Lamar Jackson: ‘I Need $’ photos not message to Ravens. He’s hopeful for new deal before season.
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson says the reason his social media accounts feature a photo that reads “I Need $” is because he loves the movie it came from. It’s not, he says, a message to the Ravens regarding his ongoing contract negotiations before the 2022 season.
Jackson made news on social media this weekend after he changed his Instagram profile picture and the header on his Twitter account to a photo that could insinuate otherwise.
The photo comes from a character in the movie “How High,” which stars rappers Method Man and Redman, named I Need Money, who wears a gold grill on his teeth with the words “I Need $.”
Jackson’s reasoning behind the photo changes: He watched the movie, and wanted to post the photo because he found it funny.
“I don’t know why people are blowing it up. I just saw Bleacher Report post it. They just take anything that’s posted on social media and just blow it up, and try to think for you. I don’t take it too seriously,” Jackson told USA TODAY Sports during Saturday’s fourth annual Funday with LJ event.
“They’re making it seem like I’m talking to the Ravens when I’m not. Our contract discussion is going on already. But it ain’t about that though. I’m not putting my business life on social media. I won’t ever do that. I won’t put my personal life on social media. I’ll show stuff, but I won’t throw subliminal [messages] out. That’s not me.”
Jackson, the 2019 NFL MVP, is hopeful he and the Ravens can agree to a new deal before training camp begins on July 26.
“Hopefully,” Jackson said when asked if he’ll agree to a new deal before training camp. “I’m not going to say ‘yeah’ right now. Hopefully. But it’s God’s timing.”
When asked if he would hold out of training camp until a new deal is reached, Jackson said: “I don’t have that on my mind.”
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Jackson could command a deal in the range of at least $35-40 million annually and at least $150 million in total value.
Seven NFL quarterbacks make at least $40 million annually, while three have contracts worth more than $200 million (Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Deshaun Watson).
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Jackson spent his Saturday afternoon throwing and catching passes, and posing for photos with hundreds of children during his event. He could barely step out of his Mercedes Benz G-Wagon SUV before he was swarmed by youngsters.