The headline of the day's news is about Derrick Henry and a $30 million contract extension, the most ever given to a running back of his advanced age.
The true meaning for the Baltimore Ravens, though? It's all about Lamar Jackson.
The messaging here couldn't be more clear: It's time to go win a Super Bowl.
Jackson has been a brilliant regular season quarterback, a two-time MVP that could have three. But the playoffs have been his bugaboo, his downfall, his demise.
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The brilliant dual-threat QB hasn't been as good in January. The reasons are almost irrelevant. The reality is that Baltimore won't life a Lombardi Trophy if No. 8 plays the way he has in past postseasons.
The best the Ravens can do is set their franchise quarterback up to be successful, and that's what the Henry deal does.
Henry brought a new level to Baltimore in 2024, rushing for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns. More than that, though, his influence showed in the rushing rate records that the Ravens set.
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Defenses couldn't key on just Jackson, or on just Henry. Together, they were nearly unstoppable.
The Ravens, with this contract extension, are saying that it's time to go finish the job. They've got the offensive recipe they like, and they didn't want it to end after 2025 when Henry would've been a free agent.
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Henry might be getting up there in years, but he can still pair with Jackson to make magic happen.
If the Ravens had just let Henry walk after this year, it would've looked like a willingness to regress.
Now, they're saying they want to be on top of the mountain. They've got their QB, and they've got their King. All that's left is to take over the NFL.
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