Quite possibly the most talented NFL quarterback in 2019, Lamar Jackson, is getting reamed by al letter to the Baltimore Sun.  The author, a writer named Karen, offers criticism that Lamar Jackson is buying his Offensive Line Rolex watches this year. 

The Sun contributor bases her criticism on the luxury of Rolex and finds the gift obscenely ostentatious.  She argues that the O-line are all rich fellows and can afford their own Rolex timepieces.  She continues by saying that Jackson should instead donate that money to charity. 

Jackson Has Earned His Right To Spend His Money However He Wants

Lamar Jackson has worked his entire life to become one of the greatest QB's in the game today.  He won the Heisman trophy in 2016 and nearly won it again the year after.  He declared for the draft in 2018 - a young man.  He was told he might not make it as a QB and many thought he should try out as a running back or wide receiver. 

This year he will break Michael Vick's single-season rushing record, and he did well as a pure passer too.  He is a shoe in for MVP this year - bringing his Raven football team deep into the playoffs - falling last week to the red hot Tennessee Titans. 

The bottom line is that it is his money.  He has more than earned the right to spend it the way he wants.  He knows that his O-Line is part of his success.  When they succeed, he succeeds.  He is not the highest paid QB in the NFL.  For him to spend a fortune to give back to the big boys that protect him from being blind-sided by giant men that want to take him down - that is a gift worth giving.  And, to her point that O-Linemen can afford their own Rolex - let's just say that they are the blue-collar workers of the NFL and will never make the kind of coin that a QB makes. 

Other QB's Give Extravagant Gifts

Famed quarterback Dan Marino gave extravagant gifts to his offensive linemen each year.  This was commemorated in the funny film Ace Ventura Pet Detective - in which Dan Marino played a cameo part.  It comes with the territory.  A QB is the leader of the team.   However, the line is where the game is won and lost.  The QB gets the fame and the criticism of wins and losses. 

Jackson Is Already Charitable and Young

Lamar Jackson is not only one of the youngest NFL players - and playing outrageously well.  He is also charitable.  He helped raise 30k for charity - dressing himself up as Harry Potter for an anti-bullying campaign.  He also holds an event each year giving kids the opportunity to play ball with him.  Give him some time and he will likely prove to be even more charitable in the future. 

I would be curious if Karen was so charitable herself.  Or anyone else at such a young age.  Seriously, how many charitable things did we do in our early 20's?  Charity is something that people think about later in life.  And we put so much pressure on young athletes.  They have to speak like a pro, play like a pro, and now be charitable like a Bill and Melinda Gates too?

Let's Not Overlook Lamar Jackson's Excellent Taste in Rolex

Of course my blog is about Rolex.  However, the fact that Lamar Jackson chose to give his O-Line Rolex timepieces rather than AP, or Panerai, a Tesla car, or a trip to Tahiti, shows his great sense of style and taste. 

Consider all of the options a 1 million dollar expenditure would buy.  He could have done anything with that money.  He could have hoarded it.  He could have spent it on something personally himself.  Instead, he shared it with his co-workers. 

Imagine if your boss or office mate came into a boatload of cash and shared it with you by buying a $40,000+ piece of jewelry for you.  Wouldn't that be amazing?  We should be honoring LJ's generosity, and his brilliant choice of settling on buying his teammates Rolex timepieces.  Lamar Jackson, I have to tell you I am a bigger fan of yours today than I was before.  You just gained one more fan.  I look forward to watching your career develop and wish you luck on next year's season.