Raven’s Hollywood Brown trade came as no surprise to Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson appeared surprised by Baltimore’s trade with Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, but the wide receiver insists that wasn’t the case.

After news of the Brown trade broke, the Ravens quarterback tweeted a succinct message: “Wtf.”

Brown spoke to SiriusXM’s “I am Athlete Tonight” about the deal, revealing that he had been in touch with Jackson – and that he had requested the trade from Baltimore.

“It was just . . . my luck,” Brown said, as described by ProFootballTalk. “I spoke to Lamar about it after my sophomore year. And then, after my third year, until the end of the season, he stopped playing. I let him know again, like, ‘Yes, brother, I can’t.’ You know it’s not really because of Lamar like I love Lamar it was just you know the system just wasn’t for me personally you know I love all my teammates I love the guys it was just something , which I had to think about for myself.”

Brown, who is headed to the Cardinals to reunite with his Oklahoma teammate Kyler Murray, caught 91 balls for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns last season. He was the Ravens’ leading wideout; Tight end Mark Andrews garnered more receptions and yards.

Meanwhile, Robert Griffin III, who played with the duo for the Ravens and is now an analyst for ESPN, explained why Jackson would have been upset.

“Lamar Jackson and Marquise Brown weren’t just teammates. They were brothers” Griffin tweeted. “True South Floridan through and through. I’ve never seen a bond like they had on and off the field. I know that trading hasn’t only hurt in football.”

Ultimately, the Ravens received the 23rd overall pick from the Cardinals in exchange for Brown. They then moved up two spots in a trade with the Bills, eventually picking No. 25 Iowa center Tyler Lindenbaum.