[News] Late For Work 9/6: Keep Calm And Trust Ozzie Newsome

[BR News]

Josh Johnson lands a job with the Giants. Victor Ochi failed his physical and wasn’t signed by the Jets after all. Ronnie Stanley was named to Mel Kiper's preseason All-Rookie team. Benjamin Watson praised for his post on Colin Kaepernick and the National Anthem.

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[jboy19]

Guessing nobody won the Pick the Roster contest then

[Space11jams]

Guessing nobody won the Pick the Roster contest then

haha right

[Space11jams]

ozzie is a freaking mad scientist lol

[RaRaRavens]

Does anyone know if our practice squad is full? I mean, if Ochi is still available why not sign him? Or is he looking for a place with better chances of making the team?

[Purple Dawg 96]

Didn't ruffle any feathers over here I took it all in stride! Got a laugh hearing my squeeler buddies get happy and sad about Justin Lol! I knew it was business and not personal and like I said before if Justin wants a Ring he will be back! "The Perfect Season"!

[stixfix69]

Didn't ruffle any feathers over here I took it all in stride! Got a laugh hearing my squeeler buddies get happy and sad about Justin Lol! I knew it was business and not personal and like I said before if Justin wants a Ring he will be back! "The Perfect Season"!

Just ask your Steelers buds, how Bud Dupree and Gholston are doing...:)

[ravgo52]

Mr. Ozzy Newsome, the Einstein of football!

[757RavensFan]

6 minutes ago, RaRaRavens said:

Does anyone know if our practice squad is full? I mean, if Ochi is still available why not sign him? Or is he looking for a place with better chances of making the team?

I think there's one open spot left.  I could be wrong.  I know we brought in another QB, can't remember his name.  From what I read, Ochi decided to go w/ another team with not as much depth at his position. 

[January J]

It all makes perfect sense now.

And for everybody thinking this was $$ related looks like you were wrong. Not only that but for Justin's show of faith an extra 100k of incentives were added. Talk about a win-win

[Mad Scientist Too]

Ben Watson is a real class act.

[jboy19]

4 minutes ago, 757RavensFan said:

I think there's one open spot left.  I could be wrong.  I know we brought in another QB, can't remember his name.  From what I read, Ochi decided to go w/ another team with not as much depth at his position. 

Yeah I think everyone is saying that he's signing with the Jets when he's healthy

[757RavensFan]

2 hours ago, January J said:

It all makes perfect sense now.

And for everybody thinking this was $$ related looks like you were wrong. Not only that but for Justin's show of faith an extra 100k of incentives were added. Talk about a win-win

Agreed to a "wink and nod" release and got more money in the process.  Loyalty sometimes pays.  

[Bat-mite]

For every rule, there is a way around it. I tell you, folks, if Ozzie looks like he's lost his mind and making crazy decisions, then there is something else going on. I will try to remember this next year. ;)

[ravgo52]

Ben Watson is a real class act.

Yessir, hats off to Mr. Ben Watson! Excellent statement!

[stixfix69]

I had high hopes for Julian Wilson, was crushed when he went on IR last year before camp even started, he has great size for a CB, and i was hoping he would be one we brought back on the PS.....

[Fastynart]

This Trust Ozzie stuff is tantamount to saying he never makes mistakes. He has made plenty of late with the Ravens high draft picks. The only one he hasn't owned up to yet is Elam. Elam stinks, just like the recently departed Arthur Brown, and Terrence Brooks. Does anyone not remember the infamous Sergio Kindle? It is ok to be wrong.....occasionally, but to be wrong with your first draft pick is a disaster that should not happen. God only knows what possessed him to take Elam. One has a lot more credibility when pointing out both good and bad than one does by simply going Rah Rah to every move. Ozzie has done some great work, but he is human, and has flubbed some important choices as well. A truthful article would note that.

[RavenROC]

Butler tho...

[bioLarzen]

I think this maneuvre of Ozzie's will become more and more common in the future. It's a totally logical move exploiting a kind of "loophole" in the rules. There's nothing illegal or malevolent in the move, it hurt no-one and no-one's interests. It only requires a GM and player trusting each other enough.

