Hypothetical: Players Retire/Released After SB Win

[ravenanchors]

Has anyone thought about how many players the Ravens might lose next year through retirement or trade/release.

I can't help thinking that alot of players were signed this year to help Ravens make it to the SB and will be released\traded next year. And if the Ravens win the SB some players might retire.

Will the Ravens go into Offensive obscurity after winning the SB like after the last SB.
I have to imagine that the FO has already thought about this and they have a plan on what positions to draft next year.

Here is my list of players who might not be back next year if we win the SB.
(This is the obvious list of players who might potentially retire or be released\traded)

Ray Lewis
Ed Reed
Matt Birk
Derick Mason
Housh (if he doesn't behave himself or wants more money)
Marc Bulger
Jared Gaither
Ken Hamlin
Kelly Greg

The biggest problem would be replacing Ray Lewis when he retires.
I don't think the Ravens have found anyone yet who comes close to his play making ability.

The Ravens seem to be loaded at the skill position (RB, WR, TE, CB) and have alot of young talent in the O-line and D-line to build the team for the next few years.
I think the Ravens would replace veterans through FA.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='ravenanchors' timestamp='1287155373' post='507967']
Has anyone thought about how many players the Ravens might lose next year through retirement or trade/release.

I can't help thinking that alot of players were signed this year to help Ravens make it to the SB and will be released\traded next year. And if the Ravens win the SB some players might retire.

Will the Ravens go into Offensive obscurity after winning the SB like after the last SB.
I have to imagine that the FO has already thought about this and they have a plan on what positions to draft next year.

Here is my list of players who might not be back next year if we win the SB.
(This is the obvious list of players who might potentially retire or be released\traded)

Ray Lewis
Ed Reed
Matt Birk
Derick Mason
Housh (if he doesn't behave himself or wants more money)
Marc Bulger
Jared Gaither
Ken Hamlin
Kelly Greg

The biggest problem would be replacing Ray Lewis when he retires.
I don't think the Ravens have found anyone yet who comes close to his play making ability.

The Ravens seem to be loaded at the skill position (RB, WR, TE, CB) and have alot of young talent in the O-line and D-line to build the team for the next few years.
I think the Ravens would replace veterans through FA.
[/quote]
Well, I officially hate the thought of this thread......not jumping in here

[TSizzle00]

Lets get that win against the Patriots. One step at a time.

[flynismo]

It's something I think about each year, lol... On offense, we have Flacco, Rice, Boldin, Oher, Grubbs, Dickson, Pitta. On defense, we have Ngata (I'm 100% certain we will resign him), Suggs, Webb, Foxy, Fabe, Cody, Kruger. All of those guys have years of top notch football ahead of them, and give us one helluva foundation. We may lose some, or even all, the players you mentioned, but they will be replaced by free agents/draft picks.

[BloodRaven]

Do we still have a place for Foxworth? right now he'd be our 3rd best CB at 7million a year.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1287158444' post='508021']
Do we still have a place for Foxworth? right now he'd be our 3rd best CB at 7million a year.
[/quote]

They might restructure his deal but I'm confident he can return the way Webb and Fabian have. He'll have more time to heal and rehab at least.

[Xxx52xxX]

Ray Lewis is not a potential retire.

[Jamal]

I think Foxworth would be our 2nd CB if he gets healthy next year. Webb, Fox, and Washington is a very solid secondary IMO.

As for the retirements, lets wait for us to make the playoffs before we start talking Superbowl.

[Vademor]

I think Ray Lewis would stay even if we do win the Super Bowl. I mean he still is one of the best in the NFL now at age 35!

[McBoller]

I think Ray might actually stay one more year also. I dont think there is a huge dropoff to next year and the possibility would still be there for a repeat.

[SnOoPy]

This thread makes me sad..lol No one will retire!!

[ravenanchors]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1287157875' post='508013']
It's something I think about each year, lol... On offense, we have Flacco, Rice, Boldin, Oher, Grubbs, Dickson, Pitta. On defense, we have Ngata (I'm 100% certain we will resign him), Suggs, Webb, Foxy, Fabe, Cody, Kruger. All of those guys have years of top notch football ahead of them, and give us one helluva foundation. We may lose some, or even all, the players you mentioned, but they will be replaced by free agents/draft picks.
[/quote]

Every year we lose players but they are normally average players who we won't miss too much. This year like we have a lot of great players who we may lose.
The Ravens may have difficulty replacing the talent.

[ravenanchors]

[quote name='McBoller' timestamp='1287162664' post='508074']
I think Ray might actually stay one more year also. I dont think there is a huge dropoff to next year and the possibility would still be there for a repeat.
[/quote]
I certainly hope so. I would miss watching him play.

[ravenanchors]

[quote name='Jamal' timestamp='1287158895' post='508030']
I think Foxworth would be our 2nd CB if he gets healthy next year. Webb, Fox, and Washington is a very solid secondary IMO.

As for the retirements, lets wait for us to make the playoffs before we start talking Superbowl.
[/quote]

Remember the last superbowl win, there were a lot of players released the next year or two. I am not saying we will win a SB this year, but if we do, we may lose more players than I was able to think of because of contracts and retirement.

[ravenanchors]

besides the threads are getting a little boring except for the "Cry Baby" thread.

[reediddy]

This is OFFSEASON talk, not regular season. Let's talk about our upcoming game

[flynismo]

[quote name='ravenanchors' timestamp='1287162951' post='508080']<br />Every year we lose players but they are normally average players who we won't miss too much.  This year like we have a lot of great players who we may lose.<br />The Ravens may have difficulty replacing the talent.<br />[/quote]

Its never easy, but our front office sure makes it seem like it is....

