Category: Ravens Reports

Ravens:
Former overall eight draft pick Rolando McClain passed his physical and will play a 1 year trial period for the Ravens, as they try to sure up their non-existent linebacker core. McClain is no stranger to trouble, and the Ravens are believed to be one of the few teams that can keep him in line, after he was banished from the locker room half way through the season last year.

Ravens:
Flacco is set to portray Johnny Unitas in an upcoming movie about Unitas’ life, according to Baltimore Sun. The Small budget “Unitas We Stand” (Based on Tom Callahan’s best-selling book: “Johnny U: The Life and Times of Johnny Unitas”) plans to use Flacco in the final few scenes of the 23-17 championship game against the New York Giants. A February 2014 release is planned… Ravens continued their purge of disruptive players, releasing Brandon Ayenbadejo… No news yet on the 2013 schedule, although the preseason schedule has been released. The Ravens will play at Tampa for week 1, host Atlanta and Carolina (ESPN) for weeks 2 and 3, and then finish the preseason in St. Louis.

Ravens:
Flacco is no longer the highest over-paid player in the NFL. Tony Romo’s new deal puts him at the top of the list without the hardware to back it up like Flacco… Several NFL players are railing against the new rule on leading with your helmet. Ray Rice is the latest to speak out against the new rule… Ravens resigned Albert McClellan and Arther Jones, while also picking up CB/S Michael Huff from Oakland… Schedule should be out soon, and the Ravens are expected to open on the road, in Denver.

Ravens:
Don’t blame the O’s for the Ravens opening up on the road, probably in Denver or Pittsburgh. Blame Roger Goodall. In all fairness, the O’s had their schedule out first. In a game featuring potentially 2 playoff teams, the O’s host the Chicago White Sox, in what is scheduled as the Sox only trip to Baltimore in 2013, thanks to a new schedule restructuring intent on reducing travel costs. The potential lost revenue for moving that game time could be significant if the O’s shock analyst again and challenge for the division title. Don’t get me wrong. The Orioles could have moved that game, and still profited from it. That’s not the issue. It’s Baseball versus Football at the commissioner’s level. Goodall’s statement that the season could not open up on Wednesday night in Baltimore is petrified bovine fecal matter. The NFL has never strayed away from placing games on religious holidays. They have played on Rosh Hashanah in the past, and have repeatedly put games on Christmas Eve and Christmas night, without hesitation. Mr. Goodall played the playground bully card: It’s my ball, and I’m going home — Whose gonna stop me?

In other news, and probably the biggest Raven free agent news since Flacco, is the signing of Elvis Dumervil. The named I hated hearing all season long, just because it sounded silly, is now they ultimate name on on Defense. Say it with me: Doom-er-ville! All of the sudden, I like the sound of it, and his 11 sacks in 2012.

With the Orioles already schedule to play on the same night as the NFL season would like to kick off in Baltimore, the Ravens could open on the road if an agreement between the NFL and the Orioles cannot be made, reports a Bleacher Report Article. I saw this coming soon after the Ravens won the Super Bowl.

Ravens:
I think the diaspora has finally dissipated. The Offense lacks a go-to receiver, and the defense is in runes… or is it? Pete Prisco on CBS had an interesting article outlining what we lost, and what we have to replace the holes. His summary is that we will be okay, and I feel the same way. We do have money available, and we have pulled in a few lesser free agents, but all in all, the only thing we really need right now is a go-to receiver (I guess we were too quick to trade Q), and McKinnie to sure up the front line, because without that front line, Joe is just average, and not Super Bowl MVP.

