Steve Biscotti giving the FO and John Harbaugh one more chance before he steps in

[flynismo]

Arthur Brown, eh? So we used 2 picks on him....I know it's one season but if we are using 2 picks on a 2nd round player, that guy better be starting. Couldn't beat out Bynes...

I'm not sure that we ever intended to start Brown this year...didn't they say they wanted him to put on some weight before the season began?

[Militant X 1]

Bisciotti (note the 2nd "i") is the only one who makes me feel better about the direction of the team. Ozzie and Harbaugh (and our coordinators) are very traditionalist or overly grounded in experience and Steve is the one willing to take risks. Don't misunderstand me - I like our entire staff, but Steve will be the one to say "We're going to change before this gets ugly" while everyone else says "We'll go with it until it stops working". I guess that's part of being a businessman, to stay one step ahead. 

 

I saw what you did there Hawk!  lol! 

 

But I agree!  It was Bisciotti's statements that gave me hope in seeing some improvements for our team. 

 

#Mili

[Tank 92]

I thought it was funny that Ozzie stated that he isn't a virgin when it comes to letting a featured star player go. He came off like it was a badge of honor...I love Ozzie but I wouldn't be bragging about letting a vet player go because of cap issues when our offense stalled without Boldin. Hopefully that 6th round pick we got will get us a back up tight end.

 

EDIT: Apparently we used the 6th rounder in 2013 to trade up for Art Brown. Didn't know about that as I didn't watch the draft.

 

It's more than a "badge of honor", it shows he has the cajones to make the tough decisions best for the Team. There are some GMs out there that would have restructured contracts to get the needed cap room and I'm glad Ozzie didn't go that route. If he can be faulted for anything concerning trading Boldin it would be that he didn't read his crystal ball correctly and didn't know that Pitta would go down and that our run game would suck.

[gabefergy]

Oh I know 1 year doesn't define his value but 2 picks on a package player, wow. While he could be very talented he does have to "earn" his playing time. Harbaugh really makes them fight for it before giving them playing time. Did it with Jimmy, Torrey, Upshaw, Elam, etc. It's just annoying to strike out on an immediate starter when your team has soooo many holes to fill.

We also drafted him before we signed Daryl Smith, who turned into a gem. They basically do the same thing on the field so next season when Smith and/or McClain is gone we will see how good Brown can be.

[Jokerraven]

And people wonder why Joe had record interceptions. He knew the offense was so bad

that he had no choice but to take more chances then normal.

yes and I believe Joe is the reason we won despite the offense being so bad.

[The Mom Gene]

I think Smith stays... I would maybe guess it's Jameel or Suggs in the LB corps. that doesn't get the deal....    Why would they let a guy like Smith go???  (Other than money)...  but they brought him in and knew he was good.... knowing what he would command.

[Jokerraven]

.

It's more than a "badge of honor", it shows he has the cajones to make the tough decisions best for the Team. There are some GMs out there that would have restructured contracts to get the needed cap room and I'm glad Ozzie didn't go that route. If he can be faulted for anything concerning trading Boldin it would be that he didn't read his crystal ball correctly and didn't know that Pitta would go down and that our run game would suck.

I didn't get that whole tirade about suggs, the Boldin trade regardless of Pitta's situation, made our front office look foolish. why would ozzie disrespect suggs like he did yesterday does he want suggs to make him look foolish again. I am still shocked he would say that .

[Jokerraven]

I think Smith stays... I would maybe guess it's Jameel or Suggs in the LB corps. that doesn't get the deal....    Why would they let a guy like Smith go???  (Other than money)...  but they brought him in and knew he was good.... knowing what he would command.

I agree Smith played better then Mcclain I think he is a better player .If he was better known I have no doubt he would have made the probowl.

[The Mom Gene]

.

I didn't get that whole tirade about suggs, the Boldin trade regardless of Pitta's situation, made our front office look foolish. why would ozzie disrespect suggs like he did yesterday does he want suggs to make him look foolish again. I am still shocked he would say that .

Suggs poses a major hit to the CAP.  His performance dropped off at the end of the season, he gained weight, and he underperformed.  He's gonna ask that he take a friendly neighborhood discount in order to stay...  He's making that clear upfront.  That's not disrespecting him, in my opinion.  The fans blasted him and the Front Office for "not paying" certain players last year, and let them walk.  Ellerbe was overpaid by the Dolphins, Kruger was overpaid by the Browns...  there were many...  including, but not limited to, Ed Reed as well.  You just cannot give everyone top dollar.

