[News] Ravens Releasing Safety Will Hill

[balfan23]

First Boyle, now Hill. Nice job, Will. I can't imagine that we'd have cut him had it not been for the suspension. I felt like Weedle and Hill were our best starting option. I'm just not sure the hard hitting position of SS is what would suit Webby. I guess we'll find out.

[PurpleReigning]

We wouldn't have cut him if not for the suspension. But Weddle at his age is a short term fix. And Webbie probably is also. Which means.......We have to get some mileage out of Brooks or Elam, or another bargain young player at some point. Might as well be now.

[verified]

just when I was starting to believe we had a chance again smh

[verified]

webb will not be a good safty hes to small and slow

[pocket]

webb will not be a good safty hes to small and slow

Which is why he shouldn't be playing corner and made the switch to safety.

[Saxxin]

Webb will be a better safety than CB. People forget how good he was before the injuries. Webb will be and INT threat. He's a punt returner with great hands. Reliable hands is something that's been lacking in the backfield since Reed left.

[salamander]

Well, I guess failing the drug test clarifies my initial confusion over releasing Will Hill. Thought Will had turned the corner and was coming along as a Pro. Apparently not. Damn. Will blew it again. He had a good thing going with the Ravens and his future just went up in smoke, perhaps literally. 

[CQ1]

Suggs should be next

[sami]

8 hours ago, sami said:

I don't understand how you give someone an extension then cut him eight months later. I know it frees up 3 mil but seems to me he was one of our best safeties. I guess they have more faith in Elam and Brooks then I have.

Now I get it.  He was suspended.  Seems like if he's suspended we shouldn't have to pay him anything.  Oh well, he did this to himself.

[EdTheMythicalOne]

8 hours ago, dirtybird66 said:

i say THANK YOU,WILL HILL,he came in when we were really stuggling back there and he held his own,it's not everyday that you can bring in a LEGEND in the making,noone want's to leave the RAVEN'S,but other teams will scoop him up and i thank him for his service.

Um.....what? Will Hill, is that you?

We brought Will Hill in on the heels of a drug suspension to give him his second second chance. He straightened up and flew right until he got himself a pay day. The guy was 17th in all of football safeties last year. Not top 10, not top 5. Even then he was a flawed player.

Ain't no other team scooping him up now. He's got to wait 10 weeks before he can even play for a team. One more suspension and he's gone for good. The ship has sailed for a marginal player. If he was elite, then perhaps he gets a third second chance.

[RavensBaltimore]

webb will not be a good safty hes to small and slow

I don't think he's any smaller or slower than Charles Woodson late in his career, and he was a great safety. Webb also played well at S last year. When healthy, he's a good tackler, has good instincts, and has good hands. I think he'll be a very good Safety.

[Tru11]

7 hours ago, verified said:

webb will not be a good safty hes to small and slow

you do know webb was a safety in college right?

he also has been the best tackling corner we had...

pretty sure he is also faster then both lewis, hill weddle and probably elam as well, so we  actually get some speed back there.

most likely will have to worry less about all those big plays we gave up last season.....

[hen826957]

We have too many holes this year. CB, OL, DL, LB, now S. Too much for us to overcome this year. Maybe playoffs, but l don't know if we championship material yet maybe next year.

[usmccharles]

7 minutes ago, hen826957 said:

We have too many holes this year. CB, OL, DL, LB, now S. Too much for us to overcome this year. Maybe playoffs, but l don't know if we championship material yet maybe next year.

You never know until its over.  Remember how bad we looked at the end of the season in 12'....then we win the SB.  Things can change pretty quick.  FA isn't even over...draft hasn't even happened....slow your roll man....

[MYTH420]

When I first heard this, I was outraged. He's the best SS we have. I know cutting him would save us 3 million in cap space, but he's worth the money. But then I heard about the 10 game suspension. Now it makes sense. The money you save, for a guy who can only play 6 games, plus it frees up the log jam at he position. I understand why they did it. I like Hill and I hope he does well going forward.

[EdTheMythicalOne]

5 hours ago, RavensBaltimore said:

I don't think he's any smaller or slower than Charles Woodson late in his career, and he was a great safety. Webb also played well at S last year. When healthy, he's a good tackler, has good instincts, and has good hands. I think he'll be a very good Safety.