Ravens:
With Flacco now the highest paid player in the NFL, the Ravens need to fill in the pieces around him. Next up on the priority list is Ellerbe, who could command significant dollars on the open market, but has expressed his desire to stay in Baltimore. Meanwhile, the Ravens are trying to negotiate a pay cut for Boldin. If unsuccessful, the Ravens would release Boldin, who has already stated his intent to retire if that does happen. The bigger implication is the loss of a “go to” receiver for the Ravens, that is not easily filled. Other free agent news has Cary Williams on the market, Ed Reed still in limbo, and Paul Kruger heading for the exit. Restricted free agents Pitta, Dickson, and Art Jones have been tendered contracts, but if the Ravens want to keep Ellerbe, they will have to do more acrobatics, which may include the release of Vonta Leach, and/or restructuring contracts of big names, like Ngata, Suggs, and Yanda. That is fine and dandy for 2013, but only amplifies future salary cap problems (see the stealers for a prime example).

On Monday, Joe Flacco will sign a long term deal with the Ravens that will make him the highest paid quarterback in the NFL, but if the deal doesn’t include Bryant McKinnie, we won’t get our money’s worth. It was the addition of McKinnie to the O-line at the start of the playoffs that finally gave Joe the time to throw and be the elite quarterback, albeit for 4 games, that he claims he is. Traditionally, the year after a huge contract signing (6 years, $120.6M) is a huge let down. Retiring Ray Lewis and Matt Birk freed up $6M in cap space, but more must be freed to keep us a contender. If Flacco was under a microscope before (Remember, I keep calling him “Average Joe Flacco”), the next several seasons will amplify the magnification on him, as he now tasked with proving he is worth of every dollar now being paid to him.

Ravens:
Well, with Joe Flacco’s head swelled larger than the Good Year Blimp, things are going to be tough next season. The kind of money Joe is asking (over $20M/year, to make him the highest paid QB in the NFL), will put us further into Salary cap hell. Ravens really can’t negotiate with other free agents until Joe is settled, which is supposed to start taking place this weekend. Options are to use the restricted Franchise tag (worth about $14.6M, but other teams could make him an offer, and we would have to match), use the unrestricted franchise tag (worth just over $20M), or sign him to a long term deal. Obviously, the latter is preferred, and I would recommend giving him a ridiculously long contract (8 or 10 years), with a base of $17M this year, which goes up $1M or $2M per year, and tag on a big signing bonus. That would give us wiggle room in the future. There are other complications that can arise, like Flacco protesting the Franchise tag, and having to cut several key players to make salary cap space, but first things first, we need to make “average” Joe, well above average.

Ravens:
I can finally say it! Team of Destiny. 4th and 29: That was the first sign. 70 yard TD to Jacoby Jones with 30 second left in Denver to send the game to overtime: That was the 2nd sign. But now, with the game on the line, the defense kept Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers out of the end zone, and the moniker is official. Team of Destiny. Only 1 team in the playoffs was an underdog, and won. The Ravens did it. Not once. Not twice. But three times they were underdogs, and came out victorious. And if you thought winning the title was remarkable, then came the victory parade! Un-bliev-able hon!

Now, bask in the glory that comes with drafting 32nd in the league, because all hell is about to break loose. It’s what we in the business call “Salary cap hell.” Flacco’s agent is demanding that Joe be paid the highest of any quarterback in the NFL. Joe put all his eggs in one basket, hoping for a big payday at the end of the season, and he is probably going to get it. But at what cost? Joe made $8M in 2012. A Restricted Franchise tag would earn him $14.6M, and an unrestricted franchise tag will earn him almost $20M. Peyton Manning only gets $18M (not including his commercials). With a salary cap of $120+M, Joe figures to make 1/6th of the entire payroll, which doesn’t leave much room for the other 52 guys, and that pinch is going to come soon as key players are going to be cut, or let walk in the coming weeks. Outside analyst put Boldin and Jones as potential candidates to be released from their contracts. Ed Reed is a free agent already rumored to be going to NE, and, the Ravens figure to only be able to keep Kruger, Ellerbe, or Williams on defense. I tried to figure out what will happen, and I got a headache. This is why Ozzie gets paid the big bucks. This is why Ozzie has headaches. This is why our GM is collectively referred to as the Wizard of Oz. Ozzie, go work your magic, because now that we have tasted that sweet success, we want more.