In Ozzie We Trust (2014 Edition) The Ravens Free Agency Thread

[Tank 92]

Does anybody read rants sports website. I came across a good article about Ozzie and was wondering everyone's thoughts.

http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/03/04/time-is-now-for-eric-decosta-to-take-over-as-baltimore-ravens-gm/?utm_source=RantSportsMobile&utm_medium=MobileAfterPostRecirc&utm_term=MobileNFLSlot1

 

 

What's good about it?  It makes assumptions sound like facts. pretty much bs.

[ravensfan520]

What's good about it? It makes assumptions sound like facts. pretty much bs.

I think its good because it makes us wonder about the last couple years of free agency and what has happened. Ozzie has been great at finding defensive guys mostly through the draft but lately and including the last few drafts not so much. We have missed out on a lot of guys. Is it him or Harbaugh picking guys and the trades and free agents have been slim pickings and the guys we have signed look at what their contracts have done to us. Like I said I liked the article because it make me step back and wonder although we have won a superbowl are we set up to move in the right direction or is it going to take many years and many drafts to make it again.

[ravensfan520]

5 playoffs, 3 AFGs, a Superbowl, the worst season in 6 years is 8-8, we landed one of the best offensive minds in the NFL, resigned our star tight end (who as a reminder missed 12 games last year), and now we're apparently screwed because we haven't resigned Eugene Monroe with 4 days left to go before free agency. I just don't get all the negativity.

well if you cant keep your qb upright and your te is not a good blocking te where is the offense going to make plays. Yes he can catch but he I is not known for his blocking. we still need another te or 2. 2 tackles well basically only 1 for sure starter on the line(ko injury, not sure how good he will be when he returns) No line equals no running game no line equals no passing game. So we resigned Pitta got Kubiak and a whole new system(coaches and all). We still have a rb possibly facing suspension and both coming back from injured years. There is a lot to be worried about. We have money but maybe not enough. We have picks but maybe not enough.

[jazz1988]

I think its good because it makes us wonder about the last couple years of free agency and what has happened. Ozzie has been great at finding defensive guys mostly through the draft but lately and including the last few drafts not so much. We have missed out on a lot of guys. Is it him or Harbaugh picking guys and the trades and free agents have been slim pickings and the guys we have signed look at what their contracts have done to us. Like I said I liked the article because it make me step back and wonder although we have won a superbowl are we set up to move in the right direction or is it going to take many years and many drafts to make it again.

 

I don't know what you mean by Ozzie not being able to find some good defensive players lately.The only real disappointing defensive players ozzie has drafted  that I can think of were Terrence Cody and Sergio Kindle atleast recently in the past five years.

'

[ravensfan520]

I don't know what you mean by Ozzie not being able to find some good defensive players lately.The only real disappointing defensive players ozzie has drafted that I can think of were Terrence Cody and Sergio Kindle atleast recently in the past five years.

'

ill give u Elam but he still needs to play ss. Upshaw is quality player but since Jimmy smith when is the last great defensive guy we have drafted. And what about free agents other than Doom who to be totally honest I think we should thank Denver for that and as great as Smith helped our Defense he was a -13 against the run.

[jazz1988]

ill give u Elam but he still needs to play ss. Upshaw is quality player but since Jimmy smith when is the last great defensive guy we have drafted.

 

 

I dont even think Elam should be mention because it usually takes three years for  a player .to truly develop.   Well we got Arthur Jones(he's probably not coming back ) and Ladarius Webb as two great defensive players. Guys like Deangelo Tyson and Pernell Mcphee, have turn out to be quality players.  Guys like Arthur Brown  John Simon, Chykie Brown, Asa Jackson,Kapron  Lewis Moore, and Brandon Williams  have legit chances to  be solid players.

[RavensNation14]

For anyone who thinks we should get rid of Ozzie Newsome or question his judgement, you don't know football. 

