Rav'n Maniac

Anyone but the Patriots!!!

Stanley was a good selection for us at #6. Now we must continue with the same mindset and build this line into a beast. It starts with resigning Wagner and getting a top Center in here along with better backups.

It's great to be able to go into the off season healthy. It would have been even better if we were able to be healthy throughout the season, as we seen.

When you are the best at your craft, it becomes easy to garner a unanimous selection for this kind of honor. Congratulations Justin, you deserve every mention coming your way.

That letter is classic Steve Smith and a copy should be forwarded to the HOF to be placed with his jersey and cleats on display.

1 hour ago, ellicottraven said:

Isn't signing one better than signing none? Imagine if they could sign a stud offensive lineman or Center with that money? Wouldn't that help? It isn't about your condescension or lack there of either. Its just the truth. Also, contracts can be renegotiated as well and that was the point Cousins was making. Even if one assumes the signing bonus although some of it is deferred stays with Flacco, there is still plenty left over in the 3 yr extension he signed to give up and that does affect the cap space...

You are correct that on the latest restructure 15m of the total 40m signing bonus was deferred but, It doesn't make it any less of a fixed cost. Flacco just renegotiated his contract this past season to help the team save money and I see no sense in renegotiating it again 1 year into the deal. Now he could choose to defer a portion or all of his base salary from this season into the next. Actually, he could choose to do that over multiple seasons but, at some point it's all going to come due and kicking the can down the road always creates a much greater problem later imo.

2 minutes ago, GrimCoconut said:

Did he retire a Raven? Lol look at the header

Lol, we should hold him to it.

^^^ CLassic ^^^

35 minutes ago, Ravens4Real said:

The #1 issue with this team is inconsistency at the QB position and having injury prone guys in positions of major importance (whether due to age or just truly being injury prone).

Flacco needs to simply play better in the regular season. There are a handful of games a season where Flacco looks lost and basically hands the other team the game on a platter. He makes too much money to be doing that.

In regards to the injuries: In the NFL today two of the most important positions on a defense are CB and OLB. We have Jimmy who is an annual injury prone player. Has never played 16 games. Solution; draft or stack free agent signings here. The FO always leaves this group thinking they are fine and the inevitable happens with Jimmy and we find ourselves getting torched. 

OLB; This needs to be our first round pick and I don't think I will get much argument there. We NEED an every down OLB. Suggs and Doom can not be relied on. Suggs is hurt annually due to his age and Doom is in the same category. We have too many backups that can do one thing or the other (rush the passer and poor in run D or vice versa). 

Sorry but, Smith has two seasons where he played all 16 games, 2013 & 2015.

9 hours ago, ellicottraven said:

Now I don't know if Cousins and Flacco are friends or not being in the same area and of the same QB fraternity, but I want them to be. Here's why? When asked about taking a team friendly deal to help the Redskins he declined politely but added this: 

“Frankly, once you sign the contract, there’s no law saying you can’t renegotiate,” Cousins said. “If you signed a deal and you end up coming away from two seasons saying, ‘Hey, not only did we not win, but I think the reason is that I’m taking too much,’ then you can always talk about changing that, but I don’t a need to do that on the front end. You want to find your value and then be able to play off of that accordingly."

In my mind he was directly looking at Flacco and thinking of him when he made the statement! Are you listening Joe??

Sure, there's no one one saying he couldn't renegotiate or that he wouldn't be willing to. At this point in his contract, what can really be renegotiated. We can't slash his signing bonus as that money has already been paid and is now "locked in" as a fixed cost over the length of his contract. That leaves his base salary as the only thing that could be adjusted. His base in 2017 is 6m and even if he gave it all back, how many good signings could we use it for? Maybe one!

I'm not trying to be condescending to you or anyone else here. Just trying to paint a true and factual picture.

I understand the need to close the practices during construction but, why don't they increase the amount of free practices at the Bank. This would seem like a great way to satisfy fans and keep hold of the interest.

He has a lot of potential but, I'd say he has a long way to go to become a #1. He really needs to work hard on his routes, his breaks and learning how to use that big body to shield defenders away. You could often see that he and Joe aren't even close to being on the same page.

I don't know much about these guys so I won't comment on them. It seems like a lot of asst. coaches are being released throughout the NFL this year or is it just me.

I would first attempt a team friendly restructure with Doom & Webb. If that doesn't work it's adios along with Wright, Arrington, Lewis, Powers, Elam, Pitta, Watson, Aiken & Zuttah. I expect BWill will want to walk for a big pay day and that the team will really try to resign Wagner, Orr and Guy.

That should build enough cap space that they will be able to hit CB, OLB, WR, S & C hard in free agency and the draft.

1 hour ago, usmccharles said:

You have restored some of my faith in this board... Some. 

LoL, I had to reply with such an invitation. Glad to hear I restored some of your faith, enjoy it for at least for the next 5 minutes.

20 minutes ago, Neal Could Block the SUN!! said:

Aahhh- I see it's the you found the problem so you have to fix it mentality- fair enough and since you asked-

1) Be aware of the play clock.  I see other times pump their hands towards the sky and get the play clock reset when applicable.  I have never seen Flacco or any other O' player make this motion.  If not able to reset the clock, at the very least be aware that you either have 40 or 25 seconds to run a play.  Flacco, in his 9th year, should be highly cognizant by now that he does not have limitless time to stand around and then run a play at his desired time.

From a coaching stand point- be aware that a play clock is running and if you're $120M QB is ignorantly standing around, radio in, send a player, burn a flare, do something to wake him up and get moving.  For the QB and coaching staff to miss the play clock all together and have to take a time out <2 minutes into any game or quarter is ridiculous.

