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The former MVP came out publicly requesting a trade away from the Baltimore Ravens on Monday morning, as contentious contract talks continue between the two sides after he was hit with the non-exclusive franchise tag earlier this month.
“I want to first thank you all for all of the love and support you consistently show towards me. All of you are amazing and I appreciate y’all so much,” he posted on Twitter. “I want you all to know not to believe everything you read about me. Let me personally answer your questions.”
Jackson, 26, has been a polarizing figure in Baltimore, negotiating the terms of his contract without an agent after taking the league by storm when he Wally Pipp’d his way into the lineup when former starter Joe Flacco was injured in 2018.
The quarterback’s tweets came as Ravens coach John Harbaugh was speaking to the media during the owners meetings in Arizona.
“I haven’t seen the tweet. That’s an ongoing process,” Harbaugh said, according to Pro Football Talk. “I’m following it very closely, just like everybody else is here and looking forward to a resolution. I’m excited, thinking about Lamar all the time. Thinking about him as our quarterback. We’re building our offense around that idea.
“I’m just looking forward to getting back to football and I’m confident that’s going to happen.”
Though he seems ready to move on from the Ravens, it doesn’t sound like he’s quite done with Maryland and the DMV region yet.
“As of March 2nd I requested a trade from the Ravens organization for which the Ravens has not been interested in meeting my value, any and everyone that’s has met me or been around me know I love the game of football and my dream is to help a team win the super bowl,” Jackson wrote in a multi-tweet “letter” to his fans.
“You all are great but I had to make a business decision that was best for my family and I,” he continued. “No matter how far I go or where my career takes me, I’ll continue to be close to my fans of Baltimore Flock nation and the entire State of Maryland. You’ll See me again.”
In five seasons with the Ravens, Jackson is a 63 percent passer who has notched 101 touchdowns versus just 38 interceptions. His postseason stats are more spotty, with a 55 percent completion percentage with just one win and three losses.
He reportedly is seeking a guaranteed deal in the range of Deshaun Watson’s five-year $230 million contract that reset the market for quarterbacks last year. Under the non-exclusive franchise tag, teams can negotiate a contract if they agree to trade two first round picks to the Ravens, who would have the option to match any deal.
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