Baltimore Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard says it’s only a matter of time before quarterback Lamar Jackson wins a Super Bowl ring.
This comes as the Ravens came up short on Sunday in the playoffs yet again, falling to the Buffalo Bills 27-25 on a failed two-point conversion attempt in the final 90 seconds of the game.
Ricard said that Lamar will always give the Ravens a chance to play in the big game and that a championship is “inevitable.”
“I think whenever you don’t go to the Super Bowl and win, it’s always a disappointment,” Ricard said.
“But you still have to have pride and just look at the memories and the season that we had, everything we’ve accomplished as a team, individually,” he said.
“This is one of the most fun [seasons] I’ve had playing football...I got to play with the best running back in football, best quarterback in football, so there’s a lot to hang my hat on.
“But at the end of the day, I want a Super Bowl. I want Baltimore to have another Super Bowl.”
He became the first player in NFL history to hit both those yardage numbers in a single season, as well as the first player to lead the league in both yards per pass and rush attempt. He also set a record for fewest interceptions while throwing 40 TDs.
Ricard said that time will heal the wounds of the disappointing end to the season. In the meantime, he is grateful for his health and his family and is excited to spend time with them during the offseason.
Ricard then heaped praise on Jackson, complimenting his growth as a player: his quick decision-making, how well he reads the field, how well he throws the ball, and his decision-making as to when he decides to run.
“It’s inevitable. He’s going to win a Super Bowl, and I want to be a part of it, and it just sucks it hasn’t happened yet,” said Ricard.
“I personally feel bad for him because he deserves it, just because of how great of a player he is. He deserves to be considered one of the best quarterbacks—he already is—but I know everyone considers championships as the standard. And you know, he'll get it one day.”
Ricard then pointed out a comparison between Lamar and NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning.
As noted by NFL Network’s Peter Schrager, Manning went 3-6 in the playoffs in the first six years of his career; he went on to play in four Super Bowls and win two. Lamar has made the playoffs each of his first six seasons and is 3-5 through his postseason campaigns.
“There’s still time,” Ricard said. “He’s still young. He’s definitely going to get one at some point.”
“I think as long as Lamar is here, you'll have a shot every year of getting a Super Bowl,” he added. “As long as...he has a good group of guys around him that play hard for him, that’s all he needs.”
Ricard also said he wants to be a part of a future Ravens’ Super Bowl victory. The eight-year pro is set to become a free agent this upcoming offseason, but he said he wants to stay and retire in Baltimore.
“I would love to keep being a part of it as long as everyone wants me here and [head coach John Harbaugh] wants to keep using me the way he’s been using me,” he said.
“Maybe he lets me throw the ball once or something,” he joked.
