Tag: ken francis

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson takes to Twitter, denies NFL’s assertion of representation

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson denied any assertion that Ken Francis was attempting to negotiate a contract on his behalf

After news broke about an NFL memo regarding Lamar Jackson’s representation in his ongoing negotiations with teams in free agency, the Baltimore Ravens quarterback was quick to clap back on social media.

Jackson, who was given a non-exclusive franchise tag by the Ravens ahead of the 2023 legal tampering period, has yet to be offered a contract for Baltimore to match with their right of first refusal. The role that businessman Ken Francis, who has loose ties to Jackson, might have played in his meetings with teams (or lack thereof) is unclear, though the NFL’s memo on Thursday seems to be a foreboding sign for the quarterback’s future.

For his part, though, Jackson categorically denied any involvement on Francis’ behalf, implying that he is still negotiating his next deal by himself. As one of the league’s top signal callers, fans expected Jackson to have plenty of suitors, even if the Ravens were likely to retain him for the 2023 season.

Clearly, something has gone awry in this bizarre saga, and a resolution to it seems to be no closer than it was in the immediate aftermath of the initial franchise tag. Jackson remains unsigned, Baltimore still doesn’t have an offer to match, and this bizarre turn of events could sour teams on the prospect of signing the quarterback despite his many accomplishments and accolades.

NFL issues notice to teams warning that man is trying to negotiate on behalf of Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson’s free agency saga took a bizarre turn on Thursday when the NFL issued a memo about his representation in ongoing negotiations

The Baltimore Ravens’ negotiations with quarterback Lamar Jackson took a bizarre turn on Thursday when the NFL issued a notice to teams that a man who is not a certified agent might be reaching out on his behalf. Ken Francis, a businessman with ties to Jackson, was named in the memo, though his exact role in any negotiations that the quarterback has had since free agency opened last week is unclear.

While the league’s assertion is disputed by Jackson, this memo wouldn’t have been released if there were no cause for concern on the NFL’s behalf. Uncertified agents are prohibited from negotiating contracts or trades, and teams will be subject to fines if they try to broker a deal through one.

This development could be a reason that Baltimore’s negotiations with Jackson have been at a standstill, though without more information, nothing can be certain. Francis’ business relationship with Jackson remains unclear.

One thing is clear, though; something has been happening behind the scenes that has delayed a deal from getting done. Jackson should have suitors around the league lining up for him, and the Ravens should have had a contract to match or decline by this point in the free agency process.

More news about Francis’ involvement with Jackson is sure to break in the coming days and weeks. With the draft about a month away, teams that may have previously been interested in Jackson could look to younger prospects who won’t bring additional baggage with them.