Lamar Jackson ‘Moving On’ with 'Offer Sheet' from Colts? Here's Ravens QB Truth

"Did the Colts just become a PLAYER in the Lamar Jackson Ravens QB Sweepstakes?'' Well, despite the breathless reporting of ESPN ... No.

The headlines positively scream it. 

"Colts Mulling Lamar Jackson Offer Sheet.''

"Latest Lamar Jackson rumors include key update with Colts.''

"Did the Colts just become a PLAYER in the Lamar Jackson Ravens QB Sweepstakes?''

And the answer is ... Nah.

That is, nah, the Colts did not "just become a player in the Lamar Sweepstakes.'' Indeed, despite the almost daily attempts from ESPN to connect a new team to the franchise-tagged Jackson (which we admit we've dutifully reported on almost daily!), there are ZERO teams who are "players in the Lamar Sweepstakes.''

ZERO.

And yet - there is the lingering possibility that Lamar might WANT out … 

On that point, ESPN’s Colts beat writer Stephen Holder is being aggregated for his story suggesting a connection. ...

And we use the word "suggesting'' and "connection'' advisedly, because Holder's story actually offers nothing but his own personal thoughts on "Lamar to Indy - Why (and Why Not)?

This doesn't mean that Holder lacks insight into the Colts. But what did he really write, factually, on his way to offering up a "fact-based opinion'' so highly circulated (approaching 1 million Twitter views) thanks in part to a nudge from ESPN colleague Adam Schefter?

NEW: Have the Colts ruled out a run at Lamar Jackson? No.

Do I expect them to pursue him? That’s a more complicated answer.

In the meantime, I’ve laid out the whole complex situation and why Lamar and the Colts would or would not work. Details: https://t.co/pxJkwuhIDM

— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) March 20, 2023

Holder wrote that the Colts "have not ruled out discussing the possibility of submitting an offer sheet'' on Lamar.

Oh.

Is that news? Sure, in the wake of a around a half-dozen teams essentially announcing (via media "leaks'') their disinterest, to unearth a team that isn't screaming "No!'' is worth something.

But at its core, the story properly framed should be about this ESPN statement: "The Colts have not taken any 'substantive steps'' with respect to preparing any firm offers to Jackson.

Oh.

Nevertheless, here comes ProFootballTalk.com on Tuesday morning with Mike Florio writing about the Colts' "obvious attempt to pilfer (Baltimore's) starting quarterback.''

The team that secretly absconded from Baltimore nearly 39 years ago to the day could be making an open and obvious attempt to pilfer the city's current starting quarterback. https://t.co/pA4APy77rD

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 21, 2023

Huh? "Pilfer''? What attempt?

PFT has since advanced the ball with a story about Lamar wanting to “move on.” (Stay tuned … but how to “move on” when there are no offers?

Holder mentions that owner Jim Irsay has before signed big-money QBs like Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck. But we're not sure that has much to do with this. ... any more than the Texans are connected to Lamar or any more than the Patriots are connected to Lamar or any more than the Vikings are connected to Lamar.

In the end, for us, we'll keep chasing for information and we'll keep analyzing rumors as well. And here, we will note that "The Colts Might Bid On Lamar'' doesn't even meet that low "rumor'' threshold.

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