Rashod Bateman on Why He Inked His Extension, Changing the Ravens' Wide Receiver Narrative, and More
June 23, 2025 • 28 mins
Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman joins team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing to talk about his breakout 2024 season, dealing with the outside noise, why he's so loyal to the Ravens, and much more.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome into the lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan in
here with Garrett Downing and we are thrilled to sit
down with Rashad Bateman. And Rashad, we all know that
you're a big fashion guy. But there's another fashion guy
entering the wide receiver room this year, DeAndre Hopkins.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Did you see his met Gali luck?
Speaker 3 (00:21):
DeAndre put it on.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Deandre's got some style. So what do you think? Is
he like val.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Approved?
Speaker 4 (00:30):
Is the receiver room the most fashionable room in on
the team? Like, what's what?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
What?
Speaker 4 (00:36):
What's your take?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (00:37):
I was, I would say, so what's what's a's fashion game?
Speaker 5 (00:41):
Fashion game is if it speaks where he's from, Like
it's like he from Florida and he dressed like he's
from Florida. Lamar from Florida and he dressed like he's
from Florida. Well that's cool because based on what people where,
you can kind of tell like where they're from.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Yeah, yeah, very cool.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Midwest? Yeah, exactly where am I from?
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Midwest?
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Music? Midwest?
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Dad?
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Right here?
Speaker 3 (01:04):
I commit today because I lived there for Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Yeah it is so Hey man, congratulations on the contract.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
I'm really excited about that.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
And just how meaningful was it to you to get
that extension worked out?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Is it?
Speaker 5 (01:19):
It's always a blessing. It's something that all of us
dream of. And you know, I knew about this something
more so than I knew about the last one. So
I mean, it's a blessing to be here, you know,
to get rewarded for, you know, the work that you
put in. And it shows that your teammates, you know,
trust and believing you in the organization and coaching stuff
(01:39):
do as well.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
So I'm definitely not complaining.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
When you know, you said that this was something that
you felt like what was coming more than the last one?
Take us behind the scenes, like, what is it like
during the last however long these contract talks were going on, uh,
leading up to the announcement a couple of weeks ago,
when when it was announcing, you got the you officially
signed the deal, Like what was going on by behind
the scenes and how are you handling that?
Speaker 3 (02:03):
It was?
Speaker 5 (02:04):
It was it was stressful from a personal standpoint, just
because you know, not anything to do with the rademas
or anything like. It's just like you just never know
what's going to happen your career, your life is up
in the air, you might have to move or however
that looks or or works out. But you know, had
good conversations back and forth, and it's only in some
(02:27):
ways you know, we can say, but it all, you know,
it all went well, and you know we got it done.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
I'm curious, like, of course, so the report's out there,
like about potentially looking for a potential trade partner of
these teams calling the Patriots, calling the Packers, calling the
Cowboys calling about potential trade. Like when the season ended
and you're going through this, like, were you thinking I'm
going to be back in Baltimore this year, no question?
Or were you just like, I'm on sure, I don't
know what's going to happen.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
No, I wanted to be back in Baltimore. I know,
I wanted to be back in Baltimore. But I've seen
the business and you just like obviously you just never know.
But it all worked out to be here.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
You know.
Speaker 5 (03:01):
That's the first thing I told thea Costa in the
mature way when we first you know, got on the phone,
you know, with all the respect, I want to be here.
That was the first thing I said, And I think
that helped us get to this point that we have today.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Cool, that's awesome. I mean going through the arc of
your career now sign through twenty twenty nine, you know,
and to have kind of a lot of those questions
just put to bed. You know, you're going to be
here for a very long time. How big of a
relief is that just kind of taking all that off
your shoulders.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
I mean, it definitely feels good.
Speaker 5 (03:31):
Last year, they blessed me enough to you know, not
have to worry about, you know, certain things. And obviously
like this is another level, but the main thing for
me is like it's it's cool and all, but football
doesn't change for me. I'm just excited that I get to,
you know, continue to provide for my family, you know,
take care of my mom and you know, baby, you know,
(03:52):
live life that we never had, and you know, just
continue to do great things.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
You know.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
So when this contract is done, I don't know if
you do this, but you'll be the longest tenured Ravens
wide receiver in franchise history.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
I've seen that. Yeah, I've been seeing that.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yeah, what's your reaction to that.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
It's definitely an honor because the receivers here we all
know the the rep that we have or or get.
So I mean, I don't even know if I knew
that honestly until you know this, but it's an honor
and I'm gonna definitely wear it proudly for sure.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
I want to go back to something you said. You
said that you you told the cost so you I
want to be here, like I want to be here,
and I think that that's like you've said that many
times in your career, but like there was questions, right
and like but but what was it that made you
feel like this is the place like I want to
be and that like despite like outside noise, like you
wanted to be here.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
I just think it goes to show that like a
lot of people don't truly know me. You know, what
is the fans or reporters or whatever is agenda that
was created about me. I went through a hard time
and anybody's going to have, you know, struggles and you know,
problems with that. But it's just so much respect that
comes with the team that you know drafted you and
just like continue to invest in you. And that's something
(05:10):
that I've always valued. Before I even got into the NFL,
I never wanted to you know, be traded to another
team or I have to like move or anything like that.
So I mean it just kind of for me, it
just goes back to like my morals, you know, and
what I believe in and stand for. And it was
so much adversity that I went through here, and it's
like I can turn it around, and you know I
did that, and I'm going to continue, you know, to
(05:32):
do that God's will.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
It seems like loyalty is a big thing to you,
you know, loyal to your family, loyal loyal to this team.
Is that Where did that kind of come from?
Speaker 5 (05:42):
This as how I was raised, you know by my mom.
My family is big. Kind of went through the same
situation with my college decision Minnesota. You know, everybody thought
I was gonna flip, but after all the other offers
came in. But Minnesota was the first Power of five
schools even offered me a scholarship at the time, so
you know, I knew they offered me for a real reason,
(06:04):
which was a football reason. I know, all the other
schools offered just because Minnesota offered, so and you know,
I stayed true to myself in and it worked out
there too.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
So so I want to go back to that. So
you're you declared Minnesota coming out of high school becausey
were they were firstday that offer you a scholarship, first
five school, first Power five, and then basically everyone else
starts calling Yeah, and but you just felt like the
loyalty aspect, like they were first and that like that
mattered to you for sure.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Yeah, it matters and it always going to matter.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Interesting. I'm also when you talk about this, like, Lamar
comes to my mind because you've talked about him many
times in your career and talking about how the connection
you have, the way he like sets the tone stands
by guys. And I remember when Ronnie Stanley wrote a
piece this offseason about coming back from his injuries, and
he made a point in the piece that he wrote
that Lamar was a guy that was like always had
(06:56):
his back, always stood by his side. I'm curious, like
hitting hearing you talk about all this was playing with
Lamar and continuing your career with him, was that at
all part of the equation and just building all what
you've already started.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
With him one thousand percent?
