[News] Eisenberg: Rough Week For Ravens Defensive Thirtysomethings

[BR News]

This week sent a clear message that the team wants to get younger and faster and also find new leadership.

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[PalmBayRaven]

This is the sad part. Thank you for your services. Wish you well.

[Ravenous_Ravens]

Here's hoping someone, anyone really steps up on defense to lead. You might not not think your ready to lead but just commit to it and the fact you committed yourself to it will allow you to realize it and make it happen even when its tough. Don't even give it up and don't ever quit. Leaders are not born, they are forged through trials.

[ravensnj]

Yeah, yeah, I get it, the team leaders part...However, checking the history our players, they have all been Captains / Leaders on their respective
college teams, high school, and even pop warner teams. They all should know how to act. We just need to nail this draft and have an influx of good/great young talent. Our coaching staff is here to help with the rest. They just need to continue to motivate as always.

[balfan23]

Yes, still waiting to hear the true story on the Suggs incident, but unless it is a hit and run felony type charge, I don't see us crushing ourselves by moving on from him over not paying tickets. 

The bigger concern around Suggs is his ability to recover from such a serious injury (particularly at his age) and whether or not he's going to be able to get himself into football shape with this significant down time. That's something he's periodically struggled with, even when healthy. 

[sami]

You left out BRAINS and COMMITMENT.

Edited March 5, 2016 by sami

[respecttheRaven]

Sugg's was a perfect gentleman during his arrest. Non-issue, let's move on!! http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bal-onbody-police-video-of-ravens-linebacker-terrell-suggs-arrest-in-arizona-20160304-story.html

Edited March 5, 2016 by respecttheRaven

[robbie29]

I hope that Ozzie & The Ravens stick with what they do best in the draft- Defense (at least in the early rounds). I also hope that best case scenario plays out and we end up drafting the next Ed Reed or Ray Lewis. I know that's a tall order, but darnit we are way overdue for a perennial Pro Bowler. The team needs a leader who plays, motivates, and inspires at a high level. We're drafting early in every round so there's really not much room for excuses if we whiff this year.

Edited March 5, 2016 by robbie29

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

It looks like we might have more of a defensive player draft this year.

[designermaryland]

Sugg's was a perfect gentleman during his arrest. Non-issue, let's move on!! http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bal-onbody-police-video-of-ravens-linebacker-terrell-suggs-arrest-in-arizona-20160304-story.html

a perfect gentleman explaining how he was just out meeting another girl at a hotel. i am sure that went over well with his wife/girlfriend. i would bet the scum bag is out of here.

[designermaryland]

if you have not seen the new video that was released by the balt sun, he was arrested for 3 violations including suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident, and criminal property damage. and he basically explained how he just didnt want to report it because he was an athlete and it would cause a problem. oh, and he was just meeting another female friend at a hotel and fell asleep while driving. all sounds like nothing, right? he is going to meet a hooker probably, and didnt want to get caught. i have no respect for this guy and never will. if you are a nobody, maybe you have an excuse to get caught up doing this childish crap, but as a representative of a pro sports team, you have to know and do better. happy trails suggs.

[respecttheRaven]

2 minutes ago, designermaryland said:

a perfect gentleman explaining how he was just out meeting another girl at a hotel. i am sure that went over well with his wife/girlfriend. i would bet the scum bag is out of here.

I did say " during his arrest". I never said anything about his actions before, however low they may be. He is no .  And I doubt he will be out of here.

[JimmyBlack]

4 hours ago, balfan23 said:

Yes, still waiting to hear the true story on the Suggs incident, but unless it is a hit and run felony type charge, I don't see us crushing ourselves by moving on from him over not paying tickets. 

The bigger concern around Suggs is his ability to recover from such a serious injury (particularly at his age) and whether or not he's going to be able to get himself into football shape with this significant down time. That's something he's periodically struggled with, even when healthy. 

I could see him as a candidate for contract restructuring.

[MTRavensFan]

27 minutes ago, designermaryland said:

a perfect gentleman explaining how he was just out meeting another girl at a hotel. i am sure that went over well with his wife/girlfriend. i would bet the scum bag is out of here.

