Baltimore Ravens

From time to time, players will claim that they are uniquely positioned to assess the skills of other players. And then they’ll completely undermine that position by making a horribly flawed assessment of a given player.

Case in point: In the NFL Network list of the NFL’s top 100 players, as determined exclusively by players, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson came in at No. 69. A full sixty-seven spots below where he was ranked in 2025.

Sure, the Ravens didn’t make the playoffs (barely). Yeah, Jackson missed four games due to injury. OK, his passing yards fell from 4,172 to 2,549. Right, his rushing yards dropped from 915 to 349.

Regardless, he’s Lamar Jackson. There aren’t 68 players better than him in the NFL. There aren’t 28. There aren’t 18. There arguably aren’t eight.

So how did it happen? As the voting process was explained at some point during the years NFLN has conducted the top-100 voting, an unspecified number of players are asked to list their top 20 NFL players. Points are assigned, 20 down to one, based on where a player lands. If a player, no matter how objectively good he is, is having an off year, he’ll slip farther than he should — because the players who are currently playing at a high level when a given ballot is constructed will end up in higher spots on more ballots.

Really, it’s not on the players. The process is flawed. As evidenced by the fact that Lamar Jackson fell 67 spots to No. 69.

The NFL is making a significant change to the offseason calendar for the 2027 season.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that the free agent negotiating window will open on March 9 next year. That is the same date that the two-day window opened this year, but the change comes in how close it will be to the end of the Scouting Combine.

NFL teams will wrap up their examinations and interrogations of incoming prospects on March 8 in 2027, which moves the league away from having a week or so between the two events as they have in past years.

Under that setup, the Combine has always been rife with table-setting for free agency as agents and team executives are all in the same place with their minds on the same things. With that gap eliminated, there will likely be even more of that work being done in Indianapolis so that teams are ready to make moves right from the starting gun.

The Fourth of July is one of the slowest NFL news days of the year. Every year, I remember the shocking news that emerged in the early afternoon of July 4, 2009.

Former Titans and Ravens quarterback Steve McNair had been murdered.

The details were confusing. It was quickly ruled a murder-suicide; McNair was shot by his 20-year-old girlfriend, who then shot herself. The woman, Sahel Kazemi, had reportedly never owned a gun. But McNair was execution-style, with two shots to the chest and two to the head.

Questions lingered regarding whether someone else was involved, but the case was never re-opened. In 2018, SI.com released a podcast series on the McNair murder.

The third overall pick in the 1995 draft, McNair led the Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV, nearly throwing a late touchdown pass that would have set the stage for overtime (or the ultimate all-or-nothing two-point conversion) against the Rams. McNair shared the NFL MVP award with Peyton Manning in 2003, and he finished his career with two seasons in Baltimore.

McNair is a member of the Titans’ Ring of Honor. The team has retired number 9 in his honor.

McNair was only 36 when he died, 17 years ago today.

The brother of Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell has been charged with murdering their mother.

Ciarre Campbell, brother of Calais Campbell, was booked early Wednesday morning in Fulton County Jail on charges of murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm or knife, according to WSB TV.

Calais Campbell’s family released a statement confirming his mother’s death but not commenting on the charges against his brother.

“We are devastated to share that the Campbell Family has lost its matriarch, Mrs. Nateal Campbell,” the statement said. “While the details of her passing are still being investigated, we take comfort in knowing she is reunited with our father, her beloved Chuck, and in the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We ask for privacy at this time so that we may honor her and share in our overwhelming grief privately and as a family.”

Atlanta Police confirmed that they received a call on Tuesday afternoon asking for a welfare check at Nateal Campbell’s home, and the officers who responded found her body. Lt. Christapher Butler, the head of the Atlanta Police Department’s Homicide Unit, said police had previously been called regarding issues at the home.

“A brief look into the history does show some calls back in April dealing with this location a possible arson incident,” Butler told WSB TV. “There have been some indications of possible some mental health issues with an individual.”

Calais Campbell is heading into his 19th NFL season and is one of the NFL’s most respected players. He was the NFL’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2019 and is a six-time Pro Bowler. In addition to the Ravens, he has played for the Cardinals, Jaguars, Falcons and Dolphins.

Campbell and his family founded the Charles R. Campbell Foundation to honor his late father and support mentorship and education. The co-founders included both Nateal Campbell and Ciarre Campbell. The foundation’s literature says that Calais attributes much of his success to growing up in a “household bursting at the seams with love.”

Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has played three years in the NFL, which means he’s eligible for a second contract. Lamar Jackson says that second contract should be a big one.

