Ravens Should Retire Jersey Numbers

[Samari]

I've noticed that the Ravens are one of the few franchises that don't retire numbers, but do the whole "unofficial retirement" where they don't reissue numbers and have the Ring of Honor.

The Ring of Honor is cool and all, but I think we should retire jersey numbers (unless we want to be like the Cowboys, Bengals, or Steelers) to truly honor the Ravens greats. Start with JO, and periodically do McCrary, Boulware, and CMac once he retires.

What do you guys think? Agree that we should have retired jerseys?

[20ReedsAll]

As of right this moment, only J.O. should get his jersey number retired. McAllister is one of my favorite players, but he shouldn't ever get his number retired. The only other possibility is Ray Ray.

[theFRANCHISE]

We'll have retired numbers eventually.

Jonathan Ogden's will go first just by virtue of being the first surefire Hall-of-Famer to retire from the team. Rod Woodson doesn't count even though he'll be inducted this coming year, since he didn't spend many years as a Raven, so his number likely won't be retired.

My list so far, ordered by how soon they numbers will be retired:
1) Jonathan Ogden
2) Ray Lewis
3) Matt Stover
4) Peter Boulware

The rest are up in the air. And even though we know that Ed Reed's number will likely be retired at some point, I don't want to speculate on that yet since he (hopefully) still has many years ahead of him before we reach that point. Ray Lewis, meanwhile, is likely to retire in the next couple of years, as will Matt Stover, so their inclusion on my list is more timely.

I don't think McCrary's number will be retired; he played well for the Ravens, but Boulware has a great chance since Boulware was a Raven his entire career (McCrary came as a free agent), and Boulware's franchise sack record still stands. Also, Boulware was drafted a year after the Ravens' first season of play, so he had been around since practically the beginning of the new franchise.

[darklight1216]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='154587' date='Feb 16 2009, 11:38 PM']We'll have retired numbers eventually.

Jonathan Ogden's will go first just by virtue of being the first surefire Hall-of-Famer to retire from the team. Rod Woodson doesn't count even though he'll be inducted this coming year, since he didn't spend many years as a Raven, so his number likely won't be retired.

My list so far, ordered by how soon they numbers will be retired:
1) Jonathan Ogden
2) Ray Lewis
3) Matt Stover
4) Peter Boulware

The rest are up in the air. And even though we know that Ed Reed's number will likely be retired at some point, I don't want to speculate on that yet since he (hopefully) still has many years ahead of him before we reach that point. Ray Lewis, meanwhile, is likely to retire in the next couple of years, as will Matt Stover, so their inclusion on my list is more timely.[/quote]

I agree with what you said, except I don't know who this Boulware person is.

I had totally forgotten Matt Stover until you mentioned him. He's the last active player from the original Browns and the only Raven who's been here from the beginning. I hope he keeps playing for a few more years.

[BmoreLAT52]

You dont know who Boulware is? Are you serious? Thats like a squealer fan saying they dont know who Lambert is

[Tonymontana45]

^^^^^^
totally true, how do you not know Peter, anyway on topic, I agree Ray, Matt, and J.O. need to have there jersey's retired

[codizzle]

[quote name='darklight1216' post='154593' date='Feb 16 2009, 10:45 PM']I agree with what you said, except I don't know who this Boulware person is.

I had totally forgotten Matt Stover until you mentioned him. He's the last active player from the original Browns and the only Raven who's been here from the beginning. I hope he keeps playing for a few more years.[/quote]
please tell me ur like 10 and just became a ravens fan.... peter boulware is one of the most complete lb's i have ever seen. he had the total package

[Chi_Town_Raven]

Im 13, and I knew when I was 5! (Okay, not really, I just knew his name back then )

[kze]

[quote name='darklight1216' post='154593' date='Feb 17 2009, 05:45 AM']I agree with what you said, except I don't know who this Boulware person is.

