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Robert Griffin III slams anonymous NFL coaches for attacking Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes

On3 imageby: Sam Gillenwater07/28/22samdg_33
On3 image
Scott Winters | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images - Kevin Richardson | The Baltimore Sun | Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson are two of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the NFL. The pair of former MVPs for Kansas City and Baltimore haven’t received positive evaluations this week from ‘anonymous sources’, though. For former NFL QB turned analyst Robert Griffin III, he doesn’t understand where the disrespect is coming from or why it’s being shared at all.

Robert Griffin shared his thoughts in a tweet on Wednesday. He says the unnamed speakers obviously don’t understand how special Mahomes and Jackson are.

The knock on Mahomes from one source was that his play style is like ‘street ball’. Surprisingly, the Pro Bowler, All-Pro and Super Bowl champion apparently doesn’t make multiple reads. In turn, that leads to him improvising and not having a ‘natural pocket presence’.

In Jackson’s case, an NFL DC told Mike Sando of The Athletic that Lamar’s passing costs the Ravens games. While he credits how distinct Jackson’s game is, he believes he’ll never be a good football player as a quarterback and he doesn’t ‘give a s— if (Lamar) wins the league MVP 12 times’.

While Robert Griffin did highlight the racial undertones that came with these words, the fact of the matter is the comments are ill-mannered. They’re even more so due to the nameless nature of them. Mahomes and Jackson are two of the best players in all of football, let alone the QB position. While no player is above criticism, it’s long past time the sport shows those two the respect they’re due.

LOOK: Lamar Jackson sends clear message on his contract dispute

One of the biggest storylines heading into NFL training camp is the Lamar Jackson contract situation. The Baltimore Ravens star is eligible for an extension, but still hasn’t signed one with just a few weeks to go before camp starts.

Saturday, the former Louisville star sent a crystal clear message about where things stand.

Jackson changed his Twitter cover photo and his Instagram profile avatar to a picture of a smile with four teeth engraved with “I NEED $.” He missed OTAs as he tried to work out a new deal, but things appear to be taking a new turn.

Jackson was the Ravens’ first-round draft pick in 2018 and Baltimore recalibrated its offense to suit his running ability. He won the MVP in 2019 when he threw for 3,129 yards and 36 touchdowns in the air while also rushing for 176 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. But now, he’s trying to get paid as he enters year five — but the stalemate continues.

It’s worth noting Jackson doesn’t have an agent, meaning he’s negotiating this deal by himself. If the two sides can’t come to an agreement, the Ravens plan to use the franchise tag, according to NFL.com’s Anthony Holzman-Escareno.

“The Browns gave [Deshaun] Watson a fully guaranteed, five-year deal worth $46 million per season. Jackson is over a year younger and has a much higher QB win percentage (.755) than Watson (.528). He also has an MVP award in his trophy case,” Holzman-Escareno wrote. “The Ravens will apply the franchise tag on Jackson should an agreement not be reached by next offseason.”

Jackson appeared in 12 games last season and still put up good numbers, throwing for 2,882 yards and 16 touchdowns during that time to go with 133 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Baltimore is getting ready to start training camp July 27.