JACKSON GOES FROM `CRAMPS' TO CLUTCH
The Baltimore Ravens are very lucky to still be in the thick of the race for an AFC wild card spot.
Had Lamar Jackson not recovered from what he called “cramps” in his arm and leg late in the fourth quarter — at the exact same time third stringer Trace Mcsorley suffered a sprained knee — it's unlikely they would have rallied to defeat the Cleveland Browns on Monday night.
That is, unless punter Sam Koch, the team's emergency quarterback, could have thrown a 44-yard touchdown pass and then set up Jason Tucker's game-winning 55-yard field goal the way Jackson did.
Yes, had those “cramps” lingered for only a couple of more minutes, the Browns would be 10-3 and the Ravens 7-6, with barely a pulse.
Damn lucky.
Nobody knew why Jackson was heading to the locker-room, with Baltimore's season on the line, late in the third quarter. It had to be quite serious, but there was no video evidence of the 2019 MVP getting injured.
The popular theory on social media was that he had to go to the bathroom. A cramp? Without the M, maybe.
The following morning, a company called Tushy sent out a release offering Jackson and his teammates free bidets, suggesting they be installed in the Ravens' locker-room for future “emergencies.”
In his post-game availability, Jackson stuck to his story.
“I didn't pull a Paul Pierce,” he said. “I was cramping.”
Jackson was referring to Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals when Pierce, a Boston Celtics star, needed the help of his teammates to get up and into a wheelchair that took him to the locker-room.
A little more than a decade later, Pierce came clean with the reason for his emergency exit.
“I have a confession to make,” he said. “I just had to go to the bathroom. Something went down.”
On Monday, the Browns went down (don't giggle), but only because the Ravens were very lucky they didn't have to use their punter as quarterback. Only because Jackson had a miraculous recovery from the “cramps.”
And you're to believe that something is rotten just in the state of Denmark, not Maryland.
LAMAR RUNS WILD: It has to be only a matter of time before Jackson becomes the all-time leading rusher among NFL quarterbacks. That crown is worn by Michael Vick, who ran for 6,109 yards over 13 seasons that saw him play in 143 games and make 115 starts. Jackson, who led the Ravens to a 47-42 win over Cleveland with nine carries for 124 yards and two touchdowns, is now 14th on the all-time list with 2,694 yards over just three seasons. He has played in 43 games and made 34 starts. … With Mcsorley put on injured reserve Tuesday, backing up Jackson in Baltimore's Week 15 game against Jacksonville will be Tyler Huntley, who has never taken an NFL snap.
QUICK HITS: After he missed three of his four field goal attempts in the first half against the Seahawks on Sunday, the
Jets have released kicker Sergio Castillo. If that name is familiar to CFL fans, it should be. Castillo played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Hamilton Tiger-cats and had two stints with both the Ottawa Redblacks and B.C. Lions. … The Ravens have activated WR Dez Bryant from the COVID-19 list. … It's unlikely the Panthers will have RB Christian Mccaffrey for Saturday night's game in Green Bay. A lingering quad injury is expected to make him miss his 13th game of the season. … Five days before their Week 15 game against Atlanta, the Bucs have placed three key members of their special teams on reserve/ COVID-19: K Ryan Succop, P Bradley Pinion and long snapper Zach Triner.
OUT OF THE HUDDLE: Playing out the string on their 63rd consecutive season without a championship, the Detroit Lions gave their fans what should be something to cheer about Tuesday with the announcement that Chris Spielman is stepping out of the broadcast booth and into a job with a team that appears to have some clout. While serving as special assistant to the chair and reporting directly to chief executive Ron Wood, Spielman will participate in interviews as the team searches for a new general manager and head coach. Also taking part in that hunt will be a newly formed three-man advisory committee that includes Barry Sanders, widely recognized as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. Former linebacker Spielman is the franchise career leader in tackles.