[News] Late For Work 8/25: Will Steve Smith Retire A Raven Or Panther? His Strong Reply

[BR News]

Ngata wants to prove Ravens wrong. Allen more important. 33 players miss practice. Renner backup of future?

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[Bob21043]

Would really be cool if SSS retire as a Raven, but would totally understand if he does with Carolina due to his longevity there. He may still be ticked off at them for letting him go though ....

[Bob21043]

Too bad we didn't have him here his whole career

[alexbayrobin]

Haloti we wanted you. We just couldn't afford you. I think you know that or you should. Weren't You here when the Ravens made similar moves in the past?

[The Mom Gene]

Steve Sr... Baltimore would love to have you retire a Raven, that's for sure. All the while, we do understand that it is your decision and would also completely understand any loyalty you might feel to the Panthers...

 

Baltimore Loves you Dude!!!!!

[roamingcharges]

I get it when players get ticked off at teams that cut them despite the hard work they put in, and often the time spent at these clubs. What I won't condone is a guy who our team asked several times over a couple of off seasons to restructure his contract to accommodate a team trying to add quality with a view to winning titles and the guy flat out says NO.

 

He gets traded, even thought the team is torn about the decision and he has the effrontery to say he "wasn't wanted"? What would make you feel wanted, $16M per year for an over the hill star player? Gimme a bleeping break!!!

Edited August 25, 2015 by roamingcharges

[The Mom Gene]

Haloti we wanted you. We just couldn't afford you. I think you know that or you should. Weren't You here when the Ravens made similar moves in the past?

 

Goes both ways, Haloti...  If you had really wanted to stay, and you're knowing how much Baltimore DID love you, you'd have done the deal with the front office. 

[RaRaRavens]

I think if SSS will get a SB ring with the Ravens, he'll very seriously contemplate retiring a Raven as well.

[SSJ3FinalFlash]

Ngata we wanted you, and we loved you...but you just wanted way to much money

[757RavensFan]

If SSS won a Superbowl as a Raven, I can't see him retiring a Panther especially after his comment regarding "respect".

Edited August 25, 2015 by 757RavensFan

[b93333]

Ngata will certainly try hard to have a big year... his next contract depends on it. If he does have a good year and gets the corresponding contract he will likely go into the tank... just like he did last time. I for one like Williams and Jernigan much better for their effort levels and attitudes. In any event it remains to be seen what Ngata has left in the tank.

[budman]

Goes both ways, Haloti...  If you had really wanted to stay, and you're knowing how much Baltimore DID love you, you'd have done the deal with the front office. 

I agree. Both ways it is. It was he who really left us no choice. If he wanted to stay then he would definitely be here. The "They didn't want me" talk makes me a little sick in the stomach. Just wrong, motivational or not.

[The Greek]

would like to see renner get some work in the 1st qtr after flacco exits and see what he can do with some better players in the game. something about him

[salamander]

It would be an honor to both the Ravens organization and all of us fans to have SSS consider retiring a Raven. No matter if he officially retires as a Raven or a Panther, SSS has been a beloved Raven from the moment he put on the uniform and, in my eyes, will always be a Raven.

Edited August 25, 2015 by salamander

[budman]

would like to see renner get some work in the 1st qtr after flacco exits and see what he can do with some better players in the game. something about him

I believe that Flacco will go the first half, as this is usually the showcase game for starters. The last preseason game is usually 2nd and 3rd string. Although it has been different in the past. I cant see starters playing any more after this week mainly because of injuries.

[stixfix69]

Starters on both sides of the ball have to play at least a half, if this is the final tune-up for them to play as a unit before the reg season....They need the work....

[RangerRon777]

Could care less about Ngata. Will never be in our Ring of Honor.

Turned out to be all about the money after all . Lets move on

[Tenacious Faulker]

I believe that Flacco will go the first half, as this is usually the showcase game for starters. The last preseason game is usually 2nd and 3rd string. Although it has been different in the past. I cant see starters playing any more after this week mainly because of injuries.

Flacco is going to play as long as he thinks it will take to get the stink of that Philadelphia out of his system.  BUT he won;t be so stupid as to take a chance on being hurt for nothing.  I think that Harbs will agree.

