Ravens All Time Worst Players

[Tank 92]

Horribly worded and poorly written gibberish is what I read there, ha. For anyone to see this as anything other than a great defensive play is beyond me. Whether it was great on purpose or by accident, Moore knocked the ball out at the most opportune time for his team. Great play!

 

Granted the guy who wrote that blog wasn't an accomplished journalist, but it doesn't discount the evidence he presented.

 

Just google "Lee Evans Drop" and you'll discover you are one of the few outside of NE that don't understand that Evans made a huge fundamental mistake. There was no need to turn, no need to run, All he had to do is wrap the ball up and fall down. TD and on to the SB.

Edited July 19, 2015 by Tank 92

[1/28/01]

Granted the guy who wrote that blog wasn't an accomplished journalist, but it doesn't discount the evidence he presented.

Just google "Lee Evans Drop" and you'll discover you are one of the few outside of NE that don't understand that Evans made a huge fundamental mistake. There was no need to turn, no need to run, All he had to do is wrap the ball up and fall down. TD and on to the SB.

I get there is more Evans could have done or could have done differently, but as the play was, as it unfolded, it was more of a good play by the defender than a blunder by the receiver. By definition, it was not a drop.

[redrum52]

He didn't even look to care to secure the ball when he caught it buy it's whatever. Won it the next year in a bully fashion and gave the Pats a nice L at home. I wouldn't chage a thing.

[balfan23]

Granted the guy who wrote that blog wasn't an accomplished journalist, but it doesn't discount the evidence he presented.

 

Just google "Lee Evans Drop" and you'll discover you are one of the few outside of NE that don't understand that Evans made a huge fundamental mistake. There was no need to turn, no need to run, All he had to do is wrap the ball up and fall down. TD and on to the SB.

Absolutely correct. I think Chris Carter summed it up best when he talked about it the following day. He said, "You are in the end zone. There is no reason to go forward. When the ball hits your hands you wrap it and you go down. If you do that, no one can take it from you". 

 

If some wish to argue semantics ... let them. Was it a drop? Technically, no. Was it a ball that should have been caught? You darn right it was. 

[ravensdan]

I'm shocked there are actually people defending Lee Evans. It was the most crucial catch, in fact only crucial catch of his entire career and he completely failed end of story

[1/28/01]

Just for the record, I am not defending him. All I've been stating is that it was more of a great defensive play than an offensive blunder.

[1/28/01]

If some wish to argue semantics ... let them. Was it a drop? Technically, no. Was it a ball that should have been caught? You darn right it was.

Agree 100%!

[ktizzle]

The Ravens are the only team in the league where guys are struggling to find more than 5 worst players. Thats why were the best. 

[ktizzle]

Michael Oher was a problem. 

[Tank 92]

Absolutely correct. I think Chris Carter summed it up best when he talked about it the following day. He said, "You are in the end zone. There is no reason to go forward. When the ball hits your hands you wrap it and you go down. If you do that, no one can take it from you". 

 

If some wish to argue semantics ... let them. Was it a drop? Technically, no. Was it a ball that should have been caught? You darn right it was. 

 

Yeah, there's no question that it wasn't actually a drop.  I think it's been called that just for the lack of a better term......what else do you call it?  The Great Gaff of 2011? The Evans Brain Fart?  lol   As you said, just semantics.

 

It's a shame that Evans comes up in this conversation because he wasn't that bad of a player. He came to us as damaged goods and I think he probably did give it his all to try to contribute. But since he was singularly responsible for what is arguably the worst play in the history of the franchise, his name has to be added to the list. 

[Sami84]

Michael Oher was a problem. 

 

In his first season he was looking like a future all pro..

[Tenacious Faulker]

In his first season he was looking like a future all pro..

Second in votong for OROY.  Why he fell off afterward is beyind me...maybe lost his desire.

[jimmypowder]

Evans gets my vote. he is arguably responsible for the single worst play in Ravens history.

Yep. It was the worst play in Ravens history . Cost us a chance to win a Super Bowl . I do believe

Joe would have two rings if Evans catches that ball .

[1/28/01]

Yep. It was the worst play in Ravens history . Cost us a chance to win a Super Bowl . I do believe Joe <and his teammates> would have two rings if Evans catches that ball .

[redrum52]

Yep. It was the worst play in Ravens history . Cost us a chance to win a Super Bowl . I do believe Joe would have two rings if Evans catches that ball .