Jackson, the quarterback who has been throwing to Flowers since the Ravens took Flowers in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, said when asked how valuable Flowers is that his value is off the charts.

“We love Zay. We need Zay,” Jackson said. “He’s one of the best receivers in the league, and he’s shown that since he stepped on the NFL field back in 2023. I wasn’t even here yet — he was just doing his route-running and making crazy catches. He was just doing what he’s been doing. His value is out of this world. That’s what I’d say.”

The Ravens picked up the fifth-year option on Flowers’ rookie contract, which means he’s under contract through 2027 and is set to make $27.3 million guaranteed that year. Flowers surely wants more than that per year on a long-term deal. Jackson thinks he’s worth it.

When Ravens safety Malaki Starks reflected on his rookie season in May, he said it was not up to the standard he set for himself.

Starks’s opinion of his work didn’t change over the last few weeks. The 2025 first-round pick told Jeff Zrebiec of TheAthletic.com that he “probably would go C-plus, B-minus” on a report card and he also shared what he plans to do in order to raise that grade for his second season.

Starks said he is integrating pilates into his offseason workouts and has added weight after playing at 202 pounds last year. Starks said he also plans to consult a Super Bowl-winning coach.

“I’m going to get back with Jon Gruden,” Starks said. “I trained with him before the draft, so I’m going to get back with him and pick his brain a little bit. . . . It’s awesome. I trained with him for the draft. He prepped me for the draft and we’ve been really cool ever since. Just to learn from a guy like him and have him as a resource, I think it will be huge.”

The Ravens have a new head coach in Jesse Minter and Starks said that “everybody gets a new start” in that situation. A little time with Gruden is part of his plan to make the most of that fresh start.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has been impressed by new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle this offseason and Jackson’s immersion into Doyle’s offense has impressed one of the quarterback’s longtime teammates.

Tight end Mark Andrews and Jackson as 2018 rookies in Baltimore, so he’s seen Jackson move through different offensive schemes while winning a pair of MVP awards. In an interview with CBSSports.com, Andrews said that Jackson has been “constantly evolving and getting better” over the years and that watching him do that over the last few months has revealed new depths to what Jackson is able to do.

“This is a different offense than we’ve been a part of since we got into the league — it’s totally different than anything we’ve done,” Andrews said. “I think [Jackson’s] going to make it his own, adapt to it and be the best that there is. That’s the type of person that he is and that’s the type of guys and coaches that we have. I think that’s a scary sight when you see Lamar Jackson adding new things to his repertoire.”

The offseason coaching changes have brought the most significant change to the Ravens’ operations since Jackson and Andrews arrived in Baltimore. If the on-field results match the offseason impressions, the new era in Baltimore will be off to a strong start.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, which means he’s already in elite company in league history. He has also never led the Ravens to the Super Bowl, which means there’s a glaring hole in his résumé. So where will Jackson stand among the league’s all-time greats when his career is over?

Jackson says it’s too soon to say.

Asked what legacy means to him now, after eight seasons in the NFL, Jackson said he isn’t thinking about it.

“That’s a good question,” Jackson said. “I really don’t have an answer for that question. I was not expecting that. I really don’t think about my legacy. I just try to be the best player I can be, keeping God first and doing what I can do when I can do it, being on the field and just trying to be the best player I can be at every moment.”

Jackson said he thinks the time to reflect on legacy will be when he’s considering whether to retire.

“I don’t really think about my legacy. Probably when I start thinking about retiring, I’ll probably be thinking about that — but not now,” Jackson said.

The 29-year-old Jackson has plenty of time left to shape his legacy. Perhaps by winning a Super Bowl MVP to go with those two regular-season MVPs.

Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins has set some big goals for his third NFL season.

During an appearance on The Journey, Wiggins listed All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections along with a Super Bowl title as his hopes for the 2026 campaign. Being at full strength would help his bid to reach any or all of those goals and Wiggins shared good news on that front as well.

Wiggins had undisclosed surgery earlier this offseason and said that he played the last two seasons at “about 60-70 percent” health. He said he feels that no one has seen “the full Nate” yet, but feels that’s coming now that he’s addressed his injury.

“They’re going to see a big transition this year,” Wiggins said. “How I move, all that. . . . I’m just so happy going into this year. I know the coaches [are] happy. They say it every day. I know it’s going to be a big year for me and I just can’t wait.”

Wiggins did not miss any games last season and finished the year with 76 tackles and three interceptions in his 17 starts.

Before the Texans nearly made it to the AFC Championship for the first time in franchise history, they started the year 0-3. Then, they shook things up by abruptly cutting safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

It was a surprising move, especially since the Texans (who acquired Gardner-Johnson in a trade with the Eagles) made no effort to re-trade him. They simply cut ties with him.