[salamander]

Haloti's quote that the Ravens didn't want him and that he has a chip on his shoulder as a result is outrageous. Haloti has conveniently rewritten history and forgotten that all he had to do was be willing to give an inch in negotiations. There was no doubt that the FO and fans would have loved him to stay a Raven but he chose to be rigid and chase every last dollar without regard to our cap issues. Haloti has no right to feel bitter or victimized by the Ravens. Haloti forced the hand of the FO who tried hard to keep him. I loved Haloti as a Raven but this irks me to twist it like the Ravens are at fault for his departure, when the reality is, Haloti made a conscious choice to not renegotiate and should have anticipated that the FO would let him go as they have been forced to do with other players.

Edited August 25, 2015 by salamander

[stixfix69]

Well i'm not going to jump on the "Lets hate Ngata bandwagon"....Not every player is going to want to renegotiate there contract, and that is their right....The Ravens gave him a contract which he signed, and because the FO wants to renegotiate, doesn't mean the player has to...Especially in a year that D-Linemen like Suh and others were signing out outrageous deals...I wish him the best, and he should retire a Raven...after all we got him for his best years, and he was a beast for us...

[fusuymada]

Haloti has it all wrong and it is fine if he wants to live with a revisionist history. The truth of the matter is that he could have retired a Raven, the Ravens wanted him to retire a Ravens, the fans wanted him to retire a Ravens but Ngata refused to renegotiate, refused to push his cap number up the road and refused, I repeat, refused to retire a Raven. There were plenty of options that would have allowed him to retire in Baltimore but he dug his heels in and said I want money, money and more money at a time when he knew the team was cap strapped. He left them no option. So being traded wasn't the idea of the Ravens by any means, it was a decision that Ngata and his agent made. Of course, the Ravens wouldn't pay him the outrageous amount he wanted because he has been consistently injured later in his career, had a drug suspension, he is injured now and he and his agent cant even work out an extension with the Lions after they already threw a very large amount of money his way. So the only chip on his shoulder he should have is the one he put there himself but if he needs that to motivate his old tired body to produce without using performance enhancing drugs, then I guess a mans gotta do what a mans gotta do.

[Tenacious Faulker]

Re:  Smith Sr. - if he retires a Ravens that would be somewhat of an indictment on the Panther organization (conversely is a glowing statement on the Ravens organization).  Retiring with a team that you spent only 13% of your career with is just not done to my knowledge.  if it was, I'm sure it was for similar reasons.  Smith would risk alienating a whole section of voters for any HOF bid he might get.  However, i agree with others here - a SB ring could change that.

 

Re: Ngata I hope he does prove the Ravens "wrong" although I really don't think they will miss his production even if he makes the Pro Bowl this year.  They have a plan that needed cap space and he didn't budge on restructuring his contract.  I don't have an issue with either his or the teams stance.  It was what it was and I wish him an MVP caliber season.

 

Re: Buck Allen - I hope he's ready.  I'm getting close to slapping the fragile label on Taliaferro.  I will reserve judgment on that until the end of the season though.  I hope I'm wrong.  Prove me wrong, LT!

 

Re: Renner vs Schaub - Last time I say this...Schaub will be the b/u in 2014.  Renner's success has come against the dregs of both teams.  Schaub's mistakes came against the 1's and 2's so far.  He is the missing link to Kubiak's system which Joe and Trestman are still learning.  He'll earn the back up role for that as much as performance - even if its more like 2013 than 2012.   Renner might be an option for 2016, but as of now he reminds me of a young Tyrod Taylor.

[whobilly]

A D-Lineman in his 30's who is going to be a cap hit of 16 million on ANY team is going to get released or traded. Your decision big guy. You could have restructured like Suggs. You chose not to.

[Shaky End of the Quarter]

SSS will never retire a Raven even if he wins Super Bowl 50. He will retire the best Panther to ever play the game and very likely will go in the Hall as so. What did you expect to hear from SSS? After this season I will retire a Panther but Baltimore thanks for the opportunity?!? His answer was very PC, and I commend him for that. Wherever he decides to retire I will support his decision. But in reality there is 0% chance he retires a Raven. Talking about Super Bowl 50, I'm starting to get sick and tired of the daily question "what if the Ravens win SB50?" After Saturday's game against the Eagles the words "Super Bowl 50" should not be uttered in the castle. The expectations and the pressure is mounting every time SB50 is mentioned. Let the guys play, let them make the playoffs (which is not a given this year due to the strength of schedule and the vast amount of unproven and injury prone talent we have on this team), once we make the playoffs then start talking SB50. Last year making the playoffs was a huge struggle and we had a cake walk schedule playing the NFC South and teams like Jacksonville, Tennessee and Cleveland x2. Those were 8 of our 10 victories. We don't have that luxury this year. Temper your expectations people. Neg me all you want but that is the sad truth, we even got help week 17 when KC beat SD if not we would have stayed home with our 10-6 record!