Charles Woodson is listed as 6'1'' 200lbs. Webb is 5'10'' if his cleats are on a hard floor and 179lbs. He might add a bit more bulk since he's moving. I could see him playing around 185 or 190.

There was another Woodson who actually used to play for the Ravens who was one of the most dynamic corners in the league and return man in the NFL. He then reached his 30's and when he lost a step he became one of the best free safeties to play the game....and that would be former Steeler, 49er, Raven, and Raider Rod Woodson. All he did was lead the league in interceptions at his new position of safety twice in his mid to late 30's and go on to the Hall of Fame.

I am not saying Webb is Woodson, very few players are. But there is a tradition of corners reaching a certain stage of their career and dropping back to safety. Webb's age isn't the issue, but he was clearly ailing from his knee surgeries and a back issue that's sprung up the last couple of years. If he has lost some quickness or agility it is due to injuries and not his age. He does have ball hawking instincts because at one time I thought he was our best corner and when Jimmy Smith finally came into his own I thought we had an amazing tandem in waiting. He's always been a good, fundamentally sound tackler. He doesn't try to blow up people, he instead does his job and tries to tackle them.

[EdTheMythicalOne]

5 minutes ago, MYTH420 said:

When I first heard this, I was outraged. He's the best SS we have. I know cutting him would save us 3 million in cap space, but he's worth the money. But then I heard about the 10 game suspension. Now it makes sense. The money you save, for a guy who can only play 6 games, plus it frees up the log jam at he position. I understand why they did it. I like Hill and I hope he does well going forward.

I don't wish ill on anyone, but I honestly think Will Hill wrote his ticket out of the NFL. This isn't the first time he's been in trouble. It is the fourth. He was suspended 3 times before he got to Baltimore. In fact, we got him on the heels of a suspension. At least one of those suspensions; the first one in fact, was for Adderral which is considered a PED.

Because this is his 4th offense and a 10 game suspension instead of a 1 year one we can deduce that the substance in question was pot thanks to the clever way the NFLPA has outlined its substance abuse policy. If you are in stage three of the program; which we know Hill was, and your first offense while in stage three is for Marijuana...you get a 10 game suspension instead of a 1 year one.

He probably won't sign on with any team in 2016. He's still young enough and potentially good enough to latch on with another team after he keeps himself clean in 2016, but he's gonna be on a real short leash. Teams might not be willing to risk the prospect of losing him for a year if he slips up again. If that does happen he is surely done in the NFL at least.

[J.O.14]

When I first heard this, I was outraged. He's the best SS we have. I know cutting him would save us 3 million in cap space, but he's worth the money. But then I heard about the 10 game suspension. Now it makes sense. The money you save, for a guy who can only play 6 games, plus it frees up the log jam at he position. I understand why they did it. I like Hill and I hope he does well going forward.

I was the same way, I was very confused as to why we were releasing him, and then we found out why. It's a shame the guy can't follow rules, because he is a good football player. I saw people complain that they need to change the marijuana rule, but you know what, its a rule. If you don't follow the rules, there will be consequences. He's one suspension away from being gone for a year, and if you blow a second chance here, there aren't to many organizations that will take you after us.

Webb and Weddle, not a bad combo. Both are very good tacklers, and I think Webb will hold his own. Lewis, Brooks, and Elam are solid backups.

[J.O.14]

We have too many holes this year. CB, OL, DL, LB, now S. Too much for us to overcome this year. Maybe playoffs, but l don't know if we championship material yet maybe next year.

I don't think there are as many holes as you think. DL is pretty solid, but we do need another pass rusher. We will get a solid ILB before the season starts beside Mosely. Why is safety a hole? We have like 10 of them, and Webb and Weddle will be very good IMO. CB isn't as big an issue as many think. Jimmy, Wright, Davis, Arrington can all play, and if it comes down to it, Webb can role down to the slot and Kendrick can come in at safety.

Now OL is a different issue, but I wouldn't call it a hole. We lost a great player, but we have options. Monroe can be a good LT, he just needs to stay healthy. Jensen impressed some towards the end of the year, and can be a nasty run blocker. We have the draft to fill holes, wait until after that to make judgments.

[J.O.14]

Suggs should be next

Why?

