If Gaither Were To Go...

[Clutch Ravens]

Would anyone be opposed to acquiring newly cut right tackle Shawn Andrews?

I would be assuming we still drafted a tackle later in the draft as an insurance policy, however, you don't see 27 year old Pro-Bowl right tackles walking the street every day.

So, assuming we could get him for a good price, how many of us would be willing to give Shawn Andrews a look see [b][/b][i]IF[/i][u][/u] Gaither were to be departing Baltimore?

[charchboii]

no

[NinjaTurtle]

I thought he was a guard?

[kze]

[quote name='NinjaTurtle' date='18 March 2010 - 11:41 AM' timestamp='1268908885' post='378977']
I thought he was a guard?
[/quote]

He is.

[lowrider]

[quote name='kze' date='18 March 2010 - 09:43 AM' timestamp='1268919806' post='379009']
He is.
[/quote]
That's what I thought too, if he is a guard and Gaither is a tackle then what is the point of getting Shawn Andrews?

[AwakenTheDemon]

Only reason I could see getting Andrews would be to start him at Right Guard, slide Yanda to Right Tackle, and move Oher to Left Tackle... but yeah...

[RoflDogs]

Yanda was terrible at RT last year

[bakesesh75]

i dont like the idea of getting andrews but, i do like the idea of gaither joining another team. As much as i love him even since maryland a first round tender is worth it because we have a limited numbher of draft picks.we could get a younger and healthier tackle or maybe mays with the other draft pick to mold into reeds position and then get a DT or DE with our original pick.

[RoflDogs]

Btw, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JARED GAITHER!!!

He is now 24 years old

[Ed_Reed20]

LOL! Happy Birthday Jared.

As for Andrews, he's had bouts with depression and career-threatening injuries. I'd pass.

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='RoflDogs' date='18 March 2010 - 12:14 PM' timestamp='1268928886' post='379101']
Btw, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JARED GAITHER!!!
[b]
He is now 24 years old[/b]
[/quote]

That is why we can't let him go...

[AwakenTheDemon]

[quote name='RoflDogs' date='18 March 2010 - 10:59 AM' timestamp='1268927986' post='379094']
Yanda was terrible at RT last year
[/quote]

Oh I know, I'm just saying that's the only way I could see us signing Andrews. Either way, I don't see the logic in replacing a beast tackle by signing a guard and sliding another guard over to be a liability on the line.

[gilgamesh]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' date='18 March 2010 - 12:18 PM' timestamp='1268932728' post='379145']
Oh I know, I'm just saying that's the only way I could see us signing Andrews. Either way, I don't see the logic in replacing a beast tackle by signing a guard and sliding another guard over to be a liability on the line.
[/quote]
You forgot "young" before the "beast tackle" part.

[reediddy]

eh nope, too many injury problems. and apparently he skips practices to record music on the sidelines...

[RoflDogs]

Shawn Andrews was supposed to play RT this year, his brother, Stacy, at RG btw

[Clutch Ravens]

I just thought I'd bring this up because there's a thread on just about any other Free Agent. I thought he was still a tackle because I'm fairly sure that was where he played during the first few years of his career (when he was good), but I may be wrong.

I, personally, wouldn't really want us to, but I wanted to get everyone else's opinions on the guy.

I'm fairly sure I actually found a video of him recording some music on youtube and somewhere in my comment referred to him as a lazy ****. Hey, maybe I'm to blame for his depression...

[Foxworth]

Gaithers only 24? Jesus.

[JO_75]

Dear Front Office,

Please Sign Jared Gaither to a long term contract now or tomorrow, or just sometime within the next week. Gaither is a crucial part of the offensive line and losing him would hurt the line, oh and that would shut down 2 threads here on the board about Gaither leaving and prevent any other Trade Gaither threads from popping up. Plus the fact you haven't signed him yet worries me that you are entertaining offers for him, please sign him, Joe won't be able to find Boldin down field if the left side of the line falls apart/right side of the line falls apart. 6 years $70 million should work, I hope.