 

2) Excessive clock waste while losing is just unpalatable from a fan standpoint.  The game in New England was not over, yet the Ravens entire staff allowed 6 minutes to burn off the clock.  Why?  Not like they were struggling for a play.  Time and time again, players were jogging to the line or the line was set and Flacco would take his time getting into formation.  Makes no sense.  Run the no huddle or the sugar huddle.  At the very least burn less than half the play clock between plays.  This starts with the coaching staff and needs to run through the players.  A sense of urgency when losing.  Simply controlling the clock and realizing that a large amount of the 4th qtr has burned off and you have not moved the ball should put a fire under their collective butt.  Not to mention, we had already wasted time outs early in the 2nd half because of point 1.

Either way- be aware that this is a clock management game.  Whether its game or play clock, be aware of it.

 

Thanks for responding. Obviously, it comes down to the situation at hand and with all situational football, how well you perform at it is based on how much it is addressed during practice. This is one place where I feel we have failed as a team.

Every team will address it during camp and each will finish a days practice with some sort of situational drive. Imo, this is where the emphasis has to be placed to perform it efficiently and quickly. You play as you practiced and from what we have seen on the field during games, we aren't emphasizing it enough.

8 hours ago, usmccharles said:

The difference between my hypothetical and yours is that in my world, we have no rookies, in your world we are throwing rookies into a starting role.  Im no brain scientist (anyone gets the reference ill be shocked) but as of right now, what i said is fact and what you said holds no grounds other than 'its possible'.  So is us signing Favre, or getting RG3 as a PR., I missed nothing other than someone reaching for something to complain about without facts.  Might as well complain about Tuckers missed PATs next year too because what you proposed hasnt happened....etc etc....

So you are a rocket surgeon?

41 minutes ago, Neal Could Block the SUN!! said:

I would really love to see Harbaugh, Mornhinweg, and Flacco all get in a room and watch when and how other teams use time outs.  I cannot stand the number of times we're calling time out in the first quarter because the wrong personnel are in, or the play never materialized, or Flacco just didn't see to realize that a play clock existed.  Every time this happens it comes back to bite the team later on when we are down >3 pts and running under 2 minutes.  Just ridiculous. 

 

Not even going to get started on the 6 minutes of wasted time in the New England game.  Zero hustle back to the line, no play call existing, and no hurry up in place.  Just like we were winning the game.  Sadly, we do this far too often and act like we are winning and fail to manage the clock.

Would really look professional or like the team cared if either of these two issues could be fixed in the off season.

I can agree that this team seriously lacks a sense of urgency with the clock winding down. Would like to know what you feel they need to do to fix it?

8 hours ago, bscott57 said:

Literally the moderators here are the biggest Flacco homers. They still have the "thanks to Joe for being plays away from playing in his 4th super bowl". 

 

How about the stat Flacco has more turnovers than TDs since he signed his mega deal? A few more yards and targets for those WRs when we throw the ball 50 times a game isn't shocking pal.  

 

RMC - that was way too much to respond to, if you don't think what he said was putting the onus on Flacco for being so highly paid then I think you're choosing to not see that. He didn't roll Flacco under the bus but the message was very clear, Flacco is being paid to be elite and he needs to get there. I'm aware QBR isn't an end all be all stat, but if we can't have an eye test or a statistical conversation then what is the point of talking about it at all?

 

I get that people are loyal to Joe, blindingly loyal to Joe in fact. I'm also aware Flacco will be the QB of this team for a minimum of 3 more years. That doesn't mean that I have to like it. Feeling like myself and purple nation have been handcuffed by his contract and paired with his subpar play, seems pretty warranted to me. 

I am in no way a Flacco homer and like you along with many here, know we are saddled with his contract through at least 2019. Due to that fact, I will support him in his quest to be a much better QB in the immediate future. What I would like to know from you is what do you think Flacco should be paid in 2017 as I am curious.

I agree with every position need mentioned in this article except the 3rd running back position. We don't give our 1st and 2nd options enough carries as it is, so why worry about the 3rd option at this point. Draft picks will be better used at the other mentioned positions as one player selected at each is not enough. The only way I would spend a selection on a RB is if that player is Jamal Lewis reincarnated.

I will wait to see it all unfold before I make any further comments about the staff.

Obviously, Bisciotti is content with Harbs and his decisions along with his staff. With Pees tied to one hip and Marty to the other I feel it will be difficult for Harbs to tread water. I'm not ecstatic about it but, as a fan I will support them. Now how about we go out and find some damn playmakers to help get us there.

1 hour ago, VermontRaven said:

 

I was the one who negged it.  I thought it came across as very negative in a post that is titled Positive Perspective.  I know how this season ended was disappointing, but my point of the post was that it was not a serious injury for Mosley.  I thought this comment by @Rav'n Maniac was a little negative, so I negged it.

I did say "Great!" (as in good to hear) followed by a little humor that I'm sorry about if it hurt your feelings.

9 minutes ago, rmw10 said:

Signing bonuses absolutely do count against the cap.  That's the exact reason why we talk about dead money.  Those signing bonuses are guaranteed dollars that get prorated over the life of the contract, up to 5 years.

Agreed. People just can't seem to grasp that signing bonuses are fixed costs associated with signing a contract and although it's not a true part of the players salary, it still has to be accounted for in the cap.

3 minutes ago, rmw10 said:

No one is going to put the Browns on TV at this juncture, so really only 7 teams.  As a fan, I'd love to see it.  As a player and coach though, I can understand them hating it.

I don't know, I would actually find it funny to see the Browns on there, but those HBO ratings tho...