Jared Gaither

[lowrider]

Jared Gaither, when healthy, has been our best LT. I questioned his work ethic last year, but he was hurt and there is nothing a person can do about injuries. I'm looking at the situation as a whole:

1. the lockout prevents free agency so Gaither can't explore the market
2. Oher struggled last year at LT but was a very good RT (not saying Oher couldn't be a good LT because i think he can but he did struggle last year)
3. Because of Gaither's injury last year, I doubt many teams will want to invest a lot of money into him and we might be able to give him his best offer

What I'm suggesting here is I think we should give Gaither a decent contract offer and see if we can give it another shot with him. The talent is there. I haven't really heard anything about Gaither in a while so maybe if you all could update me on the situation that would be great.

[Perfekt]

No doubt we should resign him. What we learned last year was the Oline is very important an we need as much help as possible because injurys happen. With Gaither back we dont have to rush Reid into the lineup an that gives him time to develope into the tackle we want.

[Runnin Raven]

Depth on O-line is so important. I hope he signs/stays. Which side he plays on, well, that seems to be a point of contention I think. Not sure if Harbs would back off on having Michael on the left.

[Perfekt]

Oher already said he doesnt care im sure he would give up the left side if Gaither wanted it back.

[Suggs Package]

A thing to note: Depending on the results of the CBA, Gaither could be tendered, positioning us for possible trades. Same for Yanda. I believe one of the two will be gone next year, and more and more I'm starting to think that's Gaither based on how we drafted the last couple of years.

[Perfekt]

I seriously doubt we get rid of either. Yanda is a gaurd an Gaither is a tackle. Yanda just filled in because Gaither was hurt. Im sure we would rather retain both considering that they are both great when healthy.

Im not saying that we may not lose them to free agency but im sure we will try an bring them both back.

[Suggs Package]

Marshal Yanda was originally drafted to be a RT who could also play Guard, not the other way around. The main reason he didn't play RT the first few years is that he was considered a "project" and there were depth issues at RT behind Willie Anderson, Michael Oher, Adam Terry, and Gaither at various times. Yanda playing Guard was simply a way to get our best players on the field at the same time.

Everyone forgets that Yanda started as a rookie at RT too. Just to point that out.

[PuRock]

It would be great to have him back. But I can't see it happening. Its like a brick wall with negotiations.

Ravens will want to pay him less because of his uncertainty. Plus they added Jah Reid. But Then Gaither and Drew R want more money because they can point to how bad the O-Line was without him.

So in the end Gaither will test the FA market with Drew R and I doubt he returns.

[Perfekt]

were not talking about what he was projected to be we are discussing what he is now. hes clearly a better gaurd then tackle but he can play the position as a back up. personally i would have rather seen Moll play tackle an slide Yanda back in at gaurd cuz i dont want to see Chester on the field unless its a unbalanced line.

i dont want you to think im disagreeing with you either tho what you said might happen we dont know.

[Suggs Package]

@Perfekt, yeah I understand. I think I get frustrated because there are so many misconceptions about offensive line in general. Like Michael Oher was drafted to play LT, but is a better RT, and probably even better LG, and better RG still. Point is that some positions on OL are easier to play than others so of course Yanda's gonna be better at RG than at RT because RT is a more difficult position to play.

But back to the topic, I thin we have a stockpile of OTs now and I don't think Ozzie wants to commit so much money to one position group. So I think Yanda's versatility trumps Gaither's performance, especially since we have some depth now. Doesn't hurt that we can pay Yanda less too. The only way I see Gaither coming back is if he takes a bit less money, because our young offensive line is going to be very expensive in 2012 with Grubb's rookie contract expiring as well as Yanda's potential new contract and Oher's in the middle of his 5 year ~14 mil deal. That must be at least 10 mil divided between them. I'm guessing Gaither wants a 5 mil base salary with a nice signing bonus and with the backups, I can see a scenario where OL will cost far over 20 mil annually.

As a fan I want Gaither because he makes our team better, but as a business investment, I believe Gaither is simply not worth it unless he is willing to play for less in the future because we have other people who can play his position for a lot cheaper.

[dirtybird10]

I would love to have Gaither back, as long as the money is right. Let Reid learn under Oher and Gaither, and see how things pan out. If we get sick of Gaither, we would always trade him. I would rather have a potential for trade bait, than just lose him outright.

[dirtybird10]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1304433657' post='680494']
It would be great to have him back. But I can't see it happening. Its like a brick wall with negotiations.

Ravens will want to pay him less because of his uncertainty. Plus they added Jah Reid. But Then Gaither and Drew R want more money because they can point to how bad the O-Line was without him.

So in the end Gaither will test the FA market with Drew R and I doubt he returns.
[/quote]

Most teams are going to be rather hesitant to sign him IMO. They saw what the Ravens went through with him last season, and they don't want to sign a guy with issues like that and pay him big money off the bat.

[Ravenslifer]

If Gaither is healthy and the front office thinks what he's asking for is fair and affordable, he'll stay. If not, he'll find somewhere else to play. I'd love to have him back, but if he leaves via free agency, that's fine too because I don't want to overpay for him when we have several more important free agents coming up in the next few seasons.

[flynismo]

Most of us have mentally prepared ourselves for Gaither's departure. His leaving is a very real possibility, and knowing that, I think we (as a whole) have given up on the prospect of him returning.But I also think that for business reasons, there is a good chance he'll be back.I personally would put the odds at 65/35 in favor of him being gone, but I haven't abandoned hope just yet.

