roamingcharges

I wonder why there aren't more player for player swaps: Jernigan for a Wide Receiver of comparable value. Draft picks are tricky things to trade unless they are being traded for other draft picks.

Kamar Aiken dropped quite a few passes two seasons ago when he had that 900+ yard season. He did nothing exceptionally well-- yes he wasn't BAD and he wasn't great, he was okay and "okay" we can find at any league corner. Unfortunately (for him) we are looking for great so... no hard feelings bro, enjoy your time in Indy.

  3 hours ago, roamingcharges said:

Okay so remind me again: How did Ed Reed drop all the way to the Ravens in 2002?

You might enjoy this article when Ed Reed was drafted. We were as excited as the Patriots when they drafted Brady. Neither team knew what they got...
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2002-04-21/sports/0204210199_1_ed-reed-ravens-jamal-lewis

Umm pardon me but you don't pick off 21 passes in division 1 college ball (playing in the ACC) by accident... Again, did you say they didn't know what they got...? What else could they have been expecting???

Okay so remind me again: How did Ed Reed drop all the way to the Ravens in 2002?

Not making the playoffs 3 of the past 4 seasons has really taken a toll on the Ravens fandom. I remember when we would post 100 comments on articles about Torrey Smith's dog or Bernard Pollard's locker room dances... now we just trudge along like weary farmers... Winning, oh winning where art thou; please pay us a visit soon at One Winning Drive!

I keep saying it that the Ravens' problem isn't as much drafting as it is Player Development. For instance we drafted Chris Moore in the 4th round. I watched him during the season and whether it was as a returner or as a wide out he never appeared out of his depth. If Green Bay, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, San Diego... drafted the guy he'd be a star in the making at this point, but we're already talking of bringing in someone else's remnant or another unknown from the draft.

Michael Campanaro, Aaron Mellette, Tommy Streeter, Tandon Doss, David Reed, Justin Harper, Marcus Smith, Yamon Figurs, Demetrius Williams... you can't tell me none of these guys would have panned out without adequate development and forcing them onto the playing field and actually calling plays where the ball actually goes to them (yes I used actually 100 times for emphasis).

I purposely left out Torrey Smith-- the one guy who was successful. Maybe he was only successful because he was a second round pick and they couldn't afford to bury him in the depth chart or on the practice squad or IR. Remember that doozie he had at the beginning of his career before taking off in STL; another receiver from this bunch has a bad start to his career and poof; there goes your career. Do your own science project instead of stealing the other kid's homework and trying to present it as yours!

At this point the Ravens need Offense. As long as Dean Pees is coaching that "bend but don't break"... thing... whatever it is... they need to score 7 points since "bending" almost always means 3 points given up and occasionally 7 then the team MUST focus on building a lethal Offense otherwise there is zero hope.

Flacco should help himself by helping himself.. Practice in the Off-Season with live WR's. Have passion for the 20 game season, passion in your own way but still a burning passion for 20 games then we will see the results.. its starts from within. Namaste

The very best response here! This was actually what I thought even before reading the content of the headline. Flacco is no rookie! Can you imagine discussions year in and year out about how to help Ed Reed or Ray Lewis? Simple solutions-- a pass rush helped Reed get more picks, beef on the D-line meant Ray didn't have to take on O-linemen routinely... Flacco? O-line... wait, maybe a slot receiver... nah a deep threat... but it could be a running game... with or without a bruising back... nah we need one that can catch out of the backfield... C'mon! Flacco isn't a baby! His salary screams that he should elevate the talent around him. He just needs to put in the work-- be obsessed with winning!!!!!!!!!

“Do these guys have a legitimate point or are they just bitter old Ravens who never beat Ben in a big game?". What?!!! I'm pretty sure 2014 Playoffs Wild Card game (30 - 17 win for the Ravens) was a "big game" and Roethlisberger was under center, no? Stupid statements usually don't deserve responses but I had to just so that we don't get too carried away with nonsense.

Never thought I'd say this but, "Bozo" might be onto something here. If you're going to pay your QB "max contract" money then he'd better be good enough to overcome a mediocre to poor O-line if you end up with one (not that you seek it). Flacco is no Big Ben, he's good not great so you had to know that paying him meant one of two things: you'd have to hit it big in every draft thereafter or you'd have to find a way to pay him less money so you could fortify the roster around him-- the team did neither. I'll take an average QB, a good stable of running backs, with a monster O-line over a great QB with a sieve for an O-line with the same running backs.

