The New England Patriots are not expected to be players in the Lamar Jackson sweepstakes, despite the quarterback’s reported interest in joining the team, The Athletic reported Wednesday.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft set the rumor mill into overdrive earlier this week when he said he got a text from rapper Meek Mill about Jackson’s interest in the Patriots. Kraft said it was up to head coach Bill Belichick.

Not happening, per The Athletic.

Jackson’s current contract demands and the draft capital a team would have to give up are a bridge too far for the fiscally conservative Patriots, per the report.

Also, the Atlanta Falcons have removed themselves from pursuing Jackson. Falcons owner Arthur Blank told two different media outlets that despite their interest in Deshaun Watson last year, the timing now is different.

The Falcons named Desmond Ridder their starting QB for 2023.

“Every year is different,” Blank told USA Today. “Deshaun was a different situation. It was a different time and space. I think Lamar is a great player … but we look at our roster and our ability to continue to build our roster now and have salary cap freedom, which we’ve never had.”

Jackson has asked to be traded, but the market for him is shrinking.

On Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions all said they’re not interested in pursuing Jackson. The Washington Commanders, New York Jets and Carolina Panthers already had stated similarly.

The Jets are actively seeking to trade for Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The Seattle Seahawks re-signed Geno Smith earlier this month, with coach Pete Carroll adding the team “couldn’t afford” Jackson.

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard on Monday confirmed his interest in Jackson. Colts owner Jim Irsay later in the day said Jackson’s contract demands weren’t an issue, but that a team has to guard against compromising “your future to do it.”

“It really has nothing to do with actual dollars,” Irsay said. “I mean, paying a contract like that is not a problem. I mean, it’s not a problem for me. The issue is what’s the right thing to do for the franchise in terms of what helps us win in the long run.”

Jackson took to Twitter on Tuesday to defend himself against claims that durability is an issue with him.

“I don’t remember me sitting out on my guys week 1 vs jets To week 12 vs Broncos,” he tweeted. “How come all of a sudden I sit out because of money in which I could’ve got hurt at anytime within that time frame. When we know the Super Bowl been on my mind since April 2018.”

I don’t remember me sitting out on my guys week 1 vs jets To week 12 vs Broncos. How come all of a sudden I sit out because of money in which I could’ve got hurt at anytime within that time frame ?? When we know the Super Bowl been on my mind since April 2018.

— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) March 29, 2023

“Let’s get real. I rather have a 100% PCL than go out there and play horrible forcing myself to put my guys in a bad situation now that’s selfish to me,” he said in a second tweet.

Jackson missed four games in 2021 and five games in 2022 with injuries. Jackson, 26, is 45-16 as the Ravens’ starter and won the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award in 2019.

–Field Level Media

The Atlanta Falcons are closing in on a one-year deal with free agent defensive end Calais Campbell, the latest in a series of moves to bolster a moribund defense, ESPN and NFL Network reported Wednesday.

Campbell, 36, was released by the Baltimore Ravens earlier this month in a cost-cutting move. The Ravens, who cleared $6.5 million in cap space, were hoping to re-sign Campbell on a lesser deal.

Instead, Campbell will take his six Pro Bowls and 99 career sacks to a team that has vastly improved its defense in free agency. The Falcons also added safety Jessie Bates III, defensive tackle David Onyemata and linebacker Kaden Elliss. Further, the Falcons own the No. 8 pick in the upcoming draft.

The Falcons ended 2022 ranked 23rd in the NFL in scoring defense (22.7) and 27th in total yards per game (362.1).

Campbell had 36 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 14 starts for the Ravens last season.

A 2017 All-Pro, Campbell was named to the Hall of Fame’s All-2010s team.

Campbell was a second-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2008. He played for the team through the 2016 season then signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a free agent.

The Jaguars traded him to the Ravens in March 2020 for a fifth-round draft pick.

In 227 career games (208 starts), Campbell has 809 tackles (165 for loss), 237 quarterback hits, 99 sacks, three interceptions, 57 passes defensed, 16 forced fumbles and 12 fumble recoveries.

–Field Level Media

NFL teams will be allowed to appear in two Thursday games on short weeks based on a rule change implemented Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix.

The league tabled a vote on permitting flex scheduling for Thursday night games, a tweak that, if ultimately approved, could prevent matchups of losing teams in a prime-time showcase.

The change that was implemented could end up seeing some teams play on Thursday three times. Should a team be scheduled on consecutive Thursdays, only the first of those two games would be considered a short week.

In prior years, every team was assigned at least one Thursday game per season, but that will no longer be a requirement moving forward.

NFL executive vice president and chief media and business officer Brian Rolapp said, “We’re interested in making sure that we get exposure for all of our clubs. We also believe that these national windows are for clubs that are playing well. We want to put the best teams in the best windows.”

As for flex scheduling for Thursday games, New York Giants owner John Mara, who opposes the idea, fears it might pass at the next league meetings in May, according to ESPN.

“At some point, can we please give some consideration to the people who are coming to our games?” Mara said, according to ESPN. “People make plans to go to these games weeks and months in advance. And 15 days ahead of time to say, ‘Sorry, folks, that game you were planning on taking your kids to Sunday at 1, now it’s on Thursday night?’ What are we thinking about?”

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell responded to Mara’s remarks by saying, “There isn’t anybody in any of our organization that doesn’t put our fans first. Providing the best matchups for our fans is what we do. That’s part of what our schedule has always focused on. Flex has been part of that. We are very judicious with it and careful with it. We look at all the impacts of that before a decision is made.”

–Field Level Media