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A16 sports
Wednesday 8 March 2023
Lamar Jackson gets nonexclusive franchise tag from Ravens

By NOAH TRISTER There obviously is some risk
AP Sports Writer involved with using the non-
The Baltimore Ravens an- exclusive tag, especially for
nounced Tuesday that they a player of Jackson's cali-
were designating Lamar ber, but it could resolve this
Jackson as their franchise deadlock sooner. If Jack-
player, preventing him from son is able to find a deal he
becoming an unrestricted likes from another team, the
free agent this month after Ravens could either match
the expiration of his rookie it or take the draft picks and
contract. allow him to leave. Jack-
The deadline to apply the son, who doesn't have an
franchise tag was 4 p.m. agent, is one player who
Eastern. The Ravens were should pique the rest of the
always expected to use league's interest, even at
the tag if they didn't reach the cost of two first-round
a long-term deal with Jack- picks, and his availability
son first. The team and its to any degree could shake
star quarterback can con- up NFL free agency, which
tinue negotiating now, al- opens later this month.
though the nonexclusive Jackson was the 2019 NFL
tag means he can negoti- MVP, and his dynamic
ate with other teams, too. passing and running make
"There have been many in- Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson speaks to the media at a press conference after an him one of the game's most
stances across the league NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Oct. 9, 2022, in Baltimore. Associated Press unusual stars. At age 25, he
and in Baltimore when a already is one of six quar-
player has been designat- come." could have cost significant- enters its next phase. Josh terbacks in NFL history with
ed with the franchise tag The Ravens would have ly more. The Dallas Cow- Allen, the other star quar- 10,000 yards passing and
and signed a long-term a chance to match any boys used the exclusive terback drafted in 2018 4,000 rushing. His 12 games
deal that same year," gen- agreement between Jack- franchise tag on quarter- with Jackson, signed a with at least 100 yards rush-
eral manager Eric DeCosta son and another team, and back Dak Prescott in 2020. long-term deal with Buffalo ing are an NFL record.
said in a statement. "We if they chose not to match, A year later, they reached two offseasons ago. Jack- Jackson has been hurt at
will continue to negotiate they'd receive two first- a long-term deal with him. son, on the other hand, the end of the past two
in good faith with Lamar, round draft picks in return. Kirk Cousins is another quar- entered last season still seasons, and the Ravens
and we are hopeful that If Jackson plays this season terback who played on the without an extension. His haven't reached the AFC
we can strike a long-term on the franchise tag, he'd franchise tag fairly recently. contract status didn't seem championship game with
deal that is fair to both La- make $32.4 million. He did it his final two sea- too disruptive last offseason him, but his impact on
mar and the Ravens. Our Baltimore could have pre- sons in Washington before — he participated in man- their offense is massive. If
ultimate goal is to build a vented Jackson from ne- joining the Minnesota Vi- datory minicamp and train- he remains with Baltimore,
championship team with gotiating with anyone else kings in 2018. ing camp — but there's no he'll have a new coordina-
Lamar Jackson leading by using the exclusive-rights So now the saga between telling how the next few tor after the Ravens hired
the way for many years to franchise tag, but that Jackson and the Ravens months will go. Georgia's Todd Monkin.q

Clevinger feels vindicated, expects to

pitch in next week

didn’t rush to judgment than 15 people, including ego during the pandemic-
and kept their cool and Clevinger and a woman shortened 2020 season.,
understood the ramifica- who said she is the mother Clevinger signed a $12
tions of these accusa- of Clevinger’s child, as well million, one-year contract
tions,” Clevinger said Tues- as thousands of electronic with the White Sox during
day before the Chicago communications and oth- the offseason. He expects
White Sox played the Mil- er documents. Clevinger to pitch sometime in the
waukee Brewers in a spring voluntarily agreed to sub- next week.
training exhibition. mit to evaluations by the Asked what he learned,
“I was confident the whole joint treatment boards es- Clevinger said: “You’ve
Chicago White Sox pitcher Mike Clevinger stretches during an time. I feel vindicated,” he tablished by MLB and the got to really watch who
MLB spring training baseball practice, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, added. “I guess you could players’ association. you trust. And I’ll leave it at
in Phoenix.
Associated Press say this was a bad situa- “I was an open book to that.”
tion, a devastating situa- them. I was like, anything Clevinger said his team-
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — disciplined following the tion. I’m just trying to move you want me to do.,” he mates have been support-
Chicago White Sox pitcher investigation of a domestic forward. I want to focus on said. “I’ll do any evalua- ive.
Mike Clevinger said he violence allegation. baseball now. Looking for- tion boards you want. I’ll “I’ve felt bad this whole
feels vindicated and is “I appreciate everyone ward to helping my family do it all.” time they’ve had to an-
focusing on the season, who waited until the ver- heal from this.” A 32-year-old right-hand- swer any questions,” he
speaking two days after dict was out, waited un- The commissioner’s office er, Clevinger pitched for said. “I’m ready for them
Major League Baseball til the facts came out. I said its investigation in- Cleveland from 2016 until to not have to answer to
announced he will not be appreciate anyone who cluded interviews of more being traded to San Di- this.”q