JamesA119

Flacco is a level headed guy. He is never too up or down regardless of the situation. I am sure that people who know him personally think very highly of him. However he has underperformed for most of his career on the field in the regular season. Contrarily he has out performed just about any QB in the playoffs. Since there are way more regular season games than playoff games people have more images of the under performing Flacco than the killer Joe that comes out in the playoffs. If he can just find ways to win enough regular season games to get us into the playoffs and perhaps with some home court advantage, we would have more championships. As far as his contract goes, he has been one of the luckiest QB as well. He gambled just before his first contract and won biiiiggg! With his second contract, the options were pay him or cut him, or negotiate a commensurate contract just based on being a starting QB in this league. Again Flacco had the upper hand. No one is owing to cut the only franchise QB they've ever had in his prime, and paying him on the the $28M was not gonna happen, but still what they settled for still made him one of the highest paid QBs despite overall poor play since his first contract. So he has been a beneficiary of a lot of circumstances that can only go in his favor.

I agree that if this group of 5 TEs play well, and the team does well, it will be very difficult for Boyle to find his way back into the active roster.

My thought is that they make moves like carrying 7 O-linemen, by cutting James Hurst. Hurst is not likely to be picked up since he has always played badly, and was undrafted. A Kendrick Lewis trade - a long shot is also possible. If Brooks or Elam proves that they are ready, Lewis becomes expendable with Weddle in the fold. These two moves opens up 2 spots on the 53 man roster that can be used to keep the TE talents together, and one additional talent from the WR group i.e. Butler vs Campanaro vs Clay. Perriman might start the season on PUP with a week 6 return? Which might allow 2/3 of the aforementioned WRs to make the team. If there's an injury on the O-line Hurst can always be called back.

In my opinion, a high ceiling player. There has been a disconnect between our secondary and the coaches for several years. Ed Reed and Graham were the last players to excel in our secondary. It has been a carousel of players in that secondary for years. It can't all be the players' fault. If you agree that Ozzie is a great talent evaluator, you have to somehow entertain the thought that some thing might not be right with either the scheme or the coaching or both. That's why I am optimistic with Frazier's hire. I think Brooks is a vicious hitter. He plays fast and physical. I would like for him to flourish.

I agree. He will speak when he wants. Leave him alone. In my mind he is itching to have a great year. He is focused on being the best he can be on the field. If you are still in doubt on how valuable he is to the team, look at how different we were in the Denver game last year defensively, and how we were the rest of the year .

The RB situation is precarious. All the backs we have are very similar smallish pass catching backs, none save mabye West or maybe Richardson are power backs, even then they have qualifier statements on how they would be a power back. Assuming all perform well: It would surprise me if Forsett, Allen or Dixon were cut, something weird would have to happen and I just don't see it. Forsett because he has proven himself, a high quality leader and tough as nails and is cheap (even though he is not on a rookie deal). Allen because he will be given a second year crack at it. Dixon because he will get chances in his first year to get through conditioning next off season. He could have an injury and be red shirted though, but I think he makes it. Taliaferro is like Fitz Toussant, goes down too quickly on first contact and he has a fumbling problem. I don't see him making the roster. I don't think he is a bad guy, just too similar with the disadvantage of slightly more down side to him than the others (except TR) so he will likely be eliminated. West on the other hand is potentially the most interesting prospect we have at RB. The Ravens wanted to draft him and use his native son angle to get the best from him, but the Browns swooped in thinking they would screw the Ravens and took him instead. He was doing well to start but Pettine and crew didn't like it when he wanted to be lead back and platooned him with Crowell leading to problems for both. Then they cut him his second year due to attitude problems. He went to Jacksonville and had no motivation and was picked up by the Ravens when he went to their PS (?, I think, it is either that or they claimed him off waivers before he made it onto the PS). Form all reports on him I've read (twitter and the like from people around him at minicamp) plus over the break, he has been working like mad at putting on muscle, getting in crazy good shape, and his own statments indicate he is eating up the native son angle (meaning he is home, surrounded by a great support network and family, and using that as strength to work even harder). He is also being quiet and not saying much, just working. He knows, like TR, that this is may/could be his last shot (labeled as attitude problem and non-productive). I think will give the Ravens serious questions about keeping 4 running backs. All accounts have him doing very well. Its a nice story to root for this guy since he is a hometown product. Trent Richardson - also interesting, he seems to be backing his words up about giving everything and really working with his actions. However he is getting older (for a RB) thought not too old. Coaches comments seem to agree with this too. So signs are positive. However him not working out like a fiend constantly for his whole career, instead seems he has really been after it only since the first talks with the Ravens, may be catching up to him with these injuries. Not his fault, just working so hard without long term conditioning may be taking its toll. This would be a really great story if he is able to pull himself up by his bootstrings and make the roster after his initial downfall. What really intrigues me is that he seems well managed psychologically by Harbs. Given limited appropriately warranted praise and positive support along with tough love honesty. I hope he can make it interesting by fighting thought this latest injury and keeping it going. What is the saying, always take a chance on another team's first round pick. I wish all the RB we have the best of luck and good competition. I don't have bad feelings about any of them, all seem to be doing what they should for their own personal situations. All of this assumes health of the RBs is OK, if someone goes down, depending who it is, a lot could change. I just like that we have so much good competition with the RB, WR and TE groups this year. It is always good to stack depth because injuries, like winter, are coming. Taliaferro is not a fumbler. Of all the RBs we have on our roster, he has the least fumbles. He has only one fumble which happened 2 seasons ago against the steelers. In terms of running style he is also different from Allen, and Forssette. He is more of a power back that is very adept in the ZRS. He isn't as good as Forsette or Allen at catching. He would have been used more last year in short yardage situations before his injury. He is the biggest back we have in the organization. 6' 225