[balfan23]

3 hours ago, hen826957 said:

We have too many holes this year. CB, OL, DL, LB, now S. Too much for us to overcome this year. Maybe playoffs, but l don't know if we championship material yet maybe next year.

The loss of Will Hill was straw that broke the camel's back? Look, I think that he was probably our best option at SS, but not by a wide margin. 

FS was our biggest hole and has been since Ed. We've addressed that. Flacco didn't have enough weapons. We addressed that. There is still time to pick up more mid/lower level FAs to patch some of those holes. I also think we pull 2 starters out of the draft - likely at those positions you mention. 

It is all about getting and staying healthy. If Suggs and SSS can return and be effective, if Monroe can play the better part of a season and if Perriman can get out there and show us why we picked him in the 1st round, then I think we are in really good shape. I know that's asking a lot, but it is possible. 

[usmccharles]

12 minutes ago, J.O.14 said:

Why?

because of traffic violations lol.....right

[designermaryland]

Not surprising. I called this as soon as Weddle was signed. Weddle is going to play SS for us, with Webb or Lewis at FS unless they find someone else. If you watch his game highlights, he is on the line of scrimmage a lot, or covering the slot or supporting the run. He is not deep in center field. With the suspension, thankfully they released him before the announcement, as there would probably be some policy about restrictions releasing a player on suspension. Hill was solid, but never great and committed a lot of illegal hits and IMO has a low football IQ. They need more guys who are smart on the field.

[Raven552]

8 hours ago, CQ1 said:

Suggs should be next

Suggs will retire a Raven.  What worries me about him now is he seems to have lost interest in the game.  Maybe being off the field for so long has done that, hopefully once he gets back out there he'll be his hard hitting self again.  I really missed seeing him sack some QB's last year.

[usmccharles]

3 minutes ago, Raven552 said:

Suggs will retire a Raven.  What worries me about him now is he seems to have lost interest in the game.  Maybe being off the field for so long has done that, hopefully once he gets back out there he'll be his hard hitting self again.  I really missed seeing him sack some QB's last year.

That's normal Suggs though, he usually loses motivation during the offseason and he isn't known to be a workout warrior.  Im not worried about his motivation when the season comes around, im more worried about him having his explosion off the line back. 

[DENNYK]

Will never understand why these guys just don't get it. Are they really this ignorant of what the penalty is for drug use? They deserve what they get and should be cut for repeated offenses. They let themselves, the team and the fan base down. To me they deserve no respect or sympathy for their repeated stupidity. Go to work at some place that hires drug addicts. Maybe you can be an All Pro there.

[usmccharles]

6 minutes ago, DENNYK said:

Will never understand why these guys just don't get it. Are they really this ignorant of what the penalty is for drug use? They deserve what they get and should be cut for repeated offenses. They let themselves, the team and the fan base down. To me they deserve no respect or sympathy for their repeated stupidity. Go to work at some place that hires drug addicts. Maybe you can be an All Pro there.

Not saying I advocate drug use, but sometimes its small dumb little mistakes, like certain drugs they didn't know about on the list, etc...Its not an excuse, but its not always so cut and dry.  You act like they're heroin addicts lol

[Crusader]

  2 hours ago, Raven552 said:

Suggs will retire a Raven.  What worries me about him now is he seems to have lost interest in the game.  Maybe being off the field for so long has done that, hopefully once he gets back out there he'll be his hard hitting self again.  I really missed seeing him sack some QB's last year.

That's normal Suggs though, he usually loses motivation during the offseason and he isn't known to be a workout warrior.  Im not worried about his motivation when the season comes around, im more worried about him having his explosion off the line back. 

Fear not SUGGS will be back to his old self. He loves playing the bad guy!

[usmccharles]

1 minute ago, Crusader said:

Fear not SUGGS will be back to his old self. He loves playing the bad guy!

Thats what im thinking.  I just wonder how that injury will affect him. Last time he tore his Achilles he came back a little too soon, at least this time he as plenty of time to recover...

[OriolesMagicPlease]

1 hour ago, usmccharles said:

Not saying I advocate drug use, but sometimes its small dumb little mistakes, like certain drugs they didn't know about on the list, etc...Its not an excuse, but its not always so cut and dry.  You act like they're heroin addicts lol

I'm sorry, but after four "dumb little mistakes" it is your fault and you deserve the consequences.