Chris Broussard‘s “Under Duress” list is back, as the NFL and NBA offseasons continue.
Here is the “First Things First” cohost’s list of sports names and faces who need to deliver in the near future.
4. Cleveland Browns Braintrust
The outlook: Baker Mayfield — the No. 1 overall pick in 2018 — is eager to take advantage of a fresh start with his new team, the Carolina Panthers, while the Browns continue to focus on the upcoming season with Deshaun Watson at the helm. There is a strong chance, however, that Cleveland will be without Watson for some part of the 2022-23 season while his legal troubles play out, in which case the Browns would move forward with Jacoby Brissett.
Broussard’s thoughts: “Just two years ago, [general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski] looked like geniuses. … They led Cleveland to the playoffs for the first time in 18 years, first victory in the playoffs in 26 years — and now it looks disastrous. They give Deshaun Watson and all his off-the-field baggage the biggest contract in NFL history, at least in terms of guaranteed money. They upset the rest of the league. … Now, Baker Mayfield has a chance to do something in Carolina. We’ll see if he does, but if Deshaun sits out the whole year and Baker is a star in Carolina or plays well, this is going to look bad for the former football geniuses.”
3. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
The outlook: The two-time Pro Bowler and former NFL MVP has played four seasons for the Ravens, throwing for 9,967 yards and 84 touchdowns in 58 games (49 starts). He has yet to sign a contract extension with the Ravens this offseason and will earn $23 million in the option year of his rookie contract next season.
Broussard’s thoughts: “He doesn’t have his big contract. … Yesterday, he’s in a Twitter beef with Ravens Super Bowl champion — he wasn’t a great player, but he started — Bernard Pollard. They went at it. This is interesting because you don’t generally see players go at Lamar. Everybody seems to love at him and respect him for what he’s doing. Interesting that Bernard Pollard went at him the way he did.”
Lamar Jackson left out of top-10 QBs in the league
The former NFL MVP was left out of the top-10 quarterback list, and Nick Wright is not here for it. Watch as he tells Eric Mangini why it’s an outrage that Jackson was left out, while quarterbacks like Dak Prescott and Russell Wilson made it in.
2. Leon Rose, New York Knicks
The outlook: Although reports…
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