Lamar gets Belichick to crack smile
ARLINGTON, Texas — Lamar Jackson hopes to begin a long and accomplished NFL career beginning Thursday night at the draft, but he may have his biggest feat already wrapped up. He made Bill Belichick laugh. The Louisville quarterback had a pair of pre-draft visits with the Patriots, including a trip to their facility, where he met with the typically stern head coach. Having seen him on TV, Jackson was prepared for a serious talk.
“We were just talking, having a conversation and he was just giggling,” said Jackson, who didn’t remember how he got Belichick to crack. “He started laughing and I was like, ‘Oh snap!’
“He was cool, laid back. He just wanted to talk.”
Though Jackson is not in the group of the top four quarterbacks — Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and Josh Rosen — bunched at the top of most draft boards, his stock has seemed to rise recently with more reports linking him to the Patriots, who have picks No. 23 and 31.
Jackson said five teams invited him for on-site visits. Just two came to South Florida to work him out privately. The Patriots, who run an offense similar to the one Jackson mastered at Louisville, were the only team to do both, sending offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to the workout.
“I’m just happy for my name to be on their mind, period,” Jackson said Wednesday after a youth clinic outside of AT&T Stadium.
Jackson would be the heir apparent to Brady, who already has given him an endorsement. Earlier this month, Brady’s account commented on an Instagram post of Jackson, calling him “a beast.” Jackson said he wouldn’t mind getting to learn from the f ive-time Super Bowl champ, who has plans to play into his mid-40s.
“When Brady said I’m a beast, I’m like, ‘Brady said that!?’” said Jackson, who hasn’t met with the Giants or Jets outside of the NFL Scouting Combine. “Brady doesn’t really come out too much and talk, but that’s one of the guys I’ve looked up to as well.”
Jackson said he has no regrets about how the pre-draft process has gone, including not hiring an agent and having his mom serve as his manager instead. He decided not to run the 40-yard dash after reports surfaced about teams wanting to work him out as a receiver, all of which has fueled the Heisman Trophy winner even more to show what he can do as an NFL quarterback.
“[My mom] always wanted me to strive for greatness,” Jackson said. “She’s always seen a lot more in me than I probably see in myself sometimes.”