[flynismo]

yes and I believe Joe is the reason we won despite the offense being so bad.

Joe is part of the reason we won. The defense cost us some games, but also won others for us. And Tucker

[Militant X 1]

.

I didn't get that whole tirade about suggs, the Boldin trade regardless of Pitta's situation, made our front office look foolish. why would ozzie disrespect suggs like he did yesterday does he want suggs to make him look foolish again. I am still shocked he would say that .

That it did!  And, they still look that way to me after watching the state of the Ravens conference.  Only Bisciotti's statements had a calming effect.

 

#Mili

[Jokerraven]

Suggs poses a major hit to the CAP.  His performance dropped off at the end of the season, he gained weight, and he underperformed.  He's gonna ask that he take a friendly neighborhood discount in order to stay...  He's making that clear upfront.  That's not disrespecting him, in my opinion.  The fans blasted him and the Front Office for "not paying" certain players last year, and let them walk.  Ellerbe was overpaid by the Dolphins, Kruger was overpaid by the Browns...  there were many...  including, but not limited to, Ed Reed as well.  You just cannot give everyone top dollar.

I understand how the cap works and contracts. I know suggs is gone unless he takes a pay cut. But my thought is  the front office already has one pr nightmare on there hands with Boldin, Ozzie could have said we are currently working on an extension for suggs and we hope to be successful  or anything but what he said . I'm not a virgin,,,,,,,,,wow

[rmw10]

I understand how the cap works and contracts. I know suggs is gone unless he takes a pay cut. But my thought is the front office already has one pr nightmare on there hands with Boldin, Ozzie could have said we are currently working on an extension for suggs and we hope to be successful or anything but what he said . I'm not a virgin,,,,,,,,,wow

Why would he get the fans hopes up? Saying that about Suggs was pure business. That was a message to Suggs. It's not disrespect. It's business.

[Jokerraven]

Why would he get the fans hopes up? Saying that about Suggs was pure business. That was a message to Suggs. It's not disrespect. It's business.

well he  was talking about a fictious wr they "covet" and or a tight end for third  down conversions why not .that gave the fans false hope look at these forums ........I found what he said about suggs unnecessary. I was a casual  fan but not "invested" like forums members until I had to learn how the draft worked and contracts etc...I have only watched three drafts and I know enough to know  when pick 16 or 17 comes  mike mayock is gonna say  the ravens traded this pick to.....whomever. that means no evans, no amaro,no receiver who can come in and be productive from day one. But every forum member says yay ozzie is going to  get us the receiver we need

[rmw10]

well he  was talking about a fictious wr they "covet" and or a tight end for third  down conversions why not .that gave the fans false hope look at these forums ........I found what he said about suggs unnecessary. I was a casual  fan but not "invested" like forums members until I had to learn how the draft worked and contracts etc...I have only watched three drafts and I know enough to know  when pick 16 or 17 comes  mike mayock is gonna say  the ravens traded this pick to.....whomever. that means no evans, no amaro,no receiver who can come in and be productive from day one. But every forum member says yay ozzie is going to  get us the receiver we need

 

It sounds like you're just hearing what you want to hear, and generalizing beyond that.  Ozzie had already stated earlier that he would be open to extending guys in the last years of their contracts.  That could include Suggs.  If it doesn't, Ozzie also threw out the possibility that he could be cut.  It was nothing more.  It was no disrespect.  You say you know how contracts work, then you should know that Suggs being cut is very possible.

[Jokerraven]

It sounds like you're just hearing what you want to hear, and generalizing beyond that.  Ozzie had already stated earlier that he would be open to extending guys in the last years of their contracts.  That could include Suggs.  If it doesn't, Ozzie also threw out the possibility that he could be cut.  It was nothing more.  It was no disrespect.  You say you know how contracts work, then you should know that Suggs being cut is very possible.

everything you say here I already stated . its not a generalization its my opinion . I know the word virgin is never used in contract negotiations nor is it appropriate.

