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sports Friday 28 april 2023
Ravens have 5-year agreement with QB Lamar Jackson

By NOAH TRISTER stood to make $32.4 million
AP Sports Writer this season if he played on
The Baltimore Ravens the franchise tag, but that
agreed in principle with path had potential pitfalls
Lamar Jackson on a five- for both sides. Jackson
year deal Thursday, secur- would have risked losing a
ing their star quarterback lot of money long term if he
for the foreseeable future was injured, and even if he
and ending a contract stayed healthy, the team
negotiation saga that was might have had an un-
dominating the team’s off- happy quarterback on its
season. hands. Jackson’s contract
The Ravens announced the situation didn’t seem too
deal hours before the first disruptive last offseason,
round of the NFL draft, and but it took a different turn
it’s fair to say that in Balti- when he announced in late
more at least, this news will March that he’d requested
overshadow whoever the a trade a few weeks earlier.
team might take in the first Whether that was out of
round. frustration with the process
Jackson was the NFL’s MVP or an attempt to draw
in 2019, but after playing more interest from other
out his rookie contract, his teams, Jackson and the
future was in doubt. Balti- Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) scrambles for yardage during the first half of an Ravens now appear to be
more put the franchise tag NFL football game the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. very much on the same
on Jackson last month, but Associated Press page.
the Ravens kept expressing “But for the next five years, the league’s biggest an- phia Eagles gave quar- It’s also an interesting co-
confidence that they could it’s a lot of flock going on.” nual events was about to terback Jalen Hurts a five- incidence Jackson’s new
reach a long-term agree- That was a reference to the start. The Ravens can now year, $255 million extension. contract was announced
ment with him — even after term “Ravens Flock” used expect Jackson in the Drafted in 2018, Jackson on draft day. Five years
Jackson made a trade re- by the team’s fans. lineup for the first game of is already one of six quar- ago, he wasn’t one of the
quest public. “Let’s go baby. Let’s go, the season, without drama terbacks in NFL history with top players taken. Balti-
The Ravens did not dis- let’s go,” Jackson added. about whether he’ll report 10,000 yards passing and more landed him with the
close contract terms, but “Can’t wait to get there, to camp. They’ve already 4,000 rushing. He’s been 32nd pick, and he was the
their tweet announcing the can’t wait to be there. boosted his wide receiv- hurt at the end of the past fifth quarterback taken. Of
deal did include a video of Can’t wait to light up M&T ing group by signing Odell two seasons, however. At the four who went ahead
Jackson talking. (Bank Stadium) for the next Beckham Jr. Baltimore also age 26, his best days could of him, only Buffalo’s Josh
“For the last few months, five years, man. Let’s get has a new offensive coordi- well be ahead of him, and Allen has enjoyed success
there’s been a lot of he said, it.” Jackson’s deal brings nator after hiring Georgia’s now he’ll remain in a Balti- comparable to Jackson.
she said, a lot of nail biting, one of the NFL’s biggest Todd Monken. more uniform. Allen signed a long-term
a lot of head scratching offseason stories to a con- Jackson’s deal comes Jackson, who was nego- deal with the Bills two off-
going on,” Jackson said. clusion — right as one of shortly after the Philadel- tiating without an agent, seasons ago.q

Joe Torre wins Baseball Digest lifetime

achievement award

By MIKE FITZPATRICK ceive Baseball Digest’s Life- 13 division titles in 29 years
AP Baseball Writer time Achievement Award on the bench. His 2,326
NEW YORK (AP) — Joe Torre and I am grateful to my regular-season wins as a
has won the third Lifetime family and the countless manager rank fifth in major
Achievement Award pre- people who have been league history.
sented by Baseball Digest. a part of my time in base- As a player, Torre broke into
A star player during 18 ma- ball,” Torre said in a news the big leagues in 1960 with
jor league seasons and release. “This is even more the Milwaukee Braves and
longtime manager for the special because I am fol- batted .297 with 252 home
New York Yankees and lowing in the footsteps of runs and 1,185 RBIs over-
four other teams, Torre was two of my childhood idols all. He made nine All-Star
elected to the Hall of Fame who became dear friends, teams and was the 1971 NL
in 2014. He was honored Willie Mays and Vin Scully.” MVP with the Cardinals.
Thursday with an annual The 82-year-old Torre, who Primarily a catcher, first Former New York Yankees manager Joe Torre speaks while
distinction that recognizes grew up in Brooklyn, won baseman and third base- visiting the library during his orientation visit at the Baseball Hall
of Fame, Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Cooperstown, N.Y.
a living individual “who has four World Series cham- man, Torre finished with Associated Press
made significant contribu- pionships and six AL pen- 2,342 hits and an .817 OPS
tions to the game.” nants as manager of the for the Braves, Cardinals baseball operations. He Torre Safe at Home Foun-
Willie Mays won the inaugu- Yankees from 1996-2007. and Mets. became a special assistant dation. The organization
ral award in 2021, followed He also skippered the New After retiring as a manager to Commissioner Rob Man- provides school services to
by Dodgers broadcaster York Mets, Atlanta Braves, following the 2010 season, fred in 2020. children exposed to vio-
Vin Scully last year. St. Louis Cardinals and Los Torre joined MLB as ex- In 2002, Torre and his wife, lence, helping them heal
“It is truly an honor to re- Angeles Dodgers, winning ecutive vice president for Ali, established the Joe from trauma. q