Paul Kruger contract situation

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1358049187' post='1308183']


I see where you're coming from, but aside from the QB and a hall of fame safety, it's hard for me to prioritize anyone over a guy who has had 14.5 sacks the last 2 seasons despite only starting 5 games and is only going to be 27 next year.
[/quote]i refuse to pay top dollar for a olb that can't play three downs.

[JO_75]

[quote name='ravensfan160' timestamp='1358044214' post='1307606']
I love Kruger but would he even be a starter next season? He is still average at best against the run and we have Upshaw.

The only way I see us paying Kruger that kind of money is if we think Suggs won't ever be the same again. In that case we have to keep Kruger for his pass rush.
[/quote]

He's done enough to earn a starting job here. I think him and Sizzle as our OLBs would be a deadly combo for any offense. Plus you rotate in Upshaw who has done well in his limited playing time, our pass rush could be the strength of our defense with Suggs and Kruger chasing quarterbacks.

[Footman DCXLV]

[quote name='redlobster' timestamp='1358046186' post='1307888']
What has Kruger done off field to concern Baltimore ?
[/quote]

Anybody? First I'm hearing of this.

[Ngata Chance]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1358049187' post='1308183']


I see where you're coming from, but aside from the QB and a hall of fame safety, it's hard for me to prioritize anyone over a guy who has had 14.5 sacks the last 2 seasons despite only starting 5 games and is only going to be 27 next year.
[/quote]

Check. Mate.

[ravensfan160]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1358050911' post='1308355']
He's done enough to earn a starting job here. I think him and Sizzle as our OLBs would be a deadly combo for any offense. Plus you rotate in Upshaw who has done well in his limited playing time, our pass rush could be the strength of our defense with Suggs and Kruger chasing quarterbacks.
[/quote]
There is only so much cap room to go around. I love it when fans seem to ignore this fact. If Kruger isn't a 3 down LB than he isn't worth 8 million a season. Meanwhile we have guys like Adrian Hamilton and Michael McAdoo who could potentially take over as a 3rd down rush specialist. Are they as good as Kruger? Of course not but there is only so much money to go around.

[dhstandard]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1358050446' post='1308312']
i refuse to pay top dollar for a olb that can't play three downs.
[/quote]

Not top dollar but he was our best pass rusher this year. He actually played pretty solid against the run when he was in today. We have an issue where we have Suggs on one side and Upshaw and Kruger on the other. Upsahw is still very young and Kruger is in his prime. Upshaw is one of the best in run stopping while Kruger is a pass rush specialist. We need both to be effective.

Can't just hope Upshaw becomes a solid pass rusher. You need the rotation guys.

[The Raven]

Kruger's contract situation can be summed up shortly: This is going to suck.

We need to keep him but the fact is we don't have the money for it. We all know the dude is going to be given huge money by some 4-3 team. The situation sucks. We drafted him. We groomed him. We need him. But we can't pay him.

[FreckleNate]

It will all come down to how this season ends on how we get Flacco and Kruger paid. Let's be honest if we win the SB we are going to could lose Reed and Birk also which would free up a nice chunk of cap space

[PuRock]

[quote name='FreckleNate' timestamp='1358057924' post='1308803']
It will all come down to how this season ends on how we get Flacco and Kruger paid. Let's be honest if we win the SB we are going to could lose Reed and Birk also which would free up a nice chunk of cap space
[/quote]

We'd also be able to sign Joe to that long term contract at market value which would help with cap space.

I'd really like to see Kruger back. Sure he is a situational pass rusher. But how do we know if Suggs returns to dominance. If he doesn't, we are left with very little pass rush. Upshaw is turning more into JJ (good thing) with his run defense. We don't have a lot of options.

[GrimCoconut]

I just don't see how we have the money unless we restructure the Hell out of our team, backload serious money, or cut big players. Ngata, Suggs, Rice, Boldin are the top four who could restructure. I don't see Ngata doing it because he's crazy and contemplating retirement for some mad reason. Suggs is a huge risk due to his recent injuries. Rice is a RB and that may not be the smartest idea. Boldin would work but how much would he save? He's only one player.

