Hypothetical: Players Retire/Released After SB Win

[George70]

[quote name='TSizzle00' timestamp='1287156218' post='507980']
Lets get that win against the Patriots. One step at a time.
[/quote]

I agree with you,friend, we take this one day at a time, one game at a time. Let's not go talking about retirements and free agency just yet.

[Milton145]

Anyone have a list of everyone who's gonna be a FA on this team next year?

And that'll suck if Mason retires next year but at least we'll still have Boldin who is going to clearly be our No. 1 Receiver the next 4 years.

If we don't retain Housh then I think it'll be time to spend a first rounder on a WR next year...we're complete and have a bright future at every other position except receiver since all of our starters are over 30.

[Jamal]

Ray Lewis is playing on such a high level. He could probably play for another couple seasons.

[bauer77]

[quote name='Milton145' timestamp='1287187797' post='508401']
Anyone have a list of everyone who's gonna be a FA on this team next year?

And that'll suck if Mason retires next year but at least we'll still have Boldin who is going to clearly be our No. 1 Receiver the next 4 years.

If we don't retain Housh then I think it'll be time to spend a first rounder on a WR next year...we're complete and have a bright future at every other position except receiver since all of our starters are over 30.
[/quote]

i dont know about every position. we definitly need some d-line help

[ravenanchors]

This is the type of subject the Owners and F.O. have to discuss and plan for this year.
They know that players are getting near retirement and they will lose pro bowl caliber players at the end of the season for a variety of reasons.

Not every topic can be about the game.

[bauer77]

[quote name='George70' timestamp='1287187130' post='508391']
I agree with you,friend, we take this one day at a time, one game at a time. Let's not go talking about retirements and free agency just yet.
[/quote]


Im not being a jerk or anything, but thats what the titles for. if you didnt wanna talk about it, you didnt have to open this topic lol.

[noy]

[quote name='bauer77' timestamp='1287189324' post='508416']
Im not being a jerk or anything, but thats what the titles for. if you didnt wanna talk about it, you didnt have to open this topic lol.
[/quote]

Sometimes common sense isn't so common. It's like our mental state has something to do wit the team winning or losing games, lol.

If Ray retires, I would cry. Well, I'd be really sad, and I'd be extremely wary of the way our defense would play, especially if Reed retires too.

The team says Chester has been playing well recently, and since he's played at Center, would Birk retiring be as big of an impact as we think?

[BloodRaven]

There are also contracts to consider, we need money to tie up Ngata.

[bauer77]

[quote name='noy' timestamp='1287190154' post='508423']
Sometimes common sense isn't so common. It's like our mental state has something to do wit the team winning or losing games, lol.

If Ray retires, I would cry. Well, I'd be really sad, and I'd be extremely wary of the way our defense would play, especially if Reed retires too.

The team says Chester has been playing well recently, and since he's played at Center, would Birk retiring be as big of an impact as we think?
[/quote]



LOL yeah i guess your right. sigh. lol


and yes. i dont care. i would cry too. lol. i grew up watching him and i feel sorry for the kids growing up who wont get to watch him in his prime or watch him play at all for that matter.


i believe brik retiring would be a huge impact. if i remember correctly, before we had jason brown (who left last year to the rams) we used chester at center. and i think he got blown up, a lot lol. so that might not work as well. if we lose birk, i think we go sign another vet, or draft a guy. but i dont think birk will retire IMO

[Milton145]

[quote name='bauer77' timestamp='1287188031' post='508405']
i dont know about every position. we definitly need some d-line help
[/quote]

We got Suggs, we're almost surely going to resign Ngata, we got Kruger, we got Cody, and Kindle is going to come back. Those are our future D-Line stars.

We also got a little project in Art Jones. We could MAYBE look at D-Line but not in the early rounds. The great thing about our team is that we can draft whoever we want next year instead of immediate needs. We're so ahead of the game that we don't draft for the present, we draft for the future (if you get what I'm saying). Our first rounders, unlike most, are going to be at least second on the depth chart when they come here. That's how good we have been.