What surprises me is that a trade couldn't be worked out. I mean, seriously, what could the Giants have been offering which was less valuable than cutting him outright and getting nothing? Doesn't seem to make much sense. The Ravens wanted him gone period. He either accepted a contract that was friendly to another team and in response that team would give the Ravens a draft pic. So this means that Monroe was not willing to lower his asking price enough to allow another team to take over that contract and still give up a draft pick. The Ravens were not gonna continue to hold onto him. Whatever they get for him was icing on the cake.

There's no logic in bringing back Boldin. At this stage in his career, he is a possession WR. Our roster is full of possession WRs with the exception of Wallace and Moore. Obviously SSS is the best all around WR in the NFL (him and Antonio Brown) if he can return and play to the level he played last year. The real need is a WR that can consistently stretch the defense. Wallace hasn't consistently done that. Moore is unproven in the NFL even though he has a great potential. Bringing Boldin into a crowded WR corps full of young guys that can play underneath for a fraction of the money is something I'm almost certain the front office won't do.

My opinion is that the top 3 RBs are Forssette, Allen and Dixon. It will be hard to keep 4 RBs on the 53 man roster. These 3 RBs are quite similar and interchangeable. They fit Trestman's style of RBs. What's missing in that group is a short yardage bruising RB. Taliaferro and Richardson are similar in that regard, but Taliaferro has better vision, and was effective in the ZBS in his rookie season. Not sold at all on Richardson. For him to be very effective in the NFL dictates a complete reversal of what he had done his first 3 yrs. Thats very hard to do. For Terrence West, the chances of making the team is very slim. He got carries last year because of the injury depleted RB corps. If Ravens carry more than 3 RBs, the 4th one would be Taliaferro.

I'm finding it hard to see your conspiracy angle. This young man has got to be devastated. Rookie contracts are peanuts compared to what he would make if happens to play well and get to the point of getting his second contract. He has nothing to gain by faking injury. By the way, you can't fake the injury on MRI. You can't fake a swollen knee. If you've ever played sports, whether pro or not, there's nothing worse than not being able to compete.

According to the report, MRI shows a partial tear of his Left knee ACL. He was injured according to the report also while practicing at the Ravens OTA. He suffered the injury while attempting a fade catch, and had swelling the following day. There's been multiple reports on how devastated it has been for him not playing his rookie year. Your argument does not hold water. In fact if it turns out that he would be out for the rest of the season, he would rightfully get his full salary.

If this turns out to be another season ending injury, it has to devastating to his career. I don't know any player that has had a successful career after starting the first 2 yrs on IR. By the time he takes the field if ever, his dashing 4.24 40 speed would be just something of historical mention.

You have to give the Ravens credit for signing Wallace and drafting Moore. Wow! What an unfortunate way to begin a career. He hasn't even had a full NFL football contact yet.

I think the defense will clearly show an improvement from last year. However, there are so many questions on the offense: Trestman is an average OC, Flacco is average and very inconsistent from week to week, SSS is coming back from serious injury. Perriman has never played a down in the NFL. Then the potentially new O-line. It might take a while for the team to gel.

I don't know why fans can't see that the FO has reasons to be prudent with Tucker's long term contract. It's not that they don't like him or don't want him. For starters he already has a $4.5M tag this year. However as stated in this article he was 4/10 in FG 50 yds or longer, with about 82% success rate the entire season. That's mediocre. So the FO could be wondering if this is a one year slump. A long term contract - especially an expensive one could handicap the team if last year turns out to be the new norm for Tucker. The team is not a country club. Every player must be at their best to remain with the team.