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Because I feel like, no matter like what I went through, ill,
I always knew that, like you know, I could be
like a weapon for him. He always told me that
on the side, always supported me. You know, even like
last year before I got paid, he looked at me
before the season start and said, we're gonna get you paid,
and you know, shout out at him because you know,
I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him, you know,
for you know, trusting me and you know, believing me
(07:31):
to go out there and make plays. But I mean
he called it and before I did, honestly, just looking
back at everything, So he's definitely a big reason why
I want to be here.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
You know, everything that he stands for and represent for
sure was that.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
What does that mean to you when he said that
to you?
Speaker 5 (07:46):
I mean a lot because I mean, obviously we got
gms and owners, but in the football where Lamar is
technically like our boss, you know what I'm saying. And
if I mean, if you don't treat it like that,
then in this lead, I think you're for Rood Awakening.
You got to have respect for your quarterback, and you know,
I think that's how you're going to continue to develop
(08:06):
the chemistry and continue to win.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Like we've all seen your talent from the minute you
stepped onto the field, right, And it was always a
matter of injuries and overcoming those and whatnot. And I
know you've always known what you've been capable of, But
to do it last season, to have a healthy year
and have the production and the big plays that you
had last year, what does that do for you? Does
it do anything? Or You're like, I always knew that
(08:31):
was going to happen, you know.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
I mean, yeah, I mean I definitely knew that was
going to happen. But it just felt good to like
prove people own for sure. And it felt good to
prove the cost of right. It felt good to prove
hards right. It felt good to, you know, prove my
teammates right, because they go out on the media and
speak on me as well, and they speak highly of me.
So to be able to go out there and back
that up for them, I think, I think that's what
(08:53):
is most important to me.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Yeah, what was it like for you going into the playoffs?
I mean, unfortunately they suffers the injury and regular season finale,
and man, it's it's on you, you know, like you're
the yeah yeah, and making big plays in the playoffs,
including in Buffalo and whatnot. You know for you to
kind of step up in that way. To me, it
was also another big like man, Bait is here for sure.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
I mean, yeah, it felt good.
Speaker 5 (09:16):
I mean, uh, the one is just felt good to
be playing in the playoffs and then be engaged in
those type of games. You know, the receiver you want
to be. You want to play, but you also want
to be you know, a part of the game plan,
like engaged and you know, help out the team the
best way you can. And I hate as they went down,
And I honestly think if you want to went down
that we probably you know, you know it wouldn't be
(09:37):
in the situation that we were in. But you know,
I trained hard for for those moments. You know, I
was prepared for those moments. And you know, I just
think that, you know, it's just old when it did
so bab.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
I remember last year we sat down with you on
the podcast, like right around this time a year ago,
and I remember coming out of that like you were
so open and talking about how there was the physical
side that you had to overcome and then there's also
the mental like aspect of overcoming the injuries and working
your way back. How important, like was the mental side
of things beyond just like getting healthy, but that aspect
(10:10):
of things and getting you to the point where you
are today.
Speaker 5 (10:12):
It was definitely the probably the biggest thing, honestly because uh,
I mean, when you're in your head about certain stuff,
it calls the other things where it injury with its
stress or what the you know, whatever it may be.
But being able to you know, now be on the
other side of that and flip that mindset. I think
that's why I can continue to you know, at sale
(10:33):
now no matter what happens, you know, no matter if
I have a bad game or drop the ball. Uh,
because I'm not perfect, and I'm the most probably imperfect
person there is. And you know, when you come to
an understanding of that, you know that, you know, life happens.
And I came to a realization of that because I've
never been hurt before, never you know, being injured before.
And then on top of that, you know, I just
(10:53):
really wanted to, you know, help this team because when
I got drafted and my press conference, I said I
was gonna be everything Lamar needed. That's what That's what
I said. So to be able to come in and
not be able to, you know, provide that they don't
feel good, you know what I'm saying. So just being
able to flip that script, for sure.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
That's incredible that that stuck with you, what you said
in your first press conference when you arrived here, that
really you carried that with you.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Yeah for sure. Yeah, because I mean what I say
to the world, they keep it too, you know what
I'm saying. Yeah, they keep the riceis too.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
And you know, I know they are. They are aware
of things that you know, us as athletes saying what
we promised that we can do and stuff like that.
And obviously I'll never be perfect, and we all can
be perfect. We can't be perfect. But when I am
a healthy you deb you'll definitely see that I can
play I can play football. Yeah, and when I am
on the field that it's there.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
Prove like you've you that comment and like what you
said even in this conversation, like proven your teammates right
matters to you.
Speaker 5 (11:50):
Yeah, for sure. I don't care about nobody else's opinion
besides my teammates. Even like when I did go through
the negativity from the fans, even our own because they
was I never talked about it, but it was bad.
It was It was my families, my people, and you
know it was I ain't really expect that, you know,
I wasn't really used to that. But I think in
(12:13):
that moment, the only thing I cared about, like what
my teammates ought of me, because those ones that I
go to work with, it was the ones I you know,
it's real war, those those your brothers, you know what
I'm saying. So because then it's like the GM now
here to go find somebody else and do this and
make all these moves when that's just not what nobody
planned for, you know, So I don't want to be
that person.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
What's your advice to young aspiring athletes about about social
media and how you handle that?
Speaker 5 (12:39):
Man, I would just say, take away a grant in
salt and honestly find a way to enjoy it. It's
honestly a happy place if you find a way to
laugh about stuff and once you quickly realize that you
know a lot of people necessarily don't know what they're
talking about, or you know, people just and also the
end of the day, people gotta have a job, you know,
people got to somehow put on the plate.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
And if that's creating.
Speaker 5 (13:01):
Agenda, then you got to learn how to you know,
navigate those things and you know, just.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Let it be.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Who did you lean on during the hard times?
Speaker 5 (13:10):
You know, I actually got it. I just got a
good group of homies, you know what I'm saying. I
got a good group of friends. And you know, my
mom has always been my best friend and my strongest warrior.
I've seen that lady go through so much that you know,
that's worse than my injuries. So it's like, why can't
I like pick myself back up and get out that hole?
And she was there, you know, every step put away,
you know, every surgery, and you know, she definitely helped
(13:33):
encourage me to you know, continue down this path for sure.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Taking it on the field. I mean, as we talked
about a huge season for you last year, but of
course I'm sure you see it and you're like, all right,
I still I got to get even better?
Speaker 5 (13:46):
Right?
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (13:47):
When you look at your tape and your film, where
where do you want to still make the next strides?
Like what are your goals for this upcoming season?
Speaker 5 (13:53):
I mean, I'm such a nitpicky guy when it comes
to myself, so it's just hard to say whatever it is,
you know, I just myself home trying to do everything
and want to do everything. So this off season, I
just feel like I need to go, you know, just
turn it up or not. You know, last year I
turned it up a notch as far as you know,
how I trained it not much I trained, and it definitely.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Played off because I trained. I'd like to train.
