[News] Late For Work 3/11: Did Kelechi Osemele Question Ravens' Appreciation Of Offensive Line?

[BR News]

Ravens host Vlad Ducasse on free-agent visit. Comp picks announced today? Why so many restructures.

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[salamander]

Bad choice of words from Osemele. Baltimore made him a great offer but knew other teams with mega bucks would likely nab him out from under us. Ravens certainly do value the offensive line but can't and won't over pay.

[stixfix69]

The Team has made many multi-millionires out of players we have drafted or signed as UDFA, only to see them make millions elsewhere, because we are always fighting the dreaded cap on a annual basis......

[rmcjacket23]

I mean, while I don't agree with KO, countering the argument that the Ravens don't appreciate Oline play by saying they are drafting, trading, signing lineman, etc. doesn't make much sense to me.

It could be as simple as him feeling that the offensive line wasn't as respected or appreciated as much as they should be inside the locker room or around the Castle.

[FloridalovesRavens]

Really disappointed in KO. Made him good enough to get big bucks and he slams us. Doesn't make sense to me. Poor choice of words KO.

[PurpleRainBlackVeins]

Wow, that's the thx we get for taking a chance on him in the draft and offering him a fair offer. Another over paid after thought #ontothenext RavensNation

[HomeoftheBRAVENS]

NO,NO,NO...You guys are misquoting him because what I heard him say was "coming from a place that wasn't willing to grossly overpay me more than the other guy on my team that does the same thing I do but better".

[BigUgly]

Between the excessive (and so far underperforming)at safety and tight end, the Ravens are digging themselves a hole in shoring up other positions.  

Glad they are looking at bolstering the O-Line as well, but one wonders why they allowed the prospective KO in waiting, "Quadzilla" Myers, to get snatched away from them twice?

[stixfix69]

The sleeper on the O-Line is Wesley, he got some snaps last year and looked pretty good, great size at 6'6 326.....

[DoubleP]

There is a reason why they let him walkaway... If you don't have the ''Team'' at heart, than you don't deserve to be on our roster! Maybe K.O. feels like the ravens don't appreciate Offensive Lineman... I think it's more they don't appreciate players that are only in this league for cash!

[respecttheRaven]

Ryan Jensen looked good too, and was getting props from teammates.  K.O was one of my faves....so I'll let him slide, he's young and very excited about that BIG contract that the RAVENS helped him get!!!!  Good luck on your new journey K.O, the Ravens will be just fine! Next man up!!!! 

[bioLarzen]

14 minutes ago, BigUgly said:

Between the excessive (and so far underperforming)at safety and tight end, the Ravens are digging themselves a hole in shoring up other positions.  

Glad they are looking at bolstering the O-Line as well, but one wonders why they allowed the prospective KO in waiting, "Quadzilla" Myers, to get snatched away from them twice?

"but one wonders why they allowed the prospective KO in waiting, "Quadzilla" Myers, to get snatched away from them twice?"

Has that "one" seen anything of the guy beyond some snaps in the pre-season? Because Harbaugh, Ozzie and the coaches have - so, if they let him "get snatched away", they probably had their reasons.

Edited March 11, 2016 by bioLarzen

[Dorota]

My guess is it could have been a foot in mouth moment by KO and it just came out wrong. I don't think he or anyone can say that the line, offense or defense is under-appreciated in Baltimore. We have a lot of respect for our big guys. Only thing is, Ozzie has a tradition of not spending decadent money on a player who decides to go for the check if he sees an alternative.

[billiejean]

There is a reason why they let him walkaway... If you don't have the ''Team'' at heart, than you don't deserve to be on our roster! Maybe K.O. feels like the ravens don't appreciate Offensive Lineman... I think it's more they don't appreciate players that are only in this league for cash!

All players are in the league for cash. It would be naive to think other wise. They didn't let him walk away because he wasn't a team player. They let him walk because they couldn't pay him what Oakland did. The guys on his first contract he needs to get as much as he can out of it while he is still healthy.

[stixfix69]

I have to admit the Raiders have done a great job in signing solid FA, and the Giants have done the opposite and over paid players not as proven IMO......

[ellicottraven]

The fact that the Ravens couldn't or didn't want to pay you 12MM a year doesn't mean they don't appreciate the O-line KO! Remember we have the best Guard in football (Yanda) who only makes a little under 8MM a year! Good luck in Oakland but don't say we don't care about our O-line because we do.

[bioLarzen]

I say let's turn the page. KO was a great G for us - but he is no longer on our team, so whatever he says is on him. He's out of our focus. At least he should definitely be.

[PalmBayRaven]

Bad choice of words from Osemele. Baltimore made him a great offer but knew other teams with mega bucks would likely nab him out from under us. Ravens certainly do value the offensive line but can't and won't over pay.

It maybe a poor choice of words but we certainly did over pay for Eugene Monroe for the production we are getting. His performance has been lacking and we have been filling in with lower round draft choices.

[Matty G]

Holy smokes, KO got a ton of money. Guess we should concentrate on locking up Brandon Williams, so we don't see him go next year. And I have a feeling the Ravens don't want to bring Upshaw back. Maybe they think this guy Zadarius Smith will take over nicely, and contribute better in pass rush.