[The Mom Gene]

I understand how the cap works and contracts. I know suggs is gone unless he takes a pay cut. But my thought is  the front office already has one pr nightmare on there hands with Boldin, Ozzie could have said we are currently working on an extension for suggs and we hope to be successful  or anything but what he said . I'm not a virgin,,,,,,,,,wow

OK...  I understand your sentiments...  please don't snipe...  It wasn't personally directed at YOU... and I wasn't inferring that you were "a virgin"...  It was to clarify the comments made by you, and by others that the references to Suggs were made to "put it out there now", so that if in the future comments via the fans are made as are STILL being made about Boldin ( a whole year later )...  He can say that "I told you guys way back in January that we were willing to do something like this"

[rmw10]

everything you say here I already stated . its not a generalization its my opinion . I know the word virgin is never used in contract negotiations nor is it appropriate.

 

So you're upset at the use of the word virgin?  All Ozzie is saying is that he's made those decisions before and isn't afraid to do it again.

[The Mom Gene]

Moderator In Thread Statement:  Guys and Gals, we cannot take comments and opinions personally.  Others statements are not facts, they are opinions based on information they saw, heard, or read.  Sniping and Arguing or targeting others, using statements made by others doesn't change facts.  Please keep with the topic at hand.  Choose your words carefully, and try not to offend others in the process of the discussion within the forums.

[Jokerraven]

OK...  I understand your sentiments...  please don't snipe...  It wasn't personally directed at YOU... and I wasn't inferring that you were "a virgin"...  It was to clarify the comments made by you, and by others that the references to Suggs were made to "put it out there now", so that if in the future comments via the fans are made as are STILL being made about Boldin ( a whole year later )...  He can say that "I told you guys way back in January that we were willing to do something like this"

you misunderstood what I said I was not sniping. OZZIE said (I"M not a virgin)  that what I have the issue with I wasn't getting nasty with anyone.

 

all I meant was in light of how the boldin trade has come back to haunt ozzie  why would he be so confrontational in a pressor about suggs. 

[The Raven]

Bisciotti is starting to get an inkling, but he hasn't endured enough pain yet.  Because the pain has only developed recently, he can't get his head around the severity of the problem. 

 

Bisciotti is giving "Them" slack for 2014 but if "They" fail again next year he's looking for more input at a minimum.

 

It's going to take Bisciotti until after the 2015 season to realize some things.  Bisciotti is not adept at personnel evaluation. In fact not unlike Ozzie and Harbaugh, he's completely missed the boat as of late.  But come the end of the 2014 season it will be clear the Raven's missed their "Championship Window".  The team that was effectively disbanded in 2013 should have been in at least 3 Championship Games in that decade, there was that much talent on board.  The fact that it didn't happen is attributable to "Them" and "They". 

 

Come the end of 2015, there's not going to be any place for those guys to hide.  We've gone into rebuild though, that cleaning of house management should occur this year. The delay will put us 2 years behind the curve.

 

Uh, like dude, I really disagree with you.

[frozen joe flacco fan]

Article from Preston, with direct quotes from Steve. Basically saying, he's patient, but can't allow repeat failure and will step in next year if it happens again.

http://touch.baltimoresun.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-78823631/

Qb joe flacco took chances he shouldn't have.

Believes in Juan and thinks he and the players had an improved relationship as the year went on.

The offence frustrated him the most, esp the running game.

They have questioned if rice is done, concludes he was too heavy, lost elusiveness without adding much power.

 

You took the quote about Joe out of context. And I sure hope John Harbaugh and Ozzie are smart enough to read between the lines 'cause I don't think Mr. Bisciotti will give them more than one season to turn this around. He is a businessman who described this season's offensive performance as a failure. In business, the bottom line is what have you done for me lately. Its not about maintaining the status quo or last year's SB. It doesn't take too many bad decisions like the one the FO made last year with Anquan to ruin their reputation. There's no getting around it. The farther the Niners go into the playoffs the worse that decision will look. In other words, while Coach John is rooting for SF to win, I hope for Oz's sake they lose. Would I swallow my pride and bring back Q as a FA if I could? In a heartbeat!

 

Re Oz's cavalier comments about Terrell Suggs, its like this. The team did everything they could to keep Ray Lewis. They should do the same with T-Sizzle. He is the heart and soul of our still formidable 12th ranked defense. 

[Neal Could Block the SUN!!]