Speaker 5 (14:15):
I like the workout, but I feel like it hurt
me when I first got in the lead because I
feel like I overtrained and it's like I had to
cut back a little bit to try to find like
a groove and like I feel like now that I'm
back on you know myself, I cannot like continue to
you know, ramp up. You know, my my workouts and
you know how I go about doing stuff.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
I think I saw a video of view kind of
running routes in the grocery store.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Is that right?
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Are you constantly, like in your everyday life just running routes?
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (14:41):
It is man's I mean, and most athletes do it.
I'm not gonna lie to you, even if it's a
quarterback girl alignment. Like you just you find yourself at times,
just you know, you know, working working on your craft
when they even you know you don't even know you're working.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Or supposed to be working.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
But that definitely keeps me, you know, in the game.
It keeps me, you know, motivated to continue to play football.
Oh for sure.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
I'm excited about this trio at watershar with you and
Zay and DeAndre Hopkins. And Hopkins just made this point.
He had a press conference, uh just a little bit ago,
and he said that you guys are all different receivers,
which I think is a good way of looking at it.
Like you all warn different skill sets at the table.
How excited are you about this group as a whole,
what you guys can do.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
I'm excited, man, And you know it starts with you
know Jay, you know saying Jay, he's he's one of
I ain't never seen a receiver like him, and you know,
I know he'll continue, you know, to Sean and bring
his element to the game. And honestly, that's my that's mine, bro.
If they want for to say, I want to got paid,
you know what I'm saying and being able to, you know,
(15:39):
come into an organization and have a partner, you know,
because that's what the game has transferred to.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
Now.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
You know what I'm saying, It used to be a
one receiver game where you throw it to him, but
now a lot of people if they want two dominant
receivers and tight ends and you know, and now having
Hop come in and doing his thing, it's a I
mean we say it every year, it's gonna be tough
to guard, and you know what I'm saying, it should
be tough to guard. And I think that we just
got to go out and execret out plays because everybody
(16:07):
can still you know, play in a move at a
high level right now.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
Why do you say that you would have got paid
if it weren't for day, Like, I'm just you know,
it's a lot of teams there seems like there would
be competition amongst water. She was like, I'm the guy, know,
I'm the guy.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
Like it's so many factors that go into like one
person being successful, and I can never like say that, like.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Oh that was me.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
Obviously I made them play and I'll take all the
credit for that. But I mean, Tyler got to snap
the wall, Runnie has to block Lamar, I got to read.
They got to run this route so the defenders can't
worry about him. Then they're gonna pack the box and
worry about Darren Henry. Now was way more room for
me to create separation and you know, and for Zay
(16:47):
to create separation. So all of us have each other
and you know, if you understand football and you want
to talk, so there's a football, that's how it works.
And it's never not one person just doing these amazing things.
There's so many different factors because if one of those
go wrong, I ain't got none of it, you know
what I'm saying, honestly, shout out to Lamarrow. No matter
what we do, we can kind of clean clean up
(17:09):
a lot of stuff for us. So it's definitely not.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
Working out now those A's only entering year three, so
he's got you know, a couple more years left or whatnot.
But how much do you want to see help Zay
get paid? Now? He's an excellent So yeah, twenty nine
for both of you.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Guys, you know, now, hopefully that we don't end up
in that situation.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
Hopefully get him done and soon and you know, but
his time is coming and I'm excited for it like
he is not.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
We got to me and Zay connect, We got the same.
I just went on the floid and worked out with him.
Not so long ago.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
We've been cool and close, like you know, ever since
we've been here, and now two guys is going to
like lead the room.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
You know, that's what you want.
Speaker 5 (17:45):
And we got a lot of similarities when to come
to our mindset and where we've come from. You know
what I'm saying in the grind and you know I
respect that for show about say.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
I'm just curious just to go back to the extension
real quick. You know, there's so many guys on this
team right now are deserving of contract extensions. I mean,
it's it's the list is like a scroll that goes
down to the floor right now, and yours got done,
you know what I mean? Like what did that mean
to you? Because you know that there's a line of guys,
you know what I.
Speaker 5 (18:13):
Mean, And that's kind of part of the negotiation thing.
There was just so many like stuff to get done.
And I told that to him, like, bro, I know
you got you got more stuff on your plate than
I do right now. So you know we'll figure this out,
you know as the time goes. You know, I don't
know who's up next. I know who's up there, hopefully,
like we got it's too many people.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
It's a long list, yea eventually and Hamilton yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Face coming up.
Speaker 5 (18:48):
Yeah, so the cost in beside it.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
We are sorry.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
It's a good problem.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
It's a good problem.
Speaker 5 (18:56):
I mean that they're doing a good job, you know,
drafting players, and that's why a lot of play just
want to come here. A lot of people say players
come here to die, but I mean players come here
to like win championships. Even from a far. Raven has
always been a respected any organization. So it's honor to
play for a team like that.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
What's d Hop been like so far in the receiver
room and you know, just a veteran, uh kind of
sharing his knowledge with you guys.
Speaker 5 (19:21):
D Hop is definitely a real a real veteran, and
we all just get to know him, you know what
I'm saying as far as like we get on the field,
but you could just tell where it's going to go
and how he's going to lead and like help us.
He's been in the game a long time and he's
very you know, he he know who he is, you
know what he's done, and he's just always willing to
you know, voice is opinion, like help us out.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
So I know that's going to be you know, very
valuable to us.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
I know you're a guy who does like to like
make too many Bowld predictions and gass up like the
team or yourself before season too much in terms of
what you say.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
I keep the receipts.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
That's why I know, I know.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
I mean, you remember what he says during his introduction
with press conference. But like what the offense was so
good last year, Like it was the best offense in
Ravens history. It was one of the best offenses in
NFL history. And now you're going into year three with
Monket and a lot of people think it could be
even better, which is like hard to fathom, but a
lot of people do think it could take even another jump.
What do you think? What what is your impression of
(20:16):
what this offense could be.
Speaker 5 (20:17):
I think that they will continue to take the nets
jumps in a good way because all the guys here
are you know, committed to being better, and you know,
coach Monk and Damas, you know, perfection out of us,
you know, which goes a long way. You know, I'm saying,
everybody come to work and want to be better, and
from a football perspective, we don't know if that's going
(20:38):
to be you know, the run games is gonna get better.
Of the past game is going to get better. What
it's going to get better. I just know the offense
will continue to you know, evolve in a lot of
different ways because you know, we got the players to
do that, and you know, you go back and you
WIT's tape and it's like, oh, we can do this.
We can do this with him, or you know, Derek
can do this, almar I can do this. So seeing
(20:58):
you know Monk can do that, and from you're one
of your two with the coaches and stuff that we
got on staff right now, I truly believe that we'll continue,
you know, to take the right steps.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
Just hearing you talk, it's clear that like you hear
you've heard the Twitter noise about Ravens wide receivers and
talk about like where guys go to die, and I.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Know everything everything.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
I don't want to see hands say that I'm not.
