It's a business, yes...but not the only thing that matters.

[Grapple Raven]

I know professional football is a business, I get that.  But sometimes it gets so tiresome hearing the phrase "its a business" over and over again, lol.  If you haven't read this article written by our own Justin Forsett, you have really missed out on something special!  

 

This article, I find so refreshing on so many levels, but at the very least it is such a gift in the midst of a week where money, salary cap and contracts have dominated the national football conversation. Great perspective from a free agent on the outside looking and wanting in.

 

Justin Forsett's article entitled: " What I wanted most in free agency--and why I stayed a Raven"

 

http://www.nfl.com/freeagency/story/0ap3000000478599/article/what-i-wanted-most-in-free-agency-and-why-i-stayed-a-raven

[Fred Sanford]

It's impossible not to like this guy.

[JoeyFlex5]

that was a great read. i have a new level of respect for justin forsett after reading this. 

 

it makes you believe that his age and limitations just really wont slow him down and i feel bad for doubting him this entire offseason so far. 

[AsianRice]

Thank you for posting this article written in Justin's own words; it is very meaningful for the Ravens nation.  We have great players with great personalities. 

 

Justin is a great example for young kids to look up too.....

[MTRavensFan]

 i love this guy more and more every day.

[Ravenseconbeast]

Great deal for great guy. Ill be ready to see him step up as a featured back. Glad he stayed w the ravens

[52520Andrew]

Great read, hoping he can do even better this year

[K-Dog]

My fan level went up five notches.

[Ravens1991]

He has a career as a reporter once he is done. That was a great article. I'm sure we will keep him around somehow to help guide young players. 

[bMore Heathen]

Great article. Lots of respect for a guy like Justin and we (or at least I) forget how hard of a life they live as a back up. Glad he got an opportunity while he still had something left in the tank, and I have no doubt he will make the most of his opportunity here with the Ravens. Congrats and maybe I'll be investing in a #29 jersey since all of my other jerseys are no longer with us.

[Tru11]

good read.

[1/28/01]

Ordering a #29 now. Love, love, love this dude!

[Tank 92]

Call me corny, but I like having stand up guys play for the team I root for. 

[balfan23]

It is not the only thing that matters, indeed. If there was a guy on the FA market this offseason that could have been blessed by everyone if he decided to go out and grub for every penny he could get, it is Forsett. He's never had a payday. He plays a position where the life expectancy is short and he's already hitting 30. Financially, this contract is his everything. 

 

Unlike some players who have already earned well, well into 8 figures who still feel the need to chase $s, there is this guy. He no doubt would have been able to squeeze more out of someone else, but loves it here and is just a class act. He's on his way to being one of this teams top "diamond in the rough players" ... and we've had a lot of them. So glad he came our way and that we decided to "put a ring on it". 

[balfan23]

There are a lot of players out there who are proving that money isn't everything. Look at what is happening with teams like the Raiders and Browns. Jordan Cameron left for the exact same contract that Cleveland offered. Forsett and Murray both reportedly had larger offers waiting for them in Oakland. 

 

Some of these teams have to have the feeling that they are (in the words of former O's GM Syd Thrift) "offering confederate money". That's a bad place to be as a franchise. Some of these teams are going to have to overpay someone in a big way to attract them and to meet the requirement of spending to the appropriate level of the cap. 

 

While our cap situation is always tight and while not all of our players are willing to stay for less, we're in a much better place than a lot of teams. Hopefully, we can maintain this, because right now, it is good to be us. 

[cursona pirate]

Hope he has another career year this season.

[CharmCityChampions]

Why can't more players be like this

[mg90]

Ordering a #29 now. Love, love, love this dude!

I think I gotta do that too. I knew he could ball, but now I see what a leader he can really be. Very proud to have him here.

[Proxzyn]

That article is amazing. Knowing that a player like that exists, makes me happy. Having him on "my" team, makes me ecstatic.

 

3 years is not enough for me... This guy needs to be in this organization forever, one way or another.

[MTRavensFan]

Call me corny, but I like having stand up guys play for the team I root for. 

me too, Tank, me too.

 

I also love rooting for the underdogs, the small school guys, and the local kids.

Some of these names being thrown around in FA, I wouldn't want to see in black and purple even if they walked on water on the field - Richie Incognito anyone? Ughhhh.

[Purple_ICE 81]

I know professional football is a business, I get that. But sometimes it gets so tiresome hearing the phrase "its a business" over and over again, lol. If you haven't read this article written by our own Justin Forsett, you have really missed out on something special!

This article, I find so refreshing on so many levels, but at the very least it is such a gift in the midst of a week where money, salary cap and contracts have dominated the national football conversation. Great perspective from a free agent on the outside looking and wanting in.

Justin Forsett's article entitled: " What I wanted most in free agency--and why I stayed a Raven"

http://www.nfl.com/freeagency/story/0ap3000000478599/article/what-i-wanted-most-in-free-agency-and-why-i-stayed-a-raven

Its a business?... More like money talks and BS walks.

Most athletes have family and friends they want to take care of but could do so easily on a vet minimum contract minus all the Ferraris and beachfront properties. Its not "business" oriented rather greed oriented. When you think about Torrey Smith he was buying Ferraris and houses and living a flashy life with his family off of his rookie contract, and most early round draftees have a hard time NOT splurging their money on stupid stuff. Most people just want to get paid as much money as they can regardless of any circumstances such as the chance to win a SB play with a better QB or surrounded by talent etc. All most athletes care about is $ and living the hip hop life. The rare cases like Forsett or others who will compromise on price to stay with a team are always nice to see.

