Speed Kills

I get that he is old, but I truly believe Steve Smith has a big year in the way we need him (Example: mentoring Torrey and Marlon, clutch 3rd down catches, leadership, a few td's, decent yardage). Remember last year he was the Panthers number 1 wr so he drew the opposing teams best week in and week out and at 34 still put up pretty good numbers considering. Also consider the Panthers were so sorry at WR he couldn't play slot which is his best position as much as he should have. They needed him outside. Add in the fact that his balls are arguably as big as Justin Tucker's, he always shows up in big games even hurt, plays with a huge chip on his shoulder that will only be bigger this year, and is probably one of the toughest players in the game and I don't get why more people aren't more excited about him coming. Me personally I will be extremely thrilled when this is done and believe it should be priority number 1 like Oz is treating it

If we get Steve Smith I will cry tears of joy. ICE UP SON

I don't get the Pitta hype at all. Let him walk, he is not that great. We can find a better replacement than him, he's no Jimmy Graham or Gronk so they shouldn't have to shell out like he is those guys. Or a top 10 TE for that matter cause he isn't. We got torrey and marlon. Are those guys great? No, but they are decent enough to catch passes. Draft Ebron and let someone else over pay this guy and be disappointed he isn't the superstar they are paying him to be.

If we hire Kyle Shanahan I will be sorely disappointed in this franchise. The Ravens had a front row seat to watch the train wreck that was the Washington Redskins just 30 miles down the road and after watching that the guy you want to lead this offense is one of the leaders in driving that train into the ground? I want no part of an offensive coordinator who by all accounts is not a people person and in one year single handily made his QB and half his assistant coaches hate his guts. The guy is a cancer. Jim Zorn is no better, the redskins were horrible under him. Anybody but these two losers please!

I have said it before I will say it again. LET HIM WALK. He looked horrible today and this draft class is stacked with quality TE. Take the UNC kid in the 1st round and upgrade the position. Pitta and Torrey are good weapons. They aren't great and this offense and Joe need a few great weapons. I would rather let them walk than overpay and clog up the valuable cap space. I think we will find a lot of answers in the draft for these weapons.

Calvin Johnson is a freak of nature.  Jacoby Jones is not Calvin Johnson.

 

And why do you think we'll have to pay Pitta that much?  I don't know where you're getting that from.  I know he's not Graham or Gronk, and he's not going to get paid like them either.

I really hope not, I just have a feeling we will shell out a similar contract to the one Hernandez got or Mercedes Lewis a few years back from the Jaguars. I just feel like he has gotten a lot of attention about how much this team needs him and all it is going to do is move the price up on him. If he was coming cheap they would have locked him up last offseason.

You don't get explosive plays unless you have a core around that explosive player that commands respect.  Teams have to respect Pitta over the middle, which opens up the deep ball for a guy like Jacoby.  I want Jacoby back, but if I have the choice between Pitta and Jacoby, I'm taking Pitta.  Explosive plays are once in awhile.  There's more value out of a guy that can make the tough catch over the middle consistently and extend drives on 3rd down.  As much of a weapon as Jacoby is, he can't consistently make those types of plays.

Calvin Johnson before they got Reggie Bush this year was the core and the supporting cast and still routinely was a game changer as he produced huge explosive plays every game. So that is a false statement sir. Jacoby doesn't do it every game, but its the closest thing we have and it is extremely valuable in this league. I hope we can retain Monroe, Jacoby and Pitta, but I just don't think Pitta deserves top tight end money. He has never had a season over 700 yards why should we pay him like he is Jimmy Graham or Gronk. 700 yards can be replaced for much cheaper by drafting a TE in the first or second round this year, it is a pretty good talent crop of them unlike last year.

We didn't have a redzone offense and Flacco had no reliable receivers on 3rd down without PItta. 

Jacoby is a great Kick Returner, that's it. He is still unreliable at catching the ball and is not a viable option as the 2nd receiver in an offense opposite of Torrey (You know that, if you have seen the game against the Vikings). He already failed to be that in Houston opposite of Andre Johnson (And Torrey is not Andre Johnson).

 

Jacoby is a good #3 WR and a great kick returner. But, we would be just fine with Marlon Brown and Doss filling in those roles respectively. I would NOT take him over Pitta. I hope we can sign Jacoby to return kicks for us, but Pitta is the best receiver we had in a while (You must've seen him play and the impact he has on the passing game) and you don't lose guys like that, you sign them.

I mean he is good, but the salary cap forces you to make hard choices. Pitta IS NOT a game breaker or a game changer. Jacoby is. I think we could replace Pitta's production through the draft instead of shelling out cash in the ballpark of what the Pats paid Hernandez or the Jaguars paid Mercedes Lewis a few years ago. I want Pitta back bad, but I will be pissed if we pay him on par with the best TE's in the league because that is too much for him. Same thing goes for Torrey Smith for that matter, he ain't worth Mike Wallace $$$, neither is Mike Wallace.

I take a good WR and TE over a great Kick Returner. Jacobys biggest asset is a play that happens once or twice a season (one, that we have seen Doss being capable of). I'd take consistently great offense over great special teams ANY TIME.

 

I want the Ravens to sign Monroe and Pitta at the very least. Even if it costs us Jones.

Once or twice a season on special teams and also a few times as a deep threat receiver. You are seriously underselling his big play ability. Tandon Doss is an absolute bum who couldn't catch the plague if he lived in the Late Middle Ages. Hopefully this guy is off the roster next year and the closest he should ever get to the NFL ever again is an NFL all access pass from the comfort of his couch. Tandon Doss haha get out of here with that man.

Also Pitta is good, but do you really wanna pay top $$$ to a guy whos best season accumulated less than 670 yards receiving?? I like him and want him back, but if he wants a ton of money I would rather pay to keep Jacoby and take either the TE from Washington or UNC in the first round next year since both of them are great and can probably give around the same production if not better. That also gives a little additional money to sign someone else we may want too since Jacoby would definitely cost less than Pitta.

Look Monroe is 1st priority, but after that I mean I put Jacoby on the same level as Pitta currently. I wanna see how Pitta finishes out this season first and let him show me he can be Joe's go to number 1. The thing about Pitta and Torrey Smith for that matter is AT THIS POINT neither can take over a game and really be a game breaker. They are both good, neither are great. Unfortunately this team doesn't appear to have a GREAT player at a skill position, a Megatron or AP if you will that is a boss every single game and who defenses really can't shut down every single game. Jacoby Jones is the closest thing to that that we have. The dude is a game breaker and does it more consistently than anyone else on the roster we have and that is valuable even if it only comes mostly through returns