Tank 92

Well, not what I expected, but I guess Q wouldn't budge and neither would the FO. Q could still retire.

What a piss poor move by the front office.... Flacco got what he wanted being the highest paid player in the league in AAV so now he's going to have to deal with the consequences of seeking that payday...

Maybe just maybe if Flacco was willing to sacrifice a little for the team others would have followed suit. Flacco said the usual buzz words, like it wasn't about the money but respect so how can anyone expect any other players on the roster to not seek the highest payday.

Welcome to the new Ravens... I have zero interest in watching the Super Bowl video .

I hope Boldin gets a few rings with the Niners. If he chooses to leave after this season the 49ers will parlay that 6 round pick into a better pick .

You don't really believe what you wrote here, do you?

It's time that we continue to build our young core instead of keeping our old veterans past their prime.

Yeah, like Ray Lewis, huh.

You're not getting it. You have to keep some "old veterans" in order to build a young core properly. For me that includes both Q and Ed for 2013.

That fear quickly leaves when they see him miss his first 4 tackles...

Don't think so. I have been one of the most vocal critics of Ed when he plays in so much pain that he can't wrap up. We didn't see as much of that this year. At the end of 2011 it was hard to watch. But he still QBs the D backfield and is sorely needed until the young guys get up to speed. Right now, his leadership is irreplaceable.

I've said it before, we might be able to absorb the loss of Q, but losing Ray and Ed in the same year will spell disaster.

We would still have Haloti and Terrell.

Ed is going to want around 5 million and while he is good in coverage, he isn't exactly the ball hawk we had 2-3 years ago and you can tell he is playing injured.

You need complete players to win, that's why I didn't forget Ed Reed...I just don't know if he is worth the money. He is old, injured and we need to see what our young guys have.

I love Ed Reed, I agree, he is one of the best safeties of all time. All good things must come to an end, we can't afford a one dimensional player, especially when we are revamping our inside linebackers. Reed doesn't attack the box on run plays and lead our team in missed tackles with like 15.

He isn't worth 5 million. He got his ring, I wish he had retired like Ray.

Ed is not the player he once was, but you are ignoring the intangibles that he brings to the table. His reputation alone brings fear to the opposing team's OC and QB. He is a huge leader in the locker room And he is not only a safety, but a damn good coach as well. Ed Reed is well worth $5 mil. to this Team in 2013.

Another option we could go with is keep Boldin, Leach and re-sign McKinnie (or a FA LT) and Pitta (maybe Dickson. I want to keep our whole offense together as much as possible. Let's build the defense up through the draft. Let's look at the needs of defense:

DE-NT-DE

DE:Art Jones, Pernell Mcphee

NT: NEED, Terrance Cody

DE: Haloti Ngata, Bryan Hall

I think we need an elite NT so we can raise the level of play with guys like Ngata and McPhee. If we have a force at NT, they will get better matchups and be able to excel in run defense AND pass rush.

OLB-ILB-ILB-OLB

Rush: Suggs, NEED

Will: Albert McClellan

Mike: Jameel McClain, NEED

Sam: Upshaw

Ideally we want to draft an ILB. But we have seen these guys play and it would take pressure off of signing Ellerbe to a lot of money. We could get an inside linebacker or OLB in the 2nd, and get depth in the 3rd.

CB-S-S-CB

CB: Lardarius Webb, Chykie Brown, Asa Jackson

FS: Christian Thompson, Omar Brown

SS: Bernard Pollard, NEED

CB: Corey Graham, Jimmy Smith

Yay, Webb will be back! We look pretty solid at Corner. MAYBE add another one in later rounds. Pollard is solid. Free safety is the biggest hole and we will see what we have with Omar and Christian.

While I am not saying this is going to be the best defense for us, it let's us have the cap space to put forward the best offense.

As many of you might now, I am a huge fan of defense. I love defense. But I think it would be best at this point, to put the money in the offense so they can stay consistent while we replace Ray, Reed, Ellerbe (in this option), Cary, Ma'ake and Kruger.

Again, I trust the front office, but this is something that could help us keep the guys we want (with exception of Ellerbe).

This makes sense with the exception of Reed. IMO it would cripple the D(locker room) to lose both Ray and Ed in the same year.

logic has nothing to do with this argument .wait and see if Ozzie says Boldin is cut we will know by tomorrow . if push comes to shove boldin leaves Pitta, smith and dickson (he actually is underutilized he does have very good hands ) will work until our younger guys are ready.

Ed "Board Hands" Dickson? smh.

The Ravens rarely ask a player to take a straight out pay cut. Usually the cap is reduced through an extension, with the FO figuring that the last year could likely be dead money. I have no issue with Boldin sticking to his guns for his pay, however, HE is the one who stated he would retire before play for another team if he was cut. Now, he is changing his stand on that point. I don't respect that in the least.

The last time I got royally upset about cuts was when we let Heap & Mason go. I will be upset to see Boldin go, but I just don't think we're sunk, we're doomed, OMG no one else will ever catch a Joe Flacco pass again. Doss will step it up, or he won't and he'll be replaced. We'll move on like we always do and we'll be right there in the thick of things come post season.

Edit: I feel the need to add these blasts from the past when we cut Mason. They might sound familiar if you've read this thread lol

"you let go one of the best hard hitting TE's in the game along with a super solid WR who single handedly won you some games last year? unreal. here's to the ravens NEVER figuring out they have good players til way after they've cut/ traded em. they'd have a superbowl by now if they woulda stuck with chester taylor."

"After the embarrassing personnel decisions made by the Ravens yesterday, I am now convinced what I have suspected for years – the Ravens are in bed with the Steelers, and are being paid off by creepy old Dan Rooney himself to make personnel decisions that my two year old would have known better to avoid. Why would you cut Mason and Heap? So who do we throw to now besides Boldin? Tandon Doss? Ed Dickson? How about I polish the AFC North trophy and just hand it to Pittsburgh now. This is why we are always a bridesmaid and never the bride – we are being paid by the Steelers to make these types of decisions."

Mase was a possession receiver, Q is a TD machine AND a possession receiver that ended up replacing him. We upgraded by releasing Mase. How do we do that with Q? I don't know. Would it doom us? Probably not, but it would hurt. IMO losing Reed would be much worse on many levels.

Talking about Todd in this context is immaterial. Even though he was my favorite Raven it was obvious that he was done.

If Q has actually recanted his position on retirement(haven't heard this from him), I agree and would also lose some respect for him.

Don't think so - he obviously wants to test the market.

As much as I want him to stay - I think he is invaluable, money talks.

I guess we will see this week. I would hate to see him in an opposing uniform...

Bet?

Sure lets Rob Anquan to overpay Flacco.......SMH

Well, robbing Q was not what I had in mind. I was thinking more of a 3 year deal at say, a total of $12 to $15 mil.. Gives both parties some security, and would be fair.

You should give up the "overpay" thing. It's simple supply and demand economics.

Q is going nowhere, Bank on it.

This is a good thing. Maybe he signs a cap friendly extension. We need him next year!