slowboater

Let's be real. We all saw that this team had no depth as all the other teams in the Ravens' preseason games dominated. Everythng had to go right. Minimal injuries. Maximum out of the vets and a little luck from those football Gods wouldn't have hurt. Now is a good time to do some soul searching and find out who is in the plans: long term. I have no doubt the Ravens will be back fighting for a SB. When? Good question.

But please. Tell us how you really feel.

And what if Schaub plays well the next 6 games? What if the Ravens win a few more games? Then will some of you stop being negative Nancy?

I'd bet a nickel that Matt Elam will not be a starter for the Ravens unless everyone else is injured. But I have a question: Is Jimmy Smith "hurt" or did he just get paid and playing on a team going nowhere this year?

Stating that the FO needs to be better focused sounds a little utopian. Of course they need to draft better. Money? Sure, they need to get out from underneath all the over priced contracts. That is exactly my point. The front office, Harbs and his coaching staff have made excuses for the last couple of years. This team isn't going to magically turn things around next year. There are too many holes. Plus, add that the Ravens still have to pay the rest of Pitta's, Webb's, Sugg's money and Joe's contract will be kicked down the road. I am not saying they can't complete, but they have many weaknesses that will be apparent for years to come. That blame doesn't just fall on Ozzie, but on the coaching staff too. I am not the one that put the notice out to Harbs..... Steve Bisciotti did!

The Ravens haven't been really good since their Super Bowl win. Yes they made a nice run last year, but they barely made it to the playoffs. Steve Bisciotti put Harbs on notice last year. Let's see how he handles "this" off-season. One more sub-par year and heads may roll....

There went WJZ's ratings.....

Cincinnati built their team by drafting high. Same with Oakland. Cleveland? Many of their players came via the draft. This is not rocket science. The higher you draft, the better chance at a better player than the rest gets. If you think this team will bounce back next year, I have waterfront property in the Everglades to sell you. This team will be rebuilding for years. You don't fix a secondary, wide receiver corps and depth by one draft. Short on talent? You bet. Draft high!

Yes, you need to carry the rock, but many offenses now use the pass to set up the run. The Ravens have the line to run. They have the backs to run. Only problem is now most teams are stacking 8-9 in the box and daring the Ravens to pass. Even in a pass biased league, no team is scared of the Raven's receievers. Fix that and no one will be complaining about the run game.

"I'm sorry, Baltimore, but Justin Tucker isn't allowed to kick game-winning field goals anymore. For everybody else's sake. We just can't let him dance anymore.%u201D What's SB Nation?

Steve, I respect your and your family's decision to spend more quality time with your kids. But, if you decide to make a go of it next year, many fans here in Baltimore will cheer you on. Heal well. Heal fast and whatever your decision is, thank you for the time you have been here. Peace and Prayers my man.

Wasn't that Givens that did that "Torrey" move of stopping his go route to make and deep catch down the sideline?

Too tentative? How about he got paid?

Used to gamble on football. We called games like this, "fixerini". ps. Notice how on most spreads the Ravens were 8 to 9 point underdogs. Funny how Arizona missed their extra point try. Vegas pushes on 8 and wins on all masses that gave the points.....

And who is going to want to trade for someone that can't stay on the field or isn't producing? Seriously?

On the contrary. He is entitled to make what he can. Just like all of us. If the market for an erratic QB who will wow you one moment and cause you a heart attack ten minutes later is $20+? So be it. The Ravens found out this year what a dead cap hit of $20M will do to a team. And now that the Ravens are locked in, restructure or not to Joe for years, don't expect a quick turn-around to their fortunes. They owe him lots of money, as they deferred much of his guaranteed money to the back end and owe him more bonus money each year. It will be tough to surround Joe with quality veteran receivers. Looks like the rookies and scrubs from other teams will have to do..... Hence my argument that this mess will takes years to correct.

Brady has taken less for years. He understands that to win, he needs a supporting cast and he is far superior to Joe. Webb understands as he was over paid and took a pay cut. Joe will get his $20M a year because the Ravens owe him so much on the back end of a Super Bowl winner's contract. In this case, there is no right answer. Joe obviously deserved the lucrative contract but is regressing. Yes,I am grateful for another SB but must admit, I like others have become spoiled by the Ravens' success. The Ray Rice money. Ngata money. Pitta money. It has finally taken its toll on success. This mess will take years to correct.

If the Ravens had a lead there would be even less urgency. Even yesterday, when the Ravens were 2 TD's down, it took over 5 minutes of dink and dunk to get into the end zone. The Ravens have a history of shortening the game when they have a lead. Look at last week. They were in a prevent defense at the end of the first half and gave up a field goal. That was the difference in the game. Either the staff doesn't have much faith or they just don't want to play to win and instead play not to lose.

What inside information do you have that the doctors have released him to practice?

The Ravens can't afford to get rid of Joe, even if they wanted to. Joe Received a $29M signing bonus and is receiving another miscellaneous bonus of $4.75M per year. Understanding that the Ravens still owe Joe, $11.6M of his original signing bonus, plus another $4.75M misc. bonus through the remainder of the contract, the Ravens are in Cap purgatory. Joe is not elite but not the biggest problem. Getting rid of Rice's, Ngata's and Pitta's cap hit is a start. With a higher draft placement next year, maybe the Ravens will be able to draft better quality blue chippers that will make a difference. We can only hope.

Elam has a track record of not performing. Brown obviously isn't good enough to even make it on the defensive side of the ball. Perriman isn't a bust. He is hurt. Just like the others scratched every week.

They are playing for a high first round draft pick.

New England is the class of the league. Read what i said again. There is plenty of blame to go around. You can't pin it all on the coaches. You sound like the Mrs. putting words in my mouth.

Where are the 3 more wins?

Yes. Harbs is right. The Ravens should have won. But when you start playing prevent defense in the first half and give up a field goal to end it, that was the difference maker. But don't shoulder all the blame coach. There is blame to go around. Your O-line oouldn't protect Joe against a 4 man rush. And nothing personal to Aiken, Brown and Waller, but they sure didn't scare anyone on the other side of the ball. If the Ravens are going to lose, at least I like watching some young guys who will improve and be the backbone of this team in a year or two.