicio 31:51
than deliver any message to Chad steel and John Harbaugh. And I know that they probably don’t treat you any better or worse than they treat me. Tell them, I prefer that they’re five and one than one in five, just like, pass that along to them, because they don’t, they don’t understand that. They think I’m here to screw them and like, it’s insane. They’re insane. And but one in five sucks. And I promise you, I do not want one in I don’t want one in seven. I don’t want one in six on Monday morning. Yeah.
Luke Jones 32:18
I mean, I just, I go back to Van Noy after the Houston game where he was asked about the injuries. I might, might have been Mark masky asking him so, you know, respected reporter, and he cut him off like and he said, It’s not about the injuries. And look, it’s always when you’re having as many injuries as they’ve had. Yes, it’s part of that. But for me, he cited it himself, like I didn’t even need to say it. You didn’t even need to say it. The fans didn’t even need to say it. He flat out said, Do you see what San Francisco did against the Rams a few nights ago on Thursday night football? You know the 40 Niners missing their franchise quarterback and after defense at that point in time, and they’re all pro tight end, and they were on the road. They won a football game. I mean, for for all of the Lamar fans, you know. And let me refer I want to make sure I understand for all the people that are the big time Lamar can do no wrong and blames the organization for everything else, because, you know, and you have
Nestor Aparicio 33:22
your, oh, man, I’m, you know, I used to be on Twitter more because, you know, you have
Luke Jones 33:26
your different sex of fans who like view things differently, ever
Nestor Aparicio 33:29
since the Nazi salute at the garden, the Twitter things, not
Luke Jones 33:34
sure, sure. I mean, you know, and Twitter is not real life either, like, in terms of, like, getting an accurate purchase
Nestor Aparicio 33:39
become the WWF that it sure that it’s one that he wanted it to be, yeah, but the ones that are $2 billion
Luke Jones 33:45
Lamar fans first before Ravens fans, they’ll say, Oh, it’s a one man team. The rest of the these last couple weeks have not been a very flattering portrayal of the rest of the organization and how they fared without Lamar Jackson, right, which, by the way, I’m guessing Lamar will remember when, when it comes time to do an extension, you know, this offseason, but, but all that being said, you got to, you have to circle the wagons. You’ve got, you have to win on Sunday and you have to win on Thursday after
Speaker 1 34:16
Thank you. I just want to do it acknowledge that I know my when I pushed back at you with that, I was talking in terms of, like, holy cow, if you can’t beat the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night, then yeah, you might as well go home because the season’s over. Like, well, it doesn’t get much easier than that on paper, but when you’re playing games on paper, they played on the field when you’re one in five, nothing is easy when you’re sore and they’re and they want it more than you do, and they smell that they can beat you.
Luke Jones 34:44
Miami, yeah, I’m, I’m floored that they haven’t fired their coach yet. He he has no control of that locker room whatsoever. My dude, Anthony
Nestor Aparicio 34:52
Weaver’s down there in the middle of all that too. I mean, what’s gotta go? Because he’s got to get the practice, because Lamar has got to get the practice, and he’s got to send the text letting you know. Lamar is practicing. I’m wearing my Derrick Henry jersey, just to change the Mojo around here. Although I don’t know that oiler gear is really the Mojo we’re looking for, but you look marvelous, especially when I shave. He’s Luke. I’m Nestor. We’re doing crab cake. Stay with us. We’re Baltimore. Positive. You.
