Old School

[mdrsharon]

Seeing the mass defections of our beloved team, this one hurts.

Looking at our all of our guys, as well as Urlacher, Dumervil, and other guys in the league, it is really upsetting that these guys don't want to end their career in the towns that worship them.
When I look back at Joe Montana, Joe Namath, and numerous others old and new, who ended their careers in "foreign" cities, I know the mentality of wanting to continue the glory days. But what they don't get, is the bottom line - it is the fans who pay to see these guys play for our team.
All the more respect for Ray Lewis.

I am old school, will root for my team no matter what.

Even the O's, as horrible as they were, still a fan.
Ravens forever,
we did win the Super Bowl - that is the best.
I was looking for a repeat, let's hope for an awesome draft.

Go Ravens.

[mongosboy]

Well, I just figured out after 59 years of being a fan, quit thinking about them as a team...think about them as just part of a business....it actually lessens the hurt.

[beasy2487]

[quote name='mongosboy' timestamp='1363976489' post='1410439']
Well, I just figured out after 59 years of being a fan, quit thinking about them as a team...think about them as just part of a business....it actually lessens the hurt.
[/quote]

Or, you could celebrate the team's success and understand that each year is totally different. I'm surprised that watching the Colts leave didn't teach you that lesson.

[cushrinada1986]

The free agency system killed any chance of players just being able to retire with there team, especially since it makes the offseason one big football version of Ebay for every available player out there. These days, the only thing you can count on staying as it pertains to a certain team, is their colors.

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

I agree it hurts to see them go, but we have the best front office in football, and football is a business."I'm not writing the obituary yet".

[gabefergy]

I'm glad that the FO has the long-term success of the Franchise as number #1 priority. It would suck to mortgage the future to keep around players that are past their prime or too expensive for their worth. Not that I think the Ravens are going to be bad in the short-term, but it's clear the priority is to get younger and faster to go along with some cap flexibility.

[berad]

[quote name='cushrinada1986' timestamp='1363978578' post='1410505']
The free agency system killed any chance of players just being able to retire with there team, especially since it makes the offseason one big football version of Ebay for every available player out there. These days, the only thing you can count on staying as it pertains to a certain team, is their colors.
[/quote]

Some players stay, some go. It's not much different than previous eras - maybe a little more movement. But Unitas never dealt with FA and ended his career in San Diego.

[TonyTone1192]

[quote name='mdrsharon' timestamp='1363975300' post='1410393']
Seeing the mass defections of our beloved team, this one hurts.

Looking at our all of our guys, as well as Urlacher, Dumervil, and other guys in the league, it is really upsetting that these guys don't want to end their career in the towns that worship them.
When I look back at Joe Montana, Joe Namath, and numerous others old and new, who ended their careers in "foreign" cities, I know the mentality of wanting to continue the glory days. But what they don't get, is the bottom line - it is the fans who pay to see these guys play for our team.
All the more respect for Ray Lewis.

I am old school, will root for my team no matter what.

Even the O's, as horrible as they were, still a fan.
Ravens forever,
we did win the Super Bowl - that is the best.
I was looking for a repeat, let's hope for an awesome draft.

Go Ravens.
[/quote]

I agree 110%!!

I wrote in a thread the other day that I thought that winning a title was the first thing on the minds of NFL players', well as it stands that is 1b and making the EXTRA loot is 1a. The only two players that I understand for leaving our team is Boldin and Kruger. We weren't even considering making an offer to Kruger and we were hoping that Boldin would take a pay cut from the original contract that he'd signed.

Also I stated, these NFL players get paid much more than the average american and the it's not like that they're not getting PAID. Most average salary making americans would DIE for these contracts that these players turn down in hope of a "better" one.

There are certain players that should play every snap and retire w/ the team that drafted them, I thought that Ed was definitely one of them.

Although I HATE the Steelers I did/do respect Hines Ward on his decision to retire a Steeler.

[dhstandard]

I think it's a stark contrast from basketball. Guys are taking paycuts in the NBA to make Super Teams to make title runs. You'll see the best guys in the NFL go to the worst teams because they want more money.

I hate that the NBA has Super Teams, but at least it shows the players care about the sport and winning over money. NBA is Winning, Money and Fans tied. In the NFL it's Money, Fans, Winning.

[mdrsharon]

But compared to football, basketball is really different.

I am much more passionate about the football guys who really are involved in the contact sport and give everything. Although b-ball can have lots of contact, it ain't football. B-ballers are more prima donnas.

Money is the bottom line with all. Winning is fun, but secondary.

[Dudeman]

I'm old school too, but whats going on is nothing new. You said it yourself with "old timers" who went to play for different cities. Yet is Johnny U any less loved for ending his career elsewhere? How about most of the entire Hall of Fame, the G.O.A.T's pretty much all were a revolving door of playing for 2-3 teams at a minimum. Deon Sanders made a career of revenge in free agency.

Ultimately, I think history remembers things differently. Johnny U will always be a Colt, just like Jerry Rice/Joe Montana as 49ers.

With regards to Reed he did his job here and he did it well. He will always be a Raven and will forever be remembered as one too.

[i82much]

All depends. No way Joe Montana should have retired, he was still a very, very good quarterback. As it turned out, he wasn't durable enough to win another Super Bowl, but that first year at KC they were fantastic. Maybe the second year his arm was looking a little weak, but they were still pretty good. And I don't think the move to KC had anything to do with $, it was just that Seifert was going with Young.

Besides, who am I to tell these guys to take less money or retire? Don't forget that Ray hit the open market too and came back to Baltimore because we paid him more or less market rate. If a guy is going to get an extra 2 million elsewhere, that's probably what he ought to do. I have a great boss, a great work environment, but if I could go do the same thing next door for 50% more that's what I'd do.

[TDubbs]

This is why in retrospect, I'am so appreciative of what Ray Lewis did. Helped build this team, became the face of the franchise and City. Understood the value of his legacy, never left us. Got rewarded by finishing on top, which is what he deserved.