Salary cap raise? Sources says YES!

[rmw10]

Lets just hope Eugene Monroe's player rep meets with Ozzie this weekend and starts hammering out a deal. I keep hearing that our guys also don't want to let Pitta hit the open market and are considering franchise tagging him. Maybe with this boost in cap space we could get them both, but you would think the best case scenario would be one or the other.

 

As long as we resign Monroe and grab one of either Pitta, Daryl Smith, or Art Jones I will be content.

 

We should be aiming for more than two of our guys.  Monroe and Pitta are bare minimum, in my opinion.  I'd expect one of Daryl Smith or Corey Graham to be re-signed as well.

[Ravenskid52752]

Lets just hope Eugene Monroe's player rep meets with Ozzie this weekend and starts hammering out a deal. I keep hearing that our guys also don't want to let Pitta hit the open market and are considering franchise tagging him. Maybe with this boost in cap space we could get them both, but you would think the best case scenario would be one or the other.

 

As long as we resign Monroe and grab one of either Pitta, Daryl Smith, or Art Jones I will be content.

oh Monroe agent and the ravens already started talking yesterday  and will continue through out the combine because all agents will be there. and update the ravens have meetings with Jace  Amaro and Eric Ebron tonight.

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/blogs/sports/ravens/eugene-monroe-weighs-in-on-contract-talks-with-ravens/article_9775eb74-99be-11e3-a47f-001a4bcf887a.html

 

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-ravens-to-meet-tonight-with-tight-ends-eric-ebron-jace-amaro-20140220,0,5742827.story

[Purple_ICE 81]

We should be aiming for more than two of our guys.  Monroe and Pitta are bare minimum, in my opinion.  I'd expect one of Daryl Smith or Corey Graham to be re-signed as well.

I think Corey Graham is almost a shoe in as he should'nt be too expensive. But Im not sure about Daryl Smith and Art Jones they could make some bank in free agency. But hopefully we get some combo of those guys.

[Purple_ICE 81]

oh Monroe agent and the ravens already started talking yesterday  and will continue through out the combine because all agents will be there. and update the ravens have meetings with Jace  Amaro and Eric Ebron tonight.

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/blogs/sports/ravens/eugene-monroe-weighs-in-on-contract-talks-with-ravens/article_9775eb74-99be-11e3-a47f-001a4bcf887a.html

 

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-ravens-to-meet-tonight-with-tight-ends-eric-ebron-jace-amaro-20140220,0,5742827.story

Yea I read up on some of the o-line and TE measurables...starting to get very excited for the weekend.

[rmw10]

I think Corey Graham is almost a shoe in as he should'nt be too expensive. But Im not sure about Daryl Smith and Art Jones they could make some bank in free agency. But hopefully we get some combo of those guys.

 

I view it as the opposite.  I think Corey could price himself out of Baltimore, although I don't think he's going to break the bank.  I don't see Smith being that expensive, personally.  I think we could sign him to a reasonable deal.

 

I've already conceded that Art Jones is gone so I'm not even considering him.

[TDubbs]

I don't see Smith being that expensive, personally.  I think we could sign him to a reasonable deal.

 

Me neither, being that he's a 31 year old LB and still not a big name, I don't see a team out there to break the bank on him. He's best suited in Baltimore and both sides know it. With this potential boost in cap space, he stays. 

[rmw10]

Me neither, being that he's a 31 year old LB and still not a big name, I don't see a team out there to break the bank on him. He's best suited in Baltimore and both sides know it. With this potential boost in cap space, he stays. 

 

Ozzie was able to find a guy that honestly made the loss of Ray Lewis not hurt, on the field at least.  That's not someone I see us letting walk out the door easily.

[TDubbs]

Ozzie was able to find a guy that honestly made the loss of Ray Lewis not hurt, on the field at least.  That's not someone I see us letting walk out the door easily.

 

Absolutely. After all the talk of an 'heir' to Lewis for many years. Smith came in out of nowhere and played at a phenomenal level all season, it was almost seamless. He'd stay over Art Jones, imo. 

[Purple_ICE 81]

Still feel like Smith is a candidate to hit the market, Im just worried we will be too focused on Eugene Monroe and Dennis Pitta that we may let him hit the market. And apparently there are 3 or 4 teams teams interested in him. He is coming off a bounce back year and could command a multi year deal. Honestly to me I think it would be better to go with Monroe, Smith, and Graham and let Pitta and Jones walk. I think Smith would be a great mentor for Arthur Brown in his first year starting.

