The last thing you would think about doing if you are the Super Bowl Champions is trying to change too much. However, that just seems to be the cards that the Ravens are dealt with... or playing?
Baltimore's off-season has been mostly about losing players after their Super Bowl win in February. They have lost Ray Lewis to retirement and two other linebackers to other teams, Anquan Boldin in a trade to the 49ers for a 6th round pick, and other notable starters along the way. Ed Reed's days in Baltimore also look like they are over as he's getting looks from other teams like the Texans.
The only thing that they have been able to do is keep Joe Flacco with a 6 year $120 million plus contract to eat up a lot of cap space.
Despite all of this, the PR department known as John Harbaugh has spun it the best way he can. "The worst mistake you can make is trying to hold a team together," Harbaugh said in an interview. "It's impossible." He also cited Bo Schembechler's (the late family friend) advice of "if you try to stay the same you end up getting worse."
Full article at http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9066834/john-harbaugh-baltimore-ravens-roster-change-part-nfl
An interesting question gets raised by all this: Is all this "change" better for the team/John Harbaugh long term? Also, is it best to break up a Super Bowl team rather than try and keep it together nowadays?
I'm not sure anyone can ever answer the second question perfectly but the first one seems to be a yes. The Ravens team that won it all was old and heading down the other side of the hill anyway. They certainly made a great postseason push with a deer antler charged Ray Lewis leading the pack. But now with the Ray Lewis era is over in Baltimore, the Ravens took it as a sign to start a new era with some different players.
While they did lose players in their prime, they also let aged veterans go like Ed Reed (34) and Anquan Boldin (32). Keeping them would've been too hard with the cap restrictions what they are and even if they had managed to do so, they might only be productive for a couple more seasons. (I must reiterate that I still like that the 49ers got Boldin).
The next couple of the years for the Ravens will have them trying to return to contender status. But don't despair, Baltimore. They weren't predominantly seen as contenders last season. As you all have seen, anything can happen once you get into the postseason and with a quarterback like Joe, getting to January is always a possibility.
P.S. Now my best shot at answering the 2nd question: I'm leaning towards saying yes. Just look at the Super Bowl winners over the past decade or so. Except for the Pats about ten years ago, there have been no repeat winners. It's not that Super Bowl teams haven't been contenders the season after they've won it. It's just that the path to the Super Bowl nowadays is too chaotic to navigate and predict.
Lately, it hasn't been what are considered the great teams that end up winning the Super Bowl. The last three winners have just been teams that have gotten hot at exactly the right time.
Also, of the teams that have won it multiple times over the past ten years, the common denominator is that they had great quarterbacks. The Pats have Brady, the Steelers have Ben, and the Giants have Peyton's younger brother. By that logic, the Ravens think they are set for the foreseeable future seeing how well Joe Flacco performed this past postseason.
With quarterback being the far and away clear centerpiece of a team today, everything else is interchangeable. Just look at how Bill Belichick and the Patriots deal with players not named Brady. He casually let's players go or trades them the instant he thinks their ability will tank. He then manages to find suitable enough replacements (not always the best) and gems in the draft to keep the team afloat.
While they haven't been able to close the deal since February of 2005, the Pats have been in the playoff hunt every season except for two since their first Super Bowl title at the end of the 2001 season.
Unless you have a great defense, a great quarterback, and a lot of luck, there are no dynasty's anymore in the NFL. Talent level is pretty well spread out in the league, even at the quarterback position. That's right, even at QB.
Let's name the QB's that have been good enough to lead a team to the Super Bowl: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Peyton's younger brother, Joe Flacco, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Ben Roethlisberger. Now quarterback's that possibly join the list above as soon as next season? Colin Kaepernick (HA!!!), Matt Ryan, and Matt Schaub (bit of a stretch).
Now quarterbacks that are just good enough to get their team to the postseason at the present time: Tony Romo, Jay Cutler, Matthew Stafford, Robert Griffin III, Russell Wilson, and Andrew Luck.
If the standard nowadays is just getting into the postseason while hoping your team is peaking at the right time, I count 16 quarterbacks that are eligible for the job. That's not even counting quarterbacks that have potential to become that or those that have faded away.
If that's the case, it's about finding the right parts for your ever changing team year after year. You can't have too many star players on your team too long because of that pesky salary cap and winning a Super Bowl just has everyone able to renegotiate at that time chirping for more money. It's today's NFL and it's what champions now have to do to remain in contention.
