The Necessary Cuts

[flaccopoe]

[quote name='jaege' timestamp='1360255033' post='1349151']
But Joe's agent said that they were willing to be as cap friendly as possible, maybe taking 8 mill this year and letting the amount escalate in later seasons.


If I had my choice, trying to keep to some level of realism and sticking to your list, I would want to keep Pitta, Boldin, Ellerbe and Kruger (although I doubt we can keep Kruger) and Jacoby Jones. I would hate seeing Reed in another uniform but I think he is going to want too much money.
[/quote]

Apparently, Boldin could be cut, which would change the cap dynamic.

[The Raven]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1360136229' post='1347451']
Kind of off topic, but I didnt realize how heartbreaking it was going to be knowing that I'll never see another Ray Lewis dance, or hear him fire up the team. Knew it was going to suck, but man, this hurts.

On topic, let Cary, Kemo and McKinney walk for sure. Then we need to strongly consider J. McClain's future. Hopefully someone can restructure to give us a little breathing room for a year. I also think Birk's time is up.
[/quote]

Why McKinnie? I've been one of his biggest haters all season, but I think we need him next year.

[flynismo]

Well, McKinnie's age, and never knowing whether you'll get the great player we saw late this year or the 400 lb lazy slug we saw inpreseason.

[flynismo]

Do my eyes decieve me, or am I really reading some crazy stuff? No, we are not going to lose Ngata or Suggs.
And Flacco isnt the same quality qb without Pitta or Boldin?? All I have said for years now is that our team will go as far as our OL takes us. Why did I say that? Because I knew that Flacco could take this team all the way, if his OL at least pretended to protect him. Look at Flacco now, what has changed since the Cam Cameron days? A compotent OC and the OL has stepped up. Now Flacco is a SB mvp after one of the greatest postseasons in history. Imagine that!!

[CapoRocky]

I'm just glad that I'm not the one pouring over the books trying to make the decision.

[The Raven]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1360436904' post='1351865']
Well, McKinnie's age, and never knowing whether you'll get the great player we saw late this year or the 400 lb lazy slug we saw inpreseason.
[/quote]

Good points, but he played too well at LT for us to just let him go. We NEED a reliable LT. Oher is not reliable. We need McKinnie for just one year, or maybe even half a year, so we can find and groom a long term LT.

[bauer77]

I can't believe I just saw ProFootballTalk suggest we cut Suggs....What the heck?.

[Moderator 3]

I can't believe anyone pays any real attention to PFT anymore. They've turned into pure trash. Half of their "news" turns out to be false and they consistently post just plain stupid stuff.

[bMore Heathen]

I think a lot of people overvalue Kruger. He's a situational pass rusher. He's very good at that, but he's a definite liability in the run game. We cant overpay for a guy thats not an every down player.
We also can't afford to restructure 5-6 players to keep him. The young guys have to step up or draft a guy who can fill that role for cheap.
Ellerbe is the key on defense. We need to build around him.

[marylandmike12]

why do you guys want reed so much hes not 24 anymore

[JO_75]

[quote name='bauer77' timestamp='1360446785' post='1352130']
I can't believe I just saw ProFootballTalk suggest we cut Suggs....What the heck?.
[/quote]

Suggs has 2 years left on his current 6 year deal he signed back in 2009. He is due $6.4 Million this season and $7.8 Million in 2014. Suggs is only 30 years old so all we have to do is extend Suggs 4-6 years again on a new contract and his cap hit goes down. Same with Boldin and Jacoby. Our answer to the cap problem is to extend contracts to lower the cap hit, not restructure.

[bauer77]

[quote name='marylandmike12' timestamp='1360450276' post='1352204']
why do you guys want reed so much hes not 24 anymore
[/quote]

Name a replacement for him that can provide the leadership/veteran presence that he can, that we can get cheap. He still tied for the team lead in INTs and was 5th in tackles. Brady and Manning didn't throw downfield on us mainly because of him. Yes, he's not 24 anymore, but QB's are still scared of him. Plus, he deserves his Baltimore sendoff. He was very respectful, and helped give Ray his moment, now Ed deserves his.

[omar586]

Extending players contract like suggs, bolden , Jj, leach,
Krueger, c. Williams can't be signed they will b overpaid by other teams, we have replacements n Upshaw & Jimmy.
Ravens will cut Bobby, birk , kemo, Cody

[omar586]

Reed gonna test free agency & realize b-more is home.
Resigning big Mac, ihedigbo, ellerbe is critical too

[Tyler]

Lol no chance that a player like Rice just gets flat out cut. If anything, he will be traded. He is a top 5 running back and is a pivotal piece in this offense. Pierce is going to be a stud. And when the time comes for him to re-up, he might get a nice payday on another team if he doesn't resign here, but rice is still very young and is an elite player in this league.

[RobFuseRaven]

Randomly, I was really impressed with Ihedigbo this year. I hope he stays on our team for a while.

[display name]

I really hope we can save that cap space by signing Joe for a long-term deal.
Reed (money, lack of impact), Kemouteau (we'll pick up somebody better and younger in the draft), and Cary (we have better people) are the first three that we need to let go if we want to keep guys like Kruger, who are definitely more important than Reed.

[display name]

[quote name='Tyler' timestamp='1360464984' post='1352465']
Lol no chance that a player like Rice just gets flat out cut. If anything, he will be traded. He is a top 5 running back and is a pivotal piece in this offense. Pierce is going to be a stud. And when the time comes for him to re-up, he might get a nice payday on another team if he doesn't resign here, but [b]rice is still very young[/b] and is an elite player in this league.
[/quote]
I agree with most of this post, but remember that with runningbacks you always add a couple years to whatever their current age may be.

[Raven Hammer]

[quote name='display name' timestamp='1360533245' post='1353293']
I agree with most of this post, but remember that with runningbacks you always add a couple years to whatever their current age may be.
[/quote]
Rice's cap number if he gets traded makes him a no trade this year and next. However i don't want him traded anyway, This team is built on the type of men they are as much as their talent. Be careful not to trade the wrong guys.

[Tyler]

As much of a stud Pierce seems to be, remember, this offense is built Around Rice For a ton more than just running the ball. Rice commands a lot of attention because of how dangerous of a receiver he is. This creates mismatches and space for other guys to get open. I hear you that running backs have a shelf life, but as durable as Rice has been, and how much of a workhorse he was at Rutgers, much like Ladanian Tomlinson, he is bound to be an elite back for a while and a good running back for a long time.

[gabefergy]

Ummm. Those are all free agents. How does one cut a free agent?

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='gabefergy' timestamp='1360653499' post='1355267']
Ummm. Those are all free agents. How does one cut a free agent?
[/quote]
Franchise tag and then trade!!!!!!!!