[News] Jarret Johnson To Retire A Raven Wednesday

[FLBoyRaven]

What J.J was as pure a Ravens player you can get, just like Kelly Gregg, Ray, Ed, etc. I wish he got a ring with us but hey it happens.

[mettro79]

Double J retiring as a Raven the same year as Ed Reed! Man it's awesome to see those guys come home to end their careers.

[harfordravenfan]

Double J retiring as a Raven the same year as Ed Reed! Man it's awesome to see those guys come home to end their careers.

Agreed and glad upshaw helped fill his role.

[Ravens07]

Saddens me that he never got a Super Bowl ring.

 

Definitely. Heap and Mason also come to mind in that category. 

[jdynamite]

Glad to see he's retiring a raven. Still wish he could have been apart of that Super Bowl run. All the hard work ( dirty grunt work ), sacrifices he put in for us for years.

Edited May 13, 2015 by jdynamite

[jdynamite]

Why even accommodate JJ.? Yea he played here for a few years but left to make a couple extra bucks right when he could have stayed and showed his dedication to the organization. We made him then he left. Once he left he was never noticed again. He owes us, not the other way around. Rather than be a Raven for life he left for a few extra bucks and competed against us.. I feel nothing for him.

I totally disagree with the notion that players shouldn't seek out contract negotiations. Each player has to view themselves as their own business entity, they have to market themselves to teams and hope to get signed to a deal.

JJ was drafted by the Ravens, played here for 9 seasons ( not a few years ). And let's be realistic after 9 seasons of being a role player on a star-studded defense, and the team has already drafted several players at the position ( Kruger & Upshaw ). He had no leverage to get a good contract, since he wasn't a big name it's not like he ever received a huge contract with a big signing bonus. I'm sure he realized his own physical limitations after all the injuries and 9 years in the league and knew this was his last shot at making more money to secure his family for the long term. ( it is still a job).

It almost seems like you want to categorize JJ with someone like Adalius Thomas ( whom became a versatile pro bowler highly sought after FA. ) signed away to the highest bidder The Patriots and didn't perform as he did with us. JJ on the other hand, was the type of player that all Ravens fans knew and division Rival fans knew but not many other football fans would know because he didn't make the flashy plays ( so it's not that he left and went unnoticed, he left and continued to do work, the same work that made him well respected within our organization. ).

Edited May 13, 2015 by jdynamite

[MissRay27]

JJ welcome home! We all regret you never got a ring with the Ravens, but you are a Raven for life. Thanks for that hit on Hines.

[ringneck]

The most under rated linebacker the Ravens ever had. He was a good one Good Luck JJ

[balfan23]

Forever Raven. Enjoy your retirement!

[balfan23]

Why even accommodate JJ.? Yea he played here for a few years but left to make a couple extra bucks right when he could have stayed and showed his dedication to the organization. We made him then he left. Once he left he was never noticed again. He owes us, not the other way around. Rather than be a Raven for life he left for a few extra bucks and competed against us.. I feel nothing for him.

In a cap based league, there is a major difference between money grubbing and situations where team and player mutually decide that a parting of ways is the only path that can be taken. There are instances where the team decides they aren't even going to bother to insult a player with an offer because there is simply no way to be fair to the player and at the same time keep the team plan for pay structure in place. 

 

I believe JJ's situation was one where the team didn't even try ... no offer made, so I'm not sure how that qualifies for your "couple extra bucks" comment. McPhee was another such player. 

 

I heard them chatting about the Ravens on ESPN and they were saying that a part of the quality of this organization is that you almost never see players leave here and bad mouth the club. Why? Because we do our best to conduct business in as respectful a manner as possible. Players appreciate it. It has nothing to do with disloyalty or with greed. In cases like JJ's, the mutual respect remained in tact and they welcome him back to the team as a gesture. 

 

I will join the vast majority of reasonable fans in congratulating JJ on his career and his time wearing our team's colors. 

[Joey Flac]

Why even accommodate JJ.? Yea he played here for a few years but left to make a couple extra bucks right when he could have stayed and showed his dedication to the organization. We made him then he left. Once he left he was never noticed again. He owes us, not the other way around. Rather than be a Raven for life he left for a few extra bucks and competed against us.. I feel nothing for him.

 

a few years = 2 or 3.... he played here 9 years! same as Haloti Ngata...

 

Shame on you!

 

Jarret Johnson is a RAVEN! the lead picture explains it all, you wouldnt want to cross this man... but you can tell him and Suggs got along well. Both are insane men that are jokesters at heart. 

[bunkmcnulty]

Sad that someone as a Ravens fan calls out JJ for leaving for more money. As disciples of Ozzie's right player, right price mantra, we understand all too well, as fans of this team, how this has a negative impact to guys we love. It happened this year with Torrey. Name me one Ravens fan who did not love Torrey. Living with him here after going to Maryland, seeing the birth of his child, and consoling him when he tragicly lost his brother. We as fans feel hugely connected to these guys. To me, JJ is at the top of the list, of guys who aren't the obvious stars who we just loved. JJ won our hearts because of his lunch pail work ethic. Going to training camp and watching that due was amazing. That is all I can say.

Did he go for a bigger contract yes. I hated that but don't blame him. He is in a line of work that he needs to maximize what he can get for the short time he can. Many of us would do the same thing. He has a shot at one last big contract and he went for it. Sure you can criticize him for that I suppose. But don't you think watching his friends win the Super Bowl was more pain for JJ than any of us can understand. And pain that he couldn't be part of it because he made the choice he did.

This guy will forever be a Raven. And he will forever be one my favorite Ravens! Thanks for coming back home JJ.

[blindbat]

Congralutions JJ

[Legendary Ravens]

Double J will always be the Iron Man

[steelcityraven]

Glad he is going out a Raven... JJ was a true Raven.... and epitomized the persona that is a Raven Defender....

[Mystigo_Dragon]

GREAT! Honored, as he should be!!!

[The Mom Gene]

I don't believe we could have kept JJ given the salary cap.  Like many other players, He was a "Cap Casualty".  It was a shame.  I am sure there are any number of players, had this team had the money to keep, they would have...  and this man is the perfect example.

 

We did the same with a few others the following year after Super Bowl.  Yeah, that's what a salary cap does.  This isn't Baseball.

[terrynjulia03]

Ring of Honor. Steelers game please! On the Jumbotron show the famous sack of his on Ben where he knocked him from one hashmark to the other! Would be a very fitting salute to a lunchpail warrior of ours.

[The Mom Gene]

Loved the pick up truck analogy...  Someone asked:  Some guys are HOF Limo guys, Some guys are Pick up truck guys...

Jarrett said (after a little explanation)... He doesn't mind that, You need those guys...

[burnbigben]

No wonder he could set an edge, I didn't realize he played defensive TACKLE in college! Congrats on a great career to this guy, was a great leader and always did his job.