PITTSBURGH — Lamar Jackson makes $23 million this season and is expected to do his next contract for more than a quarter of a billion dollars. His Baltimore Ravens are tied for first place in the AFC North division at 7-4 despite a disappointing 28-27 loss at Jacksonville Sunday. He is 44-16 as a starting quarterback in the NFL. He has thrown for 101 career touchdowns with 38 interceptions and has run for 4,428 yards and 24 touchdowns. He was the unanimous choice as NFL MVP In 2019.
And Jackson is worried about what some yahoo says on Twitter?
Aren't these athletes ever going to learn?
Jackson was targeted by someone with the handle @CastleWillKill on Twitter after he completed just 50% of his passes in the loss to the Jaguars. "Let Lamar walk and spend that money on a well rounded team," the person wrote.
Jackson quickly fired back. His vulgar response can't be printed here, but you easily can find it online. Many interpreted it as a gay slur, but Jackson vehemently denied that. Others have called for him to be fined or even suspended by the league. His tweet had a long shelf life before it finally was deleted from his account.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh was troubled enough by Jackson's message that he met with him on Monday to discuss it. He then talked about it at length with the Baltimore media.
"Really just beg guys not to get into the Twitter world right after the game, especially a loss," Harbaugh said. "It's never going to be positive. It's not going to be a nice place."
The tweet was "just so out of character for [Jackson]," Harbaugh said.
"That's not the way he speaks. That's not the way he talks. That not the words he ever uses. I've never heard him say things like that before. I'm sure he's frustrated, just like we all are. That's just a place you don't want to live right after a game. I know he understands that."
The Ravens blew a two-score lead in the fourth quarter against the Jaguars, a 27-20 lead in the final two minutes. They have wasted two-score leads in the second half of all four of their losses.
"[Jackson] is one of the biggest competitors I've ever met," Harbaugh said. "So he gets trapped sometimes by someone that's baiting him just a little bit. You can't live there. It's not important. I think that's not a place he wants to be in and certainly not the things he wants to say."
One thing Harbaugh said stood out more than anything else:
"It's not important."
Why can't athletes figure that out?
This sort of thing has been happening since social media began. Prominent people can't wait to see what others are saying about them. If it is negative, they don't like it. But they can't win when they get into a Twitter war with the nameless, gray faces. It just isn't worth it.
One incident stands out for me.
Maurkice Pouncey took to Twitter after the Steelers' playoff loss in Denver after the 2011 season to urge followers to buy a rapper's music. A man named Rick accused him of poor timing and not caring about his team enough.
"I'm rich play for the steelers and have a awesome life!" Pouncey tweeted in response. "u wish you had my life!! your a loser Rick!"
I'm guessing that made Pouncey feel good. I know for sure it made him look bad.
Rick wasn't worth the response from Pouncey, who ended up offering what I believe was an insincere apology.
@CastleWillKill wasn't worth the response from Jackson. Expect Jackson's insincere apology at any time.