Harbaugh is an average coach: with good players he is a good coach, when he has to scheme to cover up players' deficiencies he just can't do it. And that's not really an indictment on him; it simply means he has to be told by the FO that he NEEDS some of those "alpha dogs" that know their worth and speak their minds to win. I'm guessing those illusions of grandeur he had have begun to wear out and he'll be more receptive to constructive criticism now.

Question; who on this Ravens team sulks, yells, gets in teammates faces behind the scenes when they are losing? Who is that guy that barks at teammates who lazily jog to the LOS during a 2 minute drill? Above all who is that Raven who has the cojones to go up to the coach and say, "Hey, coach, I respect you and all, but this right here... this won't get it done", and the coach respond, "I understand"? Don't tell me Steve Smith because that guy is long gone; the Smith you have now is an elder statesman who tries to say "all the right things" so that he'll be remembered as the adult in the room when he leaves.

Steve Bisciotti, Dick Cass, Ozzie Newsome and co. might need to reevaluate how the organization is constructed (team philosophy), and then give Harbaugh the option of getting on board or leaving. He's done it HIS way (bring in only choir boys who dare not challenge the HC) since the Superbowl and it has been a total failure-- don't take my word, check the record. So it's time to scrap his way and go back to the way it was his first 5 years-- "Ravens type" players are brought in and he manages them.

Let's wait and see what occurs after the bye. Either the Ravens will be flaming hot and crush opponents or will continue spiraling out of control to a 3-13 record. Go Ravens!!

Do you actually believe it'll be anything different from what you've seen the past month?

John I guess you're trying to say the Ravens aren't good at converting on third down... and that gets magnified in the Red Zone. The issues with this team can be trailed back to not having "alpha dogs"; those guys who just won't lose... players who hold their peers accountable. Right now the players are just playing, winning or losing, and collecting paychecks... When you get those Ed Reeds and Ray Lewises things will get better. Remember the last time the Ravens blew a team out or simply beat another team comfortably, any team even the terrible ones... I don't either.

As much as I like Flacco I'll say this; if he doesn't play exceptionally well, in spite of a shaky O Line, the Ravens may be wise to start looking to draft their QB of the future-- believe it or not Flacco is in his 9th season going on 10th. I know the Offensive Line is bad, but it's easier to win with and manage a star at one position than 5 at 5 different positions.

On the topic of "Playmakers"; In some way, this is what Harbaugh brought on this team. His mantra is the team, the team, the team. That deemphasizes individualism and focuses on collectivism. Well, the upside notwithstanding, it hampers the drive to stand out in excellence. Notice that Harbaugh hasn't drafted one single "me" guy-- good thing, the team choruses the same tune, bad thing, there is nobody to look to when plays must be made. Harbaugh is the star on the Ravens (as he wanted) so he should coach like one, period! Just like Belichick is the costar of the Pats and he brings his A-game an average of 13 times per season. Brady is the other on that team and he does likewise.

Finally one piece of unsolicited advice to Harbaugh; you may want to unchain these boys and let them express themselves both on the field and in the locker room-- I just have a feeling you'll do it too late when Mr. Bisciotti would have seen enough. As great as a scheme might be, without players making plays it is useless. What do I know; I'm neither a player nor a coach-- just an everyday guy with a classroom degree... or two, that say I'm expected to be able to critically analyze basic business problems and come up with simple solutions.

My point  shouldn't obscured via mockery. So i'll address it like this. All teams have issues with personnel and players regarding personalities and potential for clashing. Successful teams find ways to elevate or eliminate distractions. If your consistent in methods of coaching, mentoring, leadership and the like, your less leary of the pro ported distractions that the lesser organizations may shy away from. The infrastructure that currently exist here is said to be one that would lend itself to acquiring   a player in need of a change of scenery, better coaching, a chance to contribute, a real chance to win consistently and teammates that have a sound foundation. Thus it would seem logical that the player brought in with question ?'s would tow the same line as those around him. SSSr was thought of in the same light as one that may pose problems and that hasn't come to pass. He has a very strong personality and it's what the doctor ordered after ED/Ray departed. Remember? It just depends how they approach the structure of the deal. I remember T.Owens not wanting to come here. Why, because I think he recognized it wasn't going to be business as usual by the FO/coaches and team. The player still has the final say as to weather he thinks theres a mismatch regarding his addition to any team. Some guys want/need money and some guys want championships/a ring to brag about. The team should explore every ave to acquire elite/top tier talent (as the Ravens stated). So the big picture is player production for me. You can have a Cam Newton (whom almost Killed himself off the field/was known to be immature @ times turn it all around and prove his critics to be somewhat right about his ailments but wrong about his potential. So to me your reservations are typical and knee jerk. 