[bauer77]

I thought Kindle is gonna be a LB? or is he gonna be like what suggs is, a tweener?

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='bauer77' timestamp='1287191561' post='508438']
I thought Kindle is gonna be a LB? or is he gonna be like what suggs is, a tweener?
[/quote]

Assuming he's able to get back on the football field, Kindle may see a few snaps per game as a down lineman but he'll mostly be a rush LB and drop into coverage at times.

[bauer77]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1287192614' post='508448']
Assuming he's able to get back on the football field, Kindle may see a few snaps per game as a down lineman but he'll mostly be a rush LB and drop into coverage at times.
[/quote]


ah i see. yeah hopefully he gets back onto the field. im more worried about his health though than his career.

[Jamal]

Hate to say it, but I don't see Kindle having an actual career in football. The injury is just way too severe. Who knows if he could risk a concussion.

Hopefully we pick a LB in the draft or FA to play behind JJ and Suggs.

[ravenanchors]

[quote name='bauer77' timestamp='1287190529' post='508428']
LOL yeah i guess your right. sigh. lol


and yes. i dont care. i would cry too. lol. i grew up watching him and i feel sorry for the kids growing up who wont get to watch him in his prime or watch him play at all for that matter.


i believe brik retiring would be a huge impact. if i remember correctly, before we had jason brown (who left last year to the rams) we used chester at center. and i think he got blown up, a lot lol. so that might not work as well. if we lose birk, i think we go sign another vet, or draft a guy. but i dont think birk will retire IMO
[/quote]
Birks name doesn't get mentioned much or at all.
But as a run blocker and protecting the QB he does a great job.
He doesn't complain and seems to be in good health. I'm actually surprised that a 310lb guy can play that position for 13yrs.

[bauer77]

[quote name='ravenanchors' timestamp='1287195872' post='508478']
Birks name doesn't get mentioned much or at all.
But as a run blocker and protecting the QB he does a great job.
He doesn't complain and seems to be in good health. I'm actually surprised that a 310lb guy can play that position for 13yrs.
[/quote]



you know what position he plays? lol i dont see many centers around the league getting their name mentioned. and its his training that has kept him playing for so long. i read a thing a couple days ago that said he trains and stuff a lot

[JO_75]

[quote name='ravenanchors' timestamp='1287155373' post='507967']
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 Gregg
[/quote]

Here's My Take:

Ray Lewis: The Brett Favre of Linebacker, he'll play into his 40's and still be knocking out TEs(Keller) and RBs(Sproles).

Ed Reed: He can play 6 more Years at Best, 4 at Minimum

Matt Birk: Another Couple seasons, maybe 3-4 years.

Derick Mason: Since he is on a 2 year deal, I could see him retiring if we win the Super Bowl.

Housh- He'll leave via Free Agency

Marc Bulger- He'll leave via Free Agency

Jared Gaither- He'll be here another year considering that if a CBA gets done it won't be in effect until 2012 so that means Gaither will be tendered. Or he'll be traded.

Ken Hamlin- He's gone once Reed returns so he may be a Free Agent the remainder of the year.

Kelly Gregg- 50/50 chance of retiring, I could see him hanging around for at least 1-2 more years to let us develop Cody more before Cody takes over at NT full time.

[BloodRaven]

Mase will retire, ring or not.

[bauer77]

yeah i dont see reed goin 4-6 more years.

[flynismo]

,[quote name='ravenanchors' timestamp='1287195872' post='508478']<br />Birks name doesn't get mentioned much or at all.<br />But as a run blocker and protecting the QB he does a great job.<br />He doesn't complain and seems to be in good health.  I'm actually surprised that a 310lb guy can play that position for 13yrs.<br />[/quote]

meh...Birk hasn't really been playing all that well. HIm and Chester...not a big fan,,,,

[flynismo]

Ma$e is gone, TJ is PROBABLY gone (unless he's willing to take a fat pay cut), I'd be very surprised if Reed returns either way, Gaither is good as gone already, Gregg is gone.I'm curious to see what we do about fabe, i believe this is his contract year. HE may not want to return next year if he plays this well throughout the year (might want a starting gig somewhere).Stallworth is another guy on the bubble. He better play real well if he plans on being invited back.