Wow! You can't be serious.

I am rooting for him and any player on the Ravens roster. However how soon we forget. Richardson is not a great pro running back despite his collegiate accomplishments. Richardson pro reputation has always been that of a running back that doesn't go down easy when hit. He is easy to hit, not elusive and does not have vision. Essentially he is a workman running back. He doesn't break out long runs because he can't find the right holes.

Chase Howard knows what he is talking about. Coleman is the most explosive receiver WR out of this draft, he is coming out of Baylor which is RG III's alma mater. RG III is now trying to revive his career under Hue Jackson who is a QB guru (ask Flacco, and Dalton) Mind you that RG III was the OROY. He had great accuracy,with excellent TD :int ratio

While I think Tucker is a great kicker, he wasn't great last year at all. He was 2/10 on kicks 50 yds or longer. He was much better his first 2 yrs. I think the Ravens brass has to be wondering if last year was an aberration. It wouldn't surprise me if they are trying to delay a long term contract and let him play this year on the franchise tag.

I agree. There seems to be a double standard here. Especially with the press. Just how many games has Campanaro ever played? How many catches has he made in the Ravens uniform? Should we just induct him into the ring of honor???

Wallace is not a number one WR. If SSS is initially slowed by return from the Achiles injury, Aiken and Perriman will be starting. If SSS is fully ready on day one, I think he and Perriman get the nod, with Wallace the third WR. In other words Aiken backs up SSS and Wallace backs up Perriman. Moore will see action incrementally as the season goes on. He is a great talent.

The competition at safety is far more intriguing. Weddle is the only settled player. I know the organization is very pleased with Webb's ability to blitz from the line, or show blitz but drop in coverage. He is also a great tackler. So he is the most likely to start with Weddle. Lewis struggled mightily last year despite his reputation as a field general. Which makes one wonder if the problem is system or coaching or player. After all Darian Stewart became a top safety with Denver just one year after struggling in our backfield. And we have had a carrousel in our backfield since the Super Bowl. Enter Coach Leslie Frazier. So I see Lewis staying on to back up Weddle. So we have a competition between Brooks and Elam - 2 high draft pics. Brooks is more formidable as a pro. Hits with bad intention. A Raven-type player at the pro level more so than Elam has shown. They're both struggling in coverage. I see Brooks as the 4th safety to back up Webb in the SS position. Elam is probably going to be traded or cut.

Funny, cut Doom after the Ravens tried their best to acquire pass rushers? This is an ill-advised move, as Doom was one of the few consisten pass rushers last season, playing more snaps and getting more attention. Bad idea. I will admit, Webby and Forsett are more realistic depending on how things shake out. Webb's biggest upside is he can play corner and safety if needed. He is making a lot for a corner gone safety and we'll need to see where he fits with the other safeties. with Forsett, I'm expecting his experience and determination help to win the starting position again, as most people are at this point. The key will be how good the depth is. If players like Allen and Dixon can show well, that could force Forsett out. I see Allen making it happen for sure and Dixon looks to have the ability but will need to really grasp things quickly. Cannot see more than 3 RB's making the squad. Third running back position will be very interesting. Between Taliaferro, West and Richardson. It would be awesome if Richardson showed up again in Heisman form. Richardson isn't going to make the team. Let's not kid ourselves. Not every college stand out makes it in the NFL. He wasn't very good during his rookie season with the Browns - I mean that's fresh out of Alabama. He has never shown vision and elusiveness. Terrence West is also gone. There's a reason he's on his third team going into his third year as a pro. I see Forsette, Allen, and Dixon. Talliafero is the only intrigue at RB.

I wish him the very best. There is no nicer human being. He will be fine.

I could somewhat agree with you if I didnt know about our injuries last year...Yes we lost games to subpar teams last year , but for crying out loud dude, we lost Flacco, Suggs SSSr, Periman, Forset . Monroe, Zuttah, Davis, and a few more, you can honestly say with a straight face that the injuries didnt cause our bad play last year.. Yes we are reloading,, C-MON Dude get serious...... The season was over before joe. Seams when just Suggs went down Ravens struggled with teams in the rebuilding phase. I guess I keep thinking were in the same sand box as the Patriots and Bengals. Yes. People like to forget that when Joe went down we were 2-6, esentially all but mathematically out of playoff contention. We will never know how the seson wiould have been if instead of the cheaper option in Babin Ozzie accepted Freeney's high salary demands. Crap I forgot all about that great Babin move. Would you like to be in the room when that decision was made just to see who even thought of it? My take on it is that Coach Harbaugh probably gave the ok. Remember Babin made his name as an Eagle.