 

None of us realize how hard it is to evaluate and draft players. You can't just look at raw talent and college games/stats there is a lot more that comes into play. He is the best GM in the game hands down and we just won a Superbowl last year. Our franchise lost two Hall of Fame players in Ed Reed and Ray Lewis and we still haven't fully recovered from their losses. Every team has a window of opportunity where they can make the Superbowl and we had that window for a decent amount time. We made the playoffs for multiple years and were successful in them. Stop complaining and questioning his decisions and let him do his damn job. He is a HoF GM and I think people can agree with me on that as well. Look at all the talent Ozzie has gotten us over the past couple of years. You can't win a Superbowl or go to the playoffs every year. So get over it and learn that this man is the best in the business. 

[Static]

We are one of the most spoiled franchises. Ozzie has kept us from having strings of back seasons like other teams do. Even good franchises like the steelers and patriots have had decades of terrible. We have always been in contention with maybe a season of disappointment inbetween. We have the 5th best overall winning percentage, 10th in regular season and the BEST postseason winning percentage. We've had 2 head coaches sine 1998 and we found our franchise QB with relative ease compared to other teams. Most teams would kill to have our constant sucess and stability. How dare any of you.

[1/28/01]

So you gave me a neg just for mentioning that this cat was released? I said nothing about us picking him up!

#Mili

Well, it was mentioned in the Ozzie FA thread Just messin', really dont care.

[BmoreBird22]

WR Davone Bess was released from the Browns.

 

#Mili

  

Fixed

We shouldn't make fun of him. Didn't he break Webb's ankles?

[Gordo52]

Apparently we have an offer on the table forJacoby:

Via Ian Rapoport

@RapSheet: Ravens have an offer on the table for Jones RT @ERICWOOD22: @RapSheet do u think ravens will look at Moore since they r losing Jacoby jones

[berad]

Apparently we have an offer on the table forJacoby:

Via Ian Rapoport

@RapSheet: Ravens have an offer on the table for Jones RT @ERICWOOD22: @RapSheet do u think ravens will look at Moore since they r losing Jacoby jones

Nice to hear. We'll get more news tomorrow, when other teams can officially start contacting/negotiating with the agents. Then they'll have a ballpark price range.

[Ravenslifer]

Apparently we have an offer on the table forJacoby:

Via Ian Rapoport

@RapSheet: Ravens have an offer on the table for Jones RT @ERICWOOD22: @RapSheet do u think ravens will look at Moore since they r losing Jacoby jones

 

It would be huge to resign him for the right price - his outside presence is the one thing that will be almost impossible to replace through the draft.  Getting him back gives us the two outside threats and allows us IMO to really focus on a receiver that can work the inside with Marlon, which is what I think we lost with Q and Dennis going down.

[Ravenskid52752]

Apparently we have an offer on the table forJacoby:

Via Ian Rapoport

@RapSheet: Ravens have an offer on the table for Jones RT @ERICWOOD22: @RapSheet do u think ravens will look at Moore since they r losing Jacoby jones

yeah just seen that would like to see what they offered him. they also said he mulling of the offer.

[Purple_ICE 81]

I do love Jacoby Jones and feel he brings the swag and fun to the games and post game interviews. He is just fun to watch when he gets the ball in his hands and you know if he gets to the endzone he is going to do some ridiculous dance that makes everyone lol So if we get him for the right price...so be it.

[Gordo52]

Also Art Jones with a sad tweet

@Artj97: Happy Purple Friday!!! :-)

@Artj97: It's Friday.It's crazy to think this maybe my very last happy purple Friday wishes. Hopefully not. But as we all know business is business.

[Purple_ICE 81]

Also Art Jones with a sad tweet

@Artj97: Happy Purple Friday!!! :-)

@Artj97: It's Friday.It's crazy to think this maybe my very last happy purple Friday wishes. Hopefully not. But as we all know business is business.

*insert crying T.O. picture*  "Thats my DE!!!!!"