P.P.S. Is my P.S. longer my than original post?
Showing posts with label Joe Flacco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joe Flacco. Show all posts
Monday, March 18, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
49ers Getting Anquan Boldin? (STILL NOT PICKING THEM!!!)
I love it when an owner and player have a contract dispute... at least when it's on other teams.
There were plenty of reasons why the Ravens overpowered the 49ers in the 1st half of their Super Bowl victory. One of those reasons was Anquan Boldin. Six catches for 104 receiving yards and one touchdown to start the scoring off. Even though he had left Arizona, he was still a pain in our butt.
Now it seems like he will be a pain in our opponents behind.
A trade agreement between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers now sends Anquan Boldin our way as first reported by the Baltimore Sun. In exchange, the 49ers will give the Ravens a 6th round draft pick for the 32 year old receiver. Baltimore had asked Boldin to take a large pay cut with Anquan refusing to do so and Joe Flacco backing him up. It's likely the contract dispute is what lead up to this trade.
49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick seemed excited by the trade when he talked to ESPN.
"If it's true, it's a great trade," Kaepernick said. "We're happy to have him. Having a play maker like that at receiver is something you always want. It's another weapon for our offense and our team."
This is a great get for the 49ers as they are clearly trying to make a large effort to improve their passing game. Getting Anquan Boldin is a good fit for the team as he will be a solid receiver along Michael Crabtree and TE Vernon Davis. He's also a different kind of receiver than Randy Moss is which is a slot receiver which will work nicely along the demands of the team.
On top of that, the 49ers didn't have to waste too much to get him. They traded a meager 6th round pick to get Boldin and still have 14 picks in the upcoming draft. The whole thing seems like a no brainer.
P.S. I'm still not picking the 49ers as the Super Bowl favorite in 2013. Not now, not ever.
There were plenty of reasons why the Ravens overpowered the 49ers in the 1st half of their Super Bowl victory. One of those reasons was Anquan Boldin. Six catches for 104 receiving yards and one touchdown to start the scoring off. Even though he had left Arizona, he was still a pain in our butt.
Now it seems like he will be a pain in our opponents behind.
A trade agreement between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers now sends Anquan Boldin our way as first reported by the Baltimore Sun. In exchange, the 49ers will give the Ravens a 6th round draft pick for the 32 year old receiver. Baltimore had asked Boldin to take a large pay cut with Anquan refusing to do so and Joe Flacco backing him up. It's likely the contract dispute is what lead up to this trade.
49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick seemed excited by the trade when he talked to ESPN.
"If it's true, it's a great trade," Kaepernick said. "We're happy to have him. Having a play maker like that at receiver is something you always want. It's another weapon for our offense and our team."
This is a great get for the 49ers as they are clearly trying to make a large effort to improve their passing game. Getting Anquan Boldin is a good fit for the team as he will be a solid receiver along Michael Crabtree and TE Vernon Davis. He's also a different kind of receiver than Randy Moss is which is a slot receiver which will work nicely along the demands of the team.
On top of that, the 49ers didn't have to waste too much to get him. They traded a meager 6th round pick to get Boldin and still have 14 picks in the upcoming draft. The whole thing seems like a no brainer.
P.S. I'm still not picking the 49ers as the Super Bowl favorite in 2013. Not now, not ever.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Baltimore Holds On for Super Bowl Win 34-31
So close and yet so far.
The Baltimore Ravens managed to hold off the surging San Francisco 49ers by a final of 34-31. Colin Kaepernick lead the 49ers down field for one last shot in the end zone with under two minutes remaining and failed to convert a 4th goal pass intended for Michael Crabtree in the back corner of the end zone.
“I think that last drive when we got the ball and had time to go down and score a touchdown, we thought it was our game,” Kaepernick said afterwards.
The Ravens then killed all but 4 seconds of the clock with the subsequent drive ending in a safety in which punter Sam Koch ran it out of the end zone. The following punt ended with Ted Ginn Jr. getting tackled as time expired leaving the Ravens as the victor.
“Our guys battled back to get back in,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “I thought we battled right to the brink of winning.”
Ray Lewis ends his 17 year career with a 2nd Super Bowl ring, other being earned in early 2001. This career ending sendoff came in a season where he had to come back from from a triceps injury sustained in October not making his return until the beginning of the postseason when the Ravens played the visiting Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card round.