I had totally forgotten Matt Stover until you mentioned him. He's the last active player from the original Browns and the only Raven who's been here from the beginning. I hope he keeps playing for a few more years.[/quote]


I'm sorry, your opinion really means slim to none if you do not know who Boulware is.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='darklight1216' post='154593' date='Feb 16 2009, 11:45 PM']I agree with what you said, except I don't know who this Boulware person is.[/quote]
Here's a [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Vtf3-EyHoA"]little something[/url] to help you out with that.

[Marc2k6]

You only retire Jersey Number for very very special players like J.O., Lewis or a Stover. Some of the players name were great player but not worth jersey number retirement. Sorry C-Mac will not have his jersey number retired. Plus the Raven's have only been around since 1996 so we have plenty of time!

[b-morebrotha]

[quote name='kze' post='154676' date='Feb 17 2009, 07:34 AM']I'm sorry, your opinion really means slim to none if you do not know who Boulware is. [/quote]


He's 13! Give the kid a break geez at least he is a adament ravens follower now.

I'm proud of the kid. I hope my kid gets on here 11 yrs from now, to post his opinions on the ravens.

[darklight1216]

[quote name='codizzle' post='154635' date='Feb 17 2009, 01:45 AM']please tell me ur like 10 and just became a ravens fan.... peter boulware is one of the most complete lb's i have ever seen. he had the total package[/quote]

I'm not ten, but I am a new fan. Do I get partial credit?


[quote name='kze' post='154676' date='Feb 17 2009, 07:34 AM']I'm sorry, your opinion really means slim to none if you do not know who Boulware is. [/quote]

Gee thanks. That hurts you know, I thought my opinion was important.

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='154678' date='Feb 17 2009, 08:08 AM']Here's a [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Vtf3-EyHoA"]little something[/url] to help you out with that.[/quote]

Thanks

[McBoller]

gotta be careful retiring too many numbers. with 53 players and only 99 numbers, you cant retire too many numbers, lol.

[neepo13]

I am not a fan of retiring numbers because at some point, your going to run out of numbers if you retire the number of every great or HOF player that ever spent a great deal of his career with the organization. The only number I think we should retire is J.O.'s. He's was our first ever draft pick and he will be our first ever first ballot HOFer that was drafted by us. Essentially, this organization started with him.

[Chi_Town_Raven]

[quote name='McBoller' post='154695' date='Feb 17 2009, 10:02 AM']gotta be careful retiring too many numbers. with 53 players and only 99 numbers, you cant retire too many numbers, lol.[/quote]
And the fact that you can only choose certain numbers makes it even worse.

[Marc2k6]

[quote name='neepo13' post='154698' date='Feb 17 2009, 10:19 AM']I am not a fan of retiring numbers because at some point, your going to run out of numbers if you retire the number of every great or HOF player that ever spent a great deal of his career with the organization. The only number I think we should retire is J.O.'s. He's was our first ever draft pick and he will be our first ever first ballot HOFer that was drafted by us. Essentially, this organization started with him.[/quote]

I agree, he was the 1st pick and he played until he retired here in B-More! He should be the first to have his Jersey retired.

[Shawn`]

Cmac is great and all since he's been on the 2000 team but that doesn't mean he should get his jersey retired. Only future hall of famers should.

Curently Ray and Ogden.

[Whole-Gash]

We should retire one offensive player and one defensive player: JO and Ray Lewis of course. 75 and 52. You could possibly make exceptions for especially special players like Ed Reed and maybe (big maybe here because he's only had one year) Joe Flacco if he has an unbelievable career.

As McBoller said, you have to be careful this isn't baseball where you have 99 numbers and 25 players.

[Samari]

I see what you guys mean about retiring too many numbers, but we should retire the great Ravens.

I figured McCrary would be retired since he was inducted in the ring of honor, but I agree that the locks should be Stover, Ray, Boulware, and JO.

