Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has a chance to bolster his MVP candidacy this Christmas with a standout performance against the Houston Texans. However, recent headlines about him focus on his comments regarding Beyoncé.
Earlier this year, the NFL announced that Beyoncé would headline the halftime show for the Ravens-Texans game at NRG Stadium. During a press conference on Monday, Jackson humorously shared that he’s tempted to skip halftime with his team to watch the Grammy-winning artist perform live.
“Nah, I’m going to go out there and watch,” Lamar Jackson said. “It’ll be my first time seeing Beyoncé perform, and it’s at our game? That’s amazing. I’m definitely going to watch. Sorry, Coach Harbaugh. Sorry, team.
“I’m not even thinking about the score; I’m just excited to see Beyoncé live for the first time. And no disrespect, I know how comments like this can be taken the wrong way,” he added.
On Tuesday’s episode of First Take, ESPN’s Shannon Sharpe weighed in on Jackson’s comments. The Hall of Famer didn’t hold back, saying, “With the kind of money he’s making, he should understand he’s the team’s leader. The last thing you need is him and the whole squad distracted. Let’s stay focused.”
Sharpe may stir controversy now and then, but he’s spot-on in this case.
Even if Jackson is Beyoncé’s biggest fan, there’s no way he can justify skipping halftime adjustments in the locker room to watch the show. It would reflect poorly on him as a leader and two-time MVP.
Hopefully, Jackson’s comments are just playful banter meant to keep the Texans on their toes. Otherwise, he risks creating unnecessary tension this afternoon in Houston.
Kickoff for the Ravens-Steelers game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET.