I thought I remember reading that Jacoby gets 6million next year? Is that true? If so, no way he keeps that salary. That would get restructured. Perhaps Pollard could, too.

It's a nasty situation. I would hate to be Pat.

If anything, perhaps we could save money with Flacco's deal, backload the Hell out of it and make it for 8 years or so.

[Gordo52]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1358058158' post='1308816']


We'd also be able to sign Joe to that long term contract at market value which would help with cap space.

I'd really like to see Kruger back. Sure he is a situational pass rusher. But how do we know if Suggs returns to dominance. If he doesn't, we are left with very little pass rush. Upshaw is turning more into JJ (good thing) with his run defense. We don't have a lot of options.
[/quote]
+100

[Ravenseconbeast]

You forgot Ellerbe.

We need both of those guys back. Its almost a must

[BloodRaven]

It looks like he's gone after the season.

[Guest RBates]

We need Kruger on the defense. We cant let him get out of Baltimore. But he is not worth 8 million a year. He is not even in the neighborhood.

Why would he bring this up now? After the classless tweet. Whats wrong Kruger cameras getting to you. The spotlight blinds some people.

[jdynamite]

I like Kruger he has played very well the second half of this season, but in my opinion he still isn't a top level pass rusher, and he isn't even an every down player yet. So I don't feel that the Ravens should get into a bidding war for him.

Kruger still is average at best versus the run. Kruger was a complete non-factor Pre-Suggs return. For 6 weeks

[jdynamite]

I like Kruger he has played very well the second half of this season, but in my opinion he still isn't a top level pass rusher, and he isn't even an every down player yet. So I don't feel that the Ravens should get into a bidding war for him.

Kruger still is average at best versus the run. Kruger was a complete non-factor Pre-Suggs return. For the first 6 weeks Kruger had 1.5 sacks made nearly no impact was very poor vs the Run.

Suggs comes back, Kruger goes into a situational pass rusher similar to last season and collects some sacks. Regardless of how well Suggs has played Suggs still draws double teams all the time.

I love what Kruger has done, and I hope he has found his niche and continues to play this way, but I still believe even with Kruger we need to add more pass rush this offseason via the Draft. And next season with a healthy Suggs coming strong as the defensive leader he will go back to double digit sacks, Upshaw will improve as a pass rusher too, as well as McPhee continued development.

[Ravenseconbeast]

Cant wait what Kruger will do. His really comming up strong this late in the season.

[PuRock]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1358183905' post='1311680']
Cant wait what Kruger will do. His really comming up strong this late in the season.
[/quote]

I expect him to have a better game than in Denver (and he played pretty great out there). Just got to get Brady feeling the pressure, early. You do this, you have him ducking ghosts throughout the game.

[cwfRaven]

[quote name='redlobster' timestamp='1358046186' post='1307888']
What has Kruger done off field to concern Baltimore ?
[/quote]
[quote name='Footman DCXLV' timestamp='1358051804' post='1308416']
Anybody? First I'm hearing of this.
[/quote]

Until the unfortunate tweet, I had never heard anything negative about him. From all accounts I've heard, he's a pretty straight-laced guy (apparently he's a devout Mormon - no drinking, etc). I didn't see the tweet and it's since been deleted, but everyone is saying it was pretty tacky. Frankly that surpises me because in everything else I've seen he's always seemed like a classy guy. Personally, I think he's worth keeping but probably not at that price.

[redrum52]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1358044906' post='1307717']

We also have to pay Flacco, Reed, Ellerbe, McKinnie, & Williams who are all free agents. Then we have RFAs who need tenders. Add in the draft picks...ugh. it doesn't look too good.

I know all of our free agents won't be back, btw. Some may retire (Reed), some may just not be wanted back (McKinnie), and some may just outprice themselves (Williams, Kruger). I think Ellerbe & Flacco definitely return.
[/quote]

First, no way they pay Williams what he wants, say goodbye. Jimmy and the guys we have behind will be asked to step up and Webb will be back. I really hope we win the ring cause guys like McKinnie and Reed will then be content with retiring. Flacco and Ellerbe I guarantee will be back. Kruger depending on what he really wants, could possibly be back, depending on how high the cap is, and if we don't have maybe another surprise retiring. Matt Birk is old and didn't he just sign a 3 year contract?

