John Harbaugh on Lamar Jackson attending OTAs: It’s important, I want everybody here

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Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson skipped the first day of voluntary Organized Team Activities, but showed up for Day Two. Ravens coach John Harbaugh wants his franchise quarterback leading his team on the practice field, even when it’s not required.

Asked today specifically about Jackson’s participation, Harbaugh said today that it’s important not only for Jackson, but for everyone.

“I’m happy with the numbers, we’ve got a lot of guys here,” Harbaugh said. “I think it’s important. I’m a coach. I want everybody here. I want every player here all the time, doing everything they can.”

At the same time, Harbaugh acknowledged that the practices are voluntary and said he doesn’t object to Odell Beckham and Mark Andrews both working out in Arizona rather than in Baltimore.

“I don’t have any problem with that,” Harbaugh said. “You don’t worry too much about it.”

It’s not a major worry for Harbaugh, but there’s no doubt that Harbaugh, like all coaches, would rather have his players on the field.

12 responses to “John Harbaugh on Lamar Jackson attending OTAs: It’s important, I want everybody here

  1. So much talent on that team, but so much inconsistency.

    I wonder what John Boy’s excuses will be when the team falls apart again.

  2. It’s no secret around town that Lamar enjoys the nightlife…way too much. At least now that he is in camp he will have handlers to try and keep him grounded…unlike down in Miami.

  3. Wonder why obj isn’t get sh*t on for missing ota’s when Lamar had an excused first day..

  4. Jackson probably better severed to be in Arizona with the two pass catchers.

  5. What, no comments about how much Harbaugh sucks? Lamar’s a RB? Must be the off season.

  6. Players dedicated to winning and want to lead by example show up for everything including OTA’s. Cash checkers and/or inflated egos don’t with better things to do like call of duty or sitting in dark. As always if the top players get specialized treatment (see Denver 2022) and do not need to commit then why should anybody else, which equals a mediocre team.

  7. Harbaughisms:
    “It’s important, I want everybody here”
    “OBJ and Andrews? I’m cool with them not being here.”

  8. “Wonder why obj isn’t get sh*t on for missing ota’s when Lamar had an excused first day..”
    ——————
    Easy. Jackson is the QB and the presumed leader of the team. OBJ is not.

  9. nfldivas says:
    May 24, 2023 at 3:18 pm
    Players dedicated to winning and want to lead by example show up for everything including OTA’s. Cash checkers and/or inflated egos don’t with better things to do like call of duty or sitting in dark. As always if the top players get specialized treatment (see Denver 2022) and do not need to commit then why should anybody else, which equals a mediocre team.
    __________________________________________

    So Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Aaron, Donald, Cooper kupp are not dedicated to winning? Is there any proof that teams with the most participants in OTA actually win more? This just an excuse for the fans who cry about everything to cry about something in the off-season.

  10. mikecrabtreeschain says:
    May 24, 2023 at 5:02 pm

    So Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Aaron, Donald, Cooper kupp are not dedicated to winning? Is there any proof that teams with the most participants in OTA actually win more? This just an excuse for the fans who cry about everything to cry about something in the off-season.

    ====

    All the guys you list have won Super Bowls. Jackson has one measly playoff win in his whole career.

    If he starts winning in the postseason, the questions will quiet. If he wins a Super Bowl, they will effectively stop. Until then, he’s not even a footnote in NFL history. Heck, two other Ravens QBs have won a Super Bowl, so he’s Just A Guy even in his own team’s history. It’s exciting right now, but without a ring, years from now this will just be remembered as downtime between Super Bowls.

    He’s talented enough to do it, but it takes something a lot more special than “winning 3/4 of his regular-season games” to reach the top. This season is a prime opportunity for him to prove everyone wrong.

  11. bangerafterbanger89 says:
    May 24, 2023 at 2:30 pm
    So much talent on that team, but so much inconsistency.

    I wonder what John Boy’s excuses will be when the team falls apart again.

    2418Rate This

    ————-

    Are we sure about that? They appear to lack the talent they once had.

  12. mikecrabtreeschain says:
    May 24, 2023 at 5:02 pm
    nfldivas says:
    May 24, 2023 at 3:18 pm
    Players dedicated to winning and want to lead by example show up for everything including OTA’s. Cash checkers and/or inflated egos don’t with better things to do like call of duty or sitting in dark. As always if the top players get specialized treatment (see Denver 2022) and do not need to commit then why should anybody else, which equals a mediocre team.
    __________________________________________

    So Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Aaron, Donald, Cooper kupp are not dedicated to winning? Is there any proof that teams with the most participants in OTA actually win more? This just an excuse for the fans who cry about everything to cry about something in the off-season.

    216Rate This

    —————————-

    “The truth is, this (OTAs) lays the foundation for the start of training camp and if you have a good training camp, it usually means a good start to the season. A good start to the season leads to good position entering the second half of the season. Everything ends up having some significance to it. You’re not just out here running plays and going through different things that aren’t going to mean anything. We’re out here trying to get a lot of things accomplished. I think we have done that, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.”

    – T. Brady, 2013 WEEI

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