I don't because we see it, like we all. It
ain't nothing that we speak on. But it's obvious.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Right right, So how fun is it? I mean you
already did it to agree last year's they became the
first Pro Bowl wide receiver you had your breakout season
and now like how excited are you now also with
d hop to be like, you know what we're going
to show, like we're going to be one of the
best trios in the league. You know what I mean,
is there a part of your brain that's still there?
You know what I mean?
Speaker 5 (21:47):
I mean, honestly know, like honestly know, like because I mean,
I'm just really hungering the fact that a lot of
people don't know what they're talking about, you know, and
I don't want to waste my time, you know, trying
to prove those people wrong or you know, have other
guys worrying about it, because it's just me. People get
(22:07):
paid to z oak and you know, they might be wrong.
They might be right, but and they might be they
might know they be wrong, you know what I'm saying.
But it's it's a tricky game, you know, when it
comes to the media and.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Stuff like that.
Speaker 5 (22:20):
But you know, I just letting them people, you know,
do they thing, and I'm gonna keep doing my thing
because obviously they were wrong about me, you know what
I'm saying. They was wrong about Lamar, they was wrong
about Derek, and they was wrong about Jay and it's like, bro,
y'all just want to keep being wrong that the protection
and the perfection is just is just so high in
what they expect of us that you know, a lot
(22:41):
of stuff that other people say is obviously.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
You know, not reality. We live in reality, and we're
going to continue to do that.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Right Well, I do have to say, and Garrett, you
can attest to this. Okay, when we drafted you, I
wrote down on a piece of paper, Rashaan Bateman's gonna
put up a thousand yard season as a raven. He did,
I put I put it active up in my cube,
I said, market Then we moved.
Speaker 4 (23:06):
Offices and then he couldn't find it, and so now
we never will never know if it's true. Credit.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
If that's true, I think this year might be Hell yeah,
I think this year.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
And like it's it's just just because like you have
to be unselfish on this offense, like there's so many
good players. That's the tough part, right thing, Like you
have to I mean, Munkts talked about it, and I
love his attitude. He's like, I want guys that want
the ball, Like I don't want to be an offensive
coordinator for an offense or guys like, no, I don't
want the ball like.
Speaker 5 (23:36):
He like what competitive nature like do you have especially
as like I mean a person like you know, a
lot of us come in as the best player from
my college team, and I think a lot of us
have a hard time, you know, accepting that there's a
lot of good players right now that we got to
get the ball to. But that doesn't change the fact
that we want to make plays and you know, we
want the ball. But in our offense, like even say,
(23:58):
like when we really talking reality and we talked football,
like he's what he's doing in the league is beyond
you know, special to me because of how we play football,
of how the Ravens play football. It's not like we're
you know, just targeting targeting Jay and put them on this.
We do what's best for the team and how we play,
you know, is they could have thirteen hundred yards easy
(24:19):
if that's what we wanted, And if if that was
the goal, every Henry you can rush for two thousand
easy if that's what we wanted, if that's what the
goal was. But it's just never the goal. And I
just kind of like wish people you know, understood that.
But it's such a statistic world and game that it's
kind of hard to you know, separate that from like team.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
You know sometimes like you left yourself out of that,
but same for you. I mean you could have that
thousand yards if that was like if that was the goal,
Like you could have that thousand and I think it
takes like kind of a it takes a unique team
in order to buy into that, Like you need all
these guys to buy into that in order for it
to work.
Speaker 5 (24:54):
And I mean even when the Ravens like won a
Super Bowl, I mean they had good receivers like and
like amazing recipt but it was it wasn't no Jerry
Rice's or no you know, the guys that are put
on this pedal stool. They won a Super Bowl with
a good football team that was well round it and
the guys made plays when you know they were supposed to.
(25:14):
So it's like, now, what's the difference?
Speaker 3 (25:17):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (25:18):
It is like you got guys that technically don't got
to respect. That's the other receivers around the league. But
you know, we still do what we need to do
by our team. Obviously we can be better and we're
going to continue to be better. But I mean, you
only really speak on the game. I really know what
we do in here, So it's hard for like somebody
to judge what we do out there if they don't.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Know what happened like in these walls, right.
Speaker 5 (25:39):
I think that's kind of a crazy concept to think about, Like,
how can you talk about our football game if you
wasn't in the.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
Meeting, right, if you don't know who the play call
was exactly.
Speaker 5 (25:47):
How it was technically supposed to be ran? Did you
talk the monk? I'm pretty sure it didn't go like that. So,
I mean, you just got a set reality and it's
part of the game. It's entertainment. It's supposed to be
like that. It's supposed to be controversy and stuff like that,
but make it all fun.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Well, I'll put myself out there and say, I think
this is the best wide receiver group that we've ever
had here. So excited to watch it this season.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
Man, I am too.
Speaker 4 (26:11):
I appreciate it all right, awesome, thanks babe, appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
Yeah, I appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
Yep. Welcome back into the Lounge podcast. We are coming
to you from the Seat Geek Studio. We also want
to mention our partners with Draft Kings Sportsbook. They are
an official sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft
King Sportsbook. The Crown is yours Well. Thanks to Rashade
Bateman for sitting down with us. He's one of my
favorite guys to talk to on the team. So he's
honestly just so open and transparent and somebody that's been
(26:35):
through some highs and lows yep in his time, and
he's open to talk about all of them. So I
give him a lot of credit. And it's it's great
to see him playing at a high level and healthy
and just in a really good spot. So he's a
great player. So it's all signs are pointing up for Bait.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Yeah, I'm really excited to watch him. And you know,
in this offense, there's just so many guys that it's
like any any of them could go off in any
game at any time. And that's really what makes the
Ravens offense so dangerous. You know, when you get to
the season's end and you look at the numbers that
might not be like, oh man, this guy's got whatever,
thirteen hundred receiving yards like he was talking about but
(27:09):
like at any time, any of them can burn you,
and you can be game plan specific an opponent and
match up specific and things like that. That's what made
the Ravens offense that the stat that matters the most
at the end of the year is where's the offense,
well beyond wins one, but particularly exactly beyond wins, but
where's that offense rank? And last year at rank number one? Yeah,
that's what you want.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
And I just think, like the point that I made
to him, like in order for that to work, you
do need a team to buy into that concept. And
I give these players like for Bait to be like
I got paid because of all the things that Zay
can do and like be like it starts with Zay.
You know a lot of guys don't defer because they
they want to be the guy. And there's like this
this attitude and I think that, like I give him
(27:51):
a lot of credit for having that mindset. Well when
I think of knowing that he could go off at
any point.
Speaker 1 (27:56):
Yeah, to me, I think it's point of like these days,
it's not you can't just have the guy if you're
gonna be a good offense, Like to me and they're
different players, certainly, but it reminds me a little bit
of the Eagles situation that they have going on right
now with AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. Right, Like those
guys both premiere wide receivers. You know, either one of
(28:19):
them can get you. That's what the Ravens have right
now with Rasha Bateman's a Flowers are now add and
tehap on top of it, and they compliment each other
so well, So it's gonna be fun.
Speaker 4 (28:27):
Yeah. I think this offense is gonna be scary good.
