gabefergy

So....yeah. Our first thread got pretty long.

Ginn is a FA and the 9ers don't appear to want him back. Jenkins has to prove he can effectively stretch the field at the NFL level.

Jenkins has to prove he can get on the field at the NFL level.

I dont like when we make off the cuff decisions regarding good players. Aging WR? That couldnt get separation? You dont need separation as a reciever as long as you possess the body control aspect of the game, which Boldin has shown he has mastered.

Go ahead and throw logic out the window and make your convoluted point. This is like saying: RBs dont need holes to run through, if they are strong enough they should just break through multiple tacklers and pick up 5 yards every time.

The job of the WR is to get open and catch the ball. If Boldin could get open more consistently the FO would never have traded him because he would be worth the money they were paying.

Boldin has great body control and makes contested catches that many WRs cant make, but it limits him just as much. How often is Flacco expected to throw to a covered receiver in the hopes that he will come down with the catch?

It's just people trying to find some reason to rationalize why we made the move. Nobody wants to believe we actually gave up a big time player for a very low draft pick, so they tell themselves Boldin was done anyway. He's been fantastic, and if it wasn't for Cam (as evidenced by what Q did after Caldwell took over) he would have done even more in his 3 years here. But if it makes people feel better to bash him early on, let them vent. In a week everyone will be talking about how great he was with us.

I'm sorry, but this simply isnt true. I for one, have not bashed Anquan. I am objectively speaking the truth whether you want to admit it or not. Some of us, myself included, have been saying for months that Boldin was a likely cap casualty this offseason. The fact of the matter is he has under-performed his contract for the past 3 years, and if it wasnt for a fantastic playoff stretch this wouldnt even be a conversation.

If you watch the tape, it is readily apparent that Boldin is not very capable of gaining separation from defenders anymore. The majority of the completions are highly contested catches where he has to out-physical the defender to make a tough catch on a pin-point accurate pass. I wouldn't go to the extent of saying Boldin is washed up, because he is still very smart and crafty, and he can still play fairly well as a slot receiver.

However, for the amount he gets paid we should see more production. Not one 1,000 yard season as a Raven. 14 TDs in 3 years. You cant argue with those numbers. Of course he has made big plays at times, and he brought far more to the team than just his on the field performance, but his limitations as a WR are tangible.

It's even fair to say we probably dont win the SB this past year without him. It doesnt mean it is smart to keep over-paying him at the expense of the team's future though. Trading Boldin allows us to at least make a legitimate offer to keep Ellerbe and solidify other positions on the roster. Anquan has been one of my favorite Ravens for the duration of his stay, but this is a move that was necessary to make. I appreciate all he has brought to the team, and wish him the best of luck going forward.

RFA's arent my forte, but we make offer, Giants match or we get him. I thinks thats it. Probably cant afford him.

Yup. Besides if we were to go to FA to get a WR, I doubt the FO would give away our 1st round pick as well.

He made some great contested catches during the season and even more so in the play-offs, but let's not pretend a good number of those grabs were just as much the result of pin-point accuracy. Let's also not forget that there weren't many occasions when his lack of separation hurt the offense.

I always remember Greg Cosell talking about how our WRs struggle to get separation, and almost every completion to Boldin has to be a perfect throw trusting that Q would come down with the contested catch.

I like Boldin alot, but who are they talking about exactly?

They are confusing the fact that they got beat by an elite QB with the WR who made a few catches.

Why does everyone think Leach is replaceable? You think Pierce would have been as good without him?

A lot of Pierce's runs came out of single back formations. Leach is the best FB in the league, but he is still on the field for less than 40% of the teams snaps. He gets payed an awful lot for his minimal role.

I'm beginning to hate that word. No one becomes "proven" until they're actually given a shot.

Only proven receivers can go up and get it.

Boldin was our one receiver who consistently played well against man coverage this year. Joe will have to run around like the second coming of Fran Tarkenton just to find guys open, unless the Ravens find someone to replace Boldin in this role.

No he didnt.

Now I'm waiting to see how much we over paid Ellerbe because that's the only reason why we did this trade, and to re-sign Ed Reed in the process.

I think it might make re-signing Kruger a possibility.

We should have shopped him earlier. That's my real complaint.

Well we wanted to keep him, but he rejected only being paid 5.5M this year.

You can't be a decade long rival if you're in another conference.

Much rather him go to SF than NE or Houston or Indy.

Shocked I am. Only a sixth rounder? I am in a serious state of shock.

He would have been cut....this just shows you the market value for an aging/overpaid WR.

