[News] Baltimore Ravens Rumor Mill

[harfordravenfan]

[quote name='CapoRocky' timestamp='1332008276' post='1025602']
Only 40 days until the draft.
[/quote]

Finally!
Some good news but seems like so far away.

[mettro79]

I like the attention being paid to the O-line, but no Webb yet. Really?

[Ravens4Liife]

The Ravens do not NEED a WR, they NEED a return specialist, and pass rushers. Someone who can step in at OLB and set the edge, contain the run and get in the QB's face. With Torrey Smith being speedy it will be able to take attention away from a slot receiver like Doss. Doss is big like Boldin and can fight for the ball. Boldin really came into his old form at the end of the season and I expect him to continue producing.

[TheHalotiMonster]

I think we missed out on Evan Mathis guys.. Heres a tweet from Evan Mathis' twitter.

@EvanMathis. "To all the Eagles fans who offered me various food and incentives to return... I've come to collect."

[TheHalotiMonster]

yup he was just resigned for 5 years 25 million. [profanity deleted]

[militaryravenfan]

I think our D is gonna look alot different next year. Might not be a bad idea to get that Receiver like Floyd or Hill and take them shots downfield in 3 WR sets. We probably gonna have to try and get ahead on teams this season. A high scoring Offense in Baltimore. Never thought I'd see it but we're losing alot players on D that it could very well be the answer.

[bioLarzen]

I think there's either been some miscommunication about our salary cap space or something happened we don't know about. This 4.8 million of alleged free cap space (according to nfl.com) is unexpectedly low after figures of around 10 million were clearly stated. And Birk's money is probably not even in it, because, as far as public, the contract hasn't yet been signed. The two announcements we know about that could have taken money shrinking our free cap space were McKinnie's 500K for staying on the roster and Chavis Williams's new contract. So, either that roughly 10 million wasn't true to begin with or Williams' contract ate up about 5 million - I have hard time believing that.

So, I guess the question seems legit: is this 4.8 million free cap space true? If it is, was the roughly 10 million (after Rice's tagging) true? If yes, where's roughly 5 million?

Bonus question: why were we assured multiple times that our cap situation is nice and good? If we only have 4.8 million, which is in the bottom third of the 32 teams and the least in the division, that's not nice and good, IMHO... It would indicate that either players with huge money for next year will be cut or we won't sign anybody for more than 2 maybe 3 million - and that's about the level of grade C FA's. The only place we can free up considerable money is Rice, if he accepts a deal where his money for next year is 2-3 million - that would free up about 4-5 million - but that's still only 9-10 million, which is not at all a lot, and will surely be shrunk by Birk's contract and the Flacco-deal if they make it this off-season.

So, if these figures are true, then there are surely gonna be no grade A FA acquisitions - we knew that all along;but then there are hardly gonna be any real grade B signings either, maybe one.
f even that is true, I don't think we can expect any real FA deals before the draft, much rather in August when the remaining FA pool's price starts dropping. We'll probably have our trademark last-minute signings in the last weeks of August-early September - Ozzie likes to pick from whoever's left and is usually rather good at finding value there (except the WR's - that seems to be the odd one out.)

Of course, version C could also be true, namely that amount nfl.com has is false - but I somehow doubt that...

So, the timeline for the Ravens I expect is:

Until the draft: no major acquisitions;
Draft: hopefully another good draft class;
After the draft: some negotiations, maybe the Rice- or the Flacco-deal;
Last 2-3 weeks of the pre-season: the majority of our FA-acquisitions, mostly smaller name or veteran players for less money.

bio

[J.O.14]

Just lost out on Evan mathis, now what the heck are we gonna do??? We have a BIGGGG HOLEEEE at Left Guard....

[bioLarzen]

[quote name='militaryravenfan' timestamp='1332014299' post='1025723']
I think our D is gonna look alot different next year. Might not be a bad idea to get that Receiver like Floyd or Hill and take them shots downfield in 3 WR sets. We probably gonna have to try and get ahead on teams this season. A high scoring Offense in Baltimore. Never thought I'd see it but we're losing alot players on D that it could very well be the answer.
[/quote]

Well, since, with the sole exception of Grubbs, all the guys who have left voluntarily were from the D, it'll be hardly surprising if our D will be different

bio

[ravensfan216]

Re-sign Webb and i will not lose hope!!

