Lamar's Pain Has the Bengals Feeling Good

. . . The questions are inevitable, if perhaps unfair

Until someone invents a Pain-o-meter, I’m not likely to question a football player’s decision not to play football. Man says he’s hurt, he’s hurt. I recall many moons ago Bob Huggins being irritated with his point guard, Damon Flint. Flint’s turf toe had caused him to miss playing time and made him less than full-bore in practice.

Huggins had no patience for guys he perceived as laggards. Then someone told him turf toe ended the career of Pittsburgh Steelers HOFer Jack Lambert. From profootballhalloffame.com:

Middle linebacker Jack Lambert, known for his fierceness and aggressive style of play, was a key component of the Pittsburgh Steelers famed “Steel Curtain” defense.  The epitome of toughness, Lambert missed only six games due to injuries in 10 seasons.  However, in the 1984 season opener, Lambert suffered a serious and extremely painful case of “turf toe.”  Determined to play, Lambert had his shoe fitted with a plaster cast to help protect his badly dislocated toe.  Although he managed to play in eight games, the damaged toe wouldn’t heal and the Hall of Fame linebacker called it a career at season’s end.

Lamar Jackson hasn’t practiced or played since he sprained his knee Dec. 4, and he very likely won’t play Sunday night, either. Without him, Baltimore has barely a puncher’s chance to beat the Bengals.

The issue gets complicated by money, because money complicates everything in sports. Jackson is in the last year of his rookie deal with the Ravens. Second contracts are when NFL players go from merely rich to buying chateaus in the south of France. The team and its franchise QB didn’t get a deal done before the season. Now, it’s entirely possible they never will.

Given what we know about money, and what we know about the value of a great QB in the NFL, it is not unreasonable to suggest that Jackson is looking out for #1.

I didn’t say it was “fair.’’ I said it was “reasonable.’’

No one back on Dec. 4 saw Jackson’s injury as season-ending. As recently as a few weeks ago, no one thought he wouldn’t be back for the playoffs. Yet here we are.

Is Jackson closer to Damon Flint? Or closer to protecting his future and making a highly leveraged point? Where’s my Pain-o-meter?

I’d never fault an NFL player for putting himself first. Teams don’t exactly care about players they don’t think can help them. It’s not a sentimental game. Ask Andrew Whitworth.

How many former players put their lives (literally) on the line, then got kicked to the curb? For decades, permanently scarred football players didn’t even have sufficient health insurance to treat the hurts they incurred in the name of being Team Players.

It makes you think. Maybe it’s making Lamar Jackson think.

Howevuh. . .

“He doesn’t feel right’’ was the word from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Thursday morning.

OK. What does that mean?

In Week 19 of the season, who feels right?

It’s interesting to listen to the Ravens deal with this. Coach John Harbaugh says, by golly, Jackson really wants to play. That’s good, coach. Why wouldn’t he?

His teammates generally offer verbal shrugs. Yes, it sure would be great if Lamar were in there, but we’re ready to play without him.

Jackson doesn’t have an agent, so that backstage pipeline isn’t available to the media. Normally, some football insider or another would have benefited from a leak or two by now, and offered some sunlight on the situation.

As it is, everyone wonders. I have no idea how all this is going over inside the Ravens locker room. The best thing they can do is act as if he’s done for the year, even if he’s not. Players like playing with players who play with pain. Especially in the one-and-done-ness of January. Trey Hendrickson is playing with a broken wrist. Tee Higgins has a problem hip. Joe Burrow’s body can resemble an overripe banana after games.

Pain is implied in the contract.

One thing is for absolute sure: If you don’t have a very good QB, you’re working days in January are numbered. Miami is starting Skylar Somebody in Buffalo. I’d bet your house on the Bills. Jalen Hurts hasn’t been the same revelation in recent weeks that he was earlier in the season. The Eagles are a sexy pick to be upset.

Brock Purdy might be the exception that proves the rule. He’s one heck of an exception. Since the rookie assumed the starting job five games ago, the 49ers have led the league with 33.6 points a game. Purdy has thrown just four picks. The Niners are 5-0 with him.

LA’s Justin Herbert has a higher completion percentage (68.2) than Patrick Mahomes and more passing yards than Burrow. No one is counting out the Chargers. Everyone around here was glad the Men were playing Baltimore this week, not LA.

Meantime, the in-limbo Ravens are 2-3 without Jackson. Talk all you like about the Ravens defense. If it allows 20 points Sunday, game over. No margin for error with Tyler Huntley back there.

Lamar Jackson doesn’t seem to be in the mood to take one for team, even if he were physically able which, absent a Pain-o-meter, we have no way of knowing. Tough spot, unless you’re the Bengals.

Now, then. . .

NICE NIGHTS FOR THE HOME TEAMS. . . Xavier-Creighton was a joy. Players just played. Coaches didn’t overcoach, refs didn’t get too quick with whistles. The way quasi-am ball oughta be. Deft passing (a combined 42 assists and just 21 turnovers), good shooting (each team shot 50 percent from the field).

Xavier can score. The kid Boum is a marvel. 26 points, eight assists. Zero turnovers in a racehorse game. Defense can be improved, because D is want-to as much as anything. The Musketeers are hard to guard, because everyone can score. Where does Boum rank among XU point guards? Sean Miller compared him to Tu Holloway.

The Bearcats did what they had to do, which was annihilate East Carolina after a lackluster home L to Houston. They made 14 of 26 threes and got nice work from the future of the program, freshmen Josh Reed and Dan Skillings Jr. The issue is, they’re overly three-dependent. When the 3s drop, they can play with anyone. When the 3s don’t, UC looks very average.

No Bengals on first All Pro Team ever chosen by players.

Looking Glass Rock from the Blue Ridge Parkway. (Me)

FOR THOSE WHO TAKE PHOTOS, a question: How successful are you at getting your iPhone photos enlarged without ruining the images?

I have all kinds of phone pics I’d love to enlarge and frame. I don’t have a lot that could withstand the enlarging. Any tips/tricks/hints?

Here’s a story from the NYTimes on getting the most from your phone pics.

AS ALWAYS, PLEASE SHARE. If you like TML, tell people. Share a link. I love doing this, I’m humbled by those who take the time to read and chime in. The virtual sports bar 2.0 has been very successful.

But I don’t plan on doing it for free forever. Big stats lure sponsors and adding paid sponsors could keep the free-train rolling awhile. Thanks very much.

TUNE O’ THE DAY. . . Speaking of trains rolling, a very good rocker via Aerosmith. It’s a remake of an old blues tune, as many good rock songs are.