Thanks,

JO_75

[Florida Ravens Fan]

[quote name='bakesesh75' date='18 March 2010 - 12:04 PM' timestamp='1268928245' post='379098']
i dont like the idea of getting andrews but, i do like the idea of gaither joining another team. As much as i love him even since maryland a first round tender is worth it because we have a limited numbher of draft picks.we could get a younger and healthier tackle or maybe mays with the other draft pick to mold into reeds position and then get a DT or DE with our original pick.
[/quote]


Letting him go for a first round tender is absurd!! For what?? so we can use the first round tender to draft another tackle who is unproven! How much more younger do you want? He just turned 24! I don't think that will be a smart move, if the money situation is right keep him OZZIE! Like JO said sign him to a long contract.

[Radinho84]

i just don´t get the people who whanna get rid of gaither for draft picks. if he was in this draft he would easily be the top tackle and a sure top 5 pick. so what do u whanna do? trade him for a 1st round pick and then sign an unprofen tackle, what is just what u would have to do if gaither is gone. please stop this nonsense!!! him and oher are one of the best tackle duos in the league right now and for years to come. u have the threats for flacco now and u whanna limit his protection. oh my god i am so glad that the oz is doing this job for us and not any of those madden based scouts out there...

[Clutch Ravens]

[quote name='Radinho84' date='19 March 2010 - 04:14 AM' timestamp='1268986447' post='379648']
i just don´t get the people who whanna get rid of gaither for draft picks. if he was in this draft he would easily be the top tackle and a sure top 5 pick. so what do u whanna do? trade him for a 1st round pick and then sign an unprofen tackle, what is just what u would have to do if gaither is gone. please stop this nonsense!!! him and oher are one of the best tackle duos in the league right now and for years to come. u have the threats for flacco now and u whanna limit his protection. oh my god i am so glad that the oz is doing this job for us and not any of those madden based scouts out there...
[/quote]

Nobody's saying that they want Gaither gone, but it's financially unfeasable to keep two tackles on left tackle money. In a perfect world we'd be able to keep the pair of them and probably have the best line book-enders in the NFL for the next decade, barring the unforeseen.

What it really all comes down to is money.

[AwakenTheDemon]

The reason most people wouldn't really "mind" Gaither going to another team is due to the fact that we really [i]can't[/i] afford Gaither and Oher. Let's not forget, Ngata is coming to the end of his contract soon. Yeah, it'd suck to see Gaither go, but if it has to be done, well, nows as good a time as any to get another 1st round pick in this draft (either to use on a player or to acquire additional picks). Regardless, if he were traded, I do not think we'd turn around and draft a tackle with the first round pick.

[Radinho84]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' date='19 March 2010 - 04:30 AM' timestamp='1268987402' post='379651']
The reason most people wouldn't really "mind" Gaither going to another team is due to the fact that we really [i]can't[/i] afford Gaither and Oher. Let's not forget, Ngata is coming to the end of his contract soon. Yeah, it'd suck to see Gaither go, but if it has to be done, well, nows as good a time as any to get another 1st round pick in this draft (either to use on a player or to acquire additional picks). Regardless, if he were traded, I do not think we'd turn around and draft a tackle with the first round pick.
[/quote]
i see what u are saying, but if you don´t whant to draft a T how would u fix the gap?
by signing a veteran? i do not think that there is any player on the market that could fill in.
or by starting one of our backups?

i don´t see why we shouldn´t afford them both

[AwakenTheDemon]

Both of them are extremely young tackles with huge up-sides. Look at all the praise Oher's got in just one year, and Gaither gets almost, if not just as much, praise. Both are considered to be future pro-bowl tackles, so to lock them up long term, they both are going to want big paydays. You simply can't afford to give them both huge dollars, as much as you'd want to. It'll handcuff you in retaining star players at other positions. Like I said, Ngata is also approaching the end of HIS contract next year, I believe. Would you rather us spend a huge chunk of money on our tackles and let Ngata go? I wouldn't. When it comes down to it, the financial side of the ball will dictate whether Gaither stays or go, as sad as it is. If something can be worked out so the majority of our cash isn't invested in the offensive line, then great. If not, it's nothing personal against Jared or his ability (we all know what a tremendous talent and steal he was).