I think Baitman's gonna have another big season and I
can't wait to see what he and the Ravens have
a store for this year. So we appreciate you watching
and listening, and we will be back with you on
the Lounge again soon
Welcome into the lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan in
here with Garrett Downing and we are thrilled to sit
down with Rashad Bateman. And Rashad, we all know that
you're a big fashion guy. But there's another fashion guy
entering the wide receiver room this year, DeAndre Hopkins.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Did you see his met Gali luck?
Speaker 3 (00:21):
DeAndre put it on.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Deandre's got some style. So what do you think? Is
he like val.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Approved?
Speaker 4 (00:30):
Is the receiver room the most fashionable room in on
the team? Like, what's what?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
What?
Speaker 4 (00:36):
What's your take?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (00:37):
I was, I would say, so what's what's a's fashion game?
Speaker 5 (00:41):
Fashion game is if it speaks where he's from, Like
it's like he from Florida and he dressed like he's
from Florida. Lamar from Florida and he dressed like he's
from Florida. Well that's cool because based on what people where,
you can kind of tell like where they're from.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Yeah, yeah, very cool.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Midwest? Yeah, exactly where am I from?
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Midwest?
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Music? Midwest?
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Dad?
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Right here?
Speaker 3 (01:04):
I commit today because I lived there for Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Yeah it is so Hey man, congratulations on the contract.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
I'm really excited about that.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
And just how meaningful was it to you to get
that extension worked out?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Is it?
Speaker 5 (01:19):
It's always a blessing. It's something that all of us
dream of. And you know, I knew about this something
more so than I knew about the last one. So
I mean, it's a blessing to be here, you know,
to get rewarded for, you know, the work that you
put in. And it shows that your teammates, you know,
trust and believing you in the organization and coaching stuff
(01:39):
do as well.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
So I'm definitely not complaining.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
When you know, you said that this was something that
you felt like what was coming more than the last one?
Take us behind the scenes, like, what is it like
during the last however long these contract talks were going on, uh,
leading up to the announcement a couple of weeks ago,
when when it was announcing, you got the you officially
signed the deal, Like what was going on by behind
the scenes and how are you handling that?
Speaker 3 (02:03):
It was?
Speaker 5 (02:04):
It was it was stressful from a personal standpoint, just
because you know, not anything to do with the rademas
or anything like. It's just like you just never know
what's going to happen your career, your life is up
in the air, you might have to move or however
that looks or or works out. But you know, had
good conversations back and forth, and it's only in some
(02:27):
ways you know, we can say, but it all, you know,
it all went well, and you know we got it done.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
I'm curious, like, of course, so the report's out there,
like about potentially looking for a potential trade partner of
these teams calling the Patriots, calling the Packers, calling the
Cowboys calling about potential trade. Like when the season ended
and you're going through this, like, were you thinking I'm
going to be back in Baltimore this year, no question?
Or were you just like, I'm on sure, I don't
know what's going to happen.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
No, I wanted to be back in Baltimore. I know,
I wanted to be back in Baltimore. But I've seen
the business and you just like obviously you just never know.
But it all worked out to be here.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
You know.
Speaker 5 (03:01):
That's the first thing I told thea Costa in the
mature way when we first you know, got on the phone,
you know, with all the respect, I want to be here.
That was the first thing I said, And I think
that helped us get to this point that we have today.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Cool, that's awesome. I mean going through the arc of
your career now sign through twenty twenty nine, you know,
and to have kind of a lot of those questions
just put to bed. You know, you're going to be
here for a very long time. How big of a
relief is that just kind of taking all that off
your shoulders.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
I mean, it definitely feels good.
Speaker 5 (03:31):
Last year, they blessed me enough to you know, not
have to worry about, you know, certain things. And obviously
like this is another level, but the main thing for
me is like it's it's cool and all, but football
doesn't change for me. I'm just excited that I get to,
you know, continue to provide for my family, you know,
take care of my mom and you know, baby, you know,
(03:52):
live life that we never had, and you know, just
continue to do great things.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
You know.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
So when this contract is done, I don't know if
you do this, but you'll be the longest tenured Ravens
wide receiver in franchise history.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
I've seen that. Yeah, I've been seeing that.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yeah, what's your reaction to that.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
It's definitely an honor because the receivers here we all
know the the rep that we have or or get.
So I mean, I don't even know if I knew
that honestly until you know this, but it's an honor
and I'm gonna definitely wear it proudly for sure.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
I want to go back to something you said. You
said that you you told the cost so you I
want to be here, like I want to be here,
and I think that that's like you've said that many
times in your career, but like there was questions, right
and like but but what was it that made you
feel like this is the place like I want to
be and that like despite like outside noise, like you
wanted to be here.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
I just think it goes to show that like a
lot of people don't truly know me. You know, what
is the fans or reporters or whatever is agenda that
was created about me. I went through a hard time
and anybody's going to have, you know, struggles and you know,
problems with that. But it's just so much respect that
comes with the team that you know drafted you and
just like continue to invest in you. And that's something
(05:10):
that I've always valued. Before I even got into the NFL,
I never wanted to you know, be traded to another
team or I have to like move or anything like that.
So I mean it just kind of for me, it
just goes back to like my morals, you know, and
what I believe in and stand for. And it was
so much adversity that I went through here, and it's
like I can turn it around, and you know I
did that, and I'm going to continue, you know, to
(05:32):
do that God's will.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
It seems like loyalty is a big thing to you,
you know, loyal to your family, loyal loyal to this team.
Is that Where did that kind of come from?
Speaker 5 (05:42):
This as how I was raised, you know by my mom.
My family is big. Kind of went through the same
situation with my college decision Minnesota. You know, everybody thought
I was gonna flip, but after all the other offers
came in. But Minnesota was the first Power of five
schools even offered me a scholarship at the time, so
you know, I knew they offered me for a real reason,
(06:04):
which was a football reason. I know, all the other
schools offered just because Minnesota offered, so and you know,
I stayed true to myself in and it worked out
there too.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
So so I want to go back to that. So
you're you declared Minnesota coming out of high school becausey
were they were firstday that offer you a scholarship, first
five school, first Power five, and then basically everyone else
starts calling Yeah, and but you just felt like the
loyalty aspect, like they were first and that like that
mattered to you for sure.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Yeah, it matters and it always going to matter.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Interesting. I'm also when you talk about this, like, Lamar
comes to my mind because you've talked about him many
times in your career and talking about how the connection
you have, the way he like sets the tone stands
by guys. And I remember when Ronnie Stanley wrote a
piece this offseason about coming back from his injuries, and
he made a point in the piece that he wrote
that Lamar was a guy that was like always had
(06:56):
his back, always stood by his side. I'm curious, like
hitting hearing you talk about all this was playing with
Lamar and continuing your career with him, was that at
all part of the equation and just building all what
you've already started.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
With him one thousand percent?
