[News] Reports: Dennis Pitta Won't Play This Season

[BR News]

Doctors have reportedly advised tight end Dennis Pitta that he should not play, but Pitta isn’t ready to retire.

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[Bat-mite]

I have to take back what I just posted in the "Late for Work" forum. Looks like the likelihood of his return is higher than I thought.

--"With a professional athlete like Dennis, his rehabilitation protocol should allow for him to return to full capability by next season," said Dr. Derek Ochiai, an orthopedic hip surgeon based in Arlington, Va. "I would expect him to be ready by the middle of [next] summer. What they let him do as far as offseason stuff and training camp next year is obviously far ahead of him and up to the Ravens and Dennis. But with a lot of hard work and patience, he should be back."--

[Ravenshine]

Sorry to hear this. But Pitta is making a sound choice to take doctors advice. Still, very sorry to hear this. Hopefully next year! If not, Pitta brought much to the team regardless in his time here. And regardless I'll keep hope of his return to Ravens team, or NFL in general...but I prefer we see him back here in Baltimore!!!

[budman]

I have to take back what I just posted in the "Late for Work" forum. Looks like the likelihood of his return is higher than I thought. --"With a professional athlete like Dennis, his rehabilitation protocol should allow for him to return to full capability by next season," said Dr. Derek Ochiai, an orthopedic hip surgeon based in Arlington, Va. "I would expect him to be ready by the middle of [next] summer. What they let him do as far as offseason stuff and training camp next year is obviously far ahead of him and up to the Ravens and Dennis. But with a lot of hard work and patience, he should be back."--

Not to be the party pooper but if he does play again, it probably won't be in Baltimore. We have 3 other guys that are younger and much healthier, not to mention cheaper (for now). Those 3 have really high ceilings and I don't see us keeping Pitta at the current money he is getting or anything close to that to be honest.. Just saying.

[Crusader]

Doctors are not God. Doctors told my Aunt she have 9 months to live. She still alive 7 years latter and doing fine.

[jravens13]

Retire or Restructure your contract. This team needs cap space and guys who can contribute on the field. Sorry if I come across bitter, but you got your big contract after a great run, and since then have been unable to contribute to this team. Doctors said you are not cleared to play and likely will never be. Unless you want to play a few games and end up in the same place you started.

[reed20fence]

Hope the best for Denny with his health and the best for his family.

I really hope we can work it out and bring him back next year perhaps on a mutually agreed-upon salary reduction.

Either way, let's not kid ourselves - for anyone excited about having those chunks of dead money for Ray Rice and Ngata fall off the books next year, if Pitta retires or gets released or traded (or even reduces the salary portion of his contract) we're still starting 2016 with 6.6 million in dead money.

This sucks all around.

Edited November 11, 2015 by reed20fence

[bioLarzen]

Dennis, however badly we'd need you, your "other" family needs you more... and healthy.

[bioLarzen]

Doctors are not God. Doctors told my Aunt she have 9 months to live. She still alive 7 years latter and doing fine.

 

But doctors TEND to be right. They aren't ALWAYS right of course - but the better ones usually are, and we can safely assume these doctors are of the better kind.

 

And anyways, the doctors don't say if Pitta plays now he'll surely get his hip reinjured - it's just that it has a higher than acceptable likelihood. Which is frightening enough itself, without saying anything specific.

[January J]

He's still not giving up. I had a feeling the Ravens would have no choice but to cut him next year - but they could restructure and add a bunch of incentive based money incase of reinjury so their hands won't be tied again. 4 tight ends is a bit much but it's not out of the question- and they would be a damn good quadruple threat.

[rmcjacket23]

Retire or Restructure your contract. This team needs cap space and guys who can contribute on the field. Sorry if I come across bitter, but you got your big contract after a great run, and since then have been unable to contribute to this team. Doctors said you are not cleared to play and likely will never be. Unless you want to play a few games and end up in the same place you started.

Yeah unless he agrees to take significant paycuts or incentive reductions, there's basically a 0% chance he's on the roster next year, regardless of whether he's healthy or not.

 

Zero chance the FO commits to pay him the $5M salary he's scheduled to make.

 

Sadly, IF he comes back to play (which I seriously doubt he will), it'll most likely be for another team probably.

[Bat-mite]

Not to be the party pooper but if he does play again, it probably won't be in Baltimore. We have 3 other guys that are younger and much healthier, not to mention cheaper (for now). Those 3 have really high ceilings and I don't see us keeping Pitta at the current money he is getting or anything close to that to be honest.. Just saying.

I can't argue with that.  But keep in mind that Flacco and Pitta are best friends, and have great chemistry on the field.  Ozzie might find a way to trade Boyle or Williams and get a receiver or a pass rusher if Pitta looks like he will be able to play and willing to renegotiate his contract.  Who knows?