[News] Dennis Pitta 'Optimistic' About Playing This Year

[BR News]

The Ravens tight end is back on the field practicing after his second hip surgery in as many years.

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[stixfix69]

Coaching staff is holding his real progress close to the vest, as i am sure they don't want to get to excited....I'm sure drafting Maxx, and Boyle is pushing him....If he is medically cleared, would love to have him playing, would allow Maxx, and Boyle to be groomed a bit, although i see Maxx getting plenty of snaps regardless.....

[trevorsteadman]

We all know that Pitta and Williams are not known for blocking. So Gillmore will see the field but I see him being more of a blocker and will see few passes towards him this season. I bet the Ravens keep Pitta, Williams, Gillmore, and Boyle all on the roster because of the fact that Pitta and Williams are both catch first block second tight ends. With this I see the Ravens keeping six receivers instead of seven like last season. Smith, Perriman, Brown, Aiken, Campanaro, and Waller will make the final roster pending injuries. I see Butler as a practice squad player. Will be interesting to see if Pitta can return at a high level. If hip holds up he may have fresh legs not playing football too much the last two seasons.

[mkam1904]

Pitta will be back and in the starting lineup but they will have a rotation with Maxx and Nick to keep him fresh and not push it. He wouldn't be out there practicing and working out with the team so early if there was any doubt he was coming back.

[Mystigo_Dragon]

IMHO,... Bad sign!

[Ngata Chance]

Oh man. I don't know how to feel. I'd like to see Pitta back, of course. But I'm scared that he hurts the hip again and then it is permanent. He's too good a guy to have to live with that fore the rest of his life.

[January J]

I've got faith in the man! He's gonna come back fresh, and with our new additions he will be able to stay that way throughout the season

[RavenManiac#7]

I've liked Pitta a lot ever since we drafted him. I'd watched him play in college and liked what I saw. Even though we took Dickson one round before Pitta, I thought from the beginning that Pitta would prove himself to be the better player. He's been one of my favorite Ravens. That's why I just can't help but be concerned for his future health and safety. For him, and his family's sake, I really hope he's making the right decision to come back. I am, and will continue to pray for him and his family. Dennis, I wish nothing but the best for you.

[4evermore23]

We had alot of thin positions and the wizard of oz just turned them all around in one draft and a slow moving free agent class we brought in we are deep at tight end and corner which was a weakness last yr looks like a strenght now all i say we need is to groom a young pass rusher and someone needs to step up and control that safety position i feel we superbowl bound we got alot of great peices this offseason and were not done yet

[merryjman]

The Ravens did a good job of making sure that no matter what happens with Pitta, the TE position won't be a glaring position of need. Pretty close to a win-win scenario, seeing as how highly rated Maxx is. Kudos to Ozzie & Co. for that.

[hen826957]

If Dennis Pitta return to his natural form look out and it would be another weapon for Joe Flacco. Hope he returns.

[Jim Giampaoli]

The tight end position is covered with Williams, Boyle and Gillmore. The front office realizes that Pitta may never play doing the regular season. He may not make it through camp. I would rather him leave the game now then have a lasting injury. It's scary to keep messing around with something that can create permanent damage.

Edited May 15, 2015 by Jim Giampaoli

[Space11jams]

I think they should slowly ease Pitta back into action. Have MADMAXX and Crocket get the start but bring in Pitta behind those goes to get his self acclimated. I think once he shows good signs, pencil him in as the full time starter along side MaXX

[Wildwest Raven]

Of course he's optimistic, I'm optimistic for him too but reality sez he probably won't be back. No one touched him on the last injury so odds are high he'll sustain another injury if he plays and you have to ask "How serious will it be". I feel for you Bro, and I wish you the best. Take it from an old man your health comes first. You're gonna want to be able walk/run and play with your grandchildren.

[salamander]

Even if Pitta comes back better and healthier than ever, I know I will be nervous every time he gets the ball, hoping Dennis doesn't go down with an injury. Broke my heart to watch him collapse with the second injury. Seems like Pitta is clear on trying to come back. I support Pitta in whatever decisions he makes. Good luck Dennis. With you all the way and wishing you continued health.

Edited May 15, 2015 by salamander

[January J]

I think they should slowly ease Pitta back into action. Have MADMAXX and Crocket get the start but bring in Pitta behind those goes to get his self acclimated. I think once he shows good signs, pencil him in as the full time starter along side MaXX

I'm sure that's kind of the plan. Get him back as the starter by midseason or so. I never once counted him out. People are skeptical and worried but he is a huge asset to our team. I hate to sound selfish bc I do care about his life after football but this team needs him- Maxx is such a young pup and needs pittas help to really make the transition. Crockett helps too- but pittas experience and the fact that he's one of the only players left from the Super Bowl squad is really important.

