MERGED: "Feelings" on How Free Agency is Going So Far

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='MikeMike' timestamp='1332009922' post='1025624']
First and foremost Baltimore I love you but what is going on? We have lost alot of defensive assests for one and two why havent you been in negotiations with any of the good free agent receivers. are we gonna add another reciever that drops an important pass for us to drown in sorrow for another off season! That what happens when you budget, Evans and housh explain why we need to step up and pay someone reliable. Flacco can only do so much and put the ball in your numbers its up to you to catch it. Baltimore if anything we need to boost this reciever core. You get these recievers that literally drop the ball when it matters. Enough already dig in your pocket and get a reliable reciever cause I guarantee boldin dont stay healthy as always. Smith has a bright future but if one of them goes down who do we have? hurry and get the deals done with flacco and rice cause the team is in limbo . oh and back up rb for rice hmm maybe tolbert? Lets go bmore enough.
[/quote]

The Ravens traditionally never operate this way - we usually build through the draft and if we need pieces we pick them up when other teams cut them i.e. that's how we landed Derrick Mason in 2005 and TJ Houshmanzadeh last season (2010). Look at other successful teams like the Steelers and the Packers - they're not adding anybody either. Teams like the Bucs and the Redskins who are at the bottom of their division and need help are trying to buy expensive fixes - elite teams like the Ravens can afford to be patient and wait. And really who have we lost? JJ was a great Raven, but he's old and doesn't offer the pass rush that Kruger and McPhee do. Zibby and Ruki were both passed over by Pollard on the depth chart, and they wanted to be starters somewhere else - you can't fault them for that. Grubbs preferred New Orleans and their offer over us - can't fault him for that. And as for paying a reliable receiver, we don't have the money to do much with that and tag Rice and keep our RFAs. We spent the early part of the week trying to retain Grubbs, which didn't happen. VJax got 11 million - we couldn't afford it. Pierre Garcon got over 8 million a year - that's more than Boldin! We just don't have the cap room to sign big name free agents. By the end of April, we'll have a much better picture of what the team looks like, and I believe that we will have a new wide receiver on this team that will really have an impact next season. As far as Flacco and Rice, their deals are in place - Flacco is under contract for next season, and Rice is tagged - their salaries are taken care of for next season.

[MikeMike]

Look bmore I bleed purple but lets get real. Tolbert is perfect compliment for rice. Im not saying we are doomed what im saying is we have lost the past 2 years over dropped passes. Right? So this means what? Lol cmon man. You bring tolbert and you get a solid reciever. Everything else falls into place. Again in no way am I being a doubter im just saying tolbert rice would be a dual headed monster back field and yes we need another reciever.

[The Raven]

[quote name='MikeMike' timestamp='1332014536' post='1025727']
Look bmore I bleed purple but lets get real. Tolbert is perfect compliment for rice. Im not saying we are doomed what im saying is we have lost the past 2 years over dropped passes. Right? So this means what? Lol cmon man. You bring tolbert and you get a solid reciever. Everything else falls into place. Again in no way am I being a doubter im just saying tolbert rice would be a dual headed monster back field and yes we need another reciever.
[/quote]

Why do we need Tolbert? Anthony and Damien are also perfect compliments for Rice. What makes Tolbert such a better compliment? The bigger price tag? His being overrated?

[harfordravenfan]

Rather just sign our own guys that need deals, draft well, and see who steps up.

[MikeMike]

ill keep my faith as always but im sticking by tolbert and our need for a reciever. A good reciever! and please no tedd ginn Jr . go get Percy harvin some how some way lol I love you bmore!

[The Raven]

[quote name='MikeMike' timestamp='1332015191' post='1025742']
ill keep my faith as always but im sticking by tolbert and our need for a reciever. A good reciever! and please no tedd ginn Jr . go get Percy harvin some how some way lol I love you bmore!
[/quote]

Explain your reasoning for Tolbert.

And Percy Harvin? Really? Get real.