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Because I feel like, no matter like what I went through, ill,
I always knew that, like you know, I could be
like a weapon for him. He always told me that
on the side, always supported me. You know, even like
last year before I got paid, he looked at me
before the season start and said, we're gonna get you paid,
and you know, shout out at him because you know,
I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him, you know,
for you know, trusting me and you know, believing me
(07:31):
to go out there and make plays. But I mean
he called it and before I did, honestly, just looking
back at everything, So he's definitely a big reason why
I want to be here.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
You know, everything that he stands for and represent for
sure was that.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
What does that mean to you when he said that
to you?
Speaker 5 (07:46):
I mean a lot because I mean, obviously we got
gms and owners, but in the football where Lamar is
technically like our boss, you know what I'm saying. And
if I mean, if you don't treat it like that,
then in this lead, I think you're for Rood Awakening.
You got to have respect for your quarterback, and you know,
I think that's how you're going to continue to develop
(08:06):
the chemistry and continue to win.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Like we've all seen your talent from the minute you
stepped onto the field, right, And it was always a
matter of injuries and overcoming those and whatnot. And I
know you've always known what you've been capable of, But
to do it last season, to have a healthy year
and have the production and the big plays that you
had last year, what does that do for you? Does
it do anything? Or You're like, I always knew that
(08:31):
was going to happen, you know.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
I mean, yeah, I mean I definitely knew that was
going to happen. But it just felt good to like
prove people own for sure. And it felt good to
prove the cost of right. It felt good to prove
hards right. It felt good to, you know, prove my
teammates right, because they go out on the media and
speak on me as well, and they speak highly of me.
So to be able to go out there and back
that up for them, I think, I think that's what
(08:53):
is most important to me.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Yeah, what was it like for you going into the playoffs?
I mean, unfortunately they suffers the injury and regular season finale,
and man, it's it's on you, you know, like you're
the yeah yeah, and making big plays in the playoffs,
including in Buffalo and whatnot. You know for you to
kind of step up in that way. To me, it
was also another big like man, Bait is here for sure.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
I mean, yeah, it felt good.
Speaker 5 (09:16):
I mean, uh, the one is just felt good to
be playing in the playoffs and then be engaged in
those type of games. You know, the receiver you want
to be. You want to play, but you also want
to be you know, a part of the game plan,
like engaged and you know, help out the team the
best way you can. And I hate as they went down,
And I honestly think if you want to went down
that we probably you know, you know it wouldn't be
(09:37):
in the situation that we were in. But you know,
I trained hard for for those moments. You know, I
was prepared for those moments. And you know, I just
think that, you know, it's just old when it did
so bab.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
I remember last year we sat down with you on
the podcast, like right around this time a year ago,
and I remember coming out of that like you were
so open and talking about how there was the physical
side that you had to overcome and then there's also
the mental like aspect of overcoming the injuries and working
your way back. How important, like was the mental side
of things beyond just like getting healthy, but that aspect
(10:10):
of things and getting you to the point where you
are today.
Speaker 5 (10:12):
It was definitely the probably the biggest thing, honestly because uh,
I mean, when you're in your head about certain stuff,
it calls the other things where it injury with its
stress or what the you know, whatever it may be.
But being able to you know, now be on the
other side of that and flip that mindset. I think
that's why I can continue to you know, at sale
(10:33):
now no matter what happens, you know, no matter if
I have a bad game or drop the ball. Uh,
because I'm not perfect, and I'm the most probably imperfect
person there is. And you know, when you come to
an understanding of that, you know that, you know, life happens.
And I came to a realization of that because I've
never been hurt before, never you know, being injured before.
And then on top of that, you know, I just
(10:53):
really wanted to, you know, help this team because when
I got drafted and my press conference, I said I
was gonna be everything Lamar needed. That's what That's what
I said. So to be able to come in and
not be able to, you know, provide that they don't
feel good, you know what I'm saying. So just being
able to flip that script, for sure.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
That's incredible that that stuck with you, what you said
in your first press conference when you arrived here, that
really you carried that with you.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Yeah for sure. Yeah, because I mean what I say
to the world, they keep it too, you know what
I'm saying. Yeah, they keep the riceis too.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
And you know, I know they are. They are aware
of things that you know, us as athletes saying what
we promised that we can do and stuff like that.
And obviously I'll never be perfect, and we all can
be perfect. We can't be perfect. But when I am
a healthy you deb you'll definitely see that I can
play I can play football. Yeah, and when I am
on the field that it's there.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
Prove like you've you that comment and like what you
said even in this conversation, like proven your teammates right
matters to you.
Speaker 5 (11:50):
Yeah, for sure. I don't care about nobody else's opinion
besides my teammates. Even like when I did go through
the negativity from the fans, even our own because they
was I never talked about it, but it was bad.
It was It was my families, my people, and you
know it was I ain't really expect that, you know,
I wasn't really used to that. But I think in
(12:13):
that moment, the only thing I cared about, like what
my teammates ought of me, because those ones that I
go to work with, it was the ones I you know,
it's real war, those those your brothers, you know what
I'm saying. So because then it's like the GM now
here to go find somebody else and do this and
make all these moves when that's just not what nobody
planned for, you know, So I don't want to be
that person.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
What's your advice to young aspiring athletes about about social
media and how you handle that?
Speaker 5 (12:39):
Man, I would just say, take away a grant in
salt and honestly find a way to enjoy it. It's
honestly a happy place if you find a way to
laugh about stuff and once you quickly realize that you
know a lot of people necessarily don't know what they're
talking about, or you know, people just and also the
end of the day, people gotta have a job, you know,
people got to somehow put on the plate.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
And if that's creating.
Speaker 5 (13:01):
Agenda, then you got to learn how to you know,
navigate those things and you know, just.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Let it be.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Who did you lean on during the hard times?
Speaker 5 (13:10):
You know, I actually got it. I just got a
good group of homies, you know what I'm saying. I
got a good group of friends. And you know, my
mom has always been my best friend and my strongest warrior.
I've seen that lady go through so much that you know,
that's worse than my injuries. So it's like, why can't
I like pick myself back up and get out that hole?
And she was there, you know, every step put away,
you know, every surgery, and you know, she definitely helped
(13:33):
encourage me to you know, continue down this path for sure.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Taking it on the field. I mean, as we talked
about a huge season for you last year, but of
course I'm sure you see it and you're like, all right,
I still I got to get even better?
Speaker 5 (13:46):
Right?
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (13:47):
When you look at your tape and your film, where
where do you want to still make the next strides?
Like what are your goals for this upcoming season?
Speaker 5 (13:53):
I mean, I'm such a nitpicky guy when it comes
to myself, so it's just hard to say whatever it is,
you know, I just myself home trying to do everything
and want to do everything. So this off season, I
just feel like I need to go, you know, just
turn it up or not. You know, last year I
turned it up a notch as far as you know,
how I trained it not much I trained, and it definitely.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Played off because I trained. I'd like to train.
Speaker 5 (14:15):
I like the workout, but I feel like it hurt
me when I first got in the lead because I
feel like I overtrained and it's like I had to
cut back a little bit to try to find like
a groove and like I feel like now that I'm
back on you know myself, I cannot like continue to
you know, ramp up. You know, my my workouts and
you know how I go about doing stuff.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
I think I saw a video of view kind of
running routes in the grocery store.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Is that right?
