OTL: Who Sits on the Mount Rushmore of Ravens?

What is the Ravens’ Mount Rushmore? NFL.com has offered its take on this question.

Mount Rushmore: Baltimore @Ravens edition pic.twitter.com/JSnKpGK4Qs

— NFL (@NFL) July 7, 2024

The four heads that make up the Ravens’ version of the monument are Ray Lewis, Jonathan Ogden, Ed Reed, and Lamar Jackson. The first three names were obvious locks. Lewis has a statue. Reed has a ton of records and is arguably the best ballhawk of all time. Ogden is also considered by many to be the best player at his position and was a perennial Pro Bowl standout for the Ravens. Three out of the four names here will generate no debate. Lamar Jackson’s inclusion will.

The narrator of the video posted on X cites Jackson’s two NFL MVP awards and his incredible winning percentage as a starting quarterback. The video also highlights that Jackson has a chance to go down as the best dual-threat quarterback in history. It’s a strong argument. Despite falling short in the postseason to this point of his career, Jackson has consistently been one of the most exciting players in the NFL. When I think of the Ravens the first players that come to my mind come from the Super Bowl XXXV team of the 2000 season. Today, Jackson is the face of the franchise. For younger fans, Jackson is who they know as the defining Raven. Because Jackson will only add to his resume’, his inclusion on the Ravens’ Mount Rushmore is fair.

Many fans will argue that Joe Flacco should be the fourth name on the list. His argument is rooted in the fact that he was the Super Bowl XLVII MVP and the franchise quarterback for 11 seasons. Flacco’s regular season statistics are more in the above-average category while his playoff performances are the ingredients to his legend. Until recently, he had the most postseason road wins in NFL history. If it weren’t for Lee Evans dropping the game-winning pass, he could have outdueled Brady in Foxboro in two AFC Championship games in a row.

To avoid the quarterback controversy, Terrell Suggs would have been another option. An argument could be made for Marshal Yanda or Justin Tucker, though the choices made in the video are correct, to me. Sticking with Jackson discourse (as one does on RSR), is he still critiqued too harshly? LeSean McCoy voiced on ESPN that he thinks so.

LeSean McCoy thinks Lamar Jackson is unfairly criticized:

“They don’t keep the same type of attitude with Lamar like they do with other quarterbacks.”

pic.twitter.com/jfYpkD3AAD

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) July 7, 2024

McCoy should get credit for being nuanced while still delivering a hot take. He talked about how the media gives other quarterbacks a pass that they don’t extend to Jackson. Josh Allen (who he believes is better than Jackson) was his biggest example. McCoy also mentioned how strenuous Jackson’s second contract negotiations were.

McCoy is spot on here. The number one hypocrisy in the NFL is how Allen is celebrated for his toughness as a runner while Jackson’s running is talked about as an injury liability. The commentators make it such an obvious thorn in a Baltimore fan’s side at every opportunity despite Jackson’s injuries coming as a passer and his runs being much more calculated than Allen’s.

Mark Schlereth: “I don’t want to hear from all of you … that Lamar Jackson, ‘Well they don’t get him weapons.’

“How many RD1 WRs do you need to draft? … Your QB has a long way to go in developing WRs. I don’t want to hear that bulls*** anymore.”pic.twitter.com/i1MFpEfiOH

— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) July 2, 2024

This conversation was sparked by Mark Schlereth’s take that he’s tired of hearing that Jackson doesn’t have enough weapons. Schlereth pointed out the Ravens have put a lot of draft capital in the wide receiver and tight end positions. To be fair, Schlereth has a very valid point. The Ravens drafted Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers and Schlereth believes that Jackson has to be able to get more out of his talent.

The Ravens have invested in their passing attack. I’d even argue that the lack of weapons had nothing to do with Baltimore’s championship woes. Jackson had to deal with a litany of blitzes and the Ravens stopped running the football. He had a frustration-induced interception into double coverage – and needed to perform better in that game. The Ravens’ game plan was the real problem.

Wholesome: #Ravens RB Derrick Henry threw a carnival in his hometown of Yulee, Florida to give back to the community

Henry gifted roughly 200 kids bicycles and backpacks filled with school supplies, and even signed autographs.

What a role model! pic.twitter.com/3lJaWV6JTg

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) July 5, 2024

The latest reason to love Derrick Henry is that he just made a huge impact on the youth of his hometown. The Ravens’ new running back donated bicycles, school supplies, and autographs for kids of Yulee, Florida. Henry has a long track record of giving back to the community and this is a wonderful gesture right before the start of a new school year.

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