Team doesn't go in as hungry next season and Ray probably retires before the 12 season. We also probably don't get Tucker or CJ. At the moment hated it, but the truth is, that strip might have been one of the best things to happen to us. Bought us another cheap year for Flacco,found us Tucker and gave us a great post season to wat ch the next year with one of the greatest games EVER in 5he Bronco Buster/Mile Hugh Miracle. Everyone just assumes we win the SB against the Giants, even though I think we would have, but the season after is a complete mystery.

[jimmypowder]

Team doesn't go in as hungry next season and Ray probably retires before the 12 season. We also probably don't get Tucker or CJ. At the moment hated it, but the truth is, that strip might have been one of the best things to happen to us. Bought us another cheap year for Flacco,found us Tucker and gave us a great post season to wat ch the next year with one of the greatest games EVER in 5he Bronco Buster/Mile Hugh Miracle. Everyone just assumes we win the SB against the Giants, even though I think we would have, but the season after is a complete mystery.

So not winning a Super Bowl that season is somehow the best thing to happen to us ? Lol . Please man .

[redrum52]

So not winning a Super Bowl that season is somehow the best thing to happen to us ? Lol . Please man .

We won the next year and the comment I quoted makes it seem as if you for some reason think everything plays out the same way. The way it did happen, I know we won a SB. For all we know Flacco could've gotten a career ending injury or broke a SB record. My point is, if we win that year, the team is differet than the we I KNOW we won with.

[52520Andrew]

Team doesn't go in as hungry next season and Ray probably retires before the 12 season. We also probably don't get Tucker or CJ. At the moment hated it, but the truth is, that strip might have been one of the best things to happen to us. Bought us another cheap year for Flacco,found us Tucker and gave us a great post season to wat ch the next year with one of the greatest games EVER in 5he Bronco Buster/Mile Hugh Miracle. Everyone just assumes we win the SB against the Giants, even though I think we would have, but the season after is a complete mystery.

Yeah this is how I feel on it, we won it in 2012 to send Ray off(not the only reason but our guys were as focused as I have ever seen them in those 4 games, we all know what Ray means to the team), if we had won in 2011 and he retired, don't know if we would do it again

[Tank 92]

Yes, we may not have won the following year, but I would have had no problem winning SB 46 instead of 47. That's the only way we would have had the chance to win both. Correct? lol

Edited July 21, 2015 by Tank 92

[BmoreBird22]

 

For those who really want to argue over the Lee Evans catch, watch this. It's in slow motion, which really gives a good look at things. He's already in the process of turning as he's catching the ball and looks to be getting both feet down before he can go down, which is reasonable. He also has the ball knocked out in under two slow motion seconds of it hitting his hands. Saying that Lee Evans should have tucked the ball away and gone to the ground when the play happened that fast is naive because you don't know his motives and at that speed, it's impossible to know what they were, but considering he's a professional football player, you can bet he knows how to catch and get down. After all, he had over 300 catches and 40 touchdowns before that play. It was really just an extremely good play by Moore.

But hey, the Ravens won it after the 2012 season, so who really cares? It's unlikely they do it back to back, anyway, so I'm just happy they got to the Super Bowl and won the very next year.

Edited July 21, 2015 by BmoreBird22

[RealChampsFan]

Jason Brookins.

Harper LeBel

Brookins was by far the most stupid player ever.

 

After he left here he went to GB I think and was in their summer camp.

The coach summoned him for a meeting to go over some tapes with

him.

 

Brookins thought it was the Turk taking his playbook back, another words

he was cut. So he simply packed up and went home. The coach is still

in his office several hours later waiting for him to show up when he got him

on his cell phone at his home.

 

Then he was cut.    LOL

[RealChampsFan]

Team doesn't go in as hungry next season and Ray probably retires before the 12 season. We also probably don't get Tucker or CJ. At the moment hated it, but the truth is, that strip might have been one of the best things to happen to us. Bought us another cheap year for Flacco,found us Tucker and gave us a great post season to wat ch the next year with one of the greatest games EVER in 5he Bronco Buster/Mile Hugh Miracle. Everyone just assumes we win the SB against the Giants, even though I think we would have, but the season after is a complete mystery.

One of the best posts I ever read on the boards. It bothered me

for a long time but you're right. Ravens don't go in as hungry again just

like in 01 after winning SB35. Even after losing Jamal for the season,

Shannan Sharpe always said we should have won SB anyway but the

team lost its swagger.

 

Great points about Tucker and CJ. I feel better now after reading that.

Things are just suppose to happen for a reason and we really shouldn't

have been in SB47 but made it so that makes up for not getting in when

we were supposed to. That was the year Ravens were struggling and

Harbaugh fired CAM and

promoted Caldwell who put McKenzie to LT and KO to LG and

Oher back to RT. The left side of the line blew everyone away in the

playoffs. Oher gave up a sack in the SB and got beat on the miracle play

but Joe did some fancy footwork and side steps Oher's man 

and steps up in the pocket and drills the ball to JJ for winning TD.

