When the Baltimore Ravens begin training camp, Lamar Jackson continues to cross his fingers for the team to sign mercurial All-Pro catcher Antonio Brown.
“He hoped we would catch him,” Jackson said Wednesday. “I still wait, a little bit.”
In April, Jackson worked with Brown, who is a cousin of the Ravens’ first-round pick, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Jackson later said he would be “happy” if Baltimore signed the seven-time Pro Bowl open.
On Wednesday, Jackson reiterated his stance on Antonio Brown.
“We want to win, and I can say in it [that] he wants to win, “Jackson said.” He wants to play ball. “
Raven officials have never shown any public interest in Brown and have repeatedly tried to obfuscate the situation when asked about Brown, not even mentioning him by name in their responses. In April, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said he would keep his thoughts on Brown “internally.” In May, DeCosta named all players with skill positions on the Ravens roster when asked about the team’s interest in Brown before adding, “We are excited about those guys.”
Brown’s incorporation seems unlikely because it would take a major change in Baltimore’s philosophy. Since 2015, owner Steve Bisciotti has said the Ravens would stay away from players with domestic violence in the past. It is a policy that stems from the situation with former running back Ray Rice, who was cut after a video of him hitting his future wife was released publicly.
Brown had a lawsuit filed by a former coach alleging that Brown sexually assaulted her multiple times. She was also accused of sexual misconduct in her home by an artist who worked there in 2017.
Last week, Brown wrote an Instagram post saying he wanted to play in the NFL again and urged the league to settle its investigation.
Jackson said he never had a problem with Brown.
“I just feel like he was a great guy around us,” Jackson said. “You don’t see anything at all. He is a great and realistic guy. He is passionate about the sport of soccer.”
Jackson was the unanimous NFL MVP last season, leading the Ravens to a 14-2 league record. But the Ravens have one of the youngest receiving groups in the NFL. Eight of Baltimore’s 10 receivers are 25 or younger and no one is older than 27.
Brown, 32, was the most productive catcher in the NFL between 2013 and 2018, leading the league in catches (686), receiving yards (9,145) and touchdown catches (67). But he hasn’t played in an NFL game since the New England Patriots released him after a Week 2 win in Miami in September.
At his launch session, Jackson was impressed with Brown’s work ethic. According to Jackson, Brown lifted weights before and after his workout.
“There is no resignation with him,” Jackson said. “That’s the kind of man we need in our locker room. I feel like the locker room here is unlike any other locker room. There’s a brotherhood going on. None of that outside noise. It’s strictly inside.”
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