bioLarzen

Pocic will probably be available in the second round, Elflein may even last for round#3... Both could work out. That said, we still have obvious roster holes at CB, RT and rusher. That would make it seem probable that these are the positions Ozzie will address with the first 3 picks. So, I would think Elflein is a lieklier possibility than Pocic. And of course, all this comes from a simple fan with little info - one who said yesterday that it's self-deception to think we have a chance to land Jefferson

The only sad thing is that all these signings probably mean that we won't get Mangold, but stick with Zuttah at C... Hey, he's still better than Gradkowski was...

Torrey replacing Wallace would have been a nice one - if it meant a couple of millions in cap savings. But if I had to choose between the two on a similar cap figure, I'd have no hesiation choosing Wallace over Torrey.

I want to see the deal signed before I get too excited...

Great news.

Well. This sighning would be a jaw dropper - and would leave me a complete idiot for saying there's no way he would choose us over so much more money the Browns can afford to throw at him... And I would be happy to be so wrong and ridiculous :) But hey, let's wait half a day, this is the prime season for false info in the NFL...

Everyone wishes we kept Juszczyk. But we couldn't.

A signing that may very well turn out to be a good one. Just because we already have running backs on the roster doesn't mean signing another one is a bad thing. West is an OK back with serious limitations - and therefiore will probably never be more than a serviceable player, while Dixon, while flashing all the potential and promnise to be a really good back, is hardly through his rookie campaign. Adding veteran presence to the RB corps may prove to be essential. Yep, it may also end up as a bust - but we can't always have Steve Smith and Weddle type surefire acquisitions, can we? :)

These are the days when none of what these guys say should be taken seriously... they share/repost/post EVERYTHING they hear, regardless of how trustworthy the source is... For example, just the last 24 hours, Juszczyk was reported to "likely sign with the browns", "almost surely" go to Buffalo - then turns out he'll sign with the 49ers... Also, a "rumour" that the Ravens have any kind of realistic chance to land Jefferson somehow got loose - and just look at the angry Ravens-fans who took it seriously come here ranting when he signs with the Browns who won't even have to break a sweat outbidding us big time...

It was good to have him aboard - and no regrets about signing him. And let's make it clear: he won't be back in Baltimore - unless he's damaged goods - and then we don't need him. If he's healthy,he'll land a much better deal than we could afford. "Open to him returning" is the same sentiment as "we may retain Brandon Williams, Wagner or Juszczyk" was. Everyone with the slightest grasp on the cap system knew all along it wouldn't happen. Nor will Dumervil's return. So long Elvis, and thanks for all the fish. You'll be kindly remembered, cause you played for us the way we hoped you would.

Is it "fire everybody - but mainly Ozzie" time yet?

Well, I guess that was the risk he chose to take... Seems like he shouldn't have - but you know what they say about hindsight...

Dumervil was cut, not lost in free agency, so he won't yield a comp pick. Wagner surely will. As will Brandon Williams and Juszczyk. Maybe even Aiken, although that's less likely - and anyway, we can't get more thasn 3 comp picks, and our three top FA's will almost surely earn those 3 comp picks to Ozzie... But if Ozzie brings in a comp-pick worthy FA, Aiken's potential comp pick may become important...

There was no chance at all. He was WAY out of out price range.

I remember, when Oher was practically cut - he wasn't offered a new contract when he bacame a FA - and Harbaugh announced that he'll be replaced by Wagner - an unproven youngster at the time - the prevailing feeling was that it's not gonna end well, and a proven vet should have been brought in... Wagner proved Harbaugh right and us, worriers wrong. Therefore, if now Harbaugh says he'll opt to replace Wagner with Nembot or Wesley - two young, unproven guys - I'll give him the beneit of the doubt. They may end up being just as good as Wagner.

This price was out of our range for Brandon Marshall.

Yep, the Patriots do a great job - but there is one grave pitfall: what is usually done by a complet front office at every other franchise, is largely done by one man in New Ebgland: Bill Belichick. He sets the FA and off season strategy, he has the final word about the draft, he's responsible fo the personnel-related deciosions... Which has been working fine since he's really that great. But, once he decides to retire... which may even be the same season Brady decides to hang'em up... Mr. Kraft will have to build up a front office from scratch...

A great and important article.

To be honest, I've never understood this whole "hometown discount" idea. For what does it even mean? "You've done a great job for us, we'r really delighted with your performance - so, we're honouring and acknowledging it by offering you less than your market value and hope you'll take it." And people get mad when the player says no thank you...

Fresh proof: usually a rather good website, Baltimore Beatdown has just posted an article with the headline: "Report: The Ravens are showing interest in Terrelle Pryor" - turns out it's based on a source the author of the article calls "a relatively unknown reporter on the national level" - yet he puts trust in said source, because, "if she's willing to put this out there, there’s likely some truth to it considering she does work in Cleveland". Yep, because we've never seen someone putting something compeltely false "out there", and we all know a source is automatically trustworthy if it's local... See, that's how it goes - that's how "news" is creatred out of something coming from an obscure source.

Oh, you definitely CAN scheme around a bad QB... Whenever you think you can't, just remember that the Bears went to the Super Bowl with Rex Grossmann... not to mention Trent Dilfer you, yourself gave as an example... Yep, it's much more pleasant and easier to plan around a good QB - but a good OC is not powerless if his QB is not a Peyton Manning... The problem is that there are few really good OC's. Kubiak got the Broncos with a 20%-of-his-former-self Peyton Manning and a Brock Osweiler under center...

Well, franchise icons are released for a reason - and anyway, if Mangold was in his better form, he'd surely be picked up in a whiff, with cap figures Baltimore couldn't even dream about allocating for him. What I do think is that he would still be an upgrade. But that's, of course, only what I, a mere fan, thinks. I may be totally wrong.

I'm quite sure Garcon will receive offers way out of the range we can afford. Garcon is IMHO a pipe dream.

I'm not at all sure. Remember Ozzie's "80-20" rule. While I would definitely put Wallace as the better player of the two, if Torrey could pick up where he left 2 seasons ago, I think he could produce 80% of what Wallace offers - the problem is with the 20% of salary... I think the only realistic scenario is if Torrey ir willing to give the Ravens a serious hometown discount, just to return to the team where he was proven to be an effective, productive player - to a QB he doesn't need to develop chemistry with because they already have it... to a fan base he knows loves him... and a city he doesn't have to make his home, because it already is. That's the only scenario I think could realisitcally land Torrey smith back in Baltimore. If a.) he chooses to follow the money trail again; b.) seeks a team where he can really be the top dog in the receiving corpse and/or c,) Ozzie isn't considering parting ways with Wallace or bringing Torrey back - well, that it ain't happening. Putting it all in a nice formula I have to think Torrey won't be back in Baltimore - well, anything other than the wide receiver of a visiting opponent. But I'm, definitely not sure about it - I just thiunk this is the likelier scenario.

Even that hope may bee unrealistic. I firmly believe both players alreeady know that they won't be in Baltimore next season. They may even know where they will play - but that it's not gonna be in Charm City... that they know for a fact. That's how the NFL works.