Atlanta Falcons proprietor Arthur Clean formally fired head coach Arthur Smith early Monday morning and spoke with reporters later within the day concerning the membership passing on an opportunity to amass Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson final offseason.
“Was it a mistake to not pursue? You’re asking me that? . . . I don’t suppose so,” Clean stated about Jackson, per Mike Florio of Professional Soccer Speak. “I’m imply, it’s simple to say ‘sure’ given his 12 months, and he’s clearly an unbelievable participant. You understand, we didn’t have the cap area. I believe the teaching workers felt — coach and personnel, all of us felt collectively, with definitely coach and (common supervisor Terry Fontenot) that we felt we had a solution in (2022 third-round draft decide Desmond Ridder), a youthful participant with out that type of contract that will’ve stored us from really constructing the crew we wished to construct.”
The Falcons have been repeatedly linked with Jackson each earlier than and after the Ravens retained his rights for 2023 by way of the non-exclusive franchise tag, however Smith confirmed in late March that Ridder would stay his QB1 via the spring. Smith later benched Ridder for a time throughout this previous season, whereas Jackson became the presumed Most Priceless Participant for the marketing campaign.
Jackson in the end signed a five-year contract reportedly price as much as $260M with $185M assured to stick with Baltimore.
“I believe the results of that pondering was let’s keep the course,” Clean added on Monday. “Let’s proceed to pursue the imaginative and prescient that we have now now. And go from there. It’s not a criticism of Lamar. You may debate whether or not or not he would’ve been obtainable or not. Who is aware of in the event that they have been capable of match no matter gives have been on the desk? I don’t know that. I’m unsure. However definitely an incredible participant. He definitely had an incredible 12 months.”
In response to ESPN stats, Ridder ended the season ranked twenty sixth amongst certified gamers with a 39.9 adjusted QBR and twenty eighth with an 83.4 passer score. Throughout 15 video games, he tossed 12 landing passes and 12 interceptions.
In the meantime, Jackson guided the 13-4 Ravens to the No. 1 seed for the AFC portion of the postseason match.