“It’s no greater way, as a champ, to go out on your last ride with the men that I went out with, with my teammates,” Lewis said. “And you looked around this stadium and Baltimore! Baltimore! We coming home, baby! We did it!”
Baltimore coach John Harbaugh now has a 2-0 coaching record against his younger brother Jim Harbaugh. The first meeting between the two brother occurred on Thanksgiving day 2011.
“How could it be any other way? It’s never pretty. It’s never perfect. But it’s us,” John said afterwards. “It was us today.”
On the flip side, this is San Francisco’s first loss in the Super Bowl making them 5-1 in the big game.
“I really wanted it for us,” 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis said. “I wanted to bring it back to the Bay… We came up short. We were there and we came up short.”
The 49ers were down by as many as 22 points early in the 3rd quarter. Momentum seemed to turn around after a power outage in the 3rd quarter. The outage lasted over a half hour. San Francisco then managed to score 17 consecutive points to finish the quarter.
In part because of the power outage, it was the longest Super Bowl in history timed at 4 hours, 14 minutes.
Baltimore managed to recover a bit in the 4th quarter scoring two field goals by Justin Tucker. Tucker tried a fake field goal run earlier in the game that failed to convert a first down near the 49ers end zone.
Kaepernick scored a 15 yard touchdown run in between those Tucker field goals but a poor pass to Randy Moss failed to convert a two point conversion that would’ve tied the game at 31-31. Kaepernick finished the game with 62 rushing yards. Through the air, Colin went 16/28 for 302 passing yards, a 31 touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree, and an interception thrown to Ed Reed in the 2nd quarter. It was the first interception ever thrown by a San Francisco quarterback in the Super Bowl.
As for Crabtree, he finished the game with 5 catches for 109 receiving and the one touchdown. Vernon Davis finished the game just 5 yards shy of him with 104 receiving yards in 6 catches.
The star of the night was Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco who shined predominantly in the first half of the game. Flacco went 22/33 for 287 passing yards and three touchdown passes, all of which came in the first half. Flacco finishes the postseason with 11 touchdown passes, no interceptions thrown, and as Super Bowl MVP.
“People should shut up about Joe,” said Ravens receiver Anquan Boldin. “I’m so sick of people saying Joe’s not an elite quarterback. For all the critics who say he’s not, ask them how many rings they have.”
Anquan Boldin also had a fine game with 6 catches for 104 yards and one touchdown off a 13 yard pass from Joe Flacco in the first quarter. It was the first score of the game for either team and it came on Baltimore first possession.
Another star for the Ravens was Jacoby Jones who made one of those Flacco touchdown catches on a 56 yard catch in which he fell down and got back up to get into the end zone. Jones out did that, however, on a 108 yard kick off return for a touchdown to start the 2nd half. It was the Ravens only touchdown of the half and it proved to be a difference maker.
The 49ers ground game was fine but it could’ve gone better. Frank Gore ran for 110 yards on 19 carries and a six yard touchdown run in the third quarter. The 49ers, however, may have missed Kendall Hunter in this one. 2nd back and rookie LaMichael James fumbled the ball early in the 2nd quarter which was recovered by Baltimore defensive end Arthur Jones. The subsequent Ravens' drive lead to a one yard touchdown pass to Dennis Pitta to them up by 11.
As for Baltimore’s ground game, they were not efficient against San Francisco’s defense getting only 93 yards on 35 carries. Ray Rice carried the ball 20 times for just 59 yards. Rice, however, had a fumble in the 3rd quarter which resulted in a 34 yard David Akers’ field goal.
Akers would make two other field goals in the first half of play. One in the first quarter from 36 yards out and the other to end the first half from 27 yards out. Akers accounted for all of San Francisco’s 6 first half points while Baltimore was on top by 15.
In overall numbers, San Francisco had 468 total offensive yards while Baltimore had 367. The Ravens had the ball a bit longer controlling it for just over 32 minutes of the game. The 49ers also had six red zone attempts only converting twice for touchdowns.
Inexperience showed for San Francisco against the veteran squad of Baltimore. With the team around them, however, there is always next year.
“We will use this as fuel,” 49ers safety Donte Whitner said. “It’s tough getting shoved off the field, watching the other team celebrate. We’ll be better from this. We’ll be back.”
The Baltimore Ravens managed to hold off the surging San Francisco 49ers by a final of 34-31. Colin Kaepernick lead the 49ers down field for one last shot in the end zone with under two minutes remaining and failed to convert a 4th goal pass intended for Michael Crabtree in the back corner of the end zone.
