espn-news:%20ESPN%20reported%2020-minutes%20ago%20that%20the%20Baltimore%20Ravens%20has%20Finally%20And%20officially%20announced%20the%20trade%20of%20Cincinnati%20Bengals%20Superstar%20starting%20Pass%20Rusher%20Trey%20Hendrickson.%20.%20This%20is%20to%20confirm%20that%20the%20Star%20DE%20signed%20a%20five-year,%20$102.5%20million%20contract%20with%20the%20Baltimore%20Ravens%20Shockingly,%20after%20He%20turned%20down%20a%20four-year%20offer%20from%20the%20San%20Francisco%2049ers%2016%20Hours%20Ago%20In%20Favor%20of%20a%20Trade%20to%20the%20Baltimore%20Ravens,%20See%20Full%20Details%20As%20He%20Bids%20Farewell%20to%20Bengals%20Supporters.%E2%80%A6%E2%80%A6

In the strange, slow lull between free agency and the NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens found themselves in one of the more unexpected off-field storylines of the offseason. It wasn’t contract-related, draft nonsense, or trade buzz—it was a legal dispute over a number.

More specifically, the No. 8.

NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. had filed a trademark request for a stylized version of the No. 8—one that looked like the number that’s been synonymous with Lamar Jackson’s brand since his Louisville days. The two-time MVP quarterback has already trademarked “ERA 8 by Lamar Jackson,” and his team didn’t take kindly to anyone circling too close (just ask Troy Aikman).

 

Naturally, Jackson’s team filed an opposition with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. For a couple of days, it looked like we had a full-blown sports crossover beef on our hands. Then Dale Jr. went on his podcast, explained the whole thing, and shut down all controversy.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. clears the air with Lamar Jackson
On the latest episode of The Dale Jr. Download, Earnhardt broke down what happened in detail—and made it clear there’s no bad blood.

“We learned that the Budweiser No. 8 trademark is not going to be continued and renewed by Teresa,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. “We were a bit surprised by that because she kept the one trademark. Haven’t talked to Teresa. Don’t know why that was her decision, but we saw an opportunity to pick up the number and see if we could get the trademark.”

After locking up that version of the mark, Earnhardt’s team also filed a “Plan B” application to trademark the Junior Motorsports version of the No. 8… just in case. That second trademark, it turns out, is the one Lamar opposed.

“I learned on social media about the same time as everybody else did that Lamar was contesting our trademark application,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “He wasn’t suing me. He’s just contesting it. And there’s a part of the trademark process where if you believe somebody’s applying for a trademark and it’s going to hurt your brand, you can oppose it… I learned that it was the Junior Motorsports [eight] and we weren’t ever going to use that again… so yeah, it’s a non-issue.”

Rather than fight over something he had no intention of using, Earnhardt quickly filed paperwork to drop the application. He got the Bud 8 trademark he wanted, and Jackson kept full control of his brand. Yay number

Of course, the feud didn’t come without its fair share of drama. RFK Racing chimed in with a not-so-subtle shot at Lamar Jackson, posting a picture of their No. 6 and No. 17 cars with the caption:
“Excited to have Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen numbers on the cars this weekend.”

In the end, there was no courtroom showdown. No drawn-out dispute. Just two superstars, one number, and a whole lot of clarity. Earnhardt got the mark he wanted. Jackson kept his. Win-win.

50 Words or Less: Adding an Interior Pass Rusher Could Help Ravens Defense Dominate.

Even in a relatively slow week, the NFL never sits still.

The draft is less than two weeks away, and it remains hard to predict who’s coming to Baltimore in Round 1. Meanwhile, Joe Flacco is reportedly returning to the Cleveland Browns, adding another interesting twist to the AFC North.

Here are my weekend thoughts on the Ravens, all in 50 words or less:

I’m warming to the possibility of Baltimore using an early draft pick on a defensive lineman. With the retirement of Michael Pierce, there’s room for a young stud to join the D-line rotation, and the draft is deep at that position.
Sacks don’t tell the whole story, but Nnamdi Madubuike went from a career-high 13 sacks in 2023 to 6.5 in 2024. Adding another interior pass rusher as a running mate might help Madubuike’s proven ability to be a quarterback destroyer.

We saw the Philadelphia Eagles dominate the Super Bowl with a game-wrecking defensive line. You can believe that Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow don’t want Baltimore’s interior pass rush to become stronger.
Some talented defensive linemen might still be available for the Ravens at No. 59, including Darius Alexander (Toledo), Kenneth Grant (Michigan), and Tyleik Williams (Ohio State). They’d all benefit from joining a rotation that already includes Madubuike, Travis Jones, and Broderick Washington.