Okay you keep inching further away from the coast into the murky waters; soon I won't be able to reel you in. Steve Smith Sr. isn't, wasn't and will never be the head case that Desean Jackson has been. I don't know where you get your notion that Cam Newton almost killed himself. If you're referring to the accident he had then you're just an awful person, plain and simple. I'm hoping you're talking about something else because if you're referring to an accident that was described by the press as a "routine accident" during which nobody was cited and declaring that a victim "almost killing himself" then that is asinine and I'll have to question your aptitude for rational judgment and then move on to something else.

Ray Rice deserves a second chance at a NFL career.

Tell that to Steve Bisciotti

Jackson can be taught how to be a pro. SSSr would come in handy. The organization stated that if they saw a player that could make them better, well, he'd make us better. So many teams have been dealing with perceived distractions that it may be the new norm. Talent trumps distractions in the x's and O's. The Cowboys had Hardy. Bengals had Burfict. Browns had Manzel. To totally dismiss the idea wouldn't be wise imho. Organizations have had success with reported troubled players that other organizations have parted ways with. I see the pairing of a SSSr and DJax as a workable scenario. Jackson and SSSr would probably hit it off from the standpoint that they like competition, and offer skillset's that are comparable yet vastly different. There's a lot to like about pairing the two. Playing it safe shouldn't be the MO. If the Ravens are serious about adding playmakers they will undoubtedly have to come out of their comfort zone. Getting aging players because cap constraints and not drafting well enough to end the questions marks @ the position has caught up. Some may see as a desperation move. I see it @ a savvy one. Besides DJax wouldn't be getting into too many players or coaches faces around here. Most likely IMO he'd feel welcomed and appreciated. Everyone in the league knows what we need. Ego be dammed.

Did you just cite the Cowboys, Bengals and Browns in an effort to show me how the Ravens should do things? Umm, I don't think the Ravens will want to follow any of those teams' lead when it comes to running a football team.

I would have thought Mike Tomlin or Belichick (for different reasons) would have given Rice a chance during the playoffs... or maybe Andy Reid... I have realized this had little to do with Ray and his then fiancee and more to do with people's agenda. Ray I think that NFL RB dream return ship has sailed; you have the rest of your life ahead of you, make the best of it. Good luck.

The reason why Desean Jackson won't be a Raven has nothing to do with his ability to catch the football, it's the extra he does. That ill-advised reverse on the return on Monday Night Football, The "drop" at the half yard line while playing for the Eagles (also on Monday Night Football by the way), the sticking of the ball behind him while crossing the pylon and downing the ball at the one instead of a TD in the playoffs this year... those plays are just a few. And when you add this to the fact that he will probably come into the Castle with the air of a pass catching/play-making messiah... oh no.

At this stage of Flacco's career would it be egregious for the Ravens to consider it if a QB needy team offered the package the Redskins paid for Robert Griffin for him?

• Okay I get that we, Ravens fans, wouldn't want Burfict after that hit on Antonio Brown.
• I get that the Ravens eventually got CJ Mosley in the first round of the 2014 draft making the issue somewhat moot.
• I get that the Ravens cooled on Burfict after he flunked the interviewing process of the draft.

What I just can't understand is why the "cooling" was more like "freezing" on Burfict. Why not draft him in the 7th round?!!! Some of these draft decisions are maddeningly stupid. It is the same thing I felt about La'el Collins; your 6th and 7th round picks should be those 1st round talents that are head cases of sorts. If they don't pan out you cut them-- that happens to more than 80% of late round picks eventually anyway! At best they will clean up their act (see the Honey Badger) at worst you will get a few good seasons out of them before the issues show up again (see Mr. Burfict and Pac Man Jones).

How can the Ravens front office justify keeping Monroe-- someone else' player on our team with a big money contract while we let our homegrown talent (that is actually better than Monroe by the way) walk away to star on some other team? It simply makes no sense. Eugene Monroe, thanks for your service, Mr. Hired Gun, we wish you the best in your future endeavors.

It's a bit depressing that Bisciotti doesn't see the talent dearth on this team. Hopefully he was just being measured with the fans; not wanting us to see his dismay.

I think the defensive improvements in the second half of the season are a bit misleading. We played games against several lackluster offenses and when we played good offenses (KC and Seattle) we got torched. We did play the Steelers (a good offense) well, but that's a divisional game and those are more mental and spiritual than they are physical and tactical. That said I'll get used to the idea that Pees stays; it's not the end of the world.

Another point, I'm going to write myself a note to restrain myself from anyone that begins OTAs by touting our Ravens as early Superbowl favorites. I will live with money I earn not with projections and predictive calculations borne out of hopeless optimism. Thank you.

Say what you want about the man; I love Brian Billick!!!