[PurplePassion824]

Also Art Jones with a sad tweet

@Artj97: Happy Purple Friday!!! :-)

@Artj97: It's Friday.It's crazy to think this maybe my very last happy purple Friday wishes. Hopefully not. But as we all know business is business.

Sad 

he has been one of my favorites for the past couple years

Great guy, great personality

I just hope he doesn't join his brother on the Patriots.

 

Farewell Art

[BloodRaven]

I like Jones, he fit in well and didn't act like a merc for hire. I wish he had become a legit #2 here and got paid #2 money and we kept going deep into the playoffs, without his freak plays we wouldn't have won our last Super Bowl. 

 

(Maybe Flacco should buy him a Bentley as thanks for his SB MVP contract...)

[ckgeisl]

Does anybody read rants sports website. I came across a good article about Ozzie and was wondering everyone's thoughts.

http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/03/04/time-is-now-for-eric-decosta-to-take-over-as-baltimore-ravens-gm/?utm_source=RantSportsMobile&utm_medium=MobileAfterPostRecirc&utm_term=MobileNFLSlot1

OMG.......the author of this article is an idiot, mental midget, naïve and ignorant at best.  ( and that's all the politically correct words I have)Ozzie is by far one of the elite GM's in the game.  Hell, I do not need to reiterate what he has done ( numbers do not lie ) but for someone to talk about a normal GM ike that is absurd, let alone Ozzie.  Ozzie (does have a master plan) and has proven he  is a very calculated individual. ( Everything this time of year is "fluid" by nature and has many moving parts and "what if's".  They will probably get Monroe for less money like what happened to our James Harrison last year and if someone ,with a real idiot GM wants to overpay Monroe or whoever, let them have at it....ie  Dolphins and Mr. Wallace.......wow 

 

Personally, I REALLY hope the idiot author is correct and Baltimores' owner lets Ozzie go...lolrof...but somehow , I believe that your owner has more knowledge in his little finger than the guy that thinks Ozzie needs replaced because the season after a SB win , the team goes 8 & 8....  wow  what an idiot and anyone of you that might agree with this nonsense.

[Ravenseconbeast]

Apparently we have an offer on the table forJacoby:

Via Ian Rapoport

@RapSheet: Ravens have an offer on the table for Jones RT @ERICWOOD22: @RapSheet do u think ravens will look at Moore since they r losing Jacoby jones

 

hmm...hope the deal is cheap.   

[JO_75]

Apparently we have an offer on the table forJacoby:

Via Ian Rapoport

@RapSheet: Ravens have an offer on the table for Jones RT @ERICWOOD22: @RapSheet do u think ravens will look at Moore since they r losing Jacoby jones

 

I have been so busy wondering about Monroe, I forgot about Jacoby. Let's hope we can re-sign him, we should have no problem re-signing him or anyone else since the cap is expected to grow up toward $160M by 2016 and we can back load the contracts.

 

Come on Jacoby.... stay with us!!

[Natural Born Hitters]

With Rice's production last year (due to his injury and our offensive lines performance) and now his legal troubles and Pierce's injury history (Seems like the guy is made of glass and hasn't had a full season where he hasn't been injured), IF he can stay healthy and have a very productive season then great. But with all that said, I am a little concerned about how our running game will be this season, I do not want another season of our run game going to shambles like it did last season. I would like to see us go after a Running Back Free Agent or try to get one in the draft. What do you guys think about LeGarrette Blount from the Patriots? Not sure if we could get him for a good deal but if we could, I would love to get him. His style of running would fit in perfect with our Ravens. What do you all think? Any other Running Back Free Agents worth taking a look at?

Note: I didn't read through all 15 pages of this thread, so I am not sure if Blount or any other Running Back has been talked about in here yet, my apologies if there has already been discussion.