Need a qb? Lets trade for McNair, or draft Flacco.
Jamal is over the hill? Let's trade for Willis, then draft Rice.
Need a DE? grab Pryce.
Our wide recievers suck? Let's trade for Boldin, and sign TJ and Stallworth.

Etc etc...

I'm not worried about replacing talent, simply because the F.O. has built a great foundation for the team that will be able to weather change for years to come.

[flynismo]

[quote name='reediddy' timestamp='1287163458' post='508095']<br />This is OFFSEASON talk, not regular season. Let's talk about our upcoming game<br />[/quote]


There's a hundred other threads dedicated to that.

And just an FYI-
this forum is titled Ravens Talk, not Regular Season Talk...so be cool, if you want to talk about the game, go check out one of those threads.

[ravenanchors]

I am not talking about going to the SB, I am talking about reasons players may not be with the Ravens next year.
There could be a lockout next year that could contribute to changing the makeup of the Ravens.

Some of the players may see this as their last best hope to make it to the SB in their career.
In fact I believe that is why some of them signed with the Ravens this year.

[flynismo]

[quote name='ravenanchors' timestamp='1287165167' post='508137']Some of the players may see this as their last best hope to make it to the SB in their career. In fact I believe that is why some of them signed with the Ravens this year.[/quote]

Yeah, no question. TJ already more or less came out and said so (then again what doesn't he say..)

[Twoo]

My (unfortunate) list:

Retires/Leaves

Lewis
Mason
Gregg
Birk
Heap
Hamlin
McG
Bulger
Ayanbadejo

Players that will probably stay

Housh - will realize he will be the #2 when Mason retires
Reed - Got his 1st ring, feels amazing, comes back for a possible second ring

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Twoo' timestamp='1287173823' post='508249']
My (unfortunate) list:

Retires/Leaves

Lewis
Mason
Gregg
Birk
Heap
Hamlin
McG
Bulger
Ayanbadejo

Players that will probably stay

Housh - will realize he will be the #2 when Mason retires
Reed - Got his 1st ring, feels amazing, comes back for a possible second ring
[/quote]
Heap?

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1287179069' post='508319']
Heap?
[/quote]

He'll be going into his contract year and the team may decide to release him with Dickson and Pitta on the roster.

[bauer77]

LOL wow. i know some players want to "go out on top" but you guys are throwing players out that are over 30. the only people i see retiring IF we win the super bowl:
Mason
Gregg
possibly Reed (if he realizes he isnt the player he used to be after the injuries)

Cut:
Hamlin (if he even makes it through the rest of the season without being cut)

and i think Housh returns cause hes finally on a winning team and he realizes that lol. he has stepped up the last few games, i think we bring him back on a 2-3 year contract.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1287179341' post='508322']
He'll be going into his contract year and the team may decide to release him with Dickson and Pitta on the roster.
[/quote]
I've been reading this entire post as "retired" and not even paying attention to the fact that the OP mentioned "released" as well.......I got it now.

[ravenanchors]

I've noticed that Housh has been stepping it up and playing as a team member. The Ravens may be changing his attitude for the better with their strong team philosophy. If thats the case I hope he remains a Raven.

The question I have about Housh is, are the ravens willing to pay him next year and will Mason retire and allow Housh to step into the 2nd receiver spot. If Mason doesn't retire, Housh may move on of his own accord.


I hate to think Heap is leaving, he is playing very well. Dickson is looking pretty good also with that 58 yd catch and dragging the defender 15yds downfield. That was nice.

[ravenanchors]

[quote name='bauer77' timestamp='1287179526' post='508325']
LOL wow. i know some players want to "go out on top" but you guys are throwing players out that are over 30. the only people i see retiring IF we win the super bowl:
Mason
Gregg
possibly Reed (if he realizes he isnt the player he used to be after the injuries)

Cut:
Hamlin (if he even makes it through the rest of the season without being cut)

and i think Housh returns cause hes finally on a winning team and he realizes that lol. he has stepped up the last few games, i think we bring him back on a 2-3 year contract.
[/quote]
If Reed comes back healthy, I would bet Hamlin doesn't last the year. Reed to me is a toss up because we really don't know enough about his injuries. With the neck injury and then hip injury, he may be thinking If he gets a ring, his health
may become more important to him than continuing to play.

[bauer77]

[quote name='ravenanchors' timestamp='1287180717' post='508342']
If Reed comes back healthy, I would bet Hamlin doesn't last the year. Reed to me is a toss up because we really don't know enough about his injuries. With the neck injury and then hip injury, he may be thinking If he gets a ring, his health
may become more important to him than continuing to play.
[/quote]



Once Reed and Ayanbedjio (sp?) come back from injury, dont we have to cut 2 people to make room for them? or are they already using 2 spots on the roster? because then hamlin will definitly be gone. But yeah i think if he still feels the pain after winning the super bowl, he will retire. it will be a sad day, probably one of the best safeties in the NFL if not the best (when he was healthy).

[ravenanchors]

Yeah, thats one of the issues I have is that these players are top tier and you hate to see them leave next year.

Most of the players on the list are veterans and the Ravens would lose a lot of leadership on the team.

[bauer77]

yeah but i just dont think we lose all those players that people are saying. Ray is still playing great at the age of 35, and i believe he still has a lot to give to this team. And Mason signed a 2 year deal i believe so he may come back to finish his contract. Gregg is gettin older and he is slowing down so he will probably retire. Bulger could battle somewhere for a starting spot and he could be going. Hamlin will be gone before the season ends. Heap will stay. he will play a key role in mentoring Dickson and Pitta. McGahee is still playing good. and he doesnt seem to complain or anything that he doesnt start. so i think he stays. and Birk is still a pro bowl center in my opinion.