Sizzle got divorced this year.

Paying his tickets is probably something he's used to his wife handling for him, and it just slipped his mind.

[NCMan]

  5 hours ago, balfan23 said:

Yes, still waiting to hear the true story on the Suggs incident, but unless it is a hit and run felony type charge, I don't see us crushing ourselves by moving on from him over not paying tickets. 

The bigger concern around Suggs is his ability to recover from such a serious injury (particularly at his age) and whether or not he's going to be able to get himself into football shape with this significant down time. That's something he's periodically struggled with, even when healthy. 

I could see him as a candidate for contract restructuring.

Although I fundamentally agree, I don't see that happening. No chance. His best days are far behind him and the Ravens are stuck w/him and his cap hits and/or future dead money.

[The Greek]

suggs isnt going anywhere but i sure hope he is committed to getting in football shape and to his team.

[OzzieBisciotti]

Pitta, Rice, and now Suggs- look at all this dead money/ bad contracts we have in place that it cripples us for years- other teams do a much better job at managing the cap / drafting/ picking up free agents.. how many more safeties do we have to draft/ pick up in FA before we get this right?

[rmcjacket23]

3 hours ago, designermaryland said:

if you have not seen the new video that was released by the balt sun, he was arrested for 3 violations including suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident, and criminal property damage. and he basically explained how he just didnt want to report it because he was an athlete and it would cause a problem. oh, and he was just meeting another female friend at a hotel and fell asleep while driving. all sounds like nothing, right? he is going to meet a hooker probably, and didnt want to get caught. i have no respect for this guy and never will. if you are a nobody, maybe you have an excuse to get caught up doing this childish crap, but as a representative of a pro sports team, you have to know and do better. happy trails suggs.

Start preparing for disappointment now...you're gonna see Suggs in purple in August.

Luckily for him, as a pro athlete, he doesn't have to care whether a nobody has respect for him or not.

[rmcjacket23]

35 minutes ago, OzzieBisciotti said:

Pitta, Rice, and now Suggs- look at all this dead money/ bad contracts we have in place that it cripples us for years- other teams do a much better job at managing the cap / drafting/ picking up free agents.. how many more safeties do we have to draft/ pick up in FA before we get this right?

Other teams do a better job...just not many of them.

I'm beginning to think that fans are using the term "dead money" too much without having any understanding of what it actually is. Seems like the new flavor of the week.

[jravens13]

Pitta, Rice, and now Suggs- look at all this dead money/ bad contracts we have in place that it cripples us for years- other teams do a much better job at managing the cap / drafting/ picking up free agents.. how many more safeties do we have to draft/ pick up in FA before we get this right?

Suggs is the leader of this defense. His 7.5M cap hit is a bargain compared to what he brings to the table. Pitta was a mistake. No one would have ever thought Rice would do what he did and that the media storm would force him out of the league.

Ozzie, DeCosta, Hortiz are as good as it gets. They have recently made some mistakes, but I would be willing to bet that they are learning from them as the league evolves. Think about how many years we have been drafting in the 20s-30s. We get to pick at the top of each round and this class is incredibly talented at positions we need. CB, ILB, DE, OT, OLB. I expect 3 Pro Bowlers to come out of this class.

[pcwag33]

Old on defense doesn't win championships.

[ellicottraven]

We are not ever moving on from Suggs. As long as he can play, he'll play for the Ravens. End of story. I think Suggs is smart enough to know when he can't play any more and he's already on record saying he is on his final days. Right now, he's coming back primarily because he believes he can contribute and he will. So, I don't like that Daryl Smith was released either because he's got a year or two left in his tank as well, at least in the first and second downs of every game. As for Canty, while he's useful and played well when he suited up, he's getting injured more frequently , so the Ravens not picking his option is welcome, but we sure wish him the best.

[salamander]

When I first heard Terrell got arrested, my first reaction was, here we go with another PR nightmare. As I learned the details, I am not concerned that it will generate a media storm backlash or have an impact on whether he plays or not. My biggest concern regarding playing next year is the rehab of the Achilles. Don't like what Suggs did but I am glad he was at least respectful when he got arrested.

