In Ozzie We Trust (The Ravens Free Agency Thread)

[beanfigger]

It's not just the upper echelon. Finley isnt that great, neither is Jared Cook. Zach Miller makes 6.8M a year. It's the going rate for a quality TE which Pitta certainly is. John Carlson makes 5M a year if that gives you an idea of what the TE market looks like. Pitta had an excellent season last year and the year before that he was money down the stretch once he started taking snaps from Dickson. His numbers look even better once you look at his postseason perfromances, He is definitely a top 10 TE, at least before the injury. That changes everything. Hip injuries are extremely rare and are very difficult to come back from. He wont get anywhere close to 3year 14M after that injury, but like I said we can wait and see. 

 

You mean, like I said.  And even if you believe he is better than all those TEs you just mentioned, as do I, belief only goes so far.  They are all more accomplished than him at this point in his career.  That offer was the highest I could see him get.  More likely 2years/8-9M.  I still think that's better for him than a 1yr/3M gamble.

[itsaamiracle]

Laurent Robinson cleared by concussion clinic:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000228294/article/laurent-robinson-reportedly-cleared-by-concussion-clinic

[Ragin'Raven]

Brandon Stokley? Ah, I would welcome this! :) Knows Caldwell, was a pretty good target for Peyton Manning...really like that he's supposedly coming here! :)

[I AM LEGEND]

I like picking up Brandon Stokely ...good depth

[BaltimoreBean]

Jeez. He's 37!

[Sami84]

Yeah, kinda worrying

Wonder I Ozzie is doing this with his head or heart. Lloyd is obviously a superior player and much younger.

[SecretAgentMan]

Yeah, kinda worrying

Wonder I Ozzie is doing this with his head or heart. Lloyd is obviously a superior player and much younger.

And a headcase, while Stokley has two SB rings, and is generally quiet about things(except for that one incident)

[Guest Im An Ozzie Newsome Guy]

Yeah, kinda worrying

Wonder I Ozzie is doing this with his head or heart. Lloyd is obviously a superior player and much younger.

 

I'm still wondering where and why people got this idea that Brandon Lloyd was, quote-on-quote, a "good" wide receiver. Just because he put-up some stats on some very bad teams (i.e. '10 Broncos, '11 Rams); probably due to the fact that those teams were basically airing it out after being behind most of their games? Oh, and let's not forget the whole connection between him, his stats and Josh McDaniels being there, as well...

 

Brandon Stokley will do a fine job, temporarily filling-in at the slot. He's a quite guy, always does what he is told, he can still run routes and catch at the age of 37 and he loves the game of football. Stokely will fit-in just nicely.

[GrimCoconut]

Yeah, kinda worrying

Wonder I Ozzie is doing this with his head or heart. Lloyd is obviously a superior player and much younger.

There you go. Your veteran FA WR was signed. I hope you're happy, lol. 

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

Raven faithful remember that some one who may be a big part of the drive to repeat may now be on another teams roster. Cuts will come and some always surprise. Until that Thursday night (Really Angelos?) our final roster is not set and quality talent will be there. Our front office knows this and yes we do it every year. The only thing different for me is that this is my first year with out Ray. Everything else, we are RAVENS! Wait for it! Why not us??

[ghost1986]

There you go. Your veteran FA WR was signed. I hope you're happy, lol. 

Sarcasm or not, I am happy. Heck, I'll even throw in a celebratory cabbage patch to show it.  And he can help coach up Doss. I still think Doss needs more reps to get confidence.

[GrimCoconut]

Sarcasm or not, I am happy. Heck, I'll even throw in a celebratory cabbage patch to show it.  And he can help coach up Doss. I still think Doss needs more reps to get confidence.

I am as well. I just found it funny that they were talking up this great need to get a FA veteran or trade for someone and we bring in Stokley. I like Stokley, FWIW. 

[ghost1986]

I am as well. I just found it funny that they were talking up this great need to get a FA veteran or trade for someone and we bring in Stokley. I like Stokley, FWIW. 

Yeah other than Ismail, definitely my favorite WR on that Super Bowl team. I was sad we lost him. But he's back and I couldn't be happier. Another sweet pick up by Ozzie when everything was quiet.

[Alexir]

So Dallas Clark is the new rumor, eh? Caldwell should call Harrison while he's at it haha

[SecretAgentMan]

We are rebuilding the 2006 SB team

Time to rip off Irsay for Wayne :p

[Alexir]

We are rebuilding the 2006 SB team

Time to rip off Irsay for Wayne :p

T.Y. Hilton should of been a Raven!