[bioLarzen]

  23 minutes ago, 757RavensFan said:

I think there's one open spot left.  I could be wrong.  I know we brought in another QB, can't remember his name.  From what I read, Ochi decided to go w/ another team with not as much depth at his position. 

Yeah I think everyone is saying that he's signing with the Jets when he's healthy

Almost surely. Ochi is not coming back, as his camp doesn't see real chance of ever getting near real playing time any time soon in Baltimore with the overcrowded position we have. He is probably right.

[bioLarzen]

Guessing nobody won the Pick the Roster contest then

Ozzie did ;)

[stixfix69]

Oz has more than made up with some bad first round picks with gems in the 3rd,4th,5th rounds over the years......One thing Oz hasn't been terribly burned with, that other teams have is giving players contracts that really aren't worthy....Everyone knows the draft is a gamble, but players like Kindle, AB,Elam might have been misses, but they never took us to the bank.....And where we have picked in the first and 2nd rounds over the years which is closer to the bottom of the draft than middle or top isn't like picking in the top 10, like this year, and it looks like Stanley will be as advertised.....Oz is still the man in my book.....

[budman]

Just now, bioLarzen said:

I think this maneuvre of Ozzie's will become more and more common in the future. It's a totally logical move exploiting a kind of "loophole" in the rules. There's nothing illegal or malevolent in the move, it hurt no-one and no-one's interests. It only requires a GM and player trusting each other enough.

What Ozzie did was very smart. Funny, because even early yesterday, people were saying how he has "lost it", washed up, has been for a couple of years.The question to them is  how do you like him now?

[20306cab]

Guessing nobody won the Pick the Roster contest then

Whoever's closest wins. I'm pretty sure it was me. I just don't understand the Hester deal. Why pay an old, 33, injured, one trick pony up to $4 mil. And cut a younger, 25, considerably cheaper, (300,000?) guy who lead the team in PS receiving. Who can also play WR, be in the mix to return Ps and KOs and be a strong ST performer. Must be something we don't know about.

[ravgo52]

2 hours ago, Fastynart said:

This Trust Ozzie stuff is tantamount to saying he never makes mistakes. He has made plenty of late with the Ravens high draft picks. The only one he hasn't owned up to yet is Elam. Elam stinks, just like the recently departed Arthur Brown, and Terrence Brooks. Does anyone not remember the infamous Sergio Kindle? It is ok to be wrong.....occasionally, but to be wrong with your first draft pick is a disaster that should not happen. God only knows what possessed him to take Elam. One has a lot more credibility when pointing out both good and bad than one does by simply going Rah Rah to every move. Ozzie has done some great work, but he is human, and has flubbed some important choices as well. A truthful article would note that.

Ozzy may not know everything, but he sure knows more than enough to get the job done!

[Ravenous_Ravens]

  12 minutes ago, bioLarzen said:

I think this maneuvre of Ozzie's will become more and more common in the future. It's a totally logical move exploiting a kind of "loophole" in the rules. There's nothing illegal or malevolent in the move, it hurt no-one and no-one's interests. It only requires a GM and player trusting each other enough.

What Ozzie did was very smart. Funny, because even early yesterday, people were saying how he has "lost it", washed up, has been for a couple of years.The question to them is  how do you like him now?

I do not change my stance for the obvious reason Elam to IR was really a wasted designation. They cut Brooks because he was not going to contribute the way they needed and Elam was not playing that much better. Now Ozzie is basically counting on Elam recovering before the end of the year, be able to contribute and elevate his play. Sounds far fetched to me. Elam is only on contract to the end of this season. Coming back from injury and not losing any step or ability etc is difficult when he wasn't really at his potential to begin with.

Yes it was a nice little slight of hand, but what did he really gain? Carl Davis presumably has more chance to come off IR at some point this season.

