WNC-Raven

1 hour ago, Moderator 3 said:

Somehow the article got replicated, possibly when it was updated.  The original version with associated comments can be found here

I noticed that too. It was not replicated. It was re-titled and re-posted after the original was already out. Feels like the new site was rolled out before it was ready. Feels a little forced to me. But hey, at least it's not full of spammer comments like a lot of the other nfl sites out there. Shameful that a mult-billion dollar industry cant have someone to monitor and clean up the comment section. You guys do a great job of keeping it civil around here. Thank you for that.

I was hoping Wright would be retained. I think even the possibility that Jimmy could step up his game around his HS buddy is worth the signing. Stupid thought? Maybe but sometimes it is the small things that make a big difference

1 hour ago, rmcjacket23 said:

He gone.

Feels like we will hear that he signed with another team by the end of the day Wednesday. That to me is going to dictate our entire draft. If/when he walks we will most likely be forced to take a tackle with our 1st and miss out on an impact making pass rusher, inside LB or CB. Having a strong line is one of those unnoticed, unsexy investments until you need them. So I would support the pick but really wish we could add a dynamic defensive player instead. Maybe the FO will surprise us by signing a vet LT before the draft or maybe just maybe KO stays but I'm not getting my hopes up

What in the world is going on with web site management at BR.com? This article had at least 15 replies this morning and now only 1 remains. I have seen the same thing happen with multiple articles over the past few weeks but you could usually go through the forums section to find them. I have seen what appears to be at least a 50% drop in the amount of comments since the launch. even for this time of year that tells me people have left. Such poor execution. Just trying to find login is different on my PC, ipad and phone.

1 hour ago, jravens13 said:

Suggs is in his 14th Season. He knows exactly what he needs to do to get ready for the season. He has been arguably our best player for the last 10 years and I still don't see anyone on this roster that makes more of an impact than Suggs on Sundays.

I agree, Look no further than how quickly our season went downhill last year after suggs was injured. It affected the entire defense. My concern is that when you are as good as Suggs is and have never had an issue playing your way into shape you sometimes only realize things have changed after it has happened. It was reported last season that Suggs once again came into camp out of football shape. I'm not a physician but I do know that one cause of an torn Achilles is from stepping up your level of physical activity too quickly. Usually 1+1=2. I value all that Suggs has done for our team. Well his team really and am not trying to put him down. I only hope he trains this offseason more seriously because we are counting on him to be a solid contributor. BTW Terrell Suggs is one of the greatest Ravens of all time.

28 minutes ago, TorryGundy said:

This is already proving to be an interesting off season. I am not sure if we can depend on Suggs coming back as a big impact player. His mind seems to be on a great deal of other things. I see and hear about how everyone else is attacking their rehab and he is still playing childish games. Why was he over another woman's house, didn't he just get engaged last year? The next day he was on IG liking several girls pics. He is a head case. We really need to draft a few pass rushers. Right now on the outside we have a player who is Sizzled out and left us Doomed LOL

I believe Suggs wife filed for divorce last year over allegations of infidelity. I am less concerned about his personal life and more concerned about if he will come into camp in shape to play. Suggs has a history of playing his way into football shape during camp. With his injury and age I worry those days are behind him and he needs to be working out now or we will be spending the season talking about if this is his last year.

I do NOT envy having to make a decision on Marlon Brown. He could be the highest TD catching rookie, or he could be Marlon of the past 3 years...

I never understood why so many fans are all about Marlon Brown. Aside from having a decent rookie year he has done nothing since despite having no one special to beat out. Yet he hasnt been able to outplay our 2nd and 3rd string receivers. I really am confused why anyone would still be supporting him. Someone please explain their rational. They could cut him tomorrow and I wouldnt even read the article.

As for the "few" fans that are always calling for Joe to be replaced or let go, who exactly would you sign and for how much money? Some of you act like we could sign Rodgers for 15 mil a year. Some of you will never be happy. If you want to see who reigns supreme in the AFC just search for AFC Championship game winners. I'll save you some time because it is 15 years of Brady, Manning, Rothlesberger and Flacco. And we had to beat all 3 of them to get to the SB in 2012. There is a definite monopoly in the AFC and we are a part of it since Flacco came to town.

It's bad enough that we have to hear the same uneducated (football that is) rhetoric about Joe but do we really need to hear that on here by Ravens fans? The Ravens DID NOT release all of those players after 2012 because of Joe's contract and they are NOT releasing players this year because of Joe's contract. Rosters change every year. Players are let go. It is sometimes because they are free agents and get better offers elsewhere but typically it is because they have lost a step and are not worth what we are paying them. I thought Daryl Smith stepped in and pretty seamlessly picked up where Ray left off. He has been a fantastic member of our team but his time has come. He has noticeably lost a step and was subbed on almost every pass play last year due to this. If he ends up coming back at a reduced salary that is fine but we need to move on to someone that can cover.