[dhstandard]

Seriously, it seems nearly every free agent we have always leaves for a little extra money, but the ones we bring here, will sign for less to stay with their team. What do we possibly do that causes this...

[MsMarvel73]

It's not US. It's NOT the organization. As much as I fume and sigh, football and free agency are a BUSINESS. These guys are putting themselves out to the highest bidder. That is just the nature of the beast these days, whether we agree with that or not.

[dhstandard]

[quote name='PARavensgirl' timestamp='1332015616' post='1025748']
It's not US. It's NOT the organization. As much as I fume and sigh, football and free agency are a BUSINESS. These guys are putting themselves out to the highest bidder. That is just the nature of the beast these days, whether we agree with that or not.
[/quote]


Well how come when we attempt to acquire free agents they take less money to stay with their teams. THAT happens at least once a year.

[Bazooka Joe]

Really! Every year we operate the same way and every year the same moronic fans panic. This is not a very bright fanbase.

Ozzy Newsim knows what he's doing.

[JO_75]

[quote name='PARavensgirl' timestamp='1332015616' post='1025748']
It's not US. It's NOT the organization. As much as I fume and sigh, football and free agency are a BUSINESS. These guys are putting themselves out to the highest bidder. That is just the nature of the beast these days, whether we agree with that or not.
[/quote]

This^^^^

They play in the NFL for money, they don't care about a Super Bowl. they put money over winning the Super Bowl. They rather stay on a losing team for 15 years for a bunch of money rather go win a couple Super Bowls with contending teams for less money.

To them.... Money > Super Bowl.

[Militant X 1]

it's NOT that people don't like Baltimore...THIS IS A BUSINESS!!

close the thread!

~Mili

[Ravenslifer]

Money. For a lot of these guys it's about the money. And in the end, you can't fault them too much - the average NFL career is something like 6 years for a rookie on an opening day roster. So you figure if you're a 23 year old rookie, by 28 you're done. A guy like Mathis is already 30, finally found a starting gig in Philadelphia, was comfortable and knew guys there, and got more money. It is what it is.

[The Raven]

[quote name='Bazooka Joe' timestamp='1332015784' post='1025754']
Really! Every year we operate the same way and every year the same [b]moronic fans [/b]panic. This is not a very bright fanbase.

[b]Ozzy Newsim [/b]knows what he's doing.
[/quote]


Yeah... moronic fans...

[RavensWin09]

[quote name='dhstandard' timestamp='1332015745' post='1025753']


Well how come when we attempt to acquire free agents they take less money to stay with their teams. THAT happens at least once a year.
[/quote]
so do our players that other teams want. i haven't seen one player leave our facility saying they hated their time in baltimore. they would take less money for us sometimes but not everybody. The ones we do have are loyal to the organization. Ray Rice loves it here, Webby says he wants to be a raven for life, etc.

[Bazooka Joe]

Folks! Use your brains. Would you pay a journeyman guard five years/25 million? That's a bad contract that will be dumped next year. We were smart to avoid this. I rather look to the draft for a guard.

[Jamal]

You know who got heavily criticized during FA last year? The New York Giants.

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='Bazooka Joe' timestamp='1332015994' post='1025764']
Folks! Use your brains. Would you pay a journeyman guard five years/25 million? That's a bad contract that will be dumped next year. We were smart to avoid this. I rather look to the draft for a guard.
[/quote]

Good point - the guy has never started a full season. It's not like we just lost a potential pro bowl guard.

[MsMarvel73]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1332016098' post='1025767']

Good point - the guy has never started a full season. It's not like [b]we just lost a potential pro bowl guard.[/b]
[/quote]

We DID lose a Pro Bowl guard (but I know you're referring to Mathis).

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='Jamal' timestamp='1332016046' post='1025766']
You know who got heavily criticized during FA last year? The New York Giants.
[/quote]

Yep, they lost Steve Smith and Kevin Boss (who just got cut by the Raiders and signed by the Chiefs), cut Shaun O'Hara, cut Rich Seubert, etc. Won the whole thing.