Edited July 21, 2015 by RealChampsFan

[RealChampsFan]

I apologize if these names were mentioned but I'll list Dwan

Edwards and Kruger the Beast and of course Arthur Brown.

 

Need I say more? He just can't get on the field with guys like CJ

and D. Smith ahead of him and right now Zach Orr, the undrafted

LB is ahead of him. DeCosta said Brown was one of the best LBs

in the draft and Ravens traded up to get him but has been a big

bust. They said it was everything from not learning the playbook to

not playing well on special teams. Like with Elam, you still gotta hope

Brown will make it because it was good in college.  Maybe it's the system.

Teams have tried to trade for him but Ozzie hasn't given up on him yet.

 

Like Brown, Edwards and Kruger were high draft picks that did nothing for

4 years, then Edwards contributed some his final year and Kruger had 9 sacks

his final year plus the SB but he didn't have any sacks til Suggs came back

from injury so Kruger got those 9 sacks in 1/2 a season.

 

Edwards was the first player taken after Ozzie gave up a future #1

pick for Boller in Ozzie's biggest reach ever. NE got Wilfork with that

#1 and we got Edwards who did nothing til the very end and then he left.

 

Kruger was a #2 pick who only played in situational downs and is still

playing in situational downs in Cleveland after bitching upon leaving

here. Ozzie said he had 4 HOFers around him and still couldn't play

every down. He had a big sack in SB but we would have lost the game

as you saw their comeback in the second half.

 

They would have run all over Kruger and would have more than the

500 yards they gained with Kruger on the side line most of the game.

 

You expect high draft picks to impact but Ozzie has more hits than

misses.

 

BTW, after the Edwards draft Ozzie said he'd never trade a future #1

again and he hasn't.

Edited July 21, 2015 by RealChampsFan

[RealChampsFan]

Someone mentioned all the undrafted busts as the worse but

every team signs undrafted players immediately after the draft

to plug holes. These guys have an advantage because they can

pick the teams they want like Hurst last year.

 

Several teams tried to sign him but he did his homework well

and knew his best chance of making the team was with Ravens. He

was injured during the draft process and went undrafted.

 

Man, was he right. He not only makes the team but played abut 6

games when Monroe was injured. He did well in some and not so

well like in Indy and Houston but held his own in Pitt being the first

undrafted LT ever to start a wild card game. Their own fans said imagine

us starting an undrafted LT in a playoff game.

 

Ravens then lost in NE but not because of Hurst who will probably take

over when Monroe's contract expires.

 

And everyone knows about Marlon Brown who made the team as an

undrafted WR and contributed his rookie year but fell into the sophomore jinx

last year but Ravens expect big things of him this year.

 

Which brings us to two undrafted players currently on the team like

Butler who had great mini camps and is pushing for a #1 job as WR.

 

Then on defense there is Zach Orr who ran with the first team the last two

days of mini camp. He's already ahead of um, Arthur Brown, a #2 pick.

 

He said he signed with the Ravens because he knows they signed other

undrafted linebackers and gave them a chance and they left for big pay days like

Bart Scott, Ellerbe and MacClean.

 

Then there's one of the greatest undrafted finds of them all - Priest Holmes

who became one of the greatest runners in NFL history - for KC after leaving

here after we drafted Jamal Lewis, another great runner. Ravens simply

couldn't afford to sign both. Too bad, because we would have won SB36

if Priest were still here.

 

Most undrafted players don't make it but Ozzie has more hits than most

GMs.

Edited July 21, 2015 by RealChampsFan

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGcmrWw1Hfs

For those who really want to argue over the Lee Evans catch, watch this. It's in slow motion, which really gives a good look at things. He's already in the process of turning as he's catching the ball and looks to be getting both feet down before he can go down, which is reasonable. He also has the ball knocked out in under two slow motion seconds of it hitting his hands. Saying that Lee Evans should have tucked the ball away and gone to the ground when the play happened that fast is naive because you don't know his motives and at that speed, it's impossible to know what they were, but considering he's a professional football player, you can bet he knows how to catch and get down. After all, he had over 300 catches and 40 touchdowns before that play. It was really just an extremely good play by Moore.

But hey, the Ravens won it after the 2012 season, so who really cares? It's unlikely they do it back to back, anyway, so I'm just happy they got to the Super Bowl and won the very next year.

I haven't heard this mentioned and it's my biggest issue with the play.

Everyone blasted Torrey for this his entire career, yet some are giving Evans a pass for it here.