I still think CMac should be retired simply because he was so good for us for so long and continually made our D great. Maybe not, I guess.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='Samari' post='154792' date='Feb 17 2009, 02:20 PM']I still think CMac should be retired simply because he was so good for us for so long and continually made our D great. Maybe not, I guess.[/quote]
We had almost the same production from Duane Starks before Chris McAlister became the team's #1 corner. So, even though McAlister played extremely well, it won't be enough to have his number retired.

[btully27]

Agree w/Ray & JO getting their #s retired because it wouldnt be the same seeing another player running out of the tunnel wearing the 75 or 52.........but i would also add 19-Unitas, 89-Marchetti, 70-Donavan,& 24-Lenny Moore just because of all they did for the city of Baltimore

[neepo13]

[quote name='Samari' post='154792' date='Feb 17 2009, 02:20 PM']I see what you guys mean about retiring too many numbers, but we should retire the great Ravens.

I figured McCrary would be retired since he was inducted in the ring of honor, but I agree that the locks should be Stover, Ray, Boulware, and JO.

I still think CMac should be retired simply because he was so good for us for so long and continually made our D great. Maybe not, I guess.[/quote]

Thats the problem. Thats 4 guys, possibly 5 if you add in Reed and the organization isnt even 15 years old yet. I'd like to think that ever decade we'd be able to have 4 or 5 great players play for us. What happens when the organization is 30, 40, or 50 years old? Eventually, your going to be repeating numbers during training camp when you got 80+ guys in here instead of 53.

[Bltravens]

I dont think you flat out retire the numbers, but having the "honored number" where its set up as a retired number with the jersey and the players name on display. But you still have players wearing the number on the field. What better way to show respect to the player than to have his number continually on the field (after its honored of course).

[K-Dog]

Ogden and Lewis.
I would be very tempted to add Bulware and Stover, but I dont want to run out of numbers.

It would be embarassing to see our team running around with desicimal points on their jerzeys...

[McBoller]

right now I would say ray and JO only. It would be REALLY hard to retire a kicker's number because of the few numbers they have to pick from, expecially since Flacco's number could be a kicker number as well.

[tctony]

Kickers can wear any numher a QB can.

The way it is now: No Raven will ever wear #19. Nobody will wear #75 again. If Ray retires here, nobody will wear #52 again. And if Reed retires here, no #20. And if Suggs keeps it up, and retires here, no #55.

The thing with Boulware, is that even though he was so dominant...I don't know if he is a HOFer. He was great, no doubt. One of the best in Raven's history thus far, but I don't know about retiring the number.

Also, Stover has been pretty crucial in our success over the our entire history..

[Ed_Reed20]

The Ravens haven't been around long enough to retire #s. Eventually, Ray, J.O. and maybe Stover will have their #s retired. If Ed Reed can overcome this injury and play several more years, he should have his number retired too.

[PocketSize]

[quote name='K-Dog' post='155065' date='Feb 17 2009, 08:43 PM']Ogden and Lewis.
I would be very tempted to add Bulware and Stover, but I dont want to run out of numbers.

It would be embarassing to see our team running around with desicimal points on their jerzeys... [/quote]

No way. Any player with pi on his jersey would instantly become my favorite

In fact, where's the management? Have them write that down for when Stover retires. Heehee...

[Ravnet]

I don't like the idea of retiring numbers unless the player is truly elite; to talk of hanging up CMac's number is a joke, in my opinion. I realize that we're not the Yankees, but New York went crazy and started honoring guys like Phil Rizzuto, who was a great player, but not even in the same universe as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, or Lou Gehrig.

Ogden, Reed, Modell and Ray obviously qualify, but McCray? Come on...

Edit - I forgot Stover. I'm not sure I'd put him in, but he definitely deserves a "nomination."

Double edit - Hell, Stover definitely deserves a retired number; I wouldn't be surprised if we do not come across another kicker like Matt for a few decades.