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Are you constantly, like in your everyday life just running routes?
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (14:41):
It is man's I mean, and most athletes do it.
I'm not gonna lie to you, even if it's a
quarterback girl alignment. Like you just you find yourself at times,
just you know, you know, working working on your craft
when they even you know you don't even know you're working.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Or supposed to be working.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
But that definitely keeps me, you know, in the game.
It keeps me, you know, motivated to continue to play football.
Oh for sure.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
I'm excited about this trio at watershar with you and
Zay and DeAndre Hopkins. And Hopkins just made this point.
He had a press conference, uh just a little bit ago,
and he said that you guys are all different receivers,
which I think is a good way of looking at it.
Like you all warn different skill sets at the table.
How excited are you about this group as a whole,
what you guys can do.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
I'm excited, man, And you know it starts with you
know Jay, you know saying Jay, he's he's one of
I ain't never seen a receiver like him, and you know,
I know he'll continue, you know, to Sean and bring
his element to the game. And honestly, that's my that's mine, bro.
If they want for to say, I want to got paid,
you know what I'm saying and being able to, you know,
(15:39):
come into an organization and have a partner, you know,
because that's what the game has transferred to.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
Now.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
You know what I'm saying, It used to be a
one receiver game where you throw it to him, but
now a lot of people if they want two dominant
receivers and tight ends and you know, and now having
Hop come in and doing his thing, it's a I
mean we say it every year, it's gonna be tough
to guard, and you know what I'm saying, it should
be tough to guard. And I think that we just
got to go out and execret out plays because everybody
(16:07):
can still you know, play in a move at a
high level right now.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
Why do you say that you would have got paid
if it weren't for day, Like, I'm just you know,
it's a lot of teams there seems like there would
be competition amongst water. She was like, I'm the guy, know,
I'm the guy.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
Like it's so many factors that go into like one
person being successful, and I can never like say that, like.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Oh that was me.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
Obviously I made them play and I'll take all the
credit for that. But I mean, Tyler got to snap
the wall, Runnie has to block Lamar, I got to read.
They got to run this route so the defenders can't
worry about him. Then they're gonna pack the box and
worry about Darren Henry. Now was way more room for
me to create separation and you know, and for Zay
(16:47):
to create separation. So all of us have each other
and you know, if you understand football and you want
to talk, so there's a football, that's how it works.
And it's never not one person just doing these amazing things.
There's so many different factors because if one of those
go wrong, I ain't got none of it, you know
what I'm saying, honestly, shout out to Lamarrow. No matter
what we do, we can kind of clean clean up
(17:09):
a lot of stuff for us. So it's definitely not.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
Working out now those A's only entering year three, so
he's got you know, a couple more years left or whatnot.
But how much do you want to see help Zay
get paid? Now? He's an excellent So yeah, twenty nine
for both of you.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Guys, you know, now, hopefully that we don't end up
in that situation.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
Hopefully get him done and soon and you know, but
his time is coming and I'm excited for it like
he is not.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
We got to me and Zay connect, We got the same.
I just went on the floid and worked out with him.
Not so long ago.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
We've been cool and close, like you know, ever since
we've been here, and now two guys is going to
like lead the room.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
You know, that's what you want.
Speaker 5 (17:45):
And we got a lot of similarities when to come
to our mindset and where we've come from. You know
what I'm saying in the grind and you know I
respect that for show about say.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
I'm just curious just to go back to the extension
real quick. You know, there's so many guys on this
team right now are deserving of contract extensions. I mean,
it's it's the list is like a scroll that goes
down to the floor right now, and yours got done,
you know what I mean? Like what did that mean
to you? Because you know that there's a line of guys,
you know what I.
Speaker 5 (18:13):
Mean, And that's kind of part of the negotiation thing.
There was just so many like stuff to get done.
And I told that to him, like, bro, I know
you got you got more stuff on your plate than
I do right now. So you know we'll figure this out,
you know as the time goes. You know, I don't
know who's up next. I know who's up there, hopefully,
like we got it's too many people.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
It's a long list, yea eventually and Hamilton yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Face coming up.
Speaker 5 (18:48):
Yeah, so the cost in beside it.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
We are sorry.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
It's a good problem.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
It's a good problem.
Speaker 5 (18:56):
I mean that they're doing a good job, you know,
drafting players, and that's why a lot of play just
want to come here. A lot of people say players
come here to die, but I mean players come here
to like win championships. Even from a far. Raven has
always been a respected any organization. So it's honor to
play for a team like that.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
What's d Hop been like so far in the receiver
room and you know, just a veteran, uh kind of
sharing his knowledge with you guys.
Speaker 5 (19:21):
D Hop is definitely a real a real veteran, and
we all just get to know him, you know what
I'm saying as far as like we get on the field,
but you could just tell where it's going to go
and how he's going to lead and like help us.
He's been in the game a long time and he's
very you know, he he know who he is, you
know what he's done, and he's just always willing to
you know, voice is opinion, like help us out.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
So I know that's going to be you know, very
valuable to us.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
I know you're a guy who does like to like
make too many Bowld predictions and gass up like the
team or yourself before season too much in terms of
what you say.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
I keep the receipts.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
That's why I know, I know.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
I mean, you remember what he says during his introduction
with press conference. But like what the offense was so
good last year, Like it was the best offense in
Ravens history. It was one of the best offenses in
NFL history. And now you're going into year three with
Monket and a lot of people think it could be
even better, which is like hard to fathom, but a
lot of people do think it could take even another jump.
What do you think? What what is your impression of
(20:16):
what this offense could be.
Speaker 5 (20:17):
I think that they will continue to take the nets
jumps in a good way because all the guys here
are you know, committed to being better, and you know,
coach Monk and Damas, you know, perfection out of us,
you know, which goes a long way. You know, I'm saying,
everybody come to work and want to be better, and
from a football perspective, we don't know if that's going
(20:38):
to be you know, the run games is gonna get better.
Of the past game is going to get better. What
it's going to get better. I just know the offense
will continue to you know, evolve in a lot of
different ways because you know, we got the players to
do that, and you know, you go back and you
WIT's tape and it's like, oh, we can do this.
We can do this with him, or you know, Derek
can do this, almar I can do this. So seeing
(20:58):
you know Monk can do that, and from you're one
of your two with the coaches and stuff that we
got on staff right now, I truly believe that we'll continue,
you know, to take the right steps.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
Just hearing you talk, it's clear that like you hear
you've heard the Twitter noise about Ravens wide receivers and
talk about like where guys go to die, and I.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Know everything everything.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
I don't want to see hands say that I'm not.
I don't because we see it, like we all. It
ain't nothing that we speak on. But it's obvious.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Right right, So how fun is it? I mean you
already did it to agree last year's they became the
first Pro Bowl wide receiver you had your breakout season
and now like how excited are you now also with
d hop to be like, you know what we're going
to show, like we're going to be one of the
best trios in the league. You know what I mean,
is there a part of your brain that's still there?