[RavensFootballFan]

Jeez Sarah, you had my heart rate going up with headline "33 out of practice" only to add a caveat afterwards that it includes vets/starters having the day off. A good way to nearly ruined a beautiful morning down here. lol Leave SSS alone on which team he will pick, the man has bigger worries/preparations to try to win a SB ring. Worry about that when the time comes, the season isn't over yet. If the Ravens being in Philly will help the team win games on the west coast this season in terms of preparation/experience, then it was well worth it. We'll see. Less than 3 weeks till Denver game, hurry up! lol Enjoy the cooler night time weather, have a great week y'all.

[rmcjacket23]

Haloti has it all wrong and it is fine if he wants to live with a revisionist history. The truth of the matter is that he could have retired a Raven, the Ravens wanted him to retire a Ravens, the fans wanted him to retire a Ravens but Ngata refused to renegotiate, refused to push his cap number up the road and refused, I repeat, refused to retire a Raven. There were plenty of options that would have allowed him to retire in Baltimore but he dug his heels in and said I want money, money and more money at a time when he knew the team was cap strapped. He left them no option. So being traded wasn't the idea of the Ravens by any means, it was a decision that Ngata and his agent made. Of course, the Ravens wouldn't pay him the outrageous amount he wanted because he has been consistently injured later in his career, had a drug suspension, he is injured now and he and his agent cant even work out an extension with the Lions after they already threw a very large amount of money his way. So the only chip on his shoulder he should have is the one he put there himself but if he needs that to motivate his old tired body to produce without using performance enhancing drugs, then I guess a mans gotta do what a mans gotta do.

 

1. The amount Ngata was set to get paid was $8.5M. No realistic person thinks thats an absurd price to play for the level of player that Ngata is at this point in his career. The $8.5M is the exact amount the Lions are paying him this year currently, which again, I don't think anybody believes is an unrealistic amount for one season.

 

2  We largely have zero information about what long-term negotiations took place and what numbers were exchanged. The only way to lower Ngata's cap hit in the short term (other than him taking a straight one year pay cut, which was never a realistic option) was to sign him to an extension, because he was in the final year of his deal anyway. In doing so, we would have to guaranteed a good chunk of money for the next 2-3 years for him, and are we really certain that the Ravens were interested in doing that?

 

3. In general, I almost always support players maximizing to the highest level the amount of money they get from teams, particularly when it comes to guaranteed money and guaranteed years. We know the NFL has no issue cutting high priced players on an annual basis for whatever reason they want, and I'd never encourage a player to take the approach of "hey, just take a bunch of money less and stay here and win a title". For starters, that's certainly not realistic for Ngata, because that would fall under the "been there, done that" mantra, and I also ignore the fact that there is no shortage of teams who could pay him well AND be a contender for a title. The two don't necessarily have to be a trade-off.

 

It was a standard business transaction that two sides simply couldn't agree on.

[steelcityraven]

Steve Smith was always a Raven (The way he played)... im am just glad that in some type of poetic justice he ended up here! Regardless of panther / Raven or whatever he decides to retire as... He always was and always will be a RAVEN!

[ciro]

i wonder what ngata was thinking when he saw suggs restructure his contract what was it twice? did he think suggs was insisting on being with an organization that were low key trying to get rid of him?.... He truly was a huge loss and its sad if after all his years at this organization he truly thinks that.

[RavensInNC]

Ngata has a chip on his shoulder for us letting him go?!?? There is nothing for him to prove us wrong about, the Ravens just couldn't afford what he was asking. That's like asking someone for a million dollars then being mad when they can't give it to you. /Facepalm

[bioLarzen]

What about an outside-the-box solution for Steve Smith: how about him retiring as a Ball So Hard University player?