I'm not saying don't draft a tackle if we traded him. I'm saying I don't see us drafting a tackle in the first round if we traded him. Unless we didn't trade the 1st round pick we got for him, then maybe. Otherwise, there are other needs that should be addressed. Hell, if Ozzie thought there was a free agent tackle that could play RT for us and move Oher to LT, I'd be okay with it and trust him. Yes, it'll be a downgrade in the offensive line (if only Oher could play RT and LT at the same time), but it'd keep us from having to let stars elsewhere on the team walk.

[-Truth-]

[quote name='Florida Ravens Fan' date='18 March 2010 - 09:33 PM' timestamp='1268965983' post='379562']
Letting him go for a first round tender is absurd!! For what?? so we can use the first round tender to draft another tackle who is unproven! How much more younger do you want? He just turned 24! I don't think that will be a smart move, if the money situation is right keep him OZZIE! Like JO said sign him to a long contract.
[/quote]
Who ever said the Ravens would draft a Tackle with the pick they'd receive back? We'd probably draft the BPA. If Haden, Berry, or Bryant fall to us, it's almost a certainty they'd get the call from the Purple and Black. At the moment, San Fransisco makes too much sense. They're looking for a Tackle as one of their 13th or 16th spots, and would be smart to give Gaither a look since he's already a proven talent. We found Jared in the Supplemental Draft. If he does indeed go, it would be a shame in terms of talent, but a smart business move in terms of saving money for other contracts. Does anyone else think Ozzie would find a suitable replacement? I do.

[The Flock]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' date='18 March 2010 - 11:51 AM' timestamp='1268927492' post='379090']
Only reason I could see getting Andrews would be to start him at Right Guard, slide Yanda to Right Tackle, and move Oher to Left Tackle... but yeah...
[/quote]
Yanda wasn't good at all at RT last year. Plus, I couldn't see us getting rid of Gaither, he's only 24. He hasn't even reached his prime yet.

[AwakenTheDemon]

Like I said before in this thread, I'm not saying I want Yanda at RT. I'm very, very aware of his play at right tackle. What I was saying in that quote was one of the few ways I could see us modifying our line if we signed Andrews after trading Gaither. It does not make sense to replace a guard with a tackle, unless that guard is also talented at playing tackle (Yanda is an example of a guard you don't want replacing a tackle). And for everyone who keeps saying they can't see us getting rid of him, please go back and read what's been said. It's not a knock on him, everyone know he's a young guy with tremendous upside. It's all about the dollar, if Oher hadn't fallen into our laps last year, then no one would have been talking about trading Gaither.

[Brendan Ayres]

There will be a time when we will need to consider trading Gaither. It certainly doesn't have to be (nor should it be) this year. But think about it, Gaither clearly sees himself as a LT. I feel that our organization views Michael Oher as our LT of the future, and rightfully so. Since LTs garner more money on the free agent market, it is not a question of IF Gaither would sign with another team, but rather WHEN he will sign with another team. Although we shouldn't make this move right now, 1-2 years down the road would defintely be a good time to explore trade options.

[AwakenTheDemon]

I don't exactly think the team thinks Oher is our LT of the future. He played superbly at both ends of the line, he's just accustomed to left tackle by nature. However, both men would want left tackle money. I'm sure Gaither would want to stay with Baltimore, but if we aren't able to sign the check, then it might force his hand. Although I don't think it's such a certainty of him leaving. I do believe it's a high possibility that he will end up on another team. And in that case, I'd rather get something than just have him leave through free agency. With the way this draft looks, another first rather, either to keep or trade for additional picks would definitely help.

[Brendan Ayres]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' date='19 March 2010 - 03:32 PM' timestamp='1269023553' post='379923']
I don't exactly think the team thinks Oher is our LT of the future. He played superbly at both ends of the line, he's just accustomed to left tackle by nature. However, both men would want left tackle money. I'm sure Gaither would want to stay with Baltimore, but if we aren't able to sign the check, then it might force his hand. Although I don't think it's such a certainty of him leaving. I do believe it's a high possibility that he will end up on another team. And in that case, I'd rather get something than just have him leave through free agency. With the way this draft looks, another first rather, either to keep or trade for additional picks would definitely help.
[/quote]

While I agree with you, the team has at times questioned Gaither's work ethic. I haven't heard even whispers of these concerns with Oher.