b93333

It's pretty clear that winning is not the organizational priority it once was. I have read numerous quotes from the organization that the PSL renewal rate... always near 100% does not drop when the team has an off year. Speaks volumes about the loyal fan base... but one has to wonder if it factors into organizational decisions that take those fans for granted.

5 hours ago, RavenSwag said:

I'm tired of us getting these veteran receivers every 3 or so years. We have to get it right when it becomes to drafting a wr and groom him in our system. Every other team in our division have no problem drafting receivers besides us. There's some talent in this draft.

If only the ravens could identify a good WR in the draft.  They have a long track record of making bad decisions at this position.

One thing we know for sure... if we draft a WR he won't amount to anything. On the other hand Ozzie has done well picking up salary cap casualties (except Evans). Why we dumped Boldin is the $64 question. He was well worth his contractually agreed upon salary that the Ravens refused to pay him.

Russ Grimm for OL coach!

Yanda is the real deal. We are very fortunate to still have a couple of players with his grit and determination.

Don't get the talk of drafting a RB. With our glaring needs at CB, edge rusher, safety to replace Webb (if he is indeed a cap casualty), center, right tackle (assuming Wagner will be too costly) and overall depth on the OL, the need of a 3rd RB seems pretty far down the list.

Any plan to motivate Joe to play like he did before he signed his mega-contract and lost all financial incentives? If so I'm sure everyone will be extremely interested.

I for one still think we have a great owner. I have serious questions about many of the decisions our FO has made in recent years... draft picks, inflated contracts etc. I would have to figure that Mr. B has more information than the average fan and since the Ravens are stuck with Flacco for at least three more years he is trying to make the best of a tough situation.

I'm sure glad someone is confident in this bunch.

It's clear that the way Flacco's contract is structured the Ravens are stuck with him for another three years. The $64 question is... how do you motivate Joe to play like he did before signing his mega-contract, when he lost all financial incentive to perform?

No question he's a keeper. At least the Oz got one of the first three picks right.

A man with a giant heart and desire to win. If only Joe had a fraction of his attitude we would be in good shape as a franchise.

If the past is any guide he will probably develop into a talented enough player in 2018 that we won't be able to afford to re-sign him.

4 minutes ago, rmcjacket23 said:

Lets clear a few things up...

1. His contract would actually be quite easy to trade, and MANY teams would love to trade for him. A team trading for him would have to pay him the following:

2017: $6M
2018: $12M
2019: $18.5M
2020: $20.25M
2021: $24.25M

Needless to say, a TON of teams would die to get him locked into a deal like this for that period of time. IF the Ravens somehow decided to trade him, the issue wouldn't be lack of suitors or the contract. It would be finding quality compensation for us to get back, in the form of multiple top draft picks, which would be the barrier to such a trade.

2. The obvious reasons why he WON'T be traded is because we have no interest in trading him due to it being incredibly hard to find somebody equal or better for several years, and the fact that trading him would increase his cap hit for 2017 up to $47.3M, which is more than 25% of the overall salary cap. So you'll be punting 2017 entirely, regardless of what you get back for him. Will need to cut many, many other players just to get under the salary cap at that point.

Per the Sunpapers... cap hit of 24.55 M in '17, 24.75 M in '18, 26.5 M in '19.  Check your facts please.

Unfortunately the dead money issue makes it impossible to cut Flacco for 3 more years. His poor play makes it impossible to unload him (and his contract) on another team. Thus we are stuck with him and the closest thing to a solution is to find a way to motivate him to play like he did before signing his mega-deal. How we would do this is the 64 dollar question.

Re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

If the Oz continues to whiff in the early draft rounds it will be impossible to fill all the voids. Free agents will think twice before signing with a mediocre team with a lame duck coaching staff.

Some things to consider... when trying to put a winner on the field. Joe has a salary cap hit of 24.55 M in 2017. If Joe were to be cut after June 1st it would create 47.3 M in dead money (per the Sunpapers). Joe has the highest salary of any NFL QB when averaged over the life of his contract. (per the Cheat sheet) Joe finished the year with the 24th QBR. (per the Sunpapers) Clearly we are stuck with Joe for another 3 years... but he has played poorly for the most part since he signed his mega-contract. The question for our OC and HC is will it be possible to motivate Joe to play up to his contract and anywhere close to it?

If Steve lets Harbs have his way and keep his OC after what we have all witnessed this year then you have to figure that if 2017 starts to look like 2016 both may have a very short tenure in B-more.

Flacco has the highest QB salary in the NFL when averaged over the life of his contract... per the Cheat Sheet. He finished the 2016 season ranked 24th in QB rating... per the Sunpapers. Nuff said.

53 minutes ago, RavensDieHard21 said:

Lmao lets just trade him to the Browns for two first round picks

If only the Browns were that dumb...

1 hour ago, ryananth said:

Flacco's contract is not the problem. All teams have essentially the same money committed to their QBs (around $20 milliion). Flacco's deal averages $22mil a year. Even if there wasn't s a dead money issue we'd still pay Flacco what he's receiving. Would you rather have someone like Fitzpatrick for $14mil or Romo for $18mil? I don't think so. Who are you proposing would replace Joe anyway?

I guess you must have better information on Joe's contract than the Sunpapers.  In any event he can't be cut because of the dead money.  No team is likely to take him with his inflated contract... thus we are stuck with him.  My point is that his contract is a big problem when trying to put a winner on the field.  Relatively few players retain their competitive edge when they get mega-dollars... Joe is not one of them.

Someone enlighten me as to how we were 18th in the league in scoring under Trestman and dropped to 21st when we made the change... yet that is deemed a significant improvement?

It's all well and good to consider saving a bit here and there on salary cap space but the real problem for the FO to deal with is Joe's cap hit. Per the Sun Papers it breaks down to 2017: 24.55 M cap hit with 47.3 M in dead money if cut after June 1, 2017. 2018: 24.75 M and 28.75 M, respectively, 2019: 26.5 M and 16 M. The cap hit continues to increase after 2019 but the dead money decreases. This for a QB rated 25th by PFF, (a little higher if you only consider the QBR).

We can just be grateful that our owner is more driven to put a winner on the field than these two.