Re Oz's cavalier comments about Terrell Suggs, its like this. The team did everything they could to keep Ray Lewis. They should do the same with T-Sizzle. He is the heart and soul of our still formidable 12th ranked defense.

Not if he keeps taking plays off.

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

Big time money+ 31 years old not to mention the afore mentioned taking plays off? Hey, I love Sizzle but maybe he should spend a long time looking in the mirror. He was not the force we needed him to be and I think he knows it. Come on Sizzle you can still do it or....?

[Poes Crows]

I'd have "agreed" with your post, but for the fact that Bisciotti only said he was deferring to Oz and Harbs in 2014 and that if they "fail" again next year he will insert himself into the process for 2015.  He didn't say either Oz or Harbs would be goners, but he didn't rule it out.  Essentially they are on a short leash.

 

What's intriguing is Bisciotti has disagreements with their personnel decisions but isn't indicating what those disagreements are.  In his statement Bisciotti categorically ruled out any dissatisfaction with the Boldin trade.  That may not be true, but if it is he's misrepresenting his views.  Otherwise the question becomes, "What is Bisciotti peeved about"?  Well, it would be great to hear him articulate those differences, but he's not going to. So which among the growing list of "Peeves" do you believe has Bisciotti fearing more failure?

 

- Oz's poor recent Drafting.  Sure there's young guys that still could develop but other than Jimmy Smith and maybe Osemele the recent draftees have not been stellar.

 

- Speaking of bad drafts is it Matt Elam that has Bisciotti seeing red?

 

- Was it the strange belief that Bryant McKinnie was the source of the Offensive Line woes and mortgaging this year's 4th and 5th round picks for Mediocre Monroe and perhaps signing Mr Mediocrity to a long term multi million dollar deal? All of which paled into insignificance when the O-Line stayed abysmal.

 

-Was it hiring and retaining the guy that helped get Andy Reid fired?  Is Bisciotti really ready to pop a cork over Juan Castillo? He's gotta be wondering why our O-Line was horrid.

 

- Was it cutting Pollard the very same year Oz somehow decided to let Ed Reed walk?  Though green and vastly over rated by Oz, how was Matt Elam to pick up anything with a mentor like Ed Reed somehow not retained. Worse yet, when Oz had the chance to bring Ed back for cheap, why did he stick with Cleats Elam at Free Safety?

 

- Was it cutting Boldin, Signing Huff and Spears and then cutting Huff and Spears? Was there ever a more ludicrous sequence of moves by an NFL G.M.?

 

- It was Boldin wasn't it?  That's what has Bisciotti really steamed. Even Bisciotti could see how Boldin and Flacco jelled together in the playoff run. He had to, he can't be that dense. He's a successful businessman right?  He can't be that dense to not see it.  When Flacco lobbied for Boldin, Joe was advertising to the G.M. that the Quarterback was NOT the key to this offense, that this was an offense of system!

 

- Is it Joe Flacco?  Did Oz give away the store without a second thought of what Joe really was and how earning 1/6 of the entire salary cap was going to devastate this team?  Ray Lewis said all along that Joe was a "System Guy". 

 

What has Bisciotti about to boil? 

 

I think I know

 

 

You took the quote about Joe out of context. And I sure hope John Harbaugh and Ozzie are smart enough to read between the lines 'cause I don't think Mr. Bisciotti will give them more than one season to turn this around. He is a businessman who described this season's offensive performance as a failure. In business, the bottom line is what have you done for me lately. Its not about maintaining the status quo or last year's SB. It doesn't take too many bad decisions like the one the FO made last year with Anquan to ruin their reputation. There's no getting around it. The farther the Niners go into the playoffs the worse that decision will look. In other words, while Coach John is rooting for SF to win, I hope for Oz's sake they lose. Would I swallow my pride and bring back Q as a FA if I could? In a heartbeat!

 

Re Oz's cavalier comments about Terrell Suggs, its like this. The team did everything they could to keep Ray Lewis. They should do the same with T-Sizzle. He is the heart and soul of our still formidable 12th ranked defense. 

[frozen joe flacco fan]

I'd have "agreed" with your post, but for the fact that Bisciotti only said he was deferring to Oz and Harbs in 2014 and that if they "fail" again next year he will insert himself into the process for 2015.  He didn't say either Oz or Harbs would be goners, but he didn't rule it out.  Essentially they are on a short leash.