The draft picks we need to pay won't be expensive due to our spot in the draft. The most cap that the total draft signings should take is maybe around 3.5 million and that number might be high.

[ellicottraven]

I want him to help us win the SB so he can get the money he deserves. Unfortunately it won't be with the Ravens although I hope it is at the right price!

[B-more Ravor]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1358044906' post='1307717']
We also have to pay Flacco, Reed, Ellerbe, McKinnie, & Williams who are all free agents. Then we have RFAs who need tenders. Add in the draft picks...ugh. it doesn't look too good.

[/quote]
[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1358049028' post='1308166']
we have around 19 after rays retirement with only 36 people on the roster. We have 15 spots to fill, that averages under 2 mil a spot
[/quote]

It all comes down to Flacco's contract.

They presently have $108.329M committed to the Cap for 2013, which is for the 42 players that are presently under contract (they signed 5 guys a week or so ago). The Cap is projected to be around $120.9M. They have around $1.2M in 2012 Cap space that they can carry over.

Once the RFAs and EFAs are tendered, and factoring in Ray's retirement, they should be around $6.5M under. They could have more if they don't offer RFA tenders to David Reed and Ramon Harewood (but you are eating into your depth by not doing so).

If they can get Flacco signed to a long term deal, that will pretty much eat up that space. If they need to franchise him, they'll need an additional $8.5M to do so. They can get $3.25M in additional Cap space from releasing Bobbie Williams and Matt Birk.

Needless to say, getting Flacco re-signed will make the offseason much, much easier.

[Crabcakes&Football]

I'm glad he thinks he's worth that much. We can't afford to pay him that much even if we wanted to. But Paul you go ahead and earn that money. You got 2 games to dominate tackles and beat up QBs to help us win the Superbowl.

[ArmyRavensFan]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1358061328' post='1308954']
You forgot Ellerbe.

We need both of those guys back. Its almost a must
[/quote]

I think Ellerbe is more important that Kruger or Williams.

[Ravenseconbeast]

[quote name='ArmyRavensFan' timestamp='1358247415' post='1312726']


I think Ellerbe is more important that Kruger or Williams.
[/quote]

Oh for sure. Ellerbe is top priority then its Kruger. I say letting eihter of them go will hurt our organization in the long run big time.

I say if Flacco can get a contract that within a reasonable price, we can fit both of them in. If not, we'll be losing very good pieces out of Ravens organization.

[PuRock]

[quote name='ArmyRavensFan' timestamp='1358247415' post='1312726']
I think Ellerbe is more important that Kruger or Williams.
[/quote]

Ellerbe hasn't really gotten the praise he deserves for our win on Saturday. The guy was everywhere. Making Manning feel pressure. I remember the one play where he stopped on a dime and picked up the new guy in his zone quickly and stopped a completion.

[Larryterri]

What we can't afford is to lose so many solid pieces to FA like we did last offseason. That said, I think we need to make Joe top priority, and keep as many D pieces as we can, starting with Kruger and Ellerbe. I dont think we will keep Reed...

[Sunday QB]

[font=comic sans ms, cursive]If we could afford over 8 million for Kruger we could go get Cliff Avril. [/font][font=comic sans ms, cursive]We will need to look at free agency with so many FA of our own. [/font]

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1358269882' post='1312996']
Ellerbe hasn't really gotten the praise he deserves for our win on Saturday. The guy was everywhere. Making Manning feel pressure. [b] I remember the one play where he stopped on a dime and picked up the new guy in his zone quickly and stopped a completion.[/b]
[/quote]

The awareness and athleticism he showed on that play was great. His pass coverage will be key for the D to contain Hernandez and Welker on shorter and intermediate routes.

[hawkprey]

Kruger could be this offseason's Ngata/Yanda. We have little room but he is among the top priorities for this offseason. What do we have without him? Upshaw isn't a great pass rusher yet and McClellan has done not enough, despite impressing this year. Ray Rice's contract is front loaded, so we might have room for a backloaded contract, or to renegotiate Rice's to squeeze Kruger in. Whatever it is, Krug can't be the odd man out. Unless we strictly have only enough room to sign Joe, who is the top priority by far.