“I think that last drive when we got the ball and had time to go down and score a touchdown, we thought it was our game,” Kaepernick said afterwards.
The Ravens then killed all but 4 seconds of the clock with the subsequent drive ending in a safety in which punter Sam Koch ran it out of the end zone. The following punt ended with Ted Ginn Jr. getting tackled as time expired leaving the Ravens as the victor.
“Our guys battled back to get back in,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “I thought we battled right to the brink of winning.”
Ray Lewis ends his 17 year career with a 2nd Super Bowl ring, other being earned in early 2001. This career ending sendoff came in a season where he had to come back from from a triceps injury sustained in October not making his return until the beginning of the postseason when the Ravens played the visiting Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card round.
“It’s no greater way, as a champ, to go out on your last ride with the men that I went out with, with my teammates,” Lewis said. “And you looked around this stadium and Baltimore! Baltimore! We coming home, baby! We did it!”
Baltimore coach John Harbaugh now has a 2-0 coaching record against his younger brother Jim Harbaugh. The first meeting between the two brother occurred on Thanksgiving day 2011.
“How could it be any other way? It’s never pretty. It’s never perfect. But it’s us,” John said afterwards. “It was us today.”
On the flip side, this is San Francisco’s first loss in the Super Bowl making them 5-1 in the big game.
“I really wanted it for us,” 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis said. “I wanted to bring it back to the Bay… We came up short. We were there and we came up short.”
The 49ers were down by as many as 22 points early in the 3rd quarter. Momentum seemed to turn around after a power outage in the 3rd quarter. The outage lasted over a half hour. San Francisco then managed to score 17 consecutive points to finish the quarter.
In part because of the power outage, it was the longest Super Bowl in history timed at 4 hours, 14 minutes.
Baltimore managed to recover a bit in the 4th quarter scoring two field goals by Justin Tucker. Tucker tried a fake field goal run earlier in the game that failed to convert a first down near the 49ers end zone.
Kaepernick scored a 15 yard touchdown run in between those Tucker field goals but a poor pass to Randy Moss failed to convert a two point conversion that would’ve tied the game at 31-31. Kaepernick finished the game with 62 rushing yards. Through the air, Colin went 16/28 for 302 passing yards, a 31 touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree, and an interception thrown to Ed Reed in the 2nd quarter. It was the first interception ever thrown by a San Francisco quarterback in the Super Bowl.
As for Crabtree, he finished the game with 5 catches for 109 receiving and the one touchdown. Vernon Davis finished the game just 5 yards shy of him with 104 receiving yards in 6 catches.
The star of the night was Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco who shined predominantly in the first half of the game. Flacco went 22/33 for 287 passing yards and three touchdown passes, all of which came in the first half. Flacco finishes the postseason with 11 touchdown passes, no interceptions thrown, and as Super Bowl MVP.
“People should shut up about Joe,” said Ravens receiver Anquan Boldin. “I’m so sick of people saying Joe’s not an elite quarterback. For all the critics who say he’s not, ask them how many rings they have.”
Anquan Boldin also had a fine game with 6 catches for 104 yards and one touchdown off a 13 yard pass from Joe Flacco in the first quarter. It was the first score of the game for either team and it came on Baltimore first possession.
Another star for the Ravens was Jacoby Jones who made one of those Flacco touchdown catches on a 56 yard catch in which he fell down and got back up to get into the end zone. Jones out did that, however, on a 108 yard kick off return for a touchdown to start the 2nd half. It was the Ravens only touchdown of the half and it proved to be a difference maker.
The 49ers ground game was fine but it could’ve gone better. Frank Gore ran for 110 yards on 19 carries and a six yard touchdown run in the third quarter. The 49ers, however, may have missed Kendall Hunter in this one. 2nd back and rookie LaMichael James fumbled the ball early in the 2nd quarter which was recovered by Baltimore defensive end Arthur Jones. The subsequent Ravens' drive lead to a one yard touchdown pass to Dennis Pitta to them up by 11.
As for Baltimore’s ground game, they were not efficient against San Francisco’s defense getting only 93 yards on 35 carries. Ray Rice carried the ball 20 times for just 59 yards. Rice, however, had a fumble in the 3rd quarter which resulted in a 34 yard David Akers’ field goal.
Akers would make two other field goals in the first half of play. One in the first quarter from 36 yards out and the other to end the first half from 27 yards out. Akers accounted for all of San Francisco’s 6 first half points while Baltimore was on top by 15.