Whoa, Joe's post-SB stats & his new 40mil guarantee money getting slammed on espn nfl live. Evidently Joe's not elite. hmmm

That's because most, yes most tv personalities have no idea what they are talking about. How many times have each of us read a national article or watched a show about the Ravens and picked up on a broad generalization that wasnt true for the current team. You know like how Flacco only won the SB because he has a top 5 defense when we all know that was not the case in 2012. They are lazy and do not keep up with the current NFL. Ex players and journalism graduates with more personality than brains or skill. If Joe was released today how many hours until he is given offers by other teams that are even more than what we pay him. Fact is he is one of the best QB's in the league and I have never understood why non ravens fans dislike him so much. He is strong, quiet, never complains, leads his offense, wins more than he loses, humble, smart, ect.. I guess those are not exciting traits to the media but they are fantastic traits in a human being.

As uplifted as this news is (mostly because we have it finished before FA) it will be deflating if KO walks and we have Hurst at LG and Monroe at LT this season.

21 minutes ago, 757RavensFan said:

If Joe's extension allows us to keep KO, that would be amazing.  If Oz and company somehow pull off a miracle and

draft Ramsey, I would have to say this would be the best off-season ever. 

It would be amazing if we only pulled off 2 of those wishes. 1 down....

Tucker is not the best kicker in the league but he is definitely one of the most clutch. Just like Flacco, Tucker comes through when it really matters.

I know he hasnt exactly taken the NFL by storm but why wouldn't you sign a former third overall pick to a minimum just 4 years after he entered the league? Worst case we cut him before the season starts. Maybe he has had too much pressure and not enough support. Browns, Colts, Raiders. Not exactly the symbol of a rational front office.

  2 hours ago, The Greek said:

i wonder what the magic # is for the front office as far as osemele is concerned. trent williams avg. per year is 13 mil, tyron smith 12mil. joe thomas 11.5 mil, 4 players in the 10 mil range. if osemele and his agent want more than 13 mil than i hope they stick with monroe and draft stanley at #6

I wouldn't pay him more than 10mil. He should't be getting as much as the Left Tackles that you have named. They are the proven, elite left tackles in the league. A guy that has only played 4 games at the position shouldn't expect to make as much as them.

Exactly, signing KO would put a huge smile on my face but over paying a player that has said in the past doesnt want to play LT would be nonsense. Anyone see turn style Oher in the Super Bowl last year?
If KO walks we should draft Stanley and move on.

I must be in the minority because I am sick of hearing how Joe has all of the leverage. If Joe is the competitor that I think he is then helping the team to free up money so they can put a better team on the field is leverage of a sort. Sure he can refuse for whatever reason but at the end of the day he will be stuck in Baltimore for 3 miserable years getting his butt pounded every Sunday because he has no one to block for him and no one to throw to. What am I missing? Oh and no more commercials or fan love. I know it doesnt matter because they will most likely agree to an extension this week but what gives?

Of course KO will test the market before making a decision and of course Monroe knows his performance over the past 2 years has been awful.
Smart move to tag Tucker. He seems more cocky than confident and when those type of players have their ego's dented it is sometimes hard to shake. Lets see if he bounces back this year before paying him top $$.

Seeing all that dead money if Flacco gets hurt again is terrifying.

Why aren't the media members mentioning the fact that the cap limit is going up by 11.5 mil this year. That's over 40 mil. in the last 4 years. Ravens will get the players they want.

That's old news Jack! I believe we were actually over the cap before factoring in the cap rise

I think it would be best to prepare yourself for some BIG shocking moves even if KO leaves. We have a logjam at RB and safety so Forsett is not a definite and where does Webb fit in with so many other mediocre safetys on the roster already?

While I hope I am wrong, I have given up on the common sense approach when it comes to player contracts. Sure it makes sense for Flacco to want to work with us as soon as possible to allow OZ to build a strong team around him. It will be a looong couple of years for Joe with no open targets and no time to throw. Sure it makes sense for KO to want to return to the place that drafted him. The Ravens would be more patient with his transition to LT if that is what happens. A new team paying top LT $$ would add a lot of pressure to a player who has said in the past that he would prefer to stay at G. All of this makes sense on paper but as I have watched time and time again all that seems to matter is the money. I dont expect this time to be any different. Best news of the year would be if KO stays a Raven!

PFF’s John Breitenbach
Add this name to your mental list of no nothing, never listen to reporters. How do these people get jobs?

Is it too simplified to say that free agency success will depend on if a Flacco extension is agreed upon in time and the draft will be dictated by if KO is resigned?

