Re-signing TE Dennis Pitta

[ellicottraven]

If it is true that his agent wants him designated as a WR for a franchise tag, I say we need to let him walk. If he wanted to be paid like a WR he should have listed himself as a WR and get drafted as one. He isn't a WR, wasn't drafted as one, so why should the Ravens every want to pay him like one?

 

Yeah, he may have lined up 79 % as a WR, but isn't that up to the play calling? What is up with these agents I don't know. Now, just because JImmy Graham's agent wants him designated as a WR, doesn't mean Pitta should. Production wise, they are miles apart.

[BmoreBird22]

 

If it is true that his agent wants him designated as a WR for a franchise tag, I say we need to let him walk. If he wanted to be paid like a WR he should have listed himself as a WR and get drafted as one. He isn't a WR, wasn't drafted as one, so why should the Ravens every want to pay him like one?

 

Yeah, he may have lined up 79 % as a WR, but isn't that up to the play calling? What is up with these agents I don't know. Now, just because JImmy Graham's agent wants him designated as a WR, doesn't mean Pitta should. Production wise, they are miles apart.

We can call him a receiver if he wants to be a slot receiver and make $3, $4 million.

[52N19]

don't overpay this guy, he;s good and joe's security blanket but he's coming off a serious injury and joe needs to make other receivers his security blanket not just pitta. let him walk and take the 3rd or 4th round compensatory pick in 2015.

[dirtybird10]

If it is true that his agent wants him designated as a WR for a franchise tag, I say we need to let him walk. If he wanted to be paid like a WR he should have listed himself as a WR and get drafted as one. He isn't a WR, wasn't drafted as one, so why should the Ravens every want to pay him like one?

 

Yeah, he may have lined up 79 % as a WR, but isn't that up to the play calling? What is up with these agents I don't know. Now, just because JImmy Graham's agent wants him designated as a WR, doesn't mean Pitta should. Production wise, they are miles apart.

 

No doubt, Pitta is no Jimmy Graham. However, this is also just negotiations. His agent is going to try and get him paid, it doesn't mean that is what he will get. Shoot for the moon and settle in the middle. That is hopefully what will happen. I can't see us over paying for Pitta. We probably won't get a discount, but if we sign him, it will be a fair deal for a good, solid tight end in his prime.

[The Mom Gene]

If it is true that his agent wants him designated as a WR for a franchise tag, I say we need to let him walk. If he wanted to be paid like a WR he should have listed himself as a WR and get drafted as one. He isn't a WR, wasn't drafted as one, so why should the Ravens every want to pay him like one?

 

Yeah, he may have lined up 79 % as a WR, but isn't that up to the play calling? What is up with these agents I don't know. Now, just because JImmy Graham's agent wants him designated as a WR, doesn't mean Pitta should. Production wise, they are miles apart.

I agree....  I do think Pitta is a good TE.  And, he will get picked up by another team, and for good money, that's why the issue is such a hot one.  If his agent wants to argue that he lined up as a WR...  then the Ravens can argue that he only played 4 games total last year with a severe injury... and try and get a deal done now.  If I am the Baltimore Ravens, (which I'm not obviously) I might look at trying to get the contract deal done for the lower money...  with maybe a performance bonus....  If you don't perform, then you don't get paid...  I don't think that signing bonuses and performance bonuses count against the cap, simply because they are not guaranteed $$$.

[ellicottraven]

I agree....  I do think Pitta is a good TE.  And, he will get picked up by another team, and for good money, that's why the issue is such a hot one.  If his agent wants to argue that he lined up as a WR...  then the Ravens can argue that he only played 4 games total last year with a severe injury... and try and get a deal done now.  If I am the Baltimore Ravens, (which I'm not obviously) I might look at trying to get the contract deal done for the lower money...  with maybe a performance bonus....  If you don't perform, then you don't get paid...  I don't think that signing bonuses and performance bonuses count against the cap, simply because they are not guaranteed $$$.

All good points. I think that is perhaps what ends up happening in Pitta's case.

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

He's listed on the roster as a TE. Where he lines up should not matter in a day when NFL offenses are becoming more complicated. That being said, for a guy who only played in 4 games? Would love to keep him but not at the price the entire team would have to pay to keep him at WR money. Come on Dennis, incentives are your best option. Do the job, earn the cash.

[52520Andrew]

130 mil cap this year gives us some more money to play with than previously thought.

[Dnyce215]

No he wants more than we willing to pay, let make an run at Jimmy Graham. Hopefully the saints won't put an unrestricted franchise tag on him.

[Radinho84]

I think we should get pitta back but not if we have to break the bank for him. he is good and everything but he is already 29 and will look for a big contract coming off a serious injury. I am not sure if he is worth the big bucks (as I am not sure if he get´s back to his old form again)

[BMORE21]

only way we don't resign pitta is if we get a nice wr out of free agency then grab a TE in draft possibly ebron.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

If Pitta wants to be listed as a WR then don't franchise him but offer him a contract similar to what a WR with his production would get. All teams should do the same.

He's got pretty good production for a tight end, but maybe #3 type production as a WR. Let him fight that fight.

[berad]

I just read an article on nfl.com that said Jermaine Gresham could be cut. The Ravens could take a nibble at him for the right price - they were pretty disappointed when he came off the board in 2010.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

I just read an article on nfl.com that said Jermaine Gresham could be cut. The Ravens could take a nibble at him for the right price - they were pretty disappointed when he came off the board in 2010.

I'd be on board for that. But I worry he's another Dickson, his hands never caught up with his athleticism. But for the right price his potential is certainly worth it.

[dirtybird10]

I just read an article on nfl.com that said Jermaine Gresham could be cut. The Ravens could take a nibble at him for the right price - they were pretty disappointed when he came off the board in 2010.

 

I would love to grab Gresham if he were available, but I still find it hard to believe the Bengals are going to let him go. Are they in bad cap trouble?

[Willbacker]

The Ravens had the same problem with Suggs. He wanted DE money and the Ravens laid the OLB tag on him. They actually worked out a tweener tag meeting in the middle. Same outcome could happen with Pitta and Graham.

 

My problem with all this is that rulebooks don't state where TEs have to line up and you don't see WRs lining up inline but yet Pitta has.

[rmw10]

The Ravens had the same problem with Suggs. He wanted DE money and the Ravens laid the OLB tag on him. They actually worked out a tweener tag meeting in the middle. Same outcome could happen with Pitta and Graham.

 

My problem with all this is that rulebooks don't state where TEs have to line up and you don't see WRs lining up inline but yet Pitta has.

 

It will probably happen for Graham, but it can't happen for Pitta.  That in between number would be roughly $9M.  Pitta is nowhere near worth $9M annually.

[Willbacker]

It will probably happen for Graham, but it can't happen for Pitta.  That in between number would be roughly $9M.  Pitta is nowhere near worth $9M annually.

Yeah I know. I'm just hoping they come to some sort of agreement before the tag needs to be issued. I heard on NFL Radio that if we tag him as a TE and lose the arbitration process that says he should be tagged as a WR he will automatically become an unrestricted FA.

[cursona pirate]

Just feel pitta is a tad bit overrated.

Don't underestimate Pitta Hut. Best pizza out there.

[berad]

I'd be on board for that. But I worry he's another Dickson, his hands never caught up with his athleticism. But for the right price his potential is certainly worth it.

 

He's under-performed but not as severely as Ed Dickson. All has to be in the right price but he is a pretty decent receiving TE.

 

I would love to grab Gresham if he were available, but I still find it hard to believe the Bengals are going to let him go. Are they in bad cap trouble?

Actually they aren't, just looked them up on sportrac. But nfl.com's reasoning is that the rookie Eifert outperformed him (which isn't exactly true, either). Just a possibility, I guess.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000326686/article/on-the-bubble-25-afc-players-who-could-be-cut

[NUM4TIC]

If it is true that his agent wants him designated as a WR for a franchise tag, I say we need to let him walk. If he wanted to be paid like a WR he should have listed himself as a WR and get drafted as one. He isn't a WR, wasn't drafted as one, so why should the Ravens every want to pay him like one?

 

Yeah, he may have lined up 79 % as a WR, but isn't that up to the play calling? What is up with these agents I don't know. Now, just because JImmy Graham's agent wants him designated as a WR, doesn't mean Pitta should. Production wise, they are miles apart.

My whole thing about that is how often does a wide receiver line up as a receiver? 100 percent of the time. How often does a wide receiver play on the line? 0 percent of the time. There's your numbers pay him like a tight end.  

[Ravenslifer]

I would love to grab Gresham if he were available, but I still find it hard to believe the Bengals are going to let him go. Are they in bad cap trouble?

 

He's not bad - he gets dinged up quite a bit - I think the Bengals' issue is they have a glut of talent and need to make up cap space to keep the guys they want - remember they drafted Eifert, who outplayed Gresham this year, and they also have Green, Sanu, and Jones who all stepped up this year.  They aren't in cap trouble, but the question would be do they want to pay Gresham when they could get a rookie and still have a deep receiving corps - remember the Bengals FO is notoriously stingy.

[Ravenseconbeast]

Bye Pitta. Nice knowing you. Now to draft a productive TE with more than 1year of productivity @rookie contract!

[BloodRaven]

Receivers with hands like Boldin's and Pitta's are extremely hard to come by.

 

Edit: Whoever it is that lines up at TE, just please catch the ball thats all I ask.

[RayRicefan2720]

Receivers with hands like Boldin's and Pitta's are extremely hard to come by.

 

Edit: Whoever it is that lines up at TE and/or WR, just please catch the ball thats all I ask.

 

Fixed

 

Or should I say, whoever is one of Joe's targets...

[T3hRaven]

He's not bad - he gets dinged up quite a bit - I think the Bengals' issue is they have a glut of talent and need to make up cap space to keep the guys they want - remember they drafted Eifert, who outplayed Gresham this year, and they also have Green, Sanu, and Jones who all stepped up this year.  They aren't in cap trouble, but the question would be do they want to pay Gresham when they could get a rookie and still have a deep receiving corps - remember the Bengals FO is notoriously stingy.

 

You could say that about Pitta as well.  Besides the catastrophic hip injury, he also broke his hand during his tenure.  I don't think it's wise to invest big money in him, especially not guaranteed money.

[ravensfan520]

i am sorry but te are easier to replace then left tackles. So resign Monroe and maybe even Oher. With kubiak and a new scheme keeping a line together that knows each other is more important. We can find a te in the first 2 rounds and also a wr with which ever pick we dont use on a te.

[Wisdom]

I think Monroe is more of a priority than Pitta.  Tight ends are a dime a dozen in this year draft.

[rmw10]

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet  2m

#Ravens and TE Dennis Pitta are making progress to a new deal, per sources. Nothing imminent. Sides have until March 3 before he gets tagged

[FerrariFan87]

Imagine, if you will... Pitta, Torrey AND Ebron/Mike Evans on the field at the same time. *Drools*