[CapoRocky]

Another option is to lose Williams and use the pick to draft another guard in the second round.

[CapoRocky]

[quote name='ravensfan216' timestamp='1332018156' post='1025832']
Re-sign Webb and i will not lose hope!!
[/quote]

We must keep Webb! I'd much rather lose Williams, who only had one solid year so far at CB.

[feartheflock]

@CapoRocky Webb also has had only one solid year at CB. Nobody knew who Webb was last year. And wasn't Williams the least targeted CB on our team? But im with everybody else, we NEED to re-sign Webb.

[EvilWayz]

Well, all I can say is this, we always lose good players and we still manage to make the playoffs. If you foucus on the things you don't have, you'll forget about the things you do have. Now we still have Sizzle, Reed is coming back, Ray Lewis, he might have a lost a step, some say; but he is still feared by alot of players. McPhee is going to be on fire this year. the guys we have coming behind the players we lost should be ready, especially with a full offseason. I'm not losing faith in this team, we still have a playoff team, the only thing I say is the offense has to step it up this season. Including Joe Flacco, who played one hell of a championship game. Let's Go Ravens!!!

[Purple63]

The Giants won the Superbowl.. but I dont see teams going after their players them like they are with us.

[prettyboystevie]

should go get steve hutchenson will at least have a line that was great 5-7 yrs ago?

[hannah112]

...and let me guess. Ginn went home just like Mathis did. No one wants to play with the Ravens. I don't get it.

[Jfravens]

Focus ravens! In ozzie we trust, but please I dont like ginn at all, i think he's not necesary, btw in giants vs 49 was ginn's fault when he fumbled the ball in the returning punt...

[TheBestOfAllTime52_20]

I dont think we need to spend $ on a WR when we could be spending the money on other players we need(OL). We can use Doss or Williams but if they dont pan out we still have Pitta which we could run dual TE formation(alot) and move Dickson/Pitta to slot when we need to. Dickson and Pitta can both block and catch pretty well so I would be fine with running the Dual TE alot more. ( It might even help with Cam Camerons obvious play calling)

[hannah112]

Was Ozzie awake when he visited?

[Ravenslifer]

Ted Ginn, Cam's boy that he took 9th overall. If anything, signing him cheap could be the answer in the return game and allow us to focus on other needs in the draft. Somehow I have a feeling that if we don't come out with 3 offensive linemen in the draft we will regret it.

[hannah112]

We're already in a mess! Ozzie and the rest of the front office has done a disservice to the team and the fans. With the losses we continue to take how can we expect to get better to make that next jump forward? The remaining scrubs in FA, the summer camp casualties and the draft just won't get it done this year.

[ravne05]

Cams offense thats why WR dont come here. I was suprised when Boldin came over WR like to catch more then 1 ball a game.When Cam is gone WR will be camping outside the stadium to get a chance to play for this team.

[hannah112]

@ravne05----with no OL to give Joe time.....what WR would want to play here. They'll be camping outside the stadium alright......waiting to get on the next bus out of town

[ravne05]

Welcome back Lee Evans your the only one who wants to come here.

[hannah112]

gotta love the fact that soooo many of you can't stand to give Ozzie some criticism.

[ravne05]

Sorry Hannah the truth is Cams offense is just brutal he should have been let go at seasons end another horrible mistake by the Ravens

[hannah112]

@ravne05 - I couldn't agree more. Keeping Cam was just the beginning of a bad off-season. Pag leaves (which is probably good for him with the way this team is heading). I'm venting alot of frustration but I see no way we're a better team this year.

[thunderroach]

hardbaugh,thats why nobody wants to play(or stay) here!When is the owner and front office going to notice this guy is driving every player away! Take every player that left the past two seasons and its a great team! Get rid of that guy!

[ashleemarie]

Oz, could you please just send us a sign? Let us know there's a plan and not to worry??