Ravens Sign Andre Gurode

[DieHardBMoreFan]

bye bye Mattison??

[scrock]

[quote name='DieHardBMoreFan' timestamp='1315170883' post='776921']
bye bye Mattison??
[/quote]

no way, i dont think so...he's proved himself and he's too useful, he switched from DL to C and did well...hell he might be able to play G too...no way Mattison is cut over Philips or someone else

[Mt. Crushmore]

[quote name='DieHardBMoreFan' timestamp='1315170883' post='776921']
bye bye Mattison??
[/quote]
No I think it will be one of the linebackers. I believe that we kept 11. You can never have to much depth at oline. This will put us at 9 olinemen which will be fine.

[Jamal]

Excellent insurance singing.

[Juviebest]

When can McAddo go to the practice squad? Wonder if they can try sneaking him on there somehow to make space for Gurode. If not then I assume Phillips would be gone.

Very solid pick up, absolutely love the incentive laden deals. Great insurance for Birk.

[codizzle]

[quote name='Mt. Crushmore' timestamp='1315170729' post='776915']

I think he is a 87 in Madden 12.
[/quote]
ehh i didnt know he just had surgery too... Good depth still

[Bltravens]

He's solid depth but he's not the same player he was a couple years back, he's on the decline. Id be surprised if he sees the field unless an injury happens. But one thing I like about him is he is pretty big for a "C", at 320 pounds he's almost as big as Jason Brown was.

[Ravenseconbeast]

This might mean Matt Birk is cut. Considering Birk stunk last year, and he still isnt fully recovered, getting rid of his high paid salary might reduce our cap.

[gabefergy]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1315172143' post='776950']
This might mean Matt Birk is cut. Considering Birk stunk last year, and he still isnt fully recovered, getting rid of his high paid salary might reduce our cap.
[/quote]
No way.

[Ravenseconbeast]

[quote name='gabefergy' timestamp='1315172327' post='776954']
No way.
[/quote]

His salary is over +6 million dollar for 36 year old center. And his cap value is +4million dollar. His injured and he stunk last year. Why not?

check his salary stats: [url="http://content.usatoday.com/sportsdata/football/nfl/salaries/player/Matt-Birk"]http://content.usatoday.com/sportsdata/football/nfl/salaries/player/Matt-Birk[/url]

[colljb9]

The problem i have with this is people need to stop saying that every single player we signed is "not what he used to be a few years back." Obviously when you sign a 32 year old hes not as good as he was when he was 27. Gurode will give good depth and may even step into the starting role on our offensive line. This could us the opporuntiy to really start grooming mattison for the center position and we may be able to eliminate an offseason need depending on mattisons development. These guys are still good players and will play at a better level then what we had. If everyone on our line is able to play at an above average level, with a tremendous blocker in vonta leach, then our running attack will be very very good. Yanda and Grubbs are not just above average at their positions, they are outstanding and could be one of the best guard pairings in the nfl. Oher at right tackle is a top 5 RT in the NFL as was seen his rookie season. Gurode and Birk are veterans who can play at above average levels and mckinnie will be the question mark. By week 4 i see our offensive line becoming one of the best in the nfl.

[scrock]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1315172143' post='776950']
This might mean Matt Birk is cut. Considering Birk stunk last year, and he still isnt fully recovered, getting rid of his high paid salary might reduce our cap.
[/quote]

yeah thats not happening...they wanted Birk to not retire

[gabefergy]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1315172429' post='776956']

His salary is over +6 million dollar for 36 year old center. And his cap value is +4million dollar. His injured and he stunk last year. Why not?

check his salary stats: [url="http://content.usatoday.com/sportsdata/football/nfl/salaries/player/Matt-Birk"]http://content.usato...layer/Matt-Birk[/url]
[/quote]
Thats for 2009. He has a 3M salary, his cap figure might be a bit higher b/c of the signing bonus. He's still not getting cut though.

[CapoRocky]

I posted earlier this afternoon that I didn't want us to pick up a veteran QB, but we needed a backup center in case Birk isn't ready or gets reinjured in the Steelers game. Now, we have the luxury of letting Birk rest in week one to fully heal. I doubt that he will be released but he may go on IR to make room for Gurode.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='scrock' timestamp='1315170984' post='776922']

no way, i dont think so...he's proved himself and he's too useful, he switched from DL to C and did well...hell he might be able to play G too...no way Mattison is cut over Philips or someone else
[/quote]

Don't be so sure about that. While having great depth at Oline is great, having a 3rd string Center does pretty much nothing for you.

Now what helps Mattison is that he also has some limited experience as a Guard as well, but don't rule out him returning to the Practice Squad.