[JamesA119]

if you have not seen the new video that was released by the balt sun, he was arrested for 3 violations including suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident, and criminal property damage. and he basically explained how he just didnt want to report it because he was an athlete and it would cause a problem. oh, and he was just meeting another female friend at a hotel and fell asleep while driving. all sounds like nothing, right? he is going to meet a hooker probably, and didnt want to get caught. i have no respect for this guy and never will. if you are a nobody, maybe you have an excuse to get caught up doing this childish crap, but as a representative of a pro sports team, you have to know and do better. happy trails suggs.

Designermaryland Suggs will be here next season, and I am for that.

[Militant X 1]

And as the new generation crystallizes, someone needs to grab the figurative megaphone and lead the group.

Ray Lewis held that megaphone for years, of course, and while no one can ever really replace him in that regard, Suggs and Haloti Ngata had leadership cred as links to Lewis’ era, and veterans such as Smith and Canty also could show others the way.

Who handles the job now? Daryl Smith could end up back in Baltimore on a cheaper deal, but he’s quiet. So is C.J. Mosley, an emerging star who would be an obvious choice except that he seemingly prefers to let his play do the talking. Suggs can still lead, but he’s no longer a long-range solution. Lardarius Webb leads the defensive backs, but he’s not one to stand in a pregame huddle and shout. Jimmy Smith has an outgoing personality and the right skill level, but so far has avoided that kind of attention.

One of them, or someone else, needs to step up. With the Ravens entering the dawn of a new era on defense, They need leaders. And speed. And youth. Did I leave anything out?

^ Soooo, immediately after Ray Lewis' departure he was vilified by some of the writers and posters in here for stating that the Ravens lacked leadership and for being a "rah-rah" type of guy. Many stated that grown men shouldn't need anyone to stand in the huddle to pump them up to get on the field and do their jobs. I definitely remember seeing that statement posted in here a few times. And NOW.....ironically...that's what and who we're looking for on defense? LOL!!

Edited March 7, 2016 by Militant X 1

[balfan23]

^@Militant X ... Absolutely, we need vocal leaders. We need guys with skill and attitude and swagger. This team used to be filled with personalities. Now, they are few and far between. We've drafted recently players with skill - but seemed to have ignored the value of being outspoken and having to ability to become leaders. 

Now - on the Ray Lewis thing ... I don't know if vilified is the right word, but I remember thinking - OK, Ray, you're gone ... can you just let Suggs take the mantle without reminding us all that nobody can be the leader that you were? I mean, does that really need to be said?

But Suggs is on the home stretch and we need to replace that. Picking at #6 ... we need to be focused on that quality as well as talent on the field. We need it on the defensive side of the ball. I don't know who among the top players can fit that bill, but we need one. 

 

[Militant X 1]

1 hour ago, balfan23 said:

^@Militant X ... Absolutely, we need vocal leaders. We need guys with skill and attitude and swagger. This team used to be filled with personalities. Now, they are few and far between. We've drafted recently players with skill - but seemed to have ignored the value of being outspoken and having to ability to become leaders. 

Now - on the Ray Lewis thing ... I don't know if vilified is the right word, but I remember thinking - OK, Ray, you're gone ... can you just let Suggs take the mantle without reminding us all that nobody can be the leader that you were? I mean, does that really need to be said?

But Suggs is on the home stretch and we need to replace that. Picking at #6 ... we need to be focused on that quality as well as talent on the field. We need it on the defensive side of the ball. I don't know who among the top players can fit that bill, but we need one. 

 

Oh I'm all for an emotional and vocal leader on the defense!  I love cats that play with passion.  I always have and will.  And my use of the word vilify is the right word!  It simply means to say or to write very harsh things about someone or something.  IMO, that's exactly what some posters in here did to Ray after he stated that one of the Ravens issues was that after he retired that they lacked leadership and that someone would have to step up and fulfill that role and responsibility.  Many stated that we didn't need a "rah-rah" guy or a "cheerleader" on the sidelines in order to get grown men to do their jobs.  And now ironically to me, Eisenberg is mentioning and calling for that very thing now that the Ravens are a few seasons removed from the Ray Lewis era.  Just my view.