[News] Ravens Outbid Saints For Benjamin Watson

[BR News]

Saints Head Coach Sean Payton said the Ravens are getting a ‘very reliable player’ and ‘one of the best guys.’

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[fusuymada]

I think when Boyle comes back the Ravens will have some decisions to make. You would think that Williams and Gilmore are going to be there, you would think Watson would also be there, but this is where it gets dicey. Will the Ravens have a spot for Boyle when the time comes? He certainly is a developmental player who showed well last year but will their be a roster spot available. Question is, will Boyle go onto the practice squad, will another team take him or will they be wary of his next suspension being for a whole year. Like I said, it will be crazy when that time comes and whether the Ravens are going to keep 4 TEs or let Boyle walk. (or Watson, Williams or Gillmore gets put on IR before Boyle is due to return.)

[verified]

i was just looking at the 2010 draft and I just got remembered how that draft set us back. The patriots traded their pick to dallas right before us and they picked dez in the 1st. In the 2nd the pats picked gronk right before us, then in the 3rd the pats picked aaron hernandez right before us forcing us to go with dennis pitta. if That draft goes our way and we land one of those players we would be a dynasty instead of just a playoff team. I hope ozzie doesnt screw this up

[eze17]

Also, don't forget about Waller, who they want to try out at TE.And technically, Pitta is still on the roster. I think unless someone ends up on IR Boyle would go to the practice squad and if another team wanted to take a gamble, the Raven's would cut their losses. I know Harbaugh seemed pretty mad about Boyle's suspension...

[mc_red23]

2 minutes ago, verified said:

i was just looking at the 2010 draft and I just got remembered how that draft set us back. The patriots traded their pick to dallas right before us and they picked dez in the 1st. In the 2nd the pats picked gronk right before us, then in the 3rd the pats picked aaron hernandez right before us forcing us to go with dennis pitta. if That draft goes our way and we land one of those players we would be a dynasty instead of just a playoff team. I hope ozzie doesnt screw this up

We would have also ended up with a potential murderer if we had been able to draft Hernandez. Not sure how you can be a dynasty with a player less.

[usmccharles]

12 minutes ago, verified said:

i was just looking at the 2010 draft and I just got remembered how that draft set us back. The patriots traded their pick to dallas right before us and they picked dez in the 1st. In the 2nd the pats picked gronk right before us, then in the 3rd the pats picked aaron hernandez right before us forcing us to go with dennis pitta. if That draft goes our way and we land one of those players we would be a dynasty instead of just a playoff team. I hope ozzie doesnt screw this up

You can literally do this about any draft and any player.  It isnt an exact science, mistakes are made, cant hit every pick. 

[ellicottraven]

Watson is our #1 TE followed by Gillmore and Maxx.

[sami]

with the TE's we have plus Waller becoming one I think Watson was a waste of money. I'd rather have Daryl Smith and Courtney Upshaw back.

[Purple Dawg 96]

All the excitement going on over in Bmore the signing of Big Ben, I almost forgot about BMW Big Maxx Williams! Let's do like Drake and get these Super Bowls "Back to Back"! Ozzie and Co are working their butts off in the off season so let's let them enjoy the fruit of their labor while their still ripe! ""Patiently Waiting on a Championship"

[eze17]

with the TE's we have plus Waller becoming one I think Watson was a waste of money. I'd rather have Daryl Smith and Courtney Upshaw back.

O.K...Pitta-probably done, Gillmore-injured, Williams-unproven, Boyle-suspended, Waller-project who has'nt played TE.....Watson-proven veteran, productive, stand-up locker room leader...Flacco loves to dump passes off to his TE's, and we run ALOT of two TE schemes, so signing Watson makes a lot of sense, and not money wasted.

Yes, I would have liked to see D. Smith come back, but we could have signed him regardless of paying Watson...the front office just did'nt seem willing to agree to his price. And while Upshaw was servicable, he was'nt a beast either, which for the money paid the Raven's said see ya.

[steelcityraven]

with the TE's we have plus Waller becoming one I think Watson was a waste of money. I'd rather have Daryl Smith and Courtney Upshaw back.

Hey Sami... I thought the same thing at first... but Maxx is still a year away from hitting peak form. Gilmore is coming off of a shoulder surgery and Boyle is out at least 10 games and may never see the field again? I love the idea of moving Waller to TE but we really don't know how he will fare there. It looks good on paper but Joe really needs that reliable TE to move the chains...if not he locks on to 1 WR too much and becomes too predictable. Ben Watson can be that guy for us... and if the young guys come along... then that is bonus. Upshaw was very one dimensional and too often out of shape and DSmith really seemed to age over night this past season. While he was still productive... I think we like the growth in ABrown?

[usmccharles]

48 minutes ago, sami said:

with the TE's we have plus Waller becoming one I think Watson was a waste of money. I'd rather have Daryl Smith and Courtney Upshaw back.

Dont underestimate the value of veteran presence.  Watson had more yards than all our guys combined im pretty sure, he can still ball

[FloridalovesRavens]

i was just looking at the 2010 draft and I just got remembered how that draft set us back. The patriots traded their pick to dallas right before us and they picked dez in the 1st. In the 2nd the pats picked gronk right before us, then in the 3rd the pats picked aaron hernandez right before us forcing us to go with dennis pitta. if That draft goes our way and we land one of those players we would be a dynasty instead of just a playoff team. I hope ozzie doesnt screw this up

Pitta certainly wasn't a mistake! He had a bad injury otherwise he would still be considered a great pick. Such a shame. I really feel for him.

[billiejean]

i was just looking at the 2010 draft and I just got remembered how that draft set us back. The patriots traded their pick to dallas right before us and they picked dez in the 1st. In the 2nd the pats picked gronk right before us, then in the 3rd the pats picked aaron hernandez right before us forcing us to go with dennis pitta. if That draft goes our way and we land one of those players we would be a dynasty instead of just a playoff team. I hope ozzie doesnt screw this up

The Ravens didn't have Gronk on their board because of injury concerns.

[billiejean]

Watson is our #1 TE followed by Gillmore and Maxx.

I wouldn't be so quick to name him the starter.

[usmccharles]

3 minutes ago, billiejean said:

I wouldn't be so quick to name him the starter.

Why not?  As of now he is 

[Doomville]

pitta needs to retire already. I love him as a player but now he is taking up crucial cap space that ravens can use elsewhere. If he wants to not retire and hope for a chance to play, he needs to restructure his contract because he hasn't contributed much at all after ravens gave him the new contract. This kind of selfishness hurts the entire organization smh

[balfan23]

1 minute ago, Doomville said:

pitta needs to retire already. I love him as a player but now he is taking up crucial cap space that ravens can use elsewhere. If he wants to not retire and hope for a chance to play, he needs to restructure his contract because he hasn't contributed much at all after ravens gave him the new contract. This kind of selfishness hurts the entire organization smh

Understand that he won't be doing the team any favors by retiring. It is the same impact to our cap as if we simply cut him. Restructuring is only an option for us if we believe he can actually play. If he can, then we'll explore how to minimize his hit. If he can't (which is what I suspect the organization thinks is the case) we'll cut him. More than likely, it will be post-June 1. 

None of this has anything to do with selfishness

[stixfix69]

I just think Watson was a insurance policy, because they thought Gilmore had to have surgery on both shoulders, yet only needed it on one, and should be ready for camp....Because Gilmore and Maxx would have been a very solid 1-2 punch, with Waller learning the ropes as a TE....JMO....

[billiejean]

23 minutes ago, usmccharles said:

27 minutes ago, billiejean said:

I wouldn't be so quick to name him the starter.

Why not?  As of now he is 

I am hoping one of the young guys can beat him out. On paper Maxx and Gilmore possess much better measurable than Watson has. I understand that is just on paper and you can't really quantify a veterans savy but I hope one of those guys can step up.  And you are right as of right now Watson is the starter.  Its probably just wishful thinking.

Edited March 29, 2016 by billiejean

[verified]

  3 hours ago, verified said:

i was just looking at the 2010 draft and I just got remembered how that draft set us back. The patriots traded their pick to dallas right before us and they picked dez in the 1st. In the 2nd the pats picked gronk right before us, then in the 3rd the pats picked aaron hernandez right before us forcing us to go with dennis pitta. if That draft goes our way and we land one of those players we would be a dynasty instead of just a playoff team. I hope ozzie doesnt screw this up

The Ravens didn't have Gronk on their board because of injury concerns.

sounds like another reason why we are a playoff team and not title contenders year in and year out, thanks ozzie

[JimmyBlack]

  2 hours ago, billiejean said:

I wouldn't be so quick to name him the starter.

Why not?  As of now he is 

Watson will be the check-down receiver that Flacco needs on 3rd down and will be invaluable in the red zone.

[JimmyBlack]

I just think Watson was a insurance policy, because they thought Gilmore had to have surgery on both shoulders, yet only needed it on one, and should be ready for camp....Because Gilmore and Maxx would have been a very solid 1-2 punch, with Waller learning the ropes as a TE....JMO....

Watson is a veteran who knows how to get open.

[whobilly]

Boldin visiting the Redskins. Maybe he'll drive up I-95 a bit and we can get him for the right price. For the "right price" I would not minding having a winner like Q back for a year or two. Last season 69 catches for over 1,000 yards.

[stixfix69]

  2 hours ago, stixfix69 said:

I just think Watson was a insurance policy, because they thought Gilmore had to have surgery on both shoulders, yet only needed it on one, and should be ready for camp....Because Gilmore and Maxx would have been a very solid 1-2 punch, with Waller learning the ropes as a TE....JMO....

Watson is a veteran who knows how to get open.

yes, but Gilmore and Maxx showed they could as well, and really want those guys to continue to develop....Flacco had a ton of trust in Gilmore....

[mearzunkies]

Boldin visiting the Redskins. Maybe he'll drive up I-95 a bit and we can get him for the right price. For the "right price" I would not minding having a winner like Q back for a year or two. Last season 69 catches for over 1,000 yards.

i agree Q would be good for the right "PRICE".

[mearzunkies]

  2 hours ago, billiejean said:

  5 hours ago, verified said:

i was just looking at the 2010 draft and I just got remembered how that draft set us back. The patriots traded their pick to dallas right before us and they picked dez in the 1st. In the 2nd the pats picked gronk right before us, then in the 3rd the pats picked aaron hernandez right before us forcing us to go with dennis pitta. if That draft goes our way and we land one of those players we would be a dynasty instead of just a playoff team. I hope ozzie doesnt screw this up

The Ravens didn't have Gronk on their board because of injury concerns.

sounds like another reason why we are a playoff team and not title contenders year in and year out, thanks ozzie

LOL Even with Gronk the Pats still do not want to see us on THEIR home.

[ellicottraven]

4 hours ago, billiejean said:

I wouldn't be so quick to name him the starter.

Sure I would. Worst case, I would be wrong. So, what else is new?

[usmccharles]

4 hours ago, verified said:

sounds like another reason why we are a playoff team and not title contenders year in and year out, thanks ozzie

Last I checked, we have the the same amount of superbowls as they do since they have had gronk,  nice try though 

[Fastynart]

Ok, Watson is a good player, BUT how many tight ends do we need? Glaring holes at linebacker, defensive back, and pass rusher takes precedent over another tight end. The guy will be a contributor, no doubt, but if we don't bolster the defense with some real players, not pretenders like Elam, and Arthur Brown, it won't matter.