[Inqui]

Am I the only one who'd like to see the FO use the extra space to just front-load a few contracts (give Monroe a big hit for next season, for example)? Looking ahead to the next offseason, we have Smith brothers up for big paydays and I think Ozzie would be happy if guys like Monroe and Pitta already had a decent chunk of their contracts sorted.

 

I mean, there's obviously a good reason I'll never be an NFL GM and all, but...

[rmw10]

Am I the only one who'd like to see the FO use the extra space to just front-load a few contracts (give Monroe a big hit for next season, for example)? Looking ahead to the next offseason, we have Smith brothers up for big paydays and I think Ozzie would be happy if guys like Monroe and Pitta already had a decent chunk of their contracts sorted.

 

I mean, there's obviously a good reason I'll never be an NFL GM and all, but...

 

We don't have enough room to front load.  Our big contracts get bigger and bigger as the years go on.

[BmoreBird22]

 

We don't have enough room to front load.  Our big contracts get bigger and bigger as the years go on.

You would hope they could try to front load at least one and get in a good practice of it. I cannot understand for the life of me why you would backload a contract for an older player. If they are young and not yet in their primes, I understand. If they're about to be out, I don't understand.

[izvoodoo]

Absolutely. After all the talk of an 'heir' to Lewis for many years. Smith came in out of nowhere and played at a phenomenal level all season, it was almost seamless. He'd stay over Art Jones, imo. 

Art jones is obviously the better player, but Daryl Smith will be more affordable.

[Ravenslifer]

I think Corey Graham is almost a shoe in as he should'nt be too expensive. But Im not sure about Daryl Smith and Art Jones they could make some bank in free agency. But hopefully we get some combo of those guys.

 

I don't think Daryl Smith will command too much given he's 31 and playing a position that's not highly sought after in free agency.  He's actually the one free agent I would say is a lock to return without any hesitation.

[TDubbs]

Art jones is obviously the better player, but Daryl Smith will be more affordable.

 

No question he's the better player. Especially in the long-term. By the sounds of it Art could command upwards of 5m a season somewhere; we will not be paying him that. 

[Juviebest]

No question he's the better player. Especially in the long-term. By the sounds of it Art could command upwards of 5m a season somewhere; we will not be paying him that.

I think we could afford $5 a year but Art is going to get $7-8 I think.

[pitchblack_20]

Does anyone know when the cap will officially be raised ? I was thinking maybe Ozzie is waiting for the cap to be raised before he resigns Monroe and everyone else in his plans.

[SaraB]

Still feel like Smith is a candidate to hit the market, Im just worried we will be too focused on Eugene Monroe and Dennis Pitta that we may let him hit the market. And apparently there are 3 or 4 teams teams interested in him. He is coming off a bounce back year and could command a multi year deal. Honestly to me I think it would be better to go with Monroe, Smith, and Graham and let Pitta and Jones walk. I think Smith would be a great mentor for Arthur Brown in his first year starting.

 

I agree.  Monroe, Smith, and Graham would keep the D pretty solid.  Although I think Pitta is great and its convenient that he is BFF with Flacco, I think he would be easier to replace than Monroe and Smith.  Of course it would be nice if we could keep them all, but I don't think that would ever happen.

[ravensdan]

Simple. That money is not guaranteed. Teams can cut that player at any time. Or they can be extended. Like Suggs. Real gms are not just looking at one year or a couple. Ozzie is always plannig years ahead to have this team always competitive. Can't have big contracts all hitting at one time.

You would hope they could try to front load at least one and get in a good practice of it. I cannot understand for the life of me why you would backload a contract for an older player. If they are young and not yet in their primes, I understand. If they're about to be out, I don't understand.

[BmoreBird22]

Simple. That money is not guaranteed. Teams can cut that player at any time. Or they can be extended. Like Suggs. Real gms are not just looking at one year or a couple. Ozzie is always plannig years ahead to have this team always competitive. Can't have big contracts all hitting at one time.