You think Ozzie would have traded him for a 6th if he could have gotten more?

You also need physical.

Maybe if you cant get open.

At least our offense got faster lol

A 6th round pick is a lot better than no pick, which would have happened.

This could potentially make room for Kruger and Ellerbe. I'm curious to see the next FO move.

Oh come now. You know he wasn't being utilized correctly by Cam. We sat here week after week after week for those 3 seasons talking about it. Bye Cam and bring in someone who knows how to use our players' strengths and voila! Suddenly not only Flacco but the offense as a unit has stepped it up. It isn't a coincidence. We're talking about a $7 mil cap hit for one season to keep Boldin's veteran leadership and ability to fight for the ball around for one more season. Time many of our young WRs appear to need in order to develop. Ellerbe, we are talking about a player who has had one good season of what? four? or is it five? and is looking for a contract of $30 mil or better. Too much for possible potential. It was the reasoning with Grubbs, with JJ, even with Gaither. None are playing at the level they did here.

I agree that Cam wasnt using him, or the rest of the offensive weapons as well as could have been, but at the same time I watch Boldin struggling to get open against any decent CB and I understand why the FO wants him to take a pay-cut.

you knew exactly what i meant . i don't play juvenile games this was uncalled for.snarky behavior should stop in grade school .at any rate i'm not interested .

What do you mean then? How are you supposed to guarantee a player's success at the NFL level. You aren't being reasonable at all. Doss and Reed actually can catch. They have caught passes in the NFL if you arent aware. It's not like they are high investments, 4th and 5th round picks generally dont turn into to star WRs.

Not overlooking his performance or what other teams will offer him. Let's keep in mind though that we are talking about a one season performance. IMO, and that is really all it is, he is being way overvalued in terms of who would be more easily replaced.

Arent we talking about a 1 postseason for Boldin? Because he has been awfully dissappointing for 3 years. The biggest difference is Ellerbe is young, and a potential future star on our defense. He stepped up his game this year when he was finally given the opportunity to start. Boldin is at the end of his career and is gone after next season unless he wants to take an extension for less. I'm not even sure if the FO is interested in keeping him around longer than this next year tbh.

I think that is what bothers me the most about this situation. If we needed the money to make a respectable offer to Ed Reed (mostly for his leadership/locker room presence) that I could probably live with, however, to lose Boldin because we are trying to overpay Ellerbe, well, that will tick me off.

It has nothing to do with "over-paying", it's what his value to the team is. There are other teams who want Ellerbe and he is extremely important to the future of the organization. If we don't make a reasonable offer he will go elsewhere. Maybe you dont like him for some reason, but he was probably our defensive MVP this year, I'm not sure why people are overlooking what he means.

i believe the FO is more concerned about building a more all-around team for next year... where the D is back to top 10... but it's so hard to let go of your most valuable player in the recent playoffs

It's definitely hard, and the Ravens would clearly rather keep Boldin. Asking for a 2M pay-cut isnt that unreasonable, especially for a guy who won't make more than that on the open market. I guess it's just a pride thing for Boldin which I can understand, but he has already come out and said he would retire if cut, but apparently that was just talk. Then he said he doesnt care about the money, but I guess that was just talk too...

yes i am letting emotion in this and it does suck to lose a favorite player . But it is my opinion that wide recievers should be able to catch before signing with any team and because it differs from others doesn't make it wrong. i respect your opinion but do not agree with it . i'm not asking anyone to agree with mine just respect it . as for the fo if they knew how to pick good wr's then we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

You are right, we shouldnt draft any WRs that never caught a pass in the NFL. Catching passes in college doesnt count.

and drafting wide recievers who can't catch is another horrible idea . this isn't rocket science other teams in this league draft wide recievers who contribute from day one .cut q but make sure we have someone who can catch and contribute from day one. david re

ed really four years ......doss two years.......we are in cap hell, Boldin is my favorite player and this whole thing sucks . it seems very simple to me .

There is so much wrong with this post, I dont even know where to begin. It sucks to lose your favorite player, but you are letting emotions cloud logic. Thankfully the FO doesnt have that problem.

Cut jacoby, leach,david reed, terrence cody and all the recievers who have less then 15 catches this season and then you have more then enough to overpay ellerbe, and keep q and resign Ed reed .and i almost forgot draft five more wr's to sit on ir or the bench for 3 to 5 years taking up cap space and not contributing.

I agree on Leach, but cutting young talent to keep old veterans is a horrible idea. That is the exact opposite of what winning teams do.