[DoubleP]

  5 minutes ago, DoubleP said:

There is a reason why they let him walkaway... If you don't have the ''Team'' at heart, than you don't deserve to be on our roster! Maybe K.O. feels like the ravens don't appreciate Offensive Lineman... I think it's more they don't appreciate players that are only in this league for cash!

All players are in the league for cash. It would be naive to think other wise. They didn't let him walk away because he wasn't a team player. They let him walk because they couldn't pay him what Oakland did. The guys on his first contract he needs to get as much as he can out of it while he is still healthy.

Agreed that to a certain degree, all players are in for their pockets. But on the other hand players have to become partners of the team and be willing to take pay cuts/restructuration in order to build the best roster. The offer the ravens gave him still would have put him as one of the Top Paid Guards in this league... And seriously between 8 Million a year and 11 some Million a year, you're futur is all set buddy...

[WNC-Raven]

Sounds like sour grapes to me. I think he felt offended that we didint offer him what he wanted. After we signed Yanda last year he should have seen the writing on the wall. Most players are only in it to make as much money as they can while they can. A few select players around the league find a home and love their teams. We broke NGata's heart by trading him away while people like Kruger or KO could really care less where they play. Good luck to KO while he kills time in OAK before moving on to the next place in a few years. Money is great but time and memories are more valuable.

[WNC-Raven]

The fact that the Ravens couldn't or didn't want to pay you 12MM a year doesn't mean they don't appreciate the O-line KO! Remember we have the best Guard in football (Yanda) who only makes a little under 8MM a year! Good luck in Oakland but don't say we don't care about our O-line because we do.

Exactly! Not every fan base loves their Lineman like we do here in Baltimore. I mean Yanda is probably top 5 most loved players on the team! Maybe a little experience elsewhere will open KO's eyes.

[fusuymada]

KO's comments makes me continue to wonder about our offensive line and our offensive line coach. We have always had a highly productive O-line but other than when Kubiak was here holding Castillo's hand, our offensive line has grossly underproduced under Castillo's tutelage. Now we get these comments from KO and it makes me wonder if there isn't some issues on the O-Line the average fan wouldn't know about but is common knowledge amongst the players. Where there is smoke there is fire and it makes me wonder about the comments, productivity and retention. Who is to say that Monroe's lack of motivation has to do with the issues that seem to be circulating around the O-Line coach. Don't know, just speculating based on the tidbits of information we can get as fans.

[The Greek]

he is no longer a raven so who cares what he thinks whether he meant to say it or whether it has been twisted by the media.

Edited March 11, 2016 by The Greek

[Matty G]

Sounds like sour grapes to me. I think he felt offended that we didint offer him what he wanted. After we signed Yanda last year he should have seen the writing on the wall. Most players are only in it to make as much money as they can while they can. A few select players around the league find a home and love their teams. We broke NGata's heart by trading him away while people like Kruger or KO could really care less where they play. Good luck to KO while he kills time in OAK before moving on to the next place in a few years. Money is great but time and memories are more valuable.

We never broke Ngatas heart, he was by far the most greediest player I think the Ravens ever had. I mean he held out on his rookie contract lol and then two more times, I think we had to franchise him twice. As much as people may hate me for saying this, but I was happy when Ngata left, all he cared about was money.

[billiejean]

Sounds like sour grapes to me. I think he felt offended that we didint offer him what he wanted. After we signed Yanda last year he should have seen the writing on the wall. Most players are only in it to make as much money as they can while they can. A few select players around the league find a home and love their teams. We broke NGata's heart by trading him away while people like Kruger or KO could really care less where they play. Good luck to KO while he kills time in OAK before moving on to the next place in a few years. Money is great but time and memories are more valuable.

broke Ngatas heart? Where did you read that. If it broke his heart so much, he would have restructured his contract to stay with the team. The reason we traded him was because he was not willing to negotiate.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl-news/4634976-report-haloti-ngata-could-be-cut-if-he-doesnt-restructure-his-contract-ravens-oregon

[RavensDieHard21]

#Ravens DB coach Leslie Frazier, def cord Dean Pees at Clemson pro day.

I hope they got a good look at Lawson, Dodd and Alexander. I've heard rumors that the Steelers are hoping Alexander makes it to them. It would be a dream to sneak back in and steal him ahead of them! I thought all three looked good, especially Dodd who looked explosive. Lawson impressed too by showing enough athleticism to teams that he could play in a 3-4.

Edited March 11, 2016 by RavensDieHard21

[cobrajet]

I liked KO when he was here, but he took the money as most guys do. I am over it.

[ellicottraven]

46 minutes ago, stixfix69 said:

I have to admit the Raiders have done a great job in signing solid FA, and the Giants have done the opposite and over paid players not as proven IMO......

But Reese is going for broke because he knows it is either win now or get fired! He just wants the best players regardless of cost or implication for the future of the Giants imo.

[Nick04263]

Pretty neat site for all the Comp pick calculations and Salary cap updates.
http://overthecap.com/compensatory-draft-picks-cancellation-chart/