And then you have the guys who want to be the highest paid players at their positions and will decline big contracts over a few million bucks or certain language like guaranteed $ etc. Always gets to me...if I was the best WR in the NFL for example and I was getting ready to sign somewhere... I would rather play for a great team than make a lot of $, shoot those veteran minimum contracts are more than enough $ to support a family in above average living conditions. If you get $10M+ guaranteed In a contract aka a chance to see $10M in your bank account ready to spend...say what??? For playing a sport that's crazy and most guys take a ton more than $10m guaranteed.

Also a lot of the contracts are agent oriented too most of the time players agent will handle ALL of the contract talks and won't budge until they get max $ for the agents benefit more than anything. I think about guys like Adrian Peterson, Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson etc...great players who would rather go through headaches of playing with garbage teams and garbage surroundings for boatloads of cash. Larry Fitzgerald for example could have been a statistical beast but would rather play for crummy squads.

Money is great but how much money do you honestly need? Whats better is getting a solid amount of money AND playing on a great team in a great environment.

Ndomakong Suh could buy 1000 mansions buy every Ferrari and Lamborghini out there but he's gonna be crying a lot now that hes playing for the Dolphins and not winning SBs. He can sopp up the tears with hundos I guess.

[MTRavensFan]

1. The Cardinals have been serious contenders since Arians got there, have bolstered their defense in FA, have a decent QB, and Fitz re-structured this year to give them cap space. What about this situation qualifies as being all about the money on a garbage squad?

 

2. You do gotta give Revis his props for the way he's gamed the system. If you're gonna go for it, go for it big.

 

3. Torrey drives a Ferrari, what? I'm kinda having trouble picturing that lol, really? But whatever floats his boat, he deserves it. I doubt his Mom's still working three jobs.

[Purple_ICE 81]

1. The Cardinals have been serious contenders since Arians got there, have bolstered their defense in FA, have a decent QB, and Fitz re-structured this year to give them cap space. What about this situation qualifies as being all about the money on a garbage squad?

2. You do gotta give Revis his props for the way he's gamed the system. If you're gonna go for it, go for it big.

3. Torrey drives a Ferrari, what? I'm kinda having trouble picturing that lol, really? But whatever floats his boat, he deserves it. I doubt his Mom's still working three jobs.

Larry Fitzgerald signed his contract a fl years before Arian's got there back when the Cards were an average at best team but I shouldn't have used him as an example because he is a great person and a family man and well known and liked around Zona. BUT if you look at his stats with the garbage QBs throwing to him over the years he performed good but could have been on Jerry Rices level. As a fitzy fan I always wanted to see what he could do with a great QB yet now he is limited to being a veteran possession WR.

Yes Torrey owns a Chevy Cammaro a Ferrari GTB and a Chevy Denali all of which have every mod you could want. I love Torrey though he's a great person too...I was just proving a point that you can do it up under a 2nd round pick salary and income but chased the money instead which as I said in my previous post is all good and fun.

And as for Revis? He will go down in NFL history for absolutely MILKING free agency, he made nearly $100M total dollars through several injury plagued and controversial seasons won a Superbowl AND gets to go back and likely retire where it all started. Good for him.

[sflegend89]

Forsett is awesome. I guarantee he could have got a little more money elsewhere, but at the end of the day he felt that the bonds with his teammates, coaches, fans, and city are voids that a little extra money can't fill. Those things are irreplaceable and that ultimately made his decision an easy one. Makes me wonder about Torrey, I don't understand how someone so beloved and deeply rooted in Baltimore can just walk away from it all.

 

Now I'm not saying Torrey had an obligation, but he did have a choice and after looking at the details of his contract I'm personally disappointed in his choice. Never thought he would be the type to follow the extra pocket change over a team and city that has embraced him like a son.

[RavensFanMania]

It was an excellent read, I'm glad we were able to re-sign him.  With him and Lorenzo Taliaferro, plus a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick we should be good to go.  If we are going to draft one in the 1st round, it should be Gordon as he is a much better fit than Gurley.

[ludy51]

And as for Revis? He will go down in NFL history for absolutely MILKING free agency, he made nearly $100M total dollars through several injury plagued and controversial seasons won a Superbowl AND gets to go back and likely retire where it all started. Good for him.

You gotta give Revis Credit. He bids on himself every year and wins.

Every. Single. Time.

[Purple_ICE 81]

You gotta give Revis Credit. He bids on himself every year and wins.

Every. Single. Time.

Yep...I always ask myself is this guy really that good? Through all sorts of controversies and injuries he got 4 or 5 max contracts and a ring...I guess so lol

[Gordo52]

I was among those who didn't have a strong desire to bring him back, but this is a very fair deal. Great guy. Great fit. Not much mileage. Continuity....Glad it happened now. Especially after reading something as refreshing as this.

I still love the idea of a Forsett-Coleman combo. And even though both of them aren't known as receiving backs, I think they can make it work in trestmans offense.

[Militant X 1]

Sweet feel good article for those that need it but at the end of the day, the nature of this game reminds these players that "it's a business" every time they get released, cut or traded! Justin even used a business term in this article when he mentions that he finally had some "leverage" to get a longer deal. While it's not all about money, when I'm "contracting" your services I expect you to do a job and if I'm on the other end of that "contract" I expect to be properly compensated for my services as well.

[mdrsharon]

So happy he is a RAVEN!

 

Of course I root for the whole team, but there are certain guys who really put it out there.

As fans, we become attached to players, and get upset when they go for the dough. I don't blame them,they have limited life spans in the NFL.

 But, as I value loyalty, but that is so old school - nobody else does.

 

Go Justin, let's get this guy a ring!

Go Ravens!!!