No need to ‘fear’ accuracy

Former NFL quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has weighed in on Lamar Jackson, as the Ravens’ quarterback remains in limbo on his position with the team.

Earlier this week, on the two-time Super Bowl Champion and six-time Pro Bowler’s podcast ‘Footbahlin’, Roethlisberger chatted with his co-host Spencer Te’o, about Jackson’s play.

“With Lamar, you want to bring safeties down to help stop the run cause you don’t really fear Lamar’s arm, his accuracy all the time,” he said. “Got a huge arm, he can make things happen when he scrambles or whatever, but you don’t fear him just sitting in the pocket.”

“So, you can bring safeties down cause you do fear him running because he’s a different level runner,” he emphasized with wide eyes.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Jackson, two-time Pro Bowler, turned down three years and $133 million guaranteed in September.

In the beginning of March, Baltimore placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson after he announced on social media that he declared a trade, and later a source told ProFootballTalk that Jackson had a representative not certified by the NFL Players Association “telling other teams that Lamar is ready to move on from the Ravens.”

To sign Jackson would cost teams two first-round picks if the Ravens opted not to match, and it’s believed he is looking for a fully guaranteed contract similar to Deshaun Watson’s deal with the Browns, who signed a five-year deal worth $230 million in 2022.

Jackson recently spoke with newly signed Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. over a video call, after Beckham signed a one-year deal worth $15 million guaranteed.

Beckham may prove to be a deciding factor for Jackson to stay in Baltimore, but Beckham wasn’t given any guarantee that the quarterback would stay.

“Didn’t get any assurances for anything, you know life’s uncertain,” he said.

The Ravens and Jackson have until July 17 to negotiate a long-term deal before the quarterback would have to play on the tag for the 2023 season.