In overall numbers, San Francisco had 468 total offensive yards while Baltimore had 367. The Ravens had the ball a bit longer controlling it for just over 32 minutes of the game. The 49ers also had six red zone attempts only converting twice for touchdowns.
Inexperience showed for San Francisco against the veteran squad of Baltimore. With the team around them, however, there is always next year.
“We will use this as fuel,” 49ers safety Donte Whitner said. “It’s tough getting shoved off the field, watching the other team celebrate. We’ll be better from this. We’ll be back.”
Sunday, January 20, 2013
49ers and Ravens Advance to First Ever Har-Bowl
There is one family in America that is ecstatic and that is the Harbaugh's.
In the NFC Championship game, the San Francisco 49ers lead by Jim Harbaugh, went into Atlanta to face the Falcons. After being down 17-0, the 49ers fought a great 2nd half and managed to grab the lead with a Frank Gore touchdown run in the 4th quarter. It was their first lead of the game. Atlanta tried to take back control of the game but after a failed 4th and 4 conversion attempt, the Falcons were all but done. The 49ers with Colin Kaepernick at the helm (not Alex Smith) managed to win the game 28-24 and advance to thier first Super Bowl since 1994.
As for the AFC Championship game, the Baltimore Ravens lead by John Harbaugh, Jim's older brother, went into New England and managed to keep Ray Lewis' career alive for one more final game. After being down 13-7 at the half, the Ravens defense clamped down while Joe Flacco and the offense took off. Flacco threw 3 touchdowns in the 2nd half with the last two going to Anquan Boldin. The Pats, meanwhile, couldn't put up any 2nd half points and managed one touchdown all game long. In their 2nd straight AFC Championship game vs New England, the Ravens overcome the Patriots 28-13 and go on to their first Super Bowl since 2000.
Super Bowl XLVII is set with the Baltimore Ravens vs. the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans. This marks the first Super Bowl in which the opposing head coaches are brothers. Definitely adds a bit to the term "Sibling Rivalry."
P.S. For a full recap of the 49ers win in Atlanta, click here. Be sure to visit the 49ers section at prosportsblogging.com for updates on the team before and after the Super Bowl.
In the NFC Championship game, the San Francisco 49ers lead by Jim Harbaugh, went into Atlanta to face the Falcons. After being down 17-0, the 49ers fought a great 2nd half and managed to grab the lead with a Frank Gore touchdown run in the 4th quarter. It was their first lead of the game. Atlanta tried to take back control of the game but after a failed 4th and 4 conversion attempt, the Falcons were all but done. The 49ers with Colin Kaepernick at the helm (not Alex Smith) managed to win the game 28-24 and advance to thier first Super Bowl since 1994.
As for the AFC Championship game, the Baltimore Ravens lead by John Harbaugh, Jim's older brother, went into New England and managed to keep Ray Lewis' career alive for one more final game. After being down 13-7 at the half, the Ravens defense clamped down while Joe Flacco and the offense took off. Flacco threw 3 touchdowns in the 2nd half with the last two going to Anquan Boldin. The Pats, meanwhile, couldn't put up any 2nd half points and managed one touchdown all game long. In their 2nd straight AFC Championship game vs New England, the Ravens overcome the Patriots 28-13 and go on to their first Super Bowl since 2000.
Super Bowl XLVII is set with the Baltimore Ravens vs. the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans. This marks the first Super Bowl in which the opposing head coaches are brothers. Definitely adds a bit to the term "Sibling Rivalry."
P.S. For a full recap of the 49ers win in Atlanta, click here. Be sure to visit the 49ers section at prosportsblogging.com for updates on the team before and after the Super Bowl.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Ravens Win a Dramatic One in Denver
At least Tebow won a playoff game. OH SNAP!!!
The Baltimore Ravens went into Mile High Stadium as underdogs to the Denver Broncos. It was a back and forth game the whole way with a couple of fascinating Trindon Holliday returns for touchdowns. The Ravens were sticking around throughout and got the ball back with 1:09 to go being down by just 7. On a 3rd and 3, Joe Flacco managed to evade a sack and throw a bomb to Jacoby Jones who somehow got behind every DB of the Broncos and scored on a 70 yard play to tie it at 35-35. That forced the game into overtime.