Also I love how Jason Phillips has become public enemy #1 in only his 3rd season. He's a guy that has the same potential to be a Special Teams Ace just like Burgess was.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='CapoRocky' timestamp='1315173402' post='776983']
I posted earlier this afternoon that I didn't want us to pick up a veteran QB, but we needed a backup center in case Birk isn't ready or gets reinjured in the Steelers game. Now, we have the luxury of letting Birk rest in week one to fully heal. I doubt that he will be released but he may go on IR to make room for Gurode.
[/quote]

Why IR a guy who is playing the last year of his career? Birk already pondered retirement before being convinced to return for one more year.

So putting him on IR, would be pointless imo. If he can't play he retires. If he can play he'll play and be our starter.

[latenighthero]

Ye-haw.

[gregreid5]

also worth noting is that Gurode played Guard as well in college and played some guard for the cowboys as well at times. He would seem to be a PERFECT backup at all 3 interior line positions.

[berad]

[quote]GM Ozzie Newsome on the Ravens signing C Andre Gurode: "We just got better as a team. To have a successful season, you have to have quality depth across the board. We just added great depth to the interior of our OL with Andre."[/quote]

Ozzie likes him, I like him. [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/team/BAL"]LINK[/url]

[Mount-Cody]

[quote name='codizzle' timestamp='1315170316' post='776900']
Little off topoc but gurode was a 99 on madden 11 it says on wiki.. Hmm gonna love him on madden ha
[/quote]

He's an 87 on Madden 12......sooooooo. But he still has a 93 run block, (lol off-topic)

[1/28/01]

[quote name='CapoRocky' timestamp='1315173402' post='776983']
I posted earlier this afternoon that I didn't want us to pick up a veteran QB, but we needed a backup center in case Birk isn't ready or gets reinjured in the Steelers game. Now, we have the luxury of letting Birk rest in week one to fully heal. I doubt that he will be released but he may go on IR to make room for Gurode.
[/quote]
I love your comments......IR? Please explain why/how that makes any sense at all!

[mhead66]

Wow. Just saw this.

[u][b]Great[/b][/u] pickup [b]if [/b]he's healthy.

Does anyone know if he is healthy? Has he played in the preseason?

[CapoRocky]

Knees don't recover quickly. Birk may be walking better now, but getting pushed and pulled will radically affect his lateral mobility. The knee will fill up with fluid and need to be drained regularly. He is a tough man. Look how he endured the pain of this knee injury all last year. Just ask anyone in the hospital, getting your knee drained is an extremely painful thing. They insert a hypodermic needle into the soft tissue and repeatedly attempt to suck out the fluid. God bless him.

[berad]

Do we even have to drop anyone yet if we sign him? With Reed being suspended and all?

[scrock]

All I'm saying is Bryan Mattison is higher up the pecking order..so if someone gets cut because of this signing its going to be someone lower on the totem pole....yeaaaaaaaaa

[AsianRice]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1315177340' post='777103']
Do we even have to drop anyone yet if we sign him? With Reed being suspended and all?
[/quote]
Well, I think we're saved until after week 1, then we have to cut someone to fill Andre in.


BTW, great pick up from Ozzie.....I'm feeling good about this year.

[1/28/01]

What are the numbers on this thing? How much coin we talking? (If its somewhere in this thread, I didn't go thru it all). Thx!

[Corvus]

Good thing he is only depth. He, Columbo, Davis, and FB Gronkowski are the sieves that allowed Romo to take the punishment he has the last couple of seasons (surprise! All of those guys are no longer Cowboys). If you've watched any of their games, he is nowhere near the Pro Bowl talent he was, not to mention he had knee surgery a couple of months ago I believe. I think I trust Mattison as our center more at this point if Birk isn't ready week 1 since he has some chemistry with the offense.
I commend Oz for trying to make sure we have insurance, but when the center cupboard is as empty as it is, you take what you can I guess.

[FerrariFan87]

Nice move, Oz!!!

[AsianRice]

[quote name='Corvus' timestamp='1315178424' post='777117']
[b]Good thing he is only depth[/b]. He, Columbo, Davis, and FB Gronkowski are the sieves that allowed Romo to take the punishment he has the last couple of seasons (surprise! All of those guys are no longer Cowboys). If you've watched any of their games, he is nowhere near the Pro Bowl talent he was, not to mention he had knee surgery a couple of months ago I believe. I think I trust Mattison as our center more at this point if Birk isn't ready week 1 since he has some chemistry with the offense.
I commend Oz for trying to make sure we have insurance, but when the center cupboard is as empty as it is, you take what you can I guess.
[/quote]
It's a very important thing cuz that's how Greenbay won Super Bowl last year when most of their starters hurt closed to the end of the season, but they pulled through with their depths.