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

[Ed_Reed20]

I read that Anderson has received interest from the Dolphins and Jags. [url="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/3964/mark-anderson"]He was also considering the Titans[/url], until they signed Wimbley.

We'll see how things play out.

[Alexir]

Suggs, Ngata, McPhee and Anderson. Winning!

[Bltravens]

Isn't Anderson extremely poor in rush D and coverage?

[BaltimoreBean]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1332276207' post='1029256']
I read that Anderson has received interest from the Dolphins and Jags. [url="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/3964/mark-anderson"]He was also considering the Titans[/url], until they signed Wimbley.

We'll see how things play out.
[/quote]

He's already left Baltimore and on his way to Buffalo they're saying.

[Alexir]

[quote name='BaltimoreBean' timestamp='1332289791' post='1029517'] He's already left Baltimore and on his way to Buffalo they're saying.[/quote]

He played with Mario Williams before, would love to seem them smash Brady into pieces.

[UMDan]

Mark Anderson signed with Buffalo. I'm not at all torn up about this. Ravens apparently didn't even make him an offer.

[Mike Ray]

so the restricted free agency is over as of yesterday right? So we get to keep Webb now right?

[Hardbaugh]

The front office completely mismanaged the McGahee release which should have happened prior to the 2011 league year start.
Players not performing up to their expected level is going to happen at times but this was an inexcusable blunder by the front office which ended up eating some cap space that could have been used for improvements.

I have no idea why Foxworth wasn't released last season when they saw him in workouts.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='Hardbaugh' timestamp='1332355470' post='1030174']
The front office completely mismanaged the McGahee release which should have happened prior to the 2011 league year start.
Players not performing up to their expected level is going to happen at times but this was an inexcusable blunder by the front office which ended up eating some cap space that could have been used for improvements.

I have no idea why Foxworth wasn't released last season when they saw him in workouts.
[/quote]
if they released mcgahee then, they would have saved like $5mil in cap space, HOWEVERRRRR

they then would have been hit by the nfl like the redskins and cowboys because that was still part of the uncapped year, where teams were warned to not overpay players to get around the cap, or dump huge salaries and take the cap hit in the uncapped year. The ravens would have broke this spoken law, and then been penalised.

Our FO i think would have spoke about itm but ultimately decided against it, knowing a penalty would be coming

[BmoreRavens732]

Im not really mad or hurt anderson signed with the bills but after rickys retirement and all the releases and losses we been through so far this off-season im officially frustrated and pissed off the we been bringing in guys just for them to sign with another team and we havent signed anybody besides LB williams and birk? Our own FA is walking away left and right and were not doing anything its starting to get annoying...everyday I wake up excited to see what moves we made and everyday I get the same old NOTHING!! I think ozzie HAS to be waiting for the draft thats the only thing I can come up with being the cap is so low?

[stormie]

It's just really hard to see other teams signing players and getting better when all we seem to be doing is losing players.

I know Ozzie has a plan but I would love to see SOMETHING!

[five309]

Its easy to sit here and say "relax......relax", but the fact of the matter is, teams who would be categorized as being behind us last year, talent-wise, have and continue to make strides to close that gap, and in some cases, surpass us.

i am not saying "sign everyone!!!", but hell, when we can't even bring in an Evan Mathis or pry a Marc Johnson from the Bills, that says something to me. Something that these free agents (and their agents) see, that we as the average fans do not.

[UMDan]

[u][color="#0084b4"][b]Adam Schefter[/b] ‏ [/color][s][color="#66b5d2"]@[/color][/s][b][color="#0084b4"]AdamSchefter[/color][/b] [/u]
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis reached agreement on a three-year deal with the Bengals.

[Hardbaugh]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1332356094' post='1030199']
if they released mcgahee then, they would have saved like $5mil in cap space, HOWEVERRRRR

they then would have been hit by the nfl like the redskins and cowboys because that was still part of the uncapped year, where teams were warned to not overpay players to get around the cap, or dump huge salaries and take the cap hit in the uncapped year. The ravens would have broke this spoken law, and then been penalised.

Our FO i think would have spoke about itm but ultimately decided against it, knowing a penalty would be coming
[/quote]


You mean like how the Broncos got penalized by releasing players during the uncapped year.....
Justin Bannan and Jamal Williams got released prior to the 2010 calender year ending, in Bannans case he wasn't even with the team for a year and had 4 years remaining.... Where's their penalty?

We can make excuses all day for a mistake the facts speak for themselves the Ravens mismanaged their cap and it ended up eating cap space.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='Hardbaugh' timestamp='1332357910' post='1030260']


You mean like how the Broncos got penalized by releasing players during the uncapped year.....
Justin Bannan and Jamal Williams got released prior to the 2010 calender year ending, in Bannans case he wasn't even with the team for a year and had 4 years remaining.... Where's their penalty?

