Lamar Jackson Explains What His ‘I Need$’ Photo Really Means

Lamar Jackson didn’t want to send a message to the Ravens with his social media activity, he says.

The Ravens quarterback changed his Instagram profile picture and Twitter account header to a photo that read « I need $, » but said it was a reference to a film and not contract negotiations. The photo is from the movie « How High, » which Jackson said he enjoyed.

« I don’t know why people blow up, » Jackson told USA Today. “I just saw Bleacher Report post it. They take everything that’s posted on social media and blow it up and try to think for you. I don’t take it too seriously.

“They make it look like I’m talking to the Ravens when I’m not. Our contract discussion is already underway. But it’s not about that, though. I don’t put my professional life on social media. I will never do that. I will not put my personal life on social media. I’ll show stuff but I won’t throw subliminal [messages] out. It is not me. »

Jackson and the Ravens are negotiating a new deal, which the former NFL MVP says will « hopefully » be by training camp.

« I’m not going to say ‘yeah’ right now, » Jackson said. « Hopefully. But it’s God’s timing.

Jackson, 25, added that he’s not currently thinking about holding training camp. He gave no details of the ongoing negotiations.

Jackson’s deal will likely put him in the league’s top quarterback bracket, earning around $40 million a year. He is currently in the final year of his rookie contract and is expected to earn $23 million in 2022.