We All Need a Friend Like Lamar Jackson Has in Ronnie Stanley
By Jerry Trotta
It goes without saying that the Baltimore Ravens have assumed the position as the NFL's breakout darling in 2019, a title that the Kansas City Chiefs held last season. Their emergence as AFC world-beaters, largely due to Lamar Jackson's ascension to the status of an unstoppable force of nature, has delivered no shortage of compelling narratives.
Well, we now have another detail to convey that will only confirm the aforementioned sentiments. This particular nugget centers on the relationship between Jackson and Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley.
Ronnie Stanley protects Lamar Jackson's blindside and sits next to him in the #Ravens' locker room. So what's the relationship like?
— Aaron Kasinitz (@AaronKazreports) January 2, 2020
“I’m not afraid to give Lamar shit off the field, like joking around. But I ain’t letting no Joe Schmo run up on him."https://t.co/O7lOFQps4O
Baltimore, particularly head coach John Harbaugh, has done everything possible to ensure that Jackson shared strong relationships with his offensive line. One of his ploys? Assigning their lockers right next to one another.
"That’s the way [Harbaugh] tried to build it out, you know?" Stanley said via PennLive.com. "He picks the spots, so I think that’s the way he made it. I like it. I think it’s cool."
"When we’re hanging around, we’re always joking, but it’s like, when we get on that field, it’s a different story,” Stanley continued. "I’m not afraid to give Lamar [expletive] off the field, like joking around. But I ain’t letting no Joe Schmo run up on him, though. That’s for sure."
That's what a real friend does. He won't just drive you to the airport -- he'll fend off every last Joe Schmo that gets in your way. We should all be so lucky.
At the #Ravens facility, Lamar Jackson's locker stall is positioned directly between right tackle Orlando Brown Jr.'s and left tackle Ronnie Stanley's.
— Aaron Kasinitz (@AaronKazreports) January 2, 2020
How that leads to thoughts of symbolism, laughter and a strong bond: https://t.co/O7lOFQps4O
To nobody's surprise, Jackson is ALL for this arrangement.
"I love it," said the MVP candidate. "I care about them, as well. I wish I could block for them sometimes. They've been doing such a great job for us. ... It's a brotherhood. That's our family when we're out there on that field, when we're inside the building, and that's how they see me. That's how I see them."
Harbaugh is all too conscious of the importance of a healthy locker room -- as he should be -- and it's no coincidence that the Ravens have translated their tight companionship to the AFC's No. 1 playoff seed.