You would hope they could try to front load at least one and get in a good practice of it. I cannot understand for the life of me why you would backload a contract for an older player. If they are young and not yet in their primes, I understand. If they're about to be out, I don't understand.

Yeah, let's just cut Ngata since he's in the twilight of his career and we'll save.... $1 million.

That's the point I'm making. It would be really nice if this cap hit was way lower now that he's not playing as well to mitigate the cap hit if we cut him.

I think most GM's would love to front load and follow this idea, but it's hard when you're in a loop of back loading contracts and you have Ngata cap hits because front loading a Torrey Smith contract because it's near impossible

[JO_75]

Yeah, let's just cut Ngata since he's in the twilight of his career and we'll save.... $1 million.

That's the point I'm making. It would be really nice if this cap hit was way lower now that he's not playing as well to mitigate the cap hit if we cut him.

I think most GM's would love to front load and follow this idea, but it's hard when you're in a loop of back loading contracts and you have Ngata cap hits because front loading a Torrey Smith contract because it's near impossible

 

I'm glad the cap went up and to be honest it was past due for the cap to be this high. Putting aside the Ravens issues, every team in the league has dealt with increases in contracts from every position in the league. The cap was just way too small, especially now since QBs take half of the cap space by themselves. League did this good.

 

Now as for the Ravens, this did help us and may have helped us with Ngata a little but I like to see Ozzie try to extend him to lower his cap hit similar to Suggs. Of course, do that after we get Monroe/Pitta/Smith and whoever else are top priorities first. 

[izvoodoo]

I'm glad the cap went up and to be honest it was past due for the cap to be this high. Putting aside the Ravens issues, every team in the league has dealt with increases in contracts from every position in the league. The cap was just way too small, especially now since QBs take half of the cap space by themselves. League did this good.

 

Now as for the Ravens, this did help us and may have helped us with Ngata a little but I like to see Ozzie try to extend him to lower his cap hit similar to Suggs. Of course, do that after we get Monroe/Pitta/Smith and whoever else are top priorities first. 

I don't think anyone was happy with the cap.

 

Fans, Executives, players or Owners.

[PurpleCityLights]

With all this extra money can you say Decker.....

[Willbacker]

I don't think Daryl Smith will command too much given he's 31 and playing a position that's not highly sought after in free agency.  He's actually the one free agent I would say is a lock to return without any hesitation.

When we got him he was coming off a down year and also lost some time with injuries. Now that he's bounced back and had a great season...............

 

No question he's the better player. Especially in the long-term. By the sounds of it Art could command upwards of 5m a season somewhere; we will not be paying him that. 

If he'll sign for 5 mil it's a nobrainer. Ngata could be a cap casualty next year and it's not like we have stud central up front.

[TDubbs]

If he'll sign for 5 mil it's a nobrainer. Ngata could be a cap casualty next year and it's not like we have stud central up front.

 

Art Jones a no brainer at 5mil? Hmm .. Not so sure, to be honest. I love the guy, he's a good player. But what has he really done to command that kind of $?

[Inqui]

I think we could afford $5 a year but Art is going to get $7-8 I think.

If we could sign Arthur Jones for $8 a year I'd be doing cartwheels. Dunno how he'd manage to pay his bills, mind.

[bMore Heathen]

With all this extra money can you say Decker.....

No... This money will help us keep a couple of our own FAs. It's not like we have a ton of space. We will in no way have the money to go out sign a top tier FA, especially Decker who already said he's looking for a big pay day.

[redrum52]

Not even going to bother retyping all that...  Is anyone else having problems when they quote people?

 

And Decker's softer than Drake petting kittens under a rainbow.  Hell no I don't want him on this team.

 

[Willbacker]

Art Jones a no brainer at 5mil? Hmm .. Not so sure, to be honest. I love the guy, he's a good player. But what has he really done to command that kind of $?

He provides excellent push and can play all 3 spots on the line and is entering his prime. For 5 mil take him. If more?? Pass.

[Inqui]

No... This money will help us keep a couple of our own FAs. It's not like we have a ton of space. We will in no way have the money to go out sign a top tier FA, especially Decker who already said he's looking for a big pay day.

That, plus I don't think he's as flash as someone will no doubt pay him out to be. I think any changes a cap raise would have to our current plan would be negligible: sign our most important guys, and add FAs at a good value. That much more room would only let us do it more effectively.