[Blogs] Reports: Mason Will Be Released

[BR News]

Teams cannot make any roster cuts until 4:01 p.m. on Thursday, but several media outlets have reported that the Ravens are already informing some key veterans of their impending release.

According to Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun and Brett Hollander of WBAL Radio, wideout Derrick Mason’s name can be added to a list that also includes Willis McGahee, Todd Heap and Kelly Gregg.
 
The Ravens have not commented on any of the moves.
 
Mason, a 14-year veteran, led the Ravens in receiving in four of his six seasons in Baltimore, but he did not meet his typical 1,000-yard mark last year – perhaps a product of Anquan Boldin’s arrival.
 
The 37-year-old saw action in all 16 games in 2010, starting 15.
 
With free agency looming, the Ravens move forward with Boldin, Torrey Smith, Tandon Doss, David Reed, Justin Harper, Marcus Smith, James Hardy and Brandon Jones at the receiver position.

If the releases do prove true, Aaron Wilson from National Football Post is reporting that the Ravens would slash “about $18.6 million in payroll.”

[url=http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/2011/07/25/reports-mason-will-be-released/]View the full article[/url]

[starttman]

this is crap

[gravens1]

their just might be somthing to the nnamdi thing...

[ravenrave123]

I feel bad for Mason this is his last year and wanted a superbowl, maybe we'll resign him with a pay cut

[The Greek]

no one will want mason because of his age so i see us resigning him for less $$ and if not than thank you for the great years you gave this organization and good luck.

[purpletruck52]

1.boldin
2.t.smith
3.doss
4.reed
lets get the young bloods to work

[lavenderlady]

Leaves a bad taste...Mason has done so well for us, and this is what he gets. Doesn't seem fair.

[Shutdowns-R-us]

Shocking but not really, Mason got in Flacco face and got a few penalties with unsportsman like conduct. Mason was more valuable than Foxworth at same price this year.

[Boh]

IN OZ I "TRUST" The man knows what he's doing. You know there's a motive behind these moves....Just sit back and watch how the cards are played before jumping the gun.

[Raven112]

vincent Jackson or Steve smith!! lets gooo!!

[RavensFanoftheCentury]

Mason deserves a ring. He should get it with the Ravens. He is one of Flacco's main, reliable, cohesively bonded, trusted targets, the other is Heap... a fan favorite, reliable, well rounded tight end. Our two best receiving threats. released... Not seeing where this is going... But its bugging me.

[RavenArmor]

Two of Flacco's most popular targets are now gone. There better be a Superbowl at the end of the road for us at this rate.

[NYravens52]

Riiiiight... ( dr evil voice)

[ravens626]

Why does everyone keep talking about steve smith?.... He wont do anything for us.


Our best bet is Vincent Jackson.
Second: Braylon Edwards.

V jacks is a PURE BEAST. Enough said.

Edwards really stepped up last season, only 1 dropped pass, 17 yd PC average, some decent TDs.... big and fast.. could do some damage, ESPECIALLY with a QB as good as Flacco.

[balfan23]

Look at this bloodletting ... and we're only at the cap. What are other teams doing today that are $10M over the cap (ala Pittsburgh). I have a feeling if you go to local sports sites, you'll see similar news.

[fusuymada]

Mason, Heap, McGahee amd Gregg. Tough day for long time Ravens fans who get attached to their players. Wish you would give it to us all at once. 18.6 in mil in cap space cleared and another 5.3 we were under gives us about 24 mil in cap space and we may yet see a couple mil more being pared. Ozzie is going into day 1 of free agency with his guns blazing knowing what money he has in his wallet and how much he sn throw at the players he wants. All those releases do not require picking up anyone to replace them, they are already on the roster.

[Brook1]

Ozzie....I hate to question you man but if you don't' pick up somebody like Burress or Steve Smith or maybe even Sidney Rice I'm gonna have a real problem with this move! But one of those names I just spoke of and I'll forget real quick! Good luck Mason

Ps, Mason don't go to Cleavland... Please!

[undefeated mustangfootball]

The two move I hope to not see are Heap and Mason being released. Mason has been our most consistent receiver if not ever than in recent memory(aside from Boldin last year). I relize that it will free up a lot of money but they have been reliable players.

[zRaven]

I know that losing these players hurt but resigning Ngata and finding a great pass-rusher is a MUST!

[HardKnocks]

Nnamdi or Babin maybe...

[BmoreKing]

I just see too many problems without Heap in the lineup. This will affect Pitta, Dickson, Flacco... I expect we are going to resign. Just hope we don't pull another Pryce!

[Curtis Maximous]

its true mason's speed may not be the same but he is still an upgrade to alot of players out there.
Steve smith - not much an upgrade
Braylon edwards - down grade
Malcom Floyd - same class
sims walker - same class

In my opinion Joe has quite the relationship with mason and we should resign.

if this move is a must then must bring in big talent like sidney rice, holmes or Moss who may come at a slight discount after last years actions

[Dorsey E. Hairston II]

more balls for quan and torrey . mason you did work for us, you shall be missed.

[Hampton09]

tear...

[ravens626]

WE DONT NEED NADMI DAMNIT!!! Jesus..... We signed jimmy smith as our shut down. Namdi isnt happening.

All we need to do is boost our pass rush, and that would be TRADING FOR OSI! That would solidify our secondary with no time for other teams to throw on us.


And Curtis maximous hows braylon edwards a downgrade from mason?

hes bigger, faster, tougher and makes bigger plays....

1 dropped pass and 17.5 yd per catch avg last season... yeah edwards is a huge downgrade...


/sarcasm off.


Sign Vjackson and our offense will be done. Make it happen

[bmoreravens93]

Heap? Are you ****** kidding me?

[birdland blitz]

I trust Ozzie enough to take this as genius instead of stupidity. He freed up a ridiculous amount of cap space by releasing a backup running back, and 3 players with replacements waiting in the wings. If Ozzie can sign Nnamdi or Holmes or Rice or Jackson or somebody like that than I'll be ecstatic. I just hope that at least one of these guys can come back on a lower salary. I had hoped to see Mason go by announcing his retirement in a locker room after winning a super bowl.

[Ravens_Flock]

This is not official news. It is hearsay guesses from a very bad "news" reporter. Sadly, McGahee and Gregg I can understand, though I hate to see either of them go. BUT, for them to cut Mason and Heap, THE top two Ravens receivers in franchise history, the best WR and best TE in team history, when they're both still able to contribute in a big way, and when they have almost nothing but unproven young players behind them, would be stupid.

You don't cut guys like Mason and Heap if you're looking to win a SB. That's the kind of move a team would make when they're looking to rebuild, like we were in 2002. That is NOT the mode this team is in right now. So as far as I'm concerned, these "reports" are BS. BOTH of these guys deserve to retire as Ravens, and neither of them are likely to play too much longer anyway. So let them stay around another season, and help us win that damned Trophy.

[ravenrave123]

shoulda released foxworth also...

[riseNConquer81]

we still got a bunch of rookies and free agents to resign...so that cap space isnt as spacious as it might look...

i dont like these moves. I'd rather have them done on a full off season. Any FA they bring in here is only gonna have 2 weeks or so plus pre season to learn where to go. We tried last minute offense last year and it got us 4 picks in Cinci. Things picked up from there but still...this is a lot to put on Rookies and new guys.

Our potential superbowl could turn into a rebuilding season real quick.