 

What's intriguing is Bisciotti has disagreements with their personnel decisions but isn't indicating what those disagreements are.  In his statement Bisciotti categorically ruled out any dissatisfaction with the Boldin trade.  That may not be true, but if it is he's misrepresenting his views.  Otherwise the question becomes, "What is Bisciotti peeved about"?  Well, it would be great to hear him articulate those differences, but he's not going to. So which among the growing list of "Peeves" do you believe has Bisciotti fearing more failure?

 

- Oz's poor recent Drafting.  Sure there's young guys that still could develop but other than Jimmy Smith and maybe Osemele the recent draftees have not been stellar.

 

- Speaking of bad drafts is it Matt Elam that has Bisciotti seeing red?

 

- Was it the strange belief that Bryant McKinnie was the source of the Offensive Line woes and mortgaging this year's 4th and 5th round picks for Mediocre Monroe and perhaps signing Mr Mediocrity to a long term multi million dollar deal? All of which paled into insignificance when the O-Line stayed abysmal.

 

-Was it hiring and retaining the guy that helped get Andy Reid fired?  Is Bisciotti really ready to pop a cork over Juan Castillo? He's gotta be wondering why our O-Line was horrid.

 

- Was it cutting Pollard the very same year Oz somehow decided to let Ed Reed walk?  Though green and vastly over rated by Oz, how was Matt Elam to pick up anything with a mentor like Ed Reed somehow not retained. Worse yet, when Oz had the chance to bring Ed back for cheap, why did he stick with Cleats Elam at Free Safety?

 

- Was it cutting Boldin, Signing Huff and Spears and then cutting Huff and Spears? Was there ever a more ludicrous sequence of moves by an NFL G.M.?

 

- It was Boldin wasn't it?  That's what has Bisciotti really steamed. Even Bisciotti could see how Boldin and Flacco jelled together in the playoff run. He had to, he can't be that dense. He's a successful businessman right?  He can't be that dense to not see it.  When Flacco lobbied for Boldin, Joe was advertising to the G.M. that the Quarterback was NOT the key to this offense, that this was an offense of system!

 

- Is it Joe Flacco?  Did Oz give away the store without a second thought of what Joe really was and how earning 1/6 of the entire salary cap was going to devastate this team?  Ray Lewis said all along that Joe was a "System Guy". 

 

What has Bisciotti about to boil? 

 

I think I know

 

Great post! We see this the same way. More than anything else, I think Mr. Bisciotti is embarrassed by the team's performance after he invested a boatload of money in the long-term interest of the team, i.e., Joe's big payoff. The FO gambled on that one and Joe won. Giving Boldin away for two low round draft picks was like throwing salt on an open wound. The subsequent FA acquisitions did nothing as in NADA to offset the loss of Q. IMO the jury is still out on the Monroe for McKinnie deal and it was made out of desperation because our patchwork quilt O-line issues were apparently not resolved in the off-season. As you pointed out there was no way Matt Elam should have been expected to step in and start at a position he was not comfortable playing in the first place. Further, there was no clear alternative to starting Gino Gradkowski once Matt Birk announced his retirement. It has been a very bad year for the FO and the coaching staff.

 

We all hope this season was an anomaly and will be easy to fix. Unfortunately, I'm not confident that it was an aberration.  The Titanic ran into an iceberg because of arrogance ---the captain and owner of the ship's company thought the ship was invincible. The main reason FAs and draftees have wanted to play in BMore was not the money but it was the lure of playing with future HOFers Ray Lewis and his sidekick Ed Reed. The lure (to coin a fishing term) is gone. I'm afraid the mass exodus of established players that began last year may have just begun. Until the team restores its identity as a physically intimidating, defensive team that could impose its will on opponents along with its smashmouth running game, we will continue to struggle. First, the braintrust of the Ravens must decide what the identity of the team is to be moving forward w/o Ray and Ed. The common theme of this year's commentary about our team was "they haven't found their identity"  

 

Just like the Wizard of Oz knew how to get Dorothy back to where she wanted to be, Ozzie Newsome knows what it will take to get Coach Harbaugh and the Ravens back to where they were. I trust he has the brains, heart and courage to do it but it will take more than John Harbaugh just clicking his heels and saying there's no place like the Super Bowl.