Jackson acknowledges a ‘conversation’ about contract

OWINGS MILLS, MD. » Lamar Jackson said he expects to spend the rest of his career with the Baltimore Ravens.

He also gave few hints about how the next few months might go.

Jackson indicated he’s had recent discussions with the team about his contract, but that’s about all he was willing to say about it when he spoke to reporters Thursday for the first time since joining the Ravens for mandatory minicamp. Jackson is entering his fifthyear option season, so a possible extension has been a big topic during this Baltimore offseason.

“We’re having a conversation,” the star quarterback said.

Jackson gave some variation of that answer several times, including when he was asked — and then asked a second time — if he would definitely play in the first regular-season game if he didn’t have a new deal by then.

“We’re having a conversation about it,” Jackson said. “I don’t know.”

Earlier, however, he’d been asked if he expects to play the rest of his career in Baltimore.

“I expect to,” Jackson said.

Smith says he, Boselli are ‘cool’

BUFFALO, N.Y. » Bruce Smith never had a problem with Tony Boselli, and can’t wait for the left tackle to join him as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

It’s another story for some of Boselli’s supporters, and the claims they made in making the case for the Jaguars lineman to earn induction in February, which bothered the NFL’s career leader in sacks.

“Tony and I are cool,” Smith told The

Associated Press, saying the two former players have spoken by phone to clear up any confusion. “Tony and I have no beef with each other. And I hope and I’d like to see Tony enjoy this process.”

Smith is referring to the eyebrows he raised and “Hall of Fame feud” headlines he generated after posting a lengthy note on Instagram Tuesday.

At issue with Smith is how Boselli’s supporters focused in on one specific game, Jacksonville’s 30-27 playoff win over Buffalo after the 1996 season, in which comparisons were made between the two. It was an outing in which Boselli limited the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year that season to three tackles and two quarterback pressures.

Smith considered that argument to be out of bounds, or “underhanded” as he wrote, because it pits a hall of fame hopeful against a hall of fame member.