We can make excuses all day for a mistake the facts speak for themselves the Ravens mismanaged their cap and it ended up eating cap space.
[/quote]
they didnt want to risk punishment, they arent stupid, they would have know if the cut him before march 1 (i think was thedate) they eat the cap in the uncapped year, but if they do it after they eat in in the 2011.. they arent stupid, they were warned and didnt risk it

[Sam]

We are fine. The Ravens virtually never make a splash in FA - especially in the beginning. It is pretty much like this every year & things end up being good.

I would rather us make no splash in FA & be in the playoffs year after year as opposed to teams like the Redskins who make big moved in FA every year but fail to make the playoffs. Lets keep things in perspective. Now is not really when you want your team in the headlines. Teams that do little in FA are usually the ones who do well in during the season.

In Ozzie we trust.

[RavensWin09]

[quote name='Sam' timestamp='1332358124' post='1030271']
We are fine. The Ravens virtually never make a splash in FA - especially in the beginning. It is pretty much like this every year & things end up being good.

I would rather us make no splash in FA & be in the playoffs year after year as opposed to teams like the Redskins who make big moved in FA every year but fail to make the playoffs. Lets keep things in perspective. Now is not really when you want your team in the headlines. [b]Teams that do little in FA are usually the ones who do well in during the season.[/b]

In Ozzie we trust.
[/quote]
not the case for the browns or bengals

[UMDan]

[quote name='Sam' timestamp='1332358124' post='1030271']
We are fine. The Ravens virtually never make a splash in FA - especially in the beginning. It is pretty much like this every year & things end up being good.

I would rather us make no splash in FA & be in the playoffs year after year as opposed to teams like the Redskins who make big moved in FA every year but fail to make the playoffs. Lets keep things in perspective. Now is not really when you want your team in the headlines. Teams that do little in FA are usually the ones who do well in during the season.

In Ozzie we trust.
[/quote]

Everyone listen to this guy.

[Sam]

[quote name='RavensWin09' timestamp='1332358572' post='1030283']
not the case for the browns or bengals [img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/wink.png[/img]
[/quote]
Hmmm - how true - my bad! [img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png[/img]

[theblackdog]

I'm just wondering what our FO is planning, because Grubbs, Nakamura, Johnson, Zibikowski, and Redding have all gone to other teams, we cut Evans, Carr, and Foxworth, plus Ricky Williams retired, but I haven't seen any roster moves except to re-sign Birk and Chavis Williams. So does Ozzie have something up his sleeve for free agency, or are we going to be getting a few comp picks in the draft instead?

[ratedr]

So is not getting Anderson a huge loss? I don't know much about him.

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='ratedr' timestamp='1332365606' post='1030451']
So is not getting Anderson a huge loss? I don't know much about him.
[/quote]

Not much to know. Basically a situational pass rusher who broke out as a rookie with that 2006 Bears defense that took them to the Superbowl. They tried to make him a starter the next season but he did virtually nothing. Then they tried to shift him back to being a situational pass rusher, but he still did nothing - he got traded to Houston last year I believe, then he either became a FA or something because the Pats picked him up. As a situational guy with the Pats he records his 1st double digit sack total since his rookie year. So it either means that the Pats caught lightning in a bottle or whatever schemes they used worked for him. Bottom line is he seems to be a career underachiever given the kind of talent he's shown in the past. Besides I already feel like we have several guys like him in Kruger and McPhee, maybe Kindle if he ever gets healthy. All in all, I think the Bills way overpaid unless they expect him to be a starter - almost 7 million a year for a situational guy.

[wizard1]

[quote name='Blex64' timestamp='1332102264' post='1026881']

Observational? The only gap we have is at Left Guard. Losing backups doesn't leave a void, and Redding and JJ have talented young players to step up behind them. Between Jones, McPhee, Kruger, and Kindle I'm sure we'll be fine.



Why am I feeding him?
[/quote]

I'm confused-Isn't it the Baltimore Ravens that drafted Ben Grubbs in the first round only to let him go to the saints because of 3 mil. r u seriouly talking football here-who does that? I will tell you does it-My beloved Ravens the same team that drafts TEs back to back in the same draft. The same team that couldn't get its timing down while drafting in the first round last year. The same team that drafted Sergio Kindle while continuing to let Jameel Mcclain hang out in the wind.It goes on and on-no wonder we just can't seem to find our way to the superbowl. Its the same thing year after year after year. Oh but wait we kept Cam Cameron what was I thinking we should be good. and oh BTW is that really another QB coach for Flacco-sheesh

[Bltravens]

[quote name='wizard1' timestamp='1332381230' post='1030688']