Neither side could do anything on their first drives and it kept going with sudden death rules in place. The Broncos had it and it was near the end of the first OT when Peyton Manning scrambled a bit, threw across his body, and had his pass intended for Brandon Stokley picked off by Corey Graham getting his 2nd pick of the game. His first pick came in the 1st quarter when he returned an interception 39 yards for a pick-six.
The 2nd overtime came with the Ravens setting up for a field goal. Rookie Kicker Justin Tucker made the 47 yard field goal for the win as Baltimore stuns the Denver Crowd 38-35 in double overtime.
What a way for a game to end. It seemed unlikely that the Ravens would win in Denver but they somehow did and manage to keep Ray Lewis' career alive for another week. Lewis actually the most tackles in the game with 17.
With the the win, the Ravens move on to the AFC title game and wait to see where they are headed next: Houston or New England.
P.S. To read about Colin Kaepernick's historic game and the 49ers win over the Packers, click here. Be sure to check out the 49ers section at prosportsblogging.com for updates on the team before and after every game.
The Baltimore Ravens went into Mile High Stadium as underdogs to the Denver Broncos. It was a back and forth game the whole way with a couple of fascinating Trindon Holliday returns for touchdowns. The Ravens were sticking around throughout and got the ball back with 1:09 to go being down by just 7. On a 3rd and 3, Joe Flacco managed to evade a sack and throw a bomb to Jacoby Jones who somehow got behind every DB of the Broncos and scored on a 70 yard play to tie it at 35-35. That forced the game into overtime.
Neither side could do anything on their first drives and it kept going with sudden death rules in place. The Broncos had it and it was near the end of the first OT when Peyton Manning scrambled a bit, threw across his body, and had his pass intended for Brandon Stokley picked off by Corey Graham getting his 2nd pick of the game. His first pick came in the 1st quarter when he returned an interception 39 yards for a pick-six.
The 2nd overtime came with the Ravens setting up for a field goal. Rookie Kicker Justin Tucker made the 47 yard field goal for the win as Baltimore stuns the Denver Crowd 38-35 in double overtime.
What a way for a game to end. It seemed unlikely that the Ravens would win in Denver but they somehow did and manage to keep Ray Lewis' career alive for another week. Lewis actually the most tackles in the game with 17.
With the the win, the Ravens move on to the AFC title game and wait to see where they are headed next: Houston or New England.
P.S. To read about Colin Kaepernick's historic game and the 49ers win over the Packers, click here. Be sure to check out the 49ers section at prosportsblogging.com for updates on the team before and after every game.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Ray Lewis Out for the Year
The heart and soul of the Ravens has been ripped out of the team for the year.
Ray Lewis is out for the season with torn triceps sustained in the win over the Dallas Cowboys. Along with him, Lardarius Webb, a CB for the team, is also out for the year with a torn ACL. Lewis has been in the league for 17 seasons, all of them with the Baltimore Ravens. Speculation begins to circulate that it will be the end of Ray's career in the NFL, a career that includes among other honors being a 13 time pro bowler and a Super Bowl MVP.
Is this really the end for Ray Lewis? No. Lewis is not likely to going to let this injury end his career. He's a tough guy that will want to end his career on his own terms with it possibly including one more playoff run.
As for what the Ravens will do now? Worry. That Baltimore defense has already taken enough of a hit with Terrell Suggs being injured but Ray Lewis and Lardarius Webb hurt this depleted squad a lot more. It was already struggling with what they had being in the bottom third in defensive rankings. That's not going to change any time soon as a result of these injuries.
The good news is that the team is 5-1 and can likely still make a playoff run. The bad news is that it might not be a deep run. The team's other defensive players will have to step up even more as a result and Joe Flacco and that offense might need to carry this team altogether.
Ray Lewis is out for the season with torn triceps sustained in the win over the Dallas Cowboys. Along with him, Lardarius Webb, a CB for the team, is also out for the year with a torn ACL. Lewis has been in the league for 17 seasons, all of them with the Baltimore Ravens. Speculation begins to circulate that it will be the end of Ray's career in the NFL, a career that includes among other honors being a 13 time pro bowler and a Super Bowl MVP.
Is this really the end for Ray Lewis? No. Lewis is not likely to going to let this injury end his career. He's a tough guy that will want to end his career on his own terms with it possibly including one more playoff run.
As for what the Ravens will do now? Worry. That Baltimore defense has already taken enough of a hit with Terrell Suggs being injured but Ray Lewis and Lardarius Webb hurt this depleted squad a lot more. