Tenacious Faulker

I have to say that the patriots rivalry, for me, is the more exciting of the two mostly because I really hate Brady & Belicheat and have a begrudging respect for the Steelers. Ravens and Steelers play each other hard and don't really talk too bad about each other much. My friends who are Steelers fans also have a begrudging respect for the ravens now because the two are undoubtedly on par. Patriots fans, tho', are still arrogant to the core and even after the defeats by Bmore, they still act like THEY got cheated. Our match ups with brady & Co are reaching the Manning/Brady levels now because of the post season implications.

Let's stop with the Joe is Elite talk, alright? It's silly. First, taking out Joe with 9 minute to play, a chance to et his 1st 400yd game, maybe a 5th TD, and a great chance at the record for number of completions in a game can help the argument. But not IF the coaches take him OUT!! Then he's happy about iton the sideline? You think Brady, Manning, Brees, or Rogers would have allowed this then laughed and smiled as his back up could barely connect with a receiver? Taking Joe out was not a sign of him being elite. Second, Joe had one great game this season and we're back onto the discussion? For Joe to prove his "eliteness" he needs 3-4 years of consistently high level play in the post season as well as the regular season. He needs to carry the team and lead them on the field. Joe has not done that this year. He hasn't been that vocal on field or calling audibles or anything that says it's his offense, not his OC's. Can we stop with the Joe is elite talk? He has elite qualities, but has yet to put them all together for an extended stretch in the last 4 seasons since the Super Bowl. In that time you could make the argument that he was top-10 with all the loss of talent around him, but that's about it.

1. The league suspended Hardy for 19 games. 2. Obviously there's a gigantic difference between what Ray Rice did and what Josh Brown was accused of doing. Too right mcjacket23! It's not standing for DV to say that Rice got rail roaded and treated unequally to others before and since. The NFL violated it's own policy after the 2nd Rice video came out which it had created after the first one. Rice should've been punished, but with the other players in the same boat (sans videos) who were allowed to play afterward it was an unequal treatment. Especially since he was the ONLY player that made owned and made amends for his actions. It's the NFL attempting to cover up its mishandling of the situation. Rice deserves another chance. The habit of continuing to punish people long after they've paid their debt is utter garbage.

Man I hate PFF grades. First, I love Marshal Yanda, However, he committed 2 penalties and allowed a big hit on Joe. They praise Joe for his triumphant return and solid play. Yet Yanda is ranked higher than Joe (83.5% to 80.7%) and Ronnie Stanley is not even on the top 5 list. If Stanley didn't make it and Yanda did then PFF's grading needs work. A "grain of salt" comes to mind.

I'm always optimistic about the Ravens...at least in the Flacco-Harbaugh era. They haven;t gone back-to-back losing seasons since the 1990's. They always seem to be rebuilding for several seasons, not just the one ahead of them. They make good personnel decisions and treat players and staff with respect, not like another number. They are always evolving. As for where they are now, it looks like they have cultivated the right players and rounded out their roster with journeymen. It's very New England-like without that impersonal feel of Belichick. They're offense is not star studded. Steve Smith is probably the flashiest player, but he's in his last season. Wallace was on a fast track to elite receiver and is now a middling deep threat. We don;t know what we have with Perriman yet. The rest of the corps is not setting the league in fire. Our running backs are not elite, but all are highly capable and versatile. Tightends? Pitta will be lucky to play, Gilmore looks solid if he can stay healthy. Williams could be a stud but is still developing. O-line is not sexy at all though we have Stanley and Yanda who are about as rockstar as linemen get. Even Joe Flacco is not a flashy player. He can make all the throws, but has never made gaudy stats his thing. But this year more than others he will carry the offense on his back with a cast of aging, recovering, upcoming, and middling cast around him. This is what they've expected of the elites - Rogers, Brady, Manning, and Brees - to make receivers better, not the tother way around.

Yeah, shocked over Forsett, but clearly it was a money matter. Brooks caught me by surprise too considering that he looked better than Lewis. I'm shocked that Elam is still around too, but maybe not for long if they sign Hester or another player after the rest of the teams release veterans we may need. RB is now thin at depth when it was once a log jam. Safety too seems a bit thin at depth. Wonder how they'll address that before Sept 11th?

Regarding Josh Johnson I really don't think that Mallet Quashed" any debate over the b/u QB. May I just see things differently, but Johnson, if anything, proved he could pick up Trestman's system faster than Mallet. Malley, who had half a season as a starter in the system, didn;t really fair better than Johnson in preseason AND Johnson has that threat of running the ball over Mallet who reminds me of a giraffe when he's out of the pocket. Yeah, Johnson certainly did enough to earn a job somewhere. I hope it's here. Mallet just seems to me like his name suggests - a hammerhead!

Grading football grades is like critiquing a movie critic's review. It's a non-story. I can appreciate that its a slow part of the season, but PFF is pretty arbitrary as is. Some things they do well, some not so well. I always take them a grain of salt, as with most stat geeks; interesting data, lack luster analysis. I just don't see the point in righting about it.

Smith Sr. only needs 68 yards to reach 14,000 career yards. Not sure how his recovery is going, but 1068 (for 15,000 yards) could also be possible. Nine have eclipsed 14k and 5 are over 15k. Doable?

I've got high expectations for this kid. He has what we need. I hiope he can perform as such and be that elite receiver that we've been without. It's hard for the Ravens to home grow their recievers for some reason. I hope he breaks that mold. With he and Wallace on the out side and either Senior or Aiken in slot, I think that would potentially be a 3-headed monster for any defense. I'm cautiously optimistic.

I don;t know what to think of Jimmy Smith being out with his foot injury. If that's still bothering him we may've seen the best he has to offer. He need to prove he's a #1CB in this league and ont his team. If his foot is holding him back then they need a new #1.

Moveing back in the 2nd round twice avoiding drafting Spence was the best example of this. He was a first round talent, a perfect Ravens pick (like Jernigan) and could've been the next Terrell Suggs for us. I'm not taking anything away from Correa. He went right where he was predicted to go. Spence dropped alomst a full round over a drug problem that was resolved with 20 clean tests in a row.. Also, look at the game tape for these two and see how much more Spence does. Correa might end up being good, but Spence is going to be great. Book it.

Not only does this trade mean that a QB will go first, but likely 1st & 2nd too. I'm sure the Rams talked to Cleveland to avoid spending extra picks, but couldn't make a deal because Browns wanted the top QB too. Even with RG3 they're still QB needy and some think they're targeting Wentz (a Flacco-esque prospect). So now my question is: Will they draft a QB (likely Goff), use their pick Tunsil as they need line help or trade away? If Browns go QB too, Tunsil falls to San Diego who needs him. Dallas would likely take Ramsey or Bosa. Leaning toward Ramsey here. The Jags are linked to Myles Jack but could take either Ramsey or Bosa as well. Ravens then have a shot at possibly Ramsey, Bosa and Jack. If Jack goes at #5 then I'm super psyched over landing either Ramsey or Bosa. If Jags don't take Jack, Ravens have a choice of Jack or Buckner either of which I'm OK with. Leaning toward Buckner still, in which case little changes from most mocks out there now.

West should sue the pants off that hotel. Clearly some shady stuff there. Like was targeted by an employee. Also, with threat of violence, that's extra in "pain and suffering" over the $60k he's looking for. I had items stolen from my hotel room once when it was locked. Went to the beach a my cell, cash wedding ring watch, and laptop were stolen. When I complained to the hotel they told me I SHOULD HAVE used in room safe and they weren't responsible and told me to file a police report. I did...and called my attorney who said that there was no forced entry, rooms locked automatically and the hotel WAS INDEED responsible because it looked like an inside job. They settled for more than what the value of the items was worth because I had a case for financial loss, compromised personal and professional data and and personal "anguish". I hope Steve Smith returns only when ready and not rush it back for a preseason game. I'm really concerned that he gets injured again. Soft tissue injuries at his age are just going to happen more easily. The Falcons got themselves a good LB in Upshaw. He had some great hits on Big Ben that went for PF penalties (bogus calls imo) and I really think he was just starting to put it all together - this could've been his year as a Raven. Za'Darius showed some flashes last year, and hopefully he progresses quick. He's still learning and we need him to step up a lot this season.

I like what Spence is saying about his past and how he's managing himself for the future. I think he's over that part of his life and the lesson was learned, Question is what other teams feel this way - including the Ravens. If they target him will they be able to get away with a trade back for more picks and still land him? That's the trick. However, elite pass rushers are deep this year and whoever they grab with #6 pick will likely be a stud.

Can't see the Ravens drafting Elliott unless they trade back with a fist full of picks for him. The next AP or not, RBs are just not valued this way anymore and we already have money and bodies committed at RB. Besides, Forsett will not get cut. West, Allen and Taliaferro are all viable back-up candidates with great upside. Then the Richardson signing pretty much seals the deal for Elliott unless they draft him late in the 1st rd.

I can't tell how much of these articles are for entertaining the fans and how much they;re smoke screens for the draft. Clearly the Ravens can't miss picking at #6 this year - especially a front 7-type pick where they can use some immediate help. The only screw up will be in NOT maximizing the pick's leverage if they can trade back and don't. That's really going to depend on the trade-up battle to land Goff or Wentz. Even with Cleveland signing RG3 they could still take a QB to develop behind him for a year. Even one QB in the top 5 gives them a shot at a stud. Bosa, Jack, Spence, Buckner, and Lawson are all great picks and, yes, Bosa can fall to them just as CJ Mosely did in 2014. Maybe the Browns will make an equally stupid pick like the Steelers did then?

Upshaw may end up costing too much. Aftert he signings of Weddle and Wallace the Ravens are about $6.2M under the cap. We'll need more space this year if they draft a #6 overall pick which means not much left for a bigger Upshaw contract or even the $4.2M Mack's 2016 salary would cost.

Try asking Siri. While funny, I didn't actually get the same result. Doubtful it was real.

So in 2016 Mack would count $4.05M against our $6.2M. If that happened expect to a bunch of cut to make up for that amount so we can still pay our rookies. A 6th overall pick won't come cheap either. Since Monroe would be $6.6M in dead money compared to saving $2.2M, I wouldn't expect him to be a cap casualty either. Cuts would have to include Matt Elam($1.3M) and/or Justin Forsett ($2.3M) along with any combo of Ricky Wagner ($1.7M), Anthony Levine($1M), James Hurst($600k), Taliaferro($524k)) and possibly even Justin Forsett($2.3M).

The thing you all have to remember about the safety position, especially here in Bmore, is that it's one of the toughest positions to learn in terms of coverage. The greats make it look easy because they are either supremely gifted, hyper aware of the field, or have tons of experience. Reed was a freak and all our safeties will forever be compared to him just as our ILBs will be to Ray Lewis. Mosely fits the bill and us getting him after Ray is like the Colts getting Luck after Manning. I doubt Brooks will ever be any close to Ed Reed. Reed nailed in his rookie season. Weddle is a stud safety, but is not close to Reed's level either. He clearly works hard at his craft and in Pees' system he's probably the best player out there for FS. Brooks is still raw. Moreover, he looks like a FS than a SS which is apparent by his injury history.

It's sad reading these team comments. Just a tragic turn for a promising young player. I hope some good can be made of this in Tray's name.

Maybe he let the air out of his tires? The alleged Pats player was a witness. If there was one there, then he left the scene suspiciously without contacting the police. Too much coincidence for two random NFL players on the scene at the same time, then to just disappear. They obviously want to rule out any foul play.

I'm sure it's being considered, but I'd very much like to see the 2016 helmets and/or jerseys have a "25" to memorialize Tray much the way they did for Modell. Seems fitting.

So sad. And to think that he lost his father around this time last year. All the best to his suffering family.