[flynismo]

If mase, tj and stallworth are all no longer with us (a very real possibility), that is going to make for a very interesting offseason. I can just hear the clayton lovers now "see, we never should have traded him!"

[ravenanchors]

[quote name='bauer77' timestamp='1287196223' post='508483']
you know what position he plays? lol i dont see many centers around the league getting their name mentioned. and its his training that has kept him playing for so long. i read a thing a couple days ago that said he trains and stuff a lot
[/quote]
Centers don't normally last as long as Birk, their knees and backs give out, and working out doesn't help.

[zarkmepp]

Ray, will play next year super bowl or not!

[ravenanchors]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1287204528' post='508529']
If mase, tj and stallworth are all no longer with us (a very real possibility), that is going to make for a very interesting offseason. I can just hear the clayton lovers now "see, we never should have traded him!"
[/quote]

The thing about all the players we might lose is that they are playing at the top of their game right now and probably better than players who would replace them.

I can see Mase retiring after he gets the ring.

I can see Housh leaving because he wants a big payday and Ravens believe in value for their money. A good player at a cheap price.

Stallworth might not get very much playing time this year. Housh would not want to split time with him. Ravens might keep Stall because he is cheaper than Housh.
It will be interesting to see if Reed or Marcus steps up.

People are split on wether Ed Reed will return or not next year. I agree with you that he will not return. I think he wants to be part of a SB win this year but I think retirement is in his mind.

Drafting:
The obvious is we need a backup QB. There seems to be a shortage of good QB's and even worse shortage of good backup QB's In the league this year.

I think Ravens should try to get LB's. Try to find another Ray Lewis?

[AsianRice]

By the way of Ray Lewis loving football for so many years, I don't think he's ever retired at least to the age of Favre.

PS: I refuse to read all the pages because legendary don't retire yet....

[SnOoPy]

i think Ray has 3-4 more years..hopefuly..

[EnVy_CaLiBeR]

Man, this topic made me so upset. The thought of Ray Lewis retiring is just ugh.

In my opinion this is will/probably/should happen:

Ray Lewis: Has about 2-3 years left in him.

Ed Reed: Considering neck injury still a problem even if we don't know the extent, I'd give him two years till he wants to call it quits and worry about his health.

Derrick Mason: I honestly think he's done after this year.

TJ: I believe he should be retained with a two year extension just so we won't be left again with only one threat at WR.

Stallworth: I honestly believe if he doesn't produce we should let him go and get a more durable, deep threat in the draft as the third receiver. He's a decent receiver and a deep threat but he's also injury prone and is also almost in his 30s. We need a young wideout behind TJ growing in the slot so we won't be aging completely at WR. Should take a receiver in the 3rd round preferably considering how deep next years draft is at receiver.

Fabian Washington: Can't see us letting him go especially with him playing well and Foxworth being uncertain coming off injury despite how he and Webb returned. Foxworth's contract will be restructured because 7 million a year is hefty for a corner coming off an ACL injury.

Matt Birk: 1-2 more years left.

Ngata: Signed. Enough said.

Gaither, Hamlin, are gone I believe also. With all this taken into thought, we need to think about our Defensive line next draft in the first round and see about an offensive line in the second.

Kelly Gregg: 1-2 more years left to develop Cody.

[ravenanchors]

I really like the thoughful and intelligent responses.
It is a sad thought that soon we may not see Ed Reed or Mason or Lewis play again especially since they have been with the Ravens for a long time and have contributed so much.

I hope many of you are right, that we may have a few years left to watch these players.

But it makes you think and perhaps appreciate the players we have who are making the the team great even when they falter.