[hen826957]

Dennis Pitta, Max Williams, Crockett Gillmore, and Boyle I like the sound of that weapons and more weapons for Mr. Flacco. LOL

[Darkraven23]

It makes you think i was aprihensive of ozzie's signing pitta to a long term deal especially with him now be 29 as opposed to ed dickson only 27 and has been playing well if not better than pitta since being with carolina and no signs of his thigh injury he had when he was here in baltimore. and it makes me worry that as much as i hope pitta is ok for a te of his age i really hope that he takes it slow because another hip injury by age 30 it really could be permanate

[boldtown]

hope to see pitta on the field but if he can't make it, the nfl network needs a am host.

[NorthDakotaRaven]

It makes you think i was aprihensive of ozzie's signing pitta to a long term deal especially with him now be 29 as opposed to ed dickson only 27 and has been playing well if not better than pitta since being with carolina and no signs of his thigh injury he had when he was here in baltimore. and it makes me worry that as much as i hope pitta is ok for a te of his age i really hope that he takes it slow because another hip injury by age 30 it really could be permanate

You cant compare Dennis to Ed at this point.  Ed had hands like a dolphin, if a change of scenery has somewhat rejuvenated him and he is catching a little bit more does not mean he would have had the same results here in Baltimore.  I think it was a sign of good faith to sign Pitta to the long term deal.  He outplayed his rookie contract, helped us win a 2nd Super Bowl and I am glad that even at his age, the Ravens had enough respect and belief in Pitta to give him at least that first contract so if nothing else, he and his family have a nice nest egg from his NFL career.  Albeit short, a successful one. 

[Zeus]

Nothing new here same old story that has been posted over and over again.

[ravens4life86]

I read an article from csnbaltimore, Clifton Brown couple days back who stated Ravens would after the draft picks of Williams, Boyle, and Gilmore already on roster. Said Ravens wouldnt mind sitting Pitta the first 6 weeks of the season on a IR/PUP type list just to give him and the hip a few extra weeks, then have him for then long term second half run if all goes well.

Either way I hope Pitta does come back at some point, 2 no.1 receiving TEs are better then 1.

[MadStorkSociety]

So have the doctors said why the problem recurred? I would like to know the root cause before putting myself in harms way again. Is it a genetic structural problem, a nutrition problem, bad luck?

[RavensBaltimore]

It makes you think i was aprihensive of ozzie's signing pitta to a long term deal especially with him now be 29 as opposed to ed dickson only 27 and has been playing well if not better than pitta since being with carolina and no signs of his thigh injury he had when he was here in baltimore.

What??? Ed Dickson played 16 games and had 10 catches last year. Pitta played 2.5 games and had 16 catches. Had Ozzie known Pitta would break his hip again, he obviously wouldn't have given him that contract, but there is absolutely no way that Dickson was going to get a big contract to be our #1 TE, and I doubt Ozzie would have even given him a long term deal to be our #2 TE. Dickson wasn't even as productive as Crockett Gilmore last year.

[chas58]

i thank pitta need to come back doing the playoffs

[BmoreB]

Pitta will be starting Week 1.

[Crusader]

Just don't let him go over the middle. First downs and dump offs. I wonder how his blocking ability will be affected?

[HoldingCall]

Blocking could be a problem for a while due to stress on the problem area. Also, opposing players with bad intentions could target him if he plays too well. At least he will not need to be on the field constantly now that there are other options. Just hope the team is smart and he is not placed in position to re-injure himself, needless to say.

Edited May 15, 2015 by HoldingCall

[Maryland]

I got the sense that he's just going with the YOLO mentality, just giving himself one last shot at living his dream as a pro, and if it happens, it happens. I hope somehow he can stay intact, mostly for his family. It was horrible seeing him go down with no contact in that Browns game.

[roamingcharges]

If you asked me before The Draft I would have been ecstatic at this news. If he sounded confident about the medicine and the science concerning broken hips I'd be reassured. Right now I have mixed feelings, and I suspect management at The Castle feels similarly-- heck, even the doctors have their fingers and toes crossed. Right now Pitta is a bit of a luxury and watching him catch passes in traffic would make me cringe especially if a tackler goes to the midsection. Dennis please take the money and retire; a third surgery might mean you'll spend your prime years limping around your family-- not worth it son!