AvianBrain

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...

There is no equivalency with a "common" job. I will never be offered $8 million for the job I do or a competing offer of $10 million. Sorry, when you are talking about that kind of money it comes down to ego and greed. God bless them for their given talents and they are free to do as they please. By rejecting the "hometown discount", this is what the players are telling me a fan: They are not happy with their current employer and indirectly the fans that follow the team.

For me as a fan, it has become hard to determine just who or what I am cheering for. Is it the team or the bird on the side of the helmet? How am I to have allegiance for the players if they are always looking to see if the grass is greener on some other team. They deserve to get paid but the big money is ruining football for me. I enjoy watching the young players develop until their rookie contract is up, then they are gone from the team. And, getting a 3rd round comp pick for KO is just wrong. Teams that take a pro-bowl caliber players from another team should be forced to give up their first round pick to the team they stole from. Maybe that will stop the insanity. I have seen a lot of changes in football in my 60 years but for me, free agency is ruining what it means to be a "fan".

As a fan I try to be a "glass half-full" guy when looking at the team, but this team is just a few players short of what it takes to get to the next level. I will cheer them on to the playoffs, but after what could have been an embarassing loss to the Patriots, I would hate to see them be a one and done when they get there. I know they have a history of dialing it up in January, so I keep that glass half full.

Gilmore is still out...looks like there might be a spot and a need for Boyle...

The Ravens need to be concerned about covering Bell coming out of the backfield and catching passes. I am confident they can stop him at the line, but they have been having problems this year accounting for RB's coming out for short passes. Stopping the Ben to Bell pass plays are key. Also, look for the hurry up from the Steelers because the Giants demonstrated that the D is vulnerable when they cannot substitute.

I have to wonder if Joe has not fully recovered mentally from the injury. He made a point of saying all off-season he did not know how he would respond to getting hit again. It has become painfully obvious how he responds to getting hit. Maybe with time he will come back, or with better protection. At this point, as fans we should be worried that Joe may never be "January" Joe again if he does not regain his mental toughness. If the OL does not improve or the OC does not find ways to get the run game going and the ball out sooner, Joe will continue to get hit and may never get his head back into the game.

How has making teams one-dimensional worked out so far? Teams don't need to run if there is no pass rush and they can go up and down the field passing. How does this team rank in passing defense is the obvious question? Look for the hurry-up offense and lots a passing from the Jets until the defense finds a way to stop it.

Someone please tell me how Suggs is not being held. Lewis was called for holding when he had the exact position on the defender. That cost the Ravens a first down!

8 hours ago, RavensFan34950 said:

With the way the Jets are stinking up the joint, I don't see how the Ravens lose this game. Our defense is better than Arizona's as long as Jimmy is healthy, and I see West having a big day against them. This should be a win. But seriously, can we please see some overload blitzing every once in a while. Part of the reason we get no pressure is because its the same blitz every time. Mix it up a little Pees.

The Jets blitzed constantly last night and they will do the same to the Ravens. It has been proven that Joe folds under pressure and I hope that the Ravens will have the right schemes in place to exploit those packages the way the Cardinals were able to exploit. The Jets defense was gassed in the end and Palmer picked them apart to close out the game. If the Ravens don't get up early and stay up, this game will go the same way the last 3 weeks have gone. Hopefully, they get some of the OL back, otherwise it will be a long day and we know that once Joe is rattled, the game is over. And, if they cannot muster a pass rush, the Jets have the receivers to take advantage of the time to get open. With the banged-up secondary, this could be a long game.

...and the definition of insanity is...??? Why not bring back Brookes--he would have laid the wood to ODB instead of watching him run by!

Is it too soon to consider poaching practice squads to pick up a better caliber of backups for the OL? It's hard to believe with all the OL bodies brought into training camp that the Ravens end up with low quality backups. They didn't just lose KO last year, they also cut Monroe. Yes, they picked up 2 draft picks that are good enough to start, but retained the same low quality backups.

With all the new additions, vets coming back from serious injuries and rookies playing on this team, I believe it will take some time for them to find their identity. I would not be surprised if we see a "different" team the second half of the season. Then again, it would not surprise me if the whole season follows the pattern of the first three. Heart palpitations aside, at 3-0 I cannot complain!

Score early, score often. Everybody wins!