You know what I mean?
Speaker 5 (21:47):
I mean, honestly know, like honestly know, like because I mean,
I'm just really hungering the fact that a lot of
people don't know what they're talking about, you know, and
I don't want to waste my time, you know, trying
to prove those people wrong or you know, have other
guys worrying about it, because it's just me. People get
(22:07):
paid to z oak and you know, they might be wrong.
They might be right, but and they might be they
might know they be wrong, you know what I'm saying.
But it's it's a tricky game, you know, when it
comes to the media and.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Stuff like that.
Speaker 5 (22:20):
But you know, I just letting them people, you know,
do they thing, and I'm gonna keep doing my thing
because obviously they were wrong about me, you know what
I'm saying. They was wrong about Lamar, they was wrong
about Derek, and they was wrong about Jay and it's like, bro,
y'all just want to keep being wrong that the protection
and the perfection is just is just so high in
what they expect of us that you know, a lot
(22:41):
of stuff that other people say is obviously.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
You know, not reality. We live in reality, and we're
going to continue to do that.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Right Well, I do have to say, and Garrett, you
can attest to this. Okay, when we drafted you, I
wrote down on a piece of paper, Rashaan Bateman's gonna
put up a thousand yard season as a raven. He did,
I put I put it active up in my cube,
I said, market Then we moved.
Speaker 4 (23:06):
Offices and then he couldn't find it, and so now
we never will never know if it's true. Credit.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
If that's true, I think this year might be Hell yeah,
I think this year.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
And like it's it's just just because like you have
to be unselfish on this offense, like there's so many
good players. That's the tough part, right thing, Like you
have to I mean, Munkts talked about it, and I
love his attitude. He's like, I want guys that want
the ball, Like I don't want to be an offensive
coordinator for an offense or guys like, no, I don't
want the ball like.
Speaker 5 (23:36):
He like what competitive nature like do you have especially
as like I mean a person like you know, a
lot of us come in as the best player from
my college team, and I think a lot of us
have a hard time, you know, accepting that there's a
lot of good players right now that we got to
get the ball to. But that doesn't change the fact
that we want to make plays and you know, we
want the ball. But in our offense, like even say,
(23:58):
like when we really talking reality and we talked football,
like he's what he's doing in the league is beyond
you know, special to me because of how we play football,
of how the Ravens play football. It's not like we're
you know, just targeting targeting Jay and put them on this.
We do what's best for the team and how we play,
you know, is they could have thirteen hundred yards easy
(24:19):
if that's what we wanted, And if if that was
the goal, every Henry you can rush for two thousand
easy if that's what we wanted, if that's what the
goal was. But it's just never the goal. And I
just kind of like wish people you know, understood that.
But it's such a statistic world and game that it's
kind of hard to you know, separate that from like team.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
You know sometimes like you left yourself out of that,
but same for you. I mean you could have that
thousand yards if that was like if that was the goal,
Like you could have that thousand and I think it
takes like kind of a it takes a unique team
in order to buy into that, Like you need all
these guys to buy into that in order for it
to work.
Speaker 5 (24:54):
And I mean even when the Ravens like won a
Super Bowl, I mean they had good receivers like and
like amazing recipt but it was it wasn't no Jerry
Rice's or no you know, the guys that are put
on this pedal stool. They won a Super Bowl with
a good football team that was well round it and
the guys made plays when you know they were supposed to.
(25:14):
So it's like, now, what's the difference?
Speaker 3 (25:17):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (25:18):
It is like you got guys that technically don't got
to respect. That's the other receivers around the league. But
you know, we still do what we need to do
by our team. Obviously we can be better and we're
going to continue to be better. But I mean, you
only really speak on the game. I really know what
we do in here, So it's hard for like somebody
to judge what we do out there if they don't.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Know what happened like in these walls, right.
Speaker 5 (25:39):
I think that's kind of a crazy concept to think about, Like,
how can you talk about our football game if you
wasn't in the.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
Meeting, right, if you don't know who the play call
was exactly.
Speaker 5 (25:47):
How it was technically supposed to be ran? Did you
talk the monk? I'm pretty sure it didn't go like that. So,
I mean, you just got a set reality and it's
part of the game. It's entertainment. It's supposed to be
like that. It's supposed to be controversy and stuff like that,
but make it all fun.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Well, I'll put myself out there and say, I think
this is the best wide receiver group that we've ever
had here. So excited to watch it this season.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
Man, I am too.
Speaker 4 (26:11):
I appreciate it all right, awesome, thanks babe, appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
Yeah, I appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
Yep. Welcome back into the Lounge podcast. We are coming
to you from the Seat Geek Studio. We also want
to mention our partners with Draft Kings Sportsbook. They are
an official sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft
King Sportsbook. The Crown is yours Well. Thanks to Rashade
Bateman for sitting down with us. He's one of my
favorite guys to talk to on the team. So he's
honestly just so open and transparent and somebody that's been
(26:35):
through some highs and lows yep in his time, and
he's open to talk about all of them. So I
give him a lot of credit. And it's it's great
to see him playing at a high level and healthy
and just in a really good spot. So he's a
great player. So it's all signs are pointing up for Bait.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Yeah, I'm really excited to watch him. And you know,
in this offense, there's just so many guys that it's
like any any of them could go off in any
game at any time. And that's really what makes the
Ravens offense so dangerous. You know, when you get to
the season's end and you look at the numbers that
might not be like, oh man, this guy's got whatever,
thirteen hundred receiving yards like he was talking about but
(27:09):
like at any time, any of them can burn you,
and you can be game plan specific an opponent and
match up specific and things like that. That's what made
the Ravens offense that the stat that matters the most
at the end of the year is where's the offense,
well beyond wins one, but particularly exactly beyond wins, but
where's that offense rank? And last year at rank number one? Yeah,
that's what you want.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
And I just think, like the point that I made
to him, like in order for that to work, you
do need a team to buy into that concept. And
I give these players like for Bait to be like
I got paid because of all the things that Zay
can do and like be like it starts with Zay.
You know a lot of guys don't defer because they
they want to be the guy. And there's like this
this attitude and I think that, like I give him
(27:51):
a lot of credit for having that mindset. Well when
I think of knowing that he could go off at
any point.
Speaker 1 (27:56):
Yeah, to me, I think it's point of like these days,
it's not you can't just have the guy if you're
gonna be a good offense, Like to me and they're
different players, certainly, but it reminds me a little bit
of the Eagles situation that they have going on right
now with AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. Right, Like those
guys both premiere wide receivers. You know, either one of
(28:19):
them can get you. That's what the Ravens have right
now with Rasha Bateman's a Flowers are now add and
tehap on top of it, and they compliment each other
so well, So it's gonna be fun.
Speaker 4 (28:27):
Yeah. I think this offense is gonna be scary good.
I think Baitman's gonna have another big season and I
can't wait to see what he and the Ravens have
a store for this year. So we appreciate you watching
and listening, and we will be back with you on
the Lounge again soon
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