[News] Late For Work 12/31: Two Things You Must Know About Steve Smith's Return

[reed20fence]

Gotta love all the folks just willy-nilly saying "yeah, sign KO or franchise him."

Ok, who do we cut in order to afford the tag price? You can't just tag a player and violate the cap. You have to stay under the cap at all times. And if you find a way to afford the tag price but gutting the team of key role players, what if it takes all offseason to get a deal done? That means every single penny of cap space is tied up in his tag while the rest of the league is signing all the key free agents we can't afford cuz our money is tied up.

The likelihood that KO is gone is more probable than not. So we just have to get used to reality.

[rmcjacket23]

Gotta love all the folks just willy-nilly saying "yeah, sign KO or franchise him."

Ok, who do we cut in order to afford the tag price? You can't just tag a player and violate the cap. You have to stay under the cap at all times. And if you find a way to afford the tag price but gutting the team of key role players, what if it takes all offseason to get a deal done? That means every single penny of cap space is tied up in his tag while the rest of the league is signing all the key free agents we can't afford cuz our money is tied up.

The likelihood that KO is gone is more probable than not. So we just have to get used to reality.

No reasonable person thinks the tag is an option. It's really not worth discussing.

If he stays, it's because he signed a new deal with us when FA opens.

[rmcjacket23]

Possible to sign both KO and Alshon Jeffery? Lot depends on restructuring Joe's deal, but I'm sure Joe wouldn't mind throwing to SSS, Jeffery, a HEALTHY Perriman, Aiken, Boyle, Williams, and Gilmore along with having Forsette and Buck swinging out of the backfield.

No possible scenario. Hard to envision signing even one of them. Plus Jeffery isn't leaving Chicago

[Grapple Raven]

Happy New Year to all our "Flock" members!  Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2016 for everyone.

[crazyboutravens]

Of course we will let Osemele walk. We would much rather have a 5th or 6th round project that willnot play for two years.

 

Compensatory picks are great but KO would be better

[Jim Giampaoli]

If the front office allows Osemele to go elsewhere, I, as one fan, will curse the day. He can play anywhere on the line. Not since Jim Parker have we been so blessed. There is always money to be had. It is a matter of loosening the purse strings or pass the collection plate.

Edited January 3, 2016 by Jim Giampaoli

[OrganisedChaos2]

Will KO demand a lot more money on the market just because he's played 3-4 games at LT? If so seems a bit ridiculous the Ravens would intentionally increase his price in his last year, in a season with no playoff hope.

[drillem]

Give credence to the notion of creative financing. Ad revenue promises from businessman, fill in tv sportscaster spots, reduced/subsidized purchases of cars and house, etc are all done all the time elsewhere. Peyton got the keys to several Papa John pizza joints. And sells the stuff on breaks in the game.

[bmoraven]

If SSS has an decent year and puts up 700 yards, he's a Top 5 WR all time. That's crazy, considering he played in Carolina with QB's like Delhomme, Claussen, Testaverde before CAM got there and Baltimore an offense not known for putting up big WR numbers. Definite HOF Lock. Tells you how crazy he really is. With that being said, Ozzie needs to get a WR here to share the load.

Lets Pay KO, you cannot give away O Lineman in this league.

[Halshayeji]

If the front office allows Osemele to go elsewhere, I, as one fan, will curse the day. He can play anywhere on the line. Not since Jim Parker have we been so blessed. There is always money to be had. It is a matter of loosing the purse strings or pass the collection plate.

Thank you!

[Halshayeji]

I got 5 negs with a comment and zero replies.....

Can someone say what exactly they disagree with?

[gooftroop]

Who thought SSS would be even a better teammate than a player? This guy has figured it out.

[RavenManiac#7]

I totally agree that SSS's decision to return for another season should Not be the most significant news, or move, regarding our receiving corps. As happy as I am that he will be back, and as much as I like him, I think it would Not be good if he would be counted on as our #1 receiver. We still need to make an upgrade for a #1. And, KO. If we're Real lucky, we could find a LT desperate team willing to trade for him. I don't care What we'd get for him. I'd just like to avoid having to cut him and take on even more dead money. But, if we can't find a suitor, I still prefer cutting him and somehow being the team that gives KO his money to keep him as our LT. Just one fan's opinion.

[RavenManiac#7]

Yep Keep Osemele. This is where Joe needs to be smart and renegotiate his contract to allow him team to be better equipped going into next season. The fact K.O. can play LG or LT is great for negotiations. Monroe could stay around or potentially be traded. No sense cutting him due to dead money on the contract. Flacco adjusts his contract so they can sign K.O. to a solid contract offer of a LG with added bonuses in the event he becomes the LT. Jensen has shown to be a solid fit a LG. The whole scenario plays off Flacco being a team player and I don't see that being a problem. I mean the guy goes to McDonald's after the SubperBowl and I'm sure he likes not being a pinata.