[Ravenous_Ravens]

Oz has more than made up with some bad first round picks with gems in the 3rd,4th,5th rounds over the years......One thing Oz hasn't been terribly burned with, that other teams have is giving players contracts that really aren't worthy....Everyone knows the draft is a gamble, but players like Kindle, AB,Elam might have been misses, but they never took us to the bank.....And where we have picked in the first and 2nd rounds over the years which is closer to the bottom of the draft than middle or top isn't like picking in the top 10, like this year, and it looks like Stanley will be as advertised.....Oz is still the man in my book.....

Ozzie has been taken to the cleaners on contracts. Did you forget Ngata's contract? Webb's contract? Pitta's contract? J Smith's contract? Only recently has he really learned and made more team reasonable contracts, with better injury terms. A lot of those contracts ensured the team was too tight capwise when it was badly needed and as a result saw some key players leave for greener pastures.

Saying not getting burn on rookie contracts is like being excited you didn't fall and wipe out learning to ride your bike, WITH TRAINIGN WHEELS. The new CBA dictates what players are to be paid for the majority of players drafted, so they basically just follow the rules.

[757RavensFan]

Ozzie is playing chess not checkers.  

[iluvpurple]

Yep, speaking for myself, I still need that occasional reminder to "Stay Calm, and Trust Ozzie"...... BTW, is there a t-shirt I can buy that has this on it, lol ??! ????

[rmcjacket23]

11 minutes ago, Ravenous_Ravens said:

24 minutes ago, stixfix69 said:

Oz has more than made up with some bad first round picks with gems in the 3rd,4th,5th rounds over the years......One thing Oz hasn't been terribly burned with, that other teams have is giving players contracts that really aren't worthy....Everyone knows the draft is a gamble, but players like Kindle, AB,Elam might have been misses, but they never took us to the bank.....And where we have picked in the first and 2nd rounds over the years which is closer to the bottom of the draft than middle or top isn't like picking in the top 10, like this year, and it looks like Stanley will be as advertised.....Oz is still the man in my book.....

Ozzie has been taken to the cleaners on contracts. Did you forget Ngata's contract? Webb's contract? Pitta's contract? J Smith's contract? Only recently has he really learned and made more team reasonable contracts, with better injury terms. A lot of those contracts ensured the team was too tight capwise when it was badly needed and as a result saw some key players leave for greener pastures.

Saying not getting burn on rookie contracts is like being excited you didn't fall and wipe out learning to ride your bike, WITH TRAINIGN WHEELS. The new CBA dictates what players are to be paid for the majority of players drafted, so they basically just follow the rules.

LOL, no...

1. Nothing wrong with Ngata's contract at all. We got pretty good value for it, and he played longer on it than I suspected he would. You paid market value for a player that commands market value, and 100% of the fanbase was behind the contract when it was signed.

The only reason people complained about it (in hindsight, which is the theme of your post) is because fans learned how NFL contracts worked, and how signing bonuses are structured. Once fans figured out what "dead money" is and how contracts worked, they quickly figured out that you can't pay top dollar to players and not have back end consequences against the cap.

2. Webb's contract is pretty much the same mold, only he got injured after it. 100% supported by the fanbase at signing, and only, again, after hindsight analysis, are people unhappy with it.

3. Pitta's deal was suspect I agree, though I would have loved to have seen what the fanbases reaction to the FO was if they had let Boldin and Pitta walk in back to back seasons. I think the criticism would have exceeded the backlash they get now for it.

4. Have no issue with Jimmy's contract. If you want a CB of his caliber, that's the price you pay.

The sad thing in your post, besides the irrelevant hindsight analysis that is an extremely lazy approach to analysis, is you didn't even pick the correct contracts to complain about.

Also, the injury terms on these deals haven't changed. They're the same type of deals we've been doing for over a decade.

I would also like to point out one more thing... I find it quite convenient and odd that fans just ignore the fact that players outperform their rookie contracts by a wide margin in these instances and the franchise and fans reap the benefits of it, yet fans only care about when the contract seems to outperform the production.

I mean I guess people just ignore that we paid Ngata $12.65M TOTAL for the first five years he was here, when he was worth probably 3-4 times that.

I guess those details just get lost in the shuffle when the hindsight analysis isn't thorough enough...

SMH.

Edited September 6, 2016 by rmcjacket23