Also keep in mind that Flacco's 2013 Cap hit was only 6.8 mil., 2014 & 15 were a mere 15 mil. I assume they did this to try and win another quick SB but it didnt work out that way and we now have huge cap hits for the remainder of his contract. They will get something done but this is the consequence of that early low cap hit.

  16 minutes ago, WNC-Raven said:

Hey rmc, everything you are saying is true but also obvious. I credit you with being one of the more knowledgeable members on this board when it comes to using deduction and facts to discuss issues. Some of us however are more open, forward thinkers that enjoy discussing issues in a more rhetorical way. In the spirit of this I presented a "possible" consequence of Joe refusing to agree with a team friendly restructuring. All that I am saying is if Joe doesn't deal it will mean that we will most likely have less talent at WR and OL during the rest of his tenure. You can see the frustration on a QB's face when their line doesn't hold up. This would be Joe's life. WR's that cant get open and a line that cant hold up protection. If he truly enjoys playing football then he would need to think about more than money. Life sucks when you hate your job. Linta will only be thinking about money. That is why I believe he does not hold all of the leverage. Just my opinion, nothing more.

And normally, I'd buy and agree with this concept. In theory, a high cap number from Joe means you spend less on other players. That could mean bad offensive lineman, bad receivers, etc., which would obviously directly impact Joe's production. A decline in production makes him less valuable, and as such, when new contract negotiations come up, the Ravens may get more leverage. Most of the time... I'd agree wholeheartedly with this.

The problem I see is simple... the market for QBs is sky high, the demand is sky high, and the supply coming out of college of one's as good as Joe is almost non existent from what I'm seeing. In a good year, you'll find ONE QB better than Joe in the draft, and its incredibly difficult many times to figure out who that is.

So if I'm a smart agent (and Joe Linta definitely is), I'm just showing the Ravens the market. I'm showing them that Kirk Cousins gets $20M a year on the franchise tag, and that QBs as good or worse than Joe are making similar money to what he is now. Once you show that... its pretty much checkmate from a negotiation standpoint. You've set a floor, and the floor is what he is making now. 3 years ago it was a big deal... now its largely a standard deal. Joe is going to get an extension that slots him in the range of an Eli, Big Ben, Rivers type contract. In theory, if he was real crappy in 2016, we might save $1M a year on negotiations. That's relatively chump change in the grand scheme of things.

Not to confuse anybody, but let me be clear... its in Joe's best interest to sign an extension in the next couple weeks. He will undoubtedly make more than the $18M hes scheduled to make in 2015, he gets more guaranteed money (which technically he has none remaining on his current deal) and he gets more years added to his deal.

My point is that his desire to do so doesn't have a whole lot to do with the Ravens reducing his cap number, because that's not a priority for him. That's up to the organization to figure out.

 

The only thing we know is that he will remain a Raven. It doesnt change the possibility that if the contract is not extended Joe will most likely not have an enjoyable next 3 years. And that's just on the field and at practice. Add in being bad mouthed by fans and media for 3 years. What would his value be in 2019 after not winning much since the SB and being chased out of town the moment his contract is over? Joe doesnt put off the greedy vibe and he loves to win so the best part is that everything we are discussing is a waste of our time as I think the odds of a deal getting done are almost 100%, Ozzie works the cap for all it's worth and brings in his typical value players that no one has even heard of and we have a pretty decent season in 2016.

14 minutes ago, rmcjacket23 said:

Holds the leverage because the Ravens won't cut or trade him. He's a franchise player that the Ravens know they will go into the tank without.

When a player walks into negotiations and knows that the team he is negotiating with basically can't do business without out... that's called having leverage.

The reality is that Joe, like most players, probably doesn't care about his cap number, because that's up to the team to structure and deal with. He may have not even known what it was until the media told him. All he cares about and should care about is how much is making.

That's sort of the whole problem here... fans are focusing on a number that Joe probably isn't focusing on. If Joe can get more money this season, great. If that simultaneously reduces his cap number, great as well. But the second thing is a byproduct of the first, not a requirement.

Hey rmc, everything you are saying is true but also obvious. I credit you with being one of the more knowledgeable members on this board when it comes to using deduction and facts to discuss issues. Some of us however are more open, forward thinkers that enjoy discussing issues in a more rhetorical way. In the spirit of this I presented a "possible" consequence of Joe refusing to agree with a team friendly restructuring. All that I am saying is if Joe doesn't deal it will mean that we will most likely have less talent at WR and OL during the rest of his tenure. You can see the frustration on a QB's face when their line doesn't hold up. This would be Joe's life. WR's that cant get open and a line that cant hold up protection. If he truly enjoys playing football then he would need to think about more than money. Life sucks when you hate your job. Linta will only be thinking about money. That is why I believe he does not hold all of the leverage. Just my opinion, nothing more.