Joe is a Very rich man. Restructuring does Not have to mean less money for him; just paid to him in a more favorable way, cap-wise, for the team. After just suffering the first injury serious enough to cause him to miss games in his Whole career, that should provide even more incentive to him to want to help the team provide the best protection to him that it possibly can. If that's how we do it, fine but, Somehow, re-signing KO should be a Huge priority for Ozzie this off-season. It could, possibly, be the #1 priority. I think he is definitely showing that he can be our LT moving forward; a Serious upgrade over the almost useless Monroe.

[harfordravenfan]

Of course hind sight is 20/20, but if the FO could have a do over on one of the 105 roster moves, I believe it would be to sign Dwight Freeny over Babin.

 

Agreed, I wanted Freeny also but I really didn't think Babin would be such a wasted pick up

[harfordravenfan]

Yep Keep Osemele. This is where Joe needs to be smart and renegotiate his contract to allow him team to be better equipped going into next season. The fact K.O. can play LG or LT is great for negotiations. Monroe could stay around or potentially be traded. No sense cutting him due to dead money on the contract. Flacco adjusts his contract so they can sign K.O. to a solid contract offer of a LG with added bonuses in the event he becomes the LT. Jensen has shown to be a solid fit a LG. The whole scenario plays off Flacco being a team player and I don't see that being a problem. I mean the guy goes to McDonald's after the SubperBowl and I'm sure he likes not being a pinata.

 

If you was a GM, would you want an average LT that's hurt often and getting above average salary?

[harfordravenfan]

I got 5 negs with a comment and zero replies.....

Can someone say what exactly they disagree with?

 

I didn't neg ya (up to 7 now) but my guess would be either

 

1-the thought of putting the tag on KO (much more than he's worth and would cause players to be cut in the process)  -or- 

2-investing that much on o-line (you're suggesting keeping everyone and draft an o-line in the first)

[rmcjacket23]

I got 5 negs with a comment and zero replies.....

Can someone say what exactly they disagree with?

1. In my judgment, there isn't an offensive lineman in the league worth $12-$13M a year, and KO certainly isn't worth anything near that. Franchise tag isn't an option.

2. There's no possible scenario where we can afford KO and Jeffery...I'd argue we probably won't even be able to afford ONE of them, let alone both.

[Halshayeji]

I didn't neg ya (up to 7 now) but my guess would be either

1-the thought of putting the tag on KO (much more than he's worth and would cause players to be cut in the process) -or-

2-investing that much on o-line (you're suggesting keeping everyone and draft an o-line in the first)

Yeah I guess the tag is a reach because of how expensive it would be. I'd be fine paying him yandas money or a bit less. No one needs to be cut, I would hate loosing KO and getting a comp pick in return.

Yes I'm tired of everyone complaining about linemen getting hurt. It happens to every NFL team. You need 8 solid guys to finish a season. I also think monroe is gone after next season so why not groom a 1st round LT next year and start him when someone goes down. If he's ready he starts next year and hopefully have a franchise LT.

Oh and thanks for a response instead of just a neg lol

[Halshayeji]

1. In my judgment, there isn't an offensive lineman in the league worth $12-$13M a year, and KO certainly isn't worth anything near that. Franchise tag isn't an option.

2. There's no possible scenario where we can afford KO and Jeffery...I'd argue we probably won't even be able to afford ONE of them, let alone both.

I knew I could count on you RMC

1- I agree tagging him is waaaay out of reach. Somewhere around 6-9 mil a year is more realistic. I just still don't understand what's the holdup? It's not like we started the season 5-1. Trade him and get good value for him before week 9 or resign him.

2- You never know. KO could sign a contract that counts like a million or two against the cap the first year. We see it il every year. It happened with monroe, zuttah, and a few other guys signed deals that averaged much more than the first year cap hit.

You probably already know by now that I believe we will have a lot more cap space than you estimated the other day

Happy new year btw and keep bleeding purple!

[harfordravenfan]

Yeah I guess the tag is a reach because of how expensive it would be. I'd be fine paying him yandas money or a bit less. No one needs to be cut, I would hate loosing KO and getting a comp pick in return.

Yes I'm tired of everyone complaining about linemen getting hurt. It happens to every NFL team. You need 8 solid guys to finish a season. I also think monroe is gone after next season so why not groom a 1st round LT next year and start him when someone goes down. If he's ready he starts next year and hopefully have a franchise LT.

Oh and thanks for a response instead of just a neg lol

 

I was in favor of getting Tunsil when I thought we could get him but if the team somehow kept KO, I'd be screaming for secondary help with the first

[bigcatfrank1]

First off, If Osemele is hurt often why would other teams pay him more that than the Ravens are willing to pay him? KO will stay if the Ravens offer him a good deal which I think they will. 5 year deal progressive for a lineman is a very solid contract in the NFL. I would let Jeffery go or Monroe go...maybe a deal using either one of them. Joe definitely needs to re-structure! He needs KO and I think he and his Agent know it.