[Irish Raven]

It's a business

Teams are ruthless about cutting players. Todd Heap and Kelly Gregg spent their careers here and had contracts and the front office cut them.
That doesn't happen in all other sports, if a soccer player was given a contract it can't just be ripped up and broken

Players have short careers so why the suprise when players go for the highest offer
You could give your career to a franchise and they'd cut you today and forget you tomorrow

Loyalty is great and all but a player has to look out for themselves and go get that payday

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='PARavensgirl' timestamp='1332016194' post='1025770']

We DID lose a Pro Bowl guard (but I know you're referring to Mathis).
[/quote]

I've moved on from Grubbs. I guess I just meant that Mathis in no way could have replaced what Grubbs brought totally, just softened the blow. Again though, everybody is panicking about not signing this guy or that guy or whatever - I really feel like a lot of new fans who have only started following the Ravens for a year or two are posting like mad. We've always operated like this, and we've been in the hunt the last 4 years.

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='Irish Raven' timestamp='1332016729' post='1025781']
It's a business

Teams are ruthless about cutting players. Todd Heap and Kelly Gregg spent their careers here and had contracts and the front office cut them.
That doesn't happen in all other sports, if a soccer player was given a contract it can't just be ripped up and broken

Players have short careers so why the suprise when players go for the highest offer
You could give your career to a franchise and they'd cut you today and forget you tomorrow

Loyalty is great and all but a player has to look out for themselves and go get that payday
[/quote]

All we need to do is look at Foxworth. Yeah he got paid, but he was in the league a total of 7 years and has retired at 28 because of injuries. If I'm lucky (meaning I don't fail out of school), my career won't start until I'm 28

[CapoRocky]

Most teams must face the fact that when you draft a player in this league there is a good possibility that they won't stay with you after their rookie contract is up. We knew what would happen when our first rounders get ready to get their first big contract. Raise the cap and this will happen more and more to everyone in the league.

[Militant X 1]

[quote name='Irish Raven' timestamp='1332016729' post='1025781']
[u][b]It's a business[/b][/u]

[u][b]Teams are ruthless about cutting players. Todd Heap and Kelly Gregg spent their careers here and had contracts and the front office cut them.[/b][/u]
That doesn't happen in all other sports, if a soccer player was given a contract it can't just be ripped up and broken

Players have short careers so why the suprise when players go for the highest offer
You could give your career to a franchise and[u][b] they'd cut you today and forget you tomorrow[/b][/u]

[u][b]Loyalty is great and all but a player has to look out for themselves [/b][/u]and go get that payday
[/quote]

exactly! and they'd be foolish if they didn't look out for their own interests imo!

~Mili

[RavensWin09]

i'll be sure to bring this post back in august. trust me you'll have different opinions

ozzie's just getting it going. first it will be mcclain, then webby, value FA's, and great draft picks. and then more...

[Ed_Reed20]

Unlike them, this team doesn't have a Super Bowl berth in the past few years. But it's no surprise that like the Pack, Giants and Steelers, the Ravens have been pretty quiet.

The soft LB market is interesting. I doubt it happens but a two-down guy like Erin Henderson would be sweet in Baltimore.

[CapoRocky]

We really need a hybrid pass rushing LB/DE type. I'm far less worried about a guard. Let's look forward 40 days to the draft.

[Ravenslifer]

Feelings? How is this different from any other free agency over the past decade and a half? Like aside from Pollard, who did we sign in free agency last year? A left tackle cut from his team. Just like the year before when we signed a receiver the Seahawks had let go. And the year before when we signed Birk and KW. So we've made the playoffs 4 years in a row, and the Redskins who've signed Haynesworth and Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El and Donovan McNabb and Clinton Portis, etc. have made the playoffs how many times?

[Bazooka Joe]

Different year. Same fan reactions. Silly. Ozzie IS the best at what he does. This is why he's a top 3 GM and you guys lurk on message boards playing the spelling police role.