The Baltimore Ravens kicked off Phase 1 of their voluntary offseason workouts on Monday. Among those at the facility was their quarterback and leader, Lamar Jackson. It’s news that can really only signal positives heading into 2026. But somehow, people have morphed it into a negative thing.
Jackson’s attendance, or lack thereof, at voluntary workouts in the past two seasons has been polarizing. But with new head coach Jesse Minter at the helm now, he’s running full speed into next season. Former NFL head coach Eric Mangini isn’t impressed, though. In fact, he’s holding the change of heart against Jackson.
During a segment on First Things First where they reacted to the Jackson news, Mangini took it as a bad thing.
“I don’t like [Jackson showing up]. I really don’t like it,” Mangini said. “It’s just like, ‘Okay, what was wrong with the last X amount of years.’ Why suddenly are we now at OTAs? Were they not important last year…I wasn’t saying that I don’t like a guy being at the offseason program, I just feel like it’s a little problematic when you haven’t been there in the past…Now that they’ve transitioned coaching staffs, you’re suddenly all in?”
Just wow. That take might be worse than his two years as head coach of the Cleveland Browns.
Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson somehow gets heat from showing up to voluntary workouts
I mean, Jackson can just never satisfy the media. One year, they’re pressuring him nonstop to show up to voluntary workouts, and now it’s a problem that he’s showing up. Can you pick a side and just stick there? There’s simply no reason to be upset with his attendance on Monday.
Mangini harped on the reason behind Jackson showing up: the change in coaching staff. Most importantly, the team hired a new head coach and a new offensive coordinator. You have to get acclimated to that shift early, and Jackson is taking advantage of the opportunity. That’s all there is to it. There’s no hidden meaning behind the decision. You don’t have to get out your magnifying glass and pipe like you’re Sherlock Holmes.
Regardless of how the media feels, the Ravens couldn’t be more excited about having Jackson in the building, ready to go. It’s a superb move from the two-time MVP, and Minter and company will be pumped to have the opportunity to work with him in the offseason. They’re not going to put him under a microscope and try to dissect his true intentions like Mangini is.
Ultimately, just as it’s a new era in Charm City, it’s a new approach for Jackson. He’s still the same MVP-caliber player, and his team-first call should only have the organization in a better position moving forward.