The play isn't even there to be made if Evans catches the ball with his hands!

He turns and could have easily plucked the ball with both hands, yet he waits and let's it come into his body. Bc of that the defender has time to make the play and Evans never was able to secure the ball properly.

It's a weak strip. Heads up play for sure. Great instincts, but it barely required any strength to knock the ball out and that's bc Evans never secures it. You can say he didn't have time which is probably true - but that's not a valid excuse!

He didn't have time bc of poor technique and letting the ball into his chest. He catches that with his hands and it's game over.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

One of the best posts I ever read on the boards. It bothered me

for a long time but you're right. Ravens don't go in as hungry again just

like in 01 after winning SB35. Even after losing Jamal for the season,

Shannan Sharpe always said we should have won SB anyway but the

team lost its swagger.

Great points about Tucker and CJ. I feel better now after reading that.

Things are just suppose to happen for a reason and we really shouldn't

have been in SB47 but made it so that makes up for not getting in when

we were supposed to. That was the year Ravens were struggling and

Harbaugh fired CAM and

promoted Caldwell who put McKenzie to LT and KO to LG and

Oher back to RT. The left side of the line blew everyone away in the

playoffs. Oher gave up a sack in the SB and got beat on the miracle play

but Joe did some fancy footwork and side steps Oher's man

and steps up in the pocket and drills the ball to JJ for winning TD.

It's just as hypothetical to say that stuff wouldn't have still happened if we won SB 47.

Ray Lewis wouldn't have retired had we won - he even said retirement only crossed his mind after the injury in '12. He retired bc he couldn't imagine going through the rehab again. He very well still could've/would've been injured in '12 thus still retiring, and still giving the team it's motivation for the playoffs.

And just because Cundiff wouldn't have blown the kick against the Patriots, he still was struggling and who knows could've blown a kick or two in a SB 47 win. Tucker was the best kicker available, and I'm confident the Ravens still would've brought him in for a look. Just like we brought in the punter this offseason. Kinda voids that whole argument. We bring in an UDFA punter and then extend Koch the same offseason, yet never would have brought Tucker in? Just not founded in history or logic.

And I don't get the whole "no CJ" part. Ray retires either way, the whole team gets shaken up after 2012 regardless. So there's still the hole at ILB and Mosley still is the best player on the board.

That one you just completely lose me.

So, going on to Super Bowl 47, sure it could've effected 2012 and the year we actually did win. But the reasons you provided aren't valid. Would I trade 2012 for a chance to see what may have happened if Evans catches that TD in '11? No way, I'll take the sure thing.

But at the time I'd sure as heck take it, go on to win SB 47 without really effecting our chances to repeat in 2012. Sure it's hindsight but there is a possibility we could've gone back to back.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

Someone mentioned all the undrafted busts as the worse but

every team signs undrafted players immediately after the draft

to plug holes. These guys have an advantage because they can

pick the teams they want like Hurst last year.

Several teams tried to sign him but he did his homework well

and knew his best chance of making the team was with Ravens. He

was injured during the draft process and went undrafted.

Man, was he right. He not only makes the team but played abut 6

games when Monroe was injured. He did well in some and not so

well like in Indy and Houston but held his own in Pitt being the first

undrafted LT ever to start a wild card game. Their own fans said imagine

us starting an undrafted LT in a playoff game.

Ravens then lost in NE but not because of Hurst who will probably take

over when Monroe's contract expires.

And everyone knows about Marlon Brown who made the team as an

undrafted WR and contributed his rookie year but fell into the sophomore jinx

last year but Ravens expect big things of him this year.

Which brings us to two undrafted players currently on the team like

Butler who had great mini camps and is pushing for a #1 job as WR.

Then on defense there is Zach Orr who ran with the first team the last two

days of mini camp. He's already ahead of um, Arthur Brown, a #2 pick.

He said he signed with the Ravens because he knows they signed other

undrafted linebackers and gave them a chance and they left for big pay days like

Bart Scott, Ellerbe and MacClean.

Then there's one of the greatest undrafted finds of them all - Priest Holmes

who became one of the greatest runners in NFL history - for KC after leaving

here after we drafted Jamal Lewis, another great runner. Ravens simply

couldn't afford to sign both. Too bad, because we would have won SB36

if Priest were still here.

Most undrafted players don't make it but Ozzie has more hits than most

GMs.

Of course... I think most of us, if not all, are very well aware of Ozzies record of finding talent everywhere in the draft, afterward and in the bargain bins of FA.

Yes, he's one of the best at find UDFA gems like the ones you've mentioned. But they're few and far between - even for Ozzie. For every Priest Holmes, there are 10 guys who do nothing.