I'm confused-Isn't it the Baltimore Ravens that drafted Ben Grubbs in the first round only to let him go to the saints because of 3 mil. r u seriouly talking football here-who does that? I will tell you does it-My beloved Ravens the same team that drafts TEs back to back in the same draft. The same team that couldn't get its timing down while drafting in the first round last year. The same team that drafted Sergio Kindle while continuing to let Jameel Mcclain hang out in the wind.It goes on and on-no wonder we just can't seem to find our way to the superbowl. Its the same thing year after year after year. Oh but wait we kept Cam Cameron what was I thinking we should be good. and oh BTW is that really another QB coach for Flacco-sheesh
[/quote]
Plenty of teams lose high caliber FAs that they have drafted. The Texans just lost 3 guys from the same draft class in one off season, 3 guys who were all starters. Back to back TEs, to counter the 3-4 defenses we run into and also because we had no TEs on the roster who could play except Heap, who a year later was released. You didn't want the team to draft Kindle because Jameel McClain, an UDFA DE, would be a FA a couple years later, even though the two don't play the same position and Kindle's drafting has no bearing on the Ravens ILB plans.

But ya, none of those moves made any sense....[img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/eyes.gif[/img]

[Militant X 1]

just because we know that this is how the Ravens operate during FA, that doesn't make it any easier to watch other teams further improve by bringing in and signing good quality players while watching our Ravens do nothing! for the Ravens to be a "playoff" team every year for the past few years and have NO free agent that has come to town to visit to sign with us but take the offers from other teams...speaks volumes whether cats in here choose to admit that or not!

i'm still waiting to see what you are doing Ozzie.

~Mili

[POE]

I know that we have lost quite a few guys that have had big impacts on our team, but I am extremely excited for the young guys that will have to fill those roles this coming season. It often feels like we aren't doing the right thing when you lose in FA and don't add anything in return, but with this team we have so many young guys that are itching to step into the spot light. Guys like Pernell McPhee, Art Jones, Paul Kruger, Danny Gorrer, Albert McLellen and maybe even Sergio Kindle. Those are just a few on defense that showed some great things through out the season that could really bring some excitement this season in a bigger role.

On the offense there is no doubt that losing Grubbs may hurt a little bit but I have always felt that Grubbs was good but not great. There is no dount that we grab some O-lineman in the draft but we have some young guys on our roster that I look forward to seeing at some point in Justin Boren, Jah Reid, and even a guy like Ramon Harewood. Tandon Doss, LaQuan Williams, and Anthony Allen are others that could have a bigger role this season on offense as well. Add some young draftees to this roster that could possibly make an immediate impact and this team gets even more dangerous and younger at the same time.

As frustrating as it may seem sometimes how this team operates through the off-season, I love the way they do things and the results that we see between September through January. There is no doubt that they have a great formula in patience and putting together a roster that mixes great veteran leadership with up and coming youth talent. There is no doubt that Ozzie adds at least one, maybe two more, cheap FA's to this roster and builds the rest through the draft. In my opinion that will be plenty enough for this team to continue it's mission to win the SB. Enjoy the ride!

[redrum52]

I'm with you, I feel next ear will he very fun to watch considering the rooks never had a mini camps and the second year guys were just learning. It will be fun to see which players really take that next step and I like that we will sort of be forced into player younger guys. It seemed Harbaughs first 3 years he was reluctant to do so but last year after seeing it pay off might do it more, especially with our low cap number. Will be nice to see who comes out of no where to show off their talent.

[hawkprey]

I agree. This is the first time in a long time that we had a lot of young players who just started to break out and become mainstays. Last year we were hoping they would fill in well, this year we're hoping they can take over. If all goes well this year we will have the foundation of our team for the next 6 or so years.

[AsianRice]

I'm excited that our defense is getting younger than ever and our defense tradition will continue with our young players; Lewis and Reed will continue to mentor and mold our young players to become the foundation of the Ravens franchise when they decide to hang up their cleats.....


PS: I have no worries about the future of the franchise, as long as Ozzie is at the helm.....

[Gtown Purple]

Staunch ravens fans know that we are one of the best teams in the league at adding talent through the draft and developing it. It has been our MO for our entire existence. Part of this cycle is always going to be losing some talent because someone else can pay more. If guys want to make more money to go somewhere else then that is their decision. You can't blame them as they are only looking out for themselves and their families. The average football career is something like 3 years so make as much money as you can while you can.

It's long been a fact that the Ravens have been a talent pool for the rest of the league. Other teams can't wait to overpay our FA's. The only one of our departed that has a real shot at the playoffs is Grubbs and that's somewhat in doubt after the saints debacle. if you want the green then seek it but don't whine when you are sitting at home watching us in the playoffs.

We have alot to be excited about for next year.

1. More playing time for Kruger. How many have been pining for that around here?
2. Pernell taking on a starting role
3. Kindle and Doss getting another shot to contribute
4. Jimmy Smith taking on a bigger role

I'm confident we'll have another great draft this year. Whomever is the best pick at 29 is who we will take whwther it be hightower, konz, zeitler, etc. I'm also confident that we will pick up value adds after the draft. People need to stop worrying about other teams who are throwing around crazy money to FA's only to cut them next year or soon after and be left eating cap space.