The Texans never provided a clear explanation of why Gardner-Johnson, who had just won a Super Bowl in Philadelphia, needed to go. In a new interview with Tim Graham of The Athletic, Gardner-Johnson supplies his side of the story.

According to the player, things started to go sideways at training camp in West Virginia, after a confrontation with “the GM’s friend.”

“If y’all going to cut me, cut me,” Gardner-Johnson said. “But I’ll give nobody reasons to cut me. I haven’t. I don’t. I’m not a cancer. There’s nobody in this locker room that says, ‘Chauncey’s a problem.’ The media loves me. The only thing that’ll do it is something that triggers somebody that has a say in the building that can alter somebody else’s mind. That happens every time.

“That’s how I got [cut] in Houston. One person that’s not technically a part of the organization called me a B-word at Greenbrier. I get out my body; he says something to the GM, and the next thing I’m cut.”

The Texans declined to comment for Graham’s story. Still, the objective timeline doesn’t exactly support the effort to connect the training-camp incident to Gardner-Johnson’s release.

The Texans were at The Greenbrier from August 4 to August 7. The Texans cut him on September 23, a full 47 days after leaving West Virginia.

It had been reported that Gardner-Johnson struggled to learn the Houston defense, and that he “finger-pointed” in lieu of accepting responsibility for his mistakes. Another report indicated that the team had become exhausted by his complaints.

Whatever the reason for his exit from the Texans, Gardner-Johnson has never stayed in one place for very long. Picked by New Orleans in the fourth round of the 2019 draft, the Saints traded him to the Eagles after three seasons. After one year in Philly, he signed with the Lions. After one year with the Lions, he returned to the Eagles. After another year with the Eagles, he was traded to the Texans.

Cut after three games in Houston, Gardner-Johnson landed on the practice squad in Baltimore. One week later, the Ravens released him.

The Bears signed him in late October, and he finished 2025 in Chicago. Then, Gardner-Johnson signed with the Bills.

Seven seasons. Six departures. Gardner-Johnson can say it’s not him — and maybe it isn’t. Still, he’s made six exits in less than four calendar years (the Saints traded him to the Eagles on August 30, 2022).

On several occasions, Gardner-Johnson aired grievances after his departures. He called his year with the Lions “hell,” and he claimed he was “lied to.” He said the Eagles traded him after the team won Super Bowl LIX because they were “scared of a competitor.”

He complained to Graham about his week in Maryland: “They sign you in the middle of the night with the plan for you to play that week, then literally 14 hours later they trade for a safety and tell you, ‘Oh, we’re going to start him and keep you on the practice squad.’ I’m a Super Bowl champion!”

Despite his performance in 11 games with the Bears, Gardner-Johnson told Graham that he knew the Bears wouldn’t re-sign him.

“I’m a firecracker, but let’s take the body of work: never legally been in trouble; never physically harmed a person,” Gardner-Johnson said. “But I haven’t been a captain ever in my life. They say, ‘You gotta lead the right way.’ My definition of leading is winning. . . . There’s a lot of captains in this league — and I want this to come out — that’s just for jersey sales. I can show you three, four captains right now that I wouldn’t get behind. Why would I get behind anybody that doesn’t believe in himself? I’ve played for plenty of false captains, but I gotta fake it, like, ‘That’s my leader!’”

He knows that people already think the Bills will cut him. Bills GM Brandon Beane was nevertheless willing to roll the dice on Gardner-Johnson, after both doing the research on the player and making sure he understands the ground rules.

“We talked about just making sure, ‘You’ve got to be a good teammate,’” Beane said. “We don’t want any cheap shots in practice or anything like that. You want to keep it in between those lines, but you do want his edge.”

Implied in that message is that Beane concluded Gardner-Johnson has a reputation for not being a good teammate, and for taking cheap shots in practice.

So far, the Bills seem to like him. Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard calls Gardner-Johnson a player who “loves football,” and who “loves being in the building.”

The challenge isn’t to be in the building. The challenge is to stay in the building. Gardner-Johnson vows that he will.

“I’m going to win the next two out of three Super Bowls,” he told Graham. “How? Look where they placed me at. Look who’s my quarterback. If I got a fucking fighting chance, it’s over with.”

Frankly, that’s the kind of fire the underachieving Bills need from their new “firecracker” safety. And maybe it’ll be enough to have a “C” on Gardner-Johnson’s jersey when he walks onto the field for Buffalo’s Week 1 game at, yes, the Texans.