--Eliminate preseason games entirely.
--Start the regular season when the preseason currently starts.
--Increase the number of regular season games to 18
--Add two bye weeks to the regular season.
--Increase the roster size.

I have to agree. Raise the roster to 75+, eliminate the practice squad. Large roster allows teams to rotate players and sit some with minor injuries. Current bubble players would not be lost to other teams and could continue development with the team--may even get valuable playing time. Starting in August may mean a few more night/dome games early on to keep guys from dropping in the heat in some cities.

 I think Reynolds will be that spark plug on offense that we never had.  I see him as a dynamic player like Percy Harvin and Antwaan Randle El. 

Our offense was always boring IMO, I think he brings a little shock and awe to the offense. 

I would like to see Trestman dial-up some trick plays with Reynolds. He was a quarterback and I could see him on an end around with the option to run or pass. If a safety to bites on the run one of the speedy WR's could be open for a quick score.

He truly wants to focus on his mary jane,

Funny how he worries about the concussive effects on his brain, but not the ones caused by the use of narcotics. I know...they all believe it will heal their brain rather than cause more damage. Speaking from experience, I wish I never found that drug 40+ years ago and used it as long as I did. I can blame some on old age, but the rest is surely due to the damage done in the 70's and 80's.

Got my wish...now I wish to see Tucker set the single season record for extra points by a kicker...:)

I'm sure that I am worth another $1 million per year, but would be happy with $10K...I love watching football and hate what the crazy money has done to the game as I watch hometown favorites leave for big money. They deserve it for the physical pounding they take every year, so I just have to roll with it.

Seriously, if you don't think Tucker is worth big money just ask Minnesota how their playoff game ended last year. One kick away from advancing...how much is that worth?

As a fan, I am always optimistic about the team going into pre-season. The secondary is going to face some fierce passing attacks this year. On top of the two against Roethlisberger & Dalton, they face Brady and Romo. Those six games will tell us if this secondary upgrades have taken the team to the next level. If the pass rush improves as well, it will be a fun season to watch!

The last thing I want to see is Pitta sprawled out on the turf in M&T with one leg pointing to DC and the other to Philly. Image if his hip breaks again as he is being hit. You know there will be a target painted on his hip and it will be tested by everyone on defense. No one will talk about taking a player out, but that is how some play the game. I wish the best for Pitta, but this is a violent sport and high speed impacts can do damage.

  11 minutes ago, AvianBrain said:

I hate to see KO go..but if he is going, let it be for BIG money so the Ravens are set-up to potentially get a 3rd round comp next year. Little consolation for the loss of talent, but this is how the business of football is played.

I don't know if $11M p/year will result in a 3rd round pick, but that's what he's getting. 

I know it is a complicated formula and that is why I said "BIG" money and "potentially". The last tracker I saw for this year has 2 players below $11 million resulting in a 3rd round comp pick.

I hate to see KO go..but if he is going, let it be for BIG money so the Ravens are set-up to potentially get a 3rd round comp next year. Little consolation for the loss of talent, but this is how the business of football is played.

Crockett needs to take some lessons from the smaller receivers in the league. I admit, it's great to see him running over CB's and fighting for every yard, but in doing that he leaves his huge frame exposed to shots by LB's running at full speed. I don't care how tough you are, you will not last long taking hits like that. Unless struggling for a crucial first down or TD, just hit the ground and live to fight another down! Get well, and looking forward to seeing you next year!

Jernigan deserves the credit for the sack, but you can see that the Upshaw shove accelerated McCown to the ground. If you look at the video you also see that Upshaw took more than 2 steps before he hit McCown. Luckly, the refs were not flag-happy on Monday and they did not call a PF for roughing the passer.

Schaub has this 3-step drop back and fires.  Sometimes it looks like he doesn't take time to look at the field.  He gets rid of it so fast, that he has no clue where defenders are.  This year, they have tried to get Joe to release faster.  He's had to because for protection reasons.  When he takes the time to make the throws, Joe doesn't throw the INT's.  It's when he is pushing it, or when he is forced to throw.

I guess that is why Brady is so successful, he gets rid of the ball so fast that he has no clue where the defenders are. That makes no sense. INT's happen to the best QB's and I was not dissing Joe. Just commenting on how Matt's performance was on par for the Raven's QB this year. Don't take it as a personal affont to Joe. Considering the patchwork O-Line and the pressure coming from the Browns I would have expected more INT's based on your assessment.