Most go undrafted for a reason. And since we're looking for worst ravens players of all time, just based on reason it makes sense that say a 5th rd draft pick that makes the team, ends up playing bc of injury or whatever the case, and is really bad... Is still likely a little bit better than an UDFA who makes it and plays under the same circumstances.

As you've pointed out that's not always the case, but when you look at it almost all of our draft picks make the team every year and a good majority end up contributing in a positive way for the team.

Then there's usually 1 UDFA feel good story who makes it. And, most of those even are flashes in the pan that don't amount to anything.

[RealChampsFan]

Yea, but Ozzie got the Priest Holmes plus the ones I mentioned like Bart Scott, Ellerbe, were more than flashes in a pan and Marlon is still with us and so is Hurst who will probably be our future LT for years to come.

 

He had about 20 teams after him and only an injury kept him

from getting drafted.

Edited July 21, 2015 by RealChampsFan

[RealChampsFan]

It's just as hypothetical to say that stuff wouldn't have still happened if we won SB 47.

Ray Lewis wouldn't have retired had we won - he even said retirement only crossed his mind after the injury in '12. He retired bc he couldn't imagine going through the rehab again. He very well still could've/would've been injured in '12 thus still retiring, and still giving the team it's motivation for the playoffs.

And just because Cundiff wouldn't have blown the kick against the Patriots, he still was struggling and who knows could've blown a kick or two in a SB 47 win. Tucker was the best kicker available, and I'm confident the Ravens still would've brought him in for a look. Just like we brought in the punter this offseason. Kinda voids that whole argument. We bring in an UDFA punter and then extend Koch the same offseason, yet never would have brought Tucker in? Just not founded in history or logic.

And I don't get the whole "no CJ" part. Ray retires either way, the whole team gets shaken up after 2012 regardless. So there's still the hole at ILB and Mosley still is the best player on the board.

That one you just completely lose me.

So, going on to Super Bowl 47, sure it could've effected 2012 and the year we actually did win. But the reasons you provided aren't valid. Would I trade 2012 for a chance to see what may have happened if Evans catches that TD in '11? No way, I'll take the sure thing.

But at the time I'd sure as heck take it, go on to win SB 47 without really effecting our chances to repeat in 2012. Sure it's hindsight but there is a possibility we could've gone back to back.

Sure it's hypothetical and hindsight we could have gone back but we didn't go back

after the two SBs we won, neither did GB, Indy, NO and many other teams

Seattle went back but didn't win. So we probably wouldn't have won 2 SBs

in a row. SF didn't go back to SB either and have now lost over half of

their SB team to free agency and retirement.

 

Because of the way it turned out and Ozzie drafting CJ and Jernigan plus

this years guys we have another shot at another SB trophy within the next

3 years. Most teams don't go back to back these days. The cap prevents

it. I was just agreeing with someone who made the CJ statement. You don't

have to but that doesn't mean it's invalid.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

Sure it's hypothetical and hindsight we could have gone back but we didn't go back

after the two SBs we won, neither did GB, Indy, NO and many other teams

Seattle went back but didn't win. So we probably wouldn't have won 2 SBs

in a row. SF didn't go back to SB either and have now lost over half of

their SB team to free agency and retirement.

Because of the way it turned out and Ozzie drafting CJ and Jernigan plus

this years guys we have another shot at another SB trophy within the next

3 years. Most teams don't go back to back these days. The cap prevents

it. I was just agreeing with someone who made the CJ statement. You don't

have to but that doesn't mean it's invalid.

Oh I don't mind your opinion. Was just pointing out that saying things wouldn't have turned out the same had Evans made that catch is just hypothetical as assuming things would have happened the same.

No one really makes 5 playoffs in their first 5 years winning at least 1 game each time, all on the road, for a 9-4 record overall in those playoffs with 3 AFCCG appearances and 1 SB win.

Win that Patriots game and it's 10-3 with the potential to be 11-3 with 2 SB's.

My point is that team from the 1st 5 years of Harbaugh/Flacco already stands in very rare and elite company so I can't comfortably gauge potential alternatives based on the outcomes and performances of other SB winning teams from this era.

That team was very well built, and built to compete and succeed in January. I don't know that 1 play happening differently and going on to win that SB hurts their chances at a repeat.

But, I think my point is that the only way we could possibly have 3 SB trophies right now is if Evans makes that catch. If I'm going to play the what if game (which I don't like playing ftr) And think about alternative outcomes, I hope for the alternative that yields more success.

To each his own and not knocking your stance or claiming it to be any less valid.