[Runnin Raven]

Here's an unsettling thought: he could get picked up by the Steelers.

[Perfekt]

im still holding onto that string

[Free Agent]

I would love to Gaither back, if there was a way to gurantee that he would give 100% to the Ravens. His work ethic concerns, plus the money he would be asking for, make it uncertain whether or not bringing him back would be a good idea.

[Suggs Package]

[quote name='Runnin Raven' timestamp='1304444086' post='680620']
Here's an unsettling thought: he could get picked up by the Steelers.
[/quote]
Eww. That would make me throw up in my mouth.

[ellicottraven]

The reason I feel our chances or retaining Gaither are good is because I have never heard John Harbaugh say a bad thing about him recently.... he has always maintained that Gaither has an injury and is working through it. We the fans' never gave Gaither the benefit of the doubt and believed he was truly injured! Maybe he really was and couldn't suit up! Moreover Gaither has always said he wanted to be a Raven so let us see how it all works out...
In an ideal world, I would definitely want him back, but at the same time if he doesn't make it back, I am comfortable with Oher at LT.

[Perfekt]

its a great point tho. we could lose him to them an if that happens it will be problems for us cuz hes a great player when he wants to play.

[TDubbs]

If he has got his head on straight, is back into nfl shape there is no doubt i want him on my team. He can take over a game and really depress an opposing defense. If it is going to be the same lazy out of shape Gaither then Id much rather have someone play who actually wants to be there.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

I would have to admit to the chances of him returning are slimmer than I would like, but at the same time I thoroughly believe that our O-line is much better with him on the left than when it is shuffled to accommodate with his absence. The key issue is money. Like Pu said, Drew Rosenhaus is the worst agent for a team to have to be dealing with because he gets his clients lucrative deals. If he and Gaither believe that he still deserves a big money contract (which, if he was healthy and wasn't at all lazy, he'd deserve) then I think he'll look elsewhere. If they accept that he needs to prove his work ethic and injuries are solved and in the meantime he will earn good-but-not-top money then I think the chances of him staying a Raven are good.

If it comes down to a choice between him and Yanda, I'd take Yanda definitely. Arguably as good a player without the work ethic and injury problems.

[Raider9175]

[quote name='lowrider' timestamp='1304426683' post='680444']
Jared Gaither, when healthy, has been our best LT. I questioned his work ethic last year, but he was hurt and there is nothing a person can do about injuries. I'm looking at the situation as a whole:

1. the lockout prevents free agency so Gaither can't explore the market
2. Oher struggled last year at LT but was a very good RT (not saying Oher couldn't be a good LT because i think he can but he did struggle last year)
3. Because of Gaither's injury last year, I doubt many teams will want to invest a lot of money into him and we might be able to give him his best offer

What I'm suggesting here is I think we should give Gaither a decent contract offer and see if we can give it another shot with him. The talent is there. I haven't really heard anything about Gaither in a while so maybe if you all could update me on the situation that would be great.
[/quote]


From a selfish point of view, I hope jared gaither signs with the Raiders to play Rt. A Oline of Lt jared veldheer LG Joseph Barksdale C stefan wisniewski Rg Bruce Campbell and Rt jared Gaither would work for me.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

[quote name='Raider9175' timestamp='1304447908' post='680684']
From a selfish point of view, I hope jared gaither signs with the Raiders to play Rt. A Oline of Lt jared veldheer LG Joseph Barksdale C stefan wisniewski Rg Bruce Campbell and Rt jared Gaither would work for me.
[/quote]

Sounds like a good offensive line, but I don't think Jared's ego would cope with being a RT as opposed to LT. Not to mention that to sign for the Raiders he'd probably be on considerable money and would sign probably under the assumption he would be the LT.

[Militant X 1]

gaither may leave

~Mili

[PuRock]

[quote name='dirtybird10' timestamp='1304439480' post='680555']
Most teams are going to be rather hesitant to sign him IMO. They saw what the Ravens went through with him last season, and they don't want to sign a guy with issues like that and pay him big money off the bat.
[/quote]

Teams get desperate at Tackle. And some un-fiscally smart team will shell out the cash. There is always a team who would pay for him for the hope that he starts everygame. The Ravens aren't one of those teams.

This is the way Drew will pitch it in free agency. "Look Gaither is a young, big Tackle with experience at LT. You saw the difference he made to the line when he was out. You know what you are going to get. He's had a full year off to heal up his injuries and he's dying to get back out on the field."

Some GM will pony up for that.

[wayne]

Just throw at him a contract with a lot of incentives b/c I would come to his agent and tell him, " Yea, we know Gaither improves our O-line greatly but, he's been out a year and we don't know if whatever injury he has to his back will hold up so we aen= willing to give him anything guarenteed but we will put incentives in his contract and that's the best offer we have for him ".

Yea, let someone like the Raiders pick him up that may go 6-10 next year opposed to him staying on a team that may go 13-3 that's sitting on the brink of winning the championship.

[BloodRaven]

I'd love him to stay and remain at LT, but... you know.

[izvoodoo]

[quote name='Runnin Raven' timestamp='1304444086' post='680620']
Here's an unsettling thought: he could get picked up by the Steelers.
[/quote]

I don't think they can afford him. I'm sure a desperate franchise will pay him a lot of money, and I think he'll go there. Although if he wanted to be a ****, he'd sign with the steelers.

[scrock]

If we can keep Gaither, sign him along with Ngata and Flacco next year..if we can afford to keep him I say we do it, its a no brainer, he's a great Tackle..I'd love to have Gaither at LT and Oher at RT