[rmcjacket23]

I knew I could count on you RMC

1- I agree tagging him is waaaay out of reach. Somewhere around 6-9 mil a year is more realistic. I just still don't understand what's the holdup? It's not like we started the season 5-1. Trade him and get good value for him before week 9 or resign him.

2- You never know. KO could sign a contract that counts like a million or two against the cap the first year. We see it il every year. It happened with monroe, zuttah, and a few other guys signed deals that averaged much more than the first year cap hit.

You probably already know by now that I believe we will have a lot more cap space than you estimated the other day

Happy new year btw and keep bleeding purple!

But it's not about just fitting him under the cap for 2016...it's about 2017 and 2018 and 2019...

Any team can literally fit any player under their cap for one year, but it's never been about that. It's about affording him over the long term, which is questionable.

That's the biggest problem I see on these boards with fans, particularly when it comes to cap space...most people can't look past just one season. The FO simply doesn't have that luxury.

Always easy to say "well just trade the guy", but what people forget is that trades require at least TWO teams. So why would a team trade for a guy they can simply sign six months later and not have to give up picks for him? What if they trade for him and he doesn't resign there? It's not like anybody is giving us like a first or second round pick for him...he'd probably be traded for a pick that is similar to a comp pick range.

[rmcjacket23]

First off, If Osemele is hurt often why would other teams pay him more that than the Ravens are willing to pay him? KO will stay if the Ravens offer him a good deal which I think they will. 5 year deal progressive for a lineman is a very solid contract in the NFL. I would let Jeffery go or Monroe go...maybe a deal using either one of them. Joe definitely needs to re-structure! He needs KO and I think he and his Agent know it.

Just so everyone is clear...Joe isn't restructuring anything. He's getting an extension for more years and more money.

[Halshayeji]

But it's not about just fitting him under the cap for 2016...it's about 2017 and 2018 and 2019...

Any team can literally fit any player under their cap for one year, but it's never been about that. It's about affording him over the long term, which is questionable.

That's the biggest problem I see on these boards with fans, particularly when it comes to cap space...most people can't look past just one season. The FO simply doesn't have that luxury.

Always easy to say "well just trade the guy", but what people forget is that trades require at least TWO teams. So why would a team trade for a guy they can simply sign six months later and not have to give up picks for him? What if they trade for him and he doesn't resign there? It's not like anybody is giving us like a first or second round pick for him...he'd probably be traded for a pick that is similar to a comp pick range.

True. The FO don't have the luxury of only thinking of 2016. But it can be done. Not as simple as many of us think it is but it can be done.

In KOs case I'm just pissed of because of how things are turning out. Usually when this happens, the player is gone. If this was last year and we were making a playoff run I'd say yes you keep him and we'll figure it out in the offseason. But this year was gone a looong time ago and our FO had a lot of time to work something out but it seems that nothing has been done.

I really hope KO stays but we have a saying, a bird in hand is better than 10 on a tree. What I'm trying to imply is had we traded KO by the deadline we'd have a solid pick that we can draft someone with or package it with another pick and get a probowler for next year when all the cap details are sorted out. Now all we have is a guy that's gonna join a bidding war and we just hope we can afford him. What if he signs a one year prove it deal because he doesn't like his value and gets hurt week two and is out tor the season? How good is that comp pick then?

Edited January 2, 2016 by Halshayeji

[rmcjacket23]

True. The FO don't have the luxury of only thinking of 2016. But it can be done. Not as simple as many of us think it is but it can be done.

In KOs case I'm just pissed of because of how things are turning out. Usually when this happens, the player is gone. If this was last year and we were making a playoff run I'd say yes you keep him and we'll figure it out in the offseason. But this year was gone a looong time ago and our FO had a lot of time to work something out but it seems that nothing has been done.

I really hope KO stays but we have a saying, a bird in hand is better than 10 on a tree. What I'm trying to imply is had we traded KO by the deadline we'd have a solid pick that we can draft someone with or package it with another pick and get a probowler for next year when all the cap details are sorted out. Now all we have is a guy that's gonna join a bidding war and we just hope we can afford him. What if he signs a one year prove it deal because he doesn't like his value and gets hurt week two and is out tor the season? How good is that comp pick then?

Again, trading him months ago is likely to land us the same type of pick as letting him walk, so where's the gain?

Players like him don't sign 1 year prove it deals when they have nothing left to prove. Not worth discussing further.

Whoever agrees to pay him the most wins.

[Halshayeji]

Again, trading him months ago is likely to land us the same type of pick as letting him walk, so where's the gain?

Players like him don't sign 1 year prove it deals when they have nothing left to prove. Not worth discussing further.

Whoever agrees to pay him the most wins.

It's always nice to hear your perspective RMC