[SecretAgentMan]

T.Y. Hilton should of been a Raven!

I'm happy with Pierce lol

[Ravenslifer]

Word is now we're looking into Dallas Clark.

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000229030/article/dallas-clark-baltimore-ravens-reportedly-have-mutual-interest

 

Not too surprising - nobody outside of Peyton Manning knows former Colts offensive players better than Jim Caldwell.

[Raven07]

Ravens and Dallas Clark have agreed in principle to a contract.

 

just got the Alert

[big hits and ball hawks]

Even though I think we just made two very solid signings with Stokley and Clark, I'm feeling a bit jaded. It just makes me think that the young guys aren't cutting it and that's just disappointing. I was really hoping for just one guy to emerge. Now, this could also mean that some guys' injuries are worse than we originally thought, but that's still pretty disappointing. Maybe I just set my expectations too high on these young guys. Still, I feel our offense has gotten better in just the past 24 hours. Good job, Ozzie.   

[Moderator 3]

Maybe it's just that the young guys aren't cutting it YET. Doesn't mean that's permanent.

[PolishRifle]

Even though I think we just made two very solid signings with Stokley and Clark, I'm feeling a bit jaded. It just makes me think that the young guys aren't cutting it and that's just disappointing. I was really hoping for just one guy to emerge. Now, this could also mean that some guys' injuries are worse than we originally thought, but that's still pretty disappointing. Maybe I just set my expectations too high on these young guys. Still, I feel our offense has gotten better in just the past 24 hours. Good job, Ozzie.   

I can imagine, that the vets and the young guns will share playing time at the begining of the season and IF our inexperienced players start to pan out, the vets will be phased out of the gameplan until they finally get benched.

[Sami84]

i think ed dicksons tear is a bit more of a serious tear then harbs wanted to admit. 

 

Anyhow 3 tight ends

 

Dickson

Clark

VS

 

We dont need Bajema. We have leach for blocking duties. Juice can be the backup HB

[jdynamite]

I'm don't want to get into this again because I just had a long conversation with others about it. I'm glad you seem to agree with my reasoning for him to look for a long term deal. Everyone is different, and every injury is different, so no direct comparison can be made, but my response to all your examples of players that only got one year deals after injury recently is simple...Revis. There are teams that can be had in this league, and if he truly wants to look for the multi-year deal next year, he will eventually find it.

That response there is what would begin an argument. Revis is a rare athlete Top player at his position when healthy, the same can not be said for Pitta...
And if the Revis example is to be used the team is in no danger with Revis because his contract has no guaranteed money ( no signing bonus ) Revis can be cut by The Bucs at anytime they choose to save the cap space and not have to worry about Cap Penalties for his release if he under-performed or got injured again.

Pitta could also in theory sign a similar deal, but what would he gain, Pitta isn't a top 5 TE yet so isn't going to get offered TE version of Revis contract it isn't going to be some huge dollar amount.

The examples I gave fit more the mold of a player in Pitta 's position whom seemed ready for "the breakout Pro-Bowl type year".

[big hits and ball hawks]

Maybe it's just that the young guys aren't cutting it YET. Doesn't mean that's permanent.

 

 

I can imagine, that the vets and the young guns will share playing time at the begining of the season and IF our inexperienced players start to pan out, the vets will be phased out of the gameplan until they finally get benched.

 

 

Both of you are probably right. I'm usually very optimistic. I'll probably be over it by tomorrow and will be more excited for the additions, and by Thursday I'll be beyond excited to see them all play. 

[Purple Nurple]

Both of you are probably right. I'm usually very optimistic. I'll probably be over it by tomorrow and will be more excited for the additions, and by Thursday I'll be beyond excited to see them all play.

Full of truth, this post.

[cursona pirate]

Full of truth, this post.

Eat it up. Nom Nom Nom. I agree. :)

[RavensFanInCA]

Any idea if any of these new contracts are guaranteed? I.e. Could the Ravens cut any of them during final cuts and take no cap hit?

[CARavensFan]

Any idea if any of these new contracts are guaranteed? I.e. Could the Ravens cut any of them during final cuts and take no cap hit?

 

The way veteran minimum deals work is that generally don't have any guaranteed money in them, but if they are on the roster Week 1 then their salary becomes guaranteed. That's why often you will see vets get cut near the end of preseason and then resigned after Week 1.

[SecretAgentMan]

The way veteran minimum deals work is that generally don't have any guaranteed money in them, but if they are on the roster Week 1 then their salary becomes guaranteed. That's why often you will see vets get cut near the end of preseason and then resigned after Week 1.

No one better complain that Clark might be gone for a week then :P