[Puntit]

With a receiver heavy draft class, it's hard to imagine the ravens would offer Jacoby big receiver money as opposed to return specialist money. Plus theres a lot of cheaper return man options out there right now -- Including Holiday who burned us a couple of times. I expect Jacoby got an offer that's fair for what he brings to the table, but one other teams might be willing to overpay and beat.

[ravensdan]

I have been so busy wondering about Monroe, I forgot about Jacoby. Let's hope we can re-sign him, we should have no problem re-signing him or anyone else since the cap is expected to grow up toward $160M by 2016 and we can back load the contracts.

Come on Jacoby.... stay with us!!

Would love to see jones return for a modest pay day. He is a true game changer. Can and has single handedly won games for us. His contribution is underrated. He is an ideal wr3 as well. If he gets a 2-3 yr deal average 3 mil per I would be happy.

[Puntit]

With Rice's production last year (due to his injury and our offensive lines performance) and now his legal troubles and Pierce's injury history (Seems like the guy is made of glass and hasn't had a full season where he hasn't been injured), IF he can stay healthy and have a very productive season then great. But with all that said, I am a little concerned about how our running game will be this season, I do not want another season of our run game going to shambles like it did last season. I would like to see us go after a Running Back Free Agent or try to get one in the draft. What do you guys think about LeGarrette Blount from the Patriots? Not sure if we could get him for a good deal but if we could, I would love to get him. His style of running would fit in perfect with our Ravens. What do you all think? Any other Running Back Free Agents worth taking a look at?

Note: I didn't read through all 15 pages of this thread, so I am not sure if Blount or any other Running Back has been talked about in here yet, my apologies if there has already been discussion.

I like Blount as a goal line bruiser but not really as an open field guy, so i think he's not really an answer to a struggling Ray Rice, he'd be more of a supplement -- the way we used to use L McLain. Dwyer is the same style as Blount and maybe cheaper if you wanted to go that route. The top dogs in terms of move the chain RBs available right now are probably Tate, Gerhard, Sproles, MJD and Moreno, in that order.

[Natural Born Hitters]

No thanks to Sproles, too many concussions. Tate could be a possibility since he has worked with Kubiak with the Texans.

[Puntit]

No thanks to Sproles, too many concussions. Tate could be a possibility since he has worked with Kubiak with the Texans.

Well Sproles might have appeal if we lose Jacoby since he is also a return man, so two birds with one stone. In the same vein, Edelman at WR has experience at CB so if we signed him, that would let the team carry one less corner. So four birds, two stones. I feel like this is the kind of free agency moves we might toy with if we can square away the offensive line, which I imagine comes first. I'm sure Ozzie would be thrilled if we went into the draft only needing a FS and a second TE.

[Natural Born Hitters]

I don't think that this years draft has too many FS to offer, but it would be sweet if we could fill all our top needs via FA before the draft hits, but I don't think that's possible even though we have a decent amount of cap space available.

Back to Blount, a goal line Bruiser is what we need to help fix our red zone woes which has been a big problem for us in past seasons, especially last season.

[Ravenslifer]

With Rice's production last year (due to his injury and our offensive lines performance) and now his legal troubles and Pierce's injury history (Seems like the guy is made of glass and hasn't had a full season where he hasn't been injured), IF he can stay healthy and have a very productive season then great. But with all that said, I am a little concerned about how our running game will be this season, I do not want another season of our run game going to shambles like it did last season. I would like to see us go after a Running Back Free Agent or try to get one in the draft. What do you guys think about LeGarrette Blount from the Patriots? Not sure if we could get him for a good deal but if we could, I would love to get him. His style of running would fit in perfect with our Ravens. What do you all think? Any other Running Back Free Agents worth taking a look at?

Note: I didn't read through all 15 pages of this thread, so I am not sure if Blount or any other Running Back has been talked about in here yet, my apologies if there has already been discussion.

 

I think we will probably draft one or possibly sign a cheap guy like Felix Jones, but the bigger issue was the line - when both your running backs drop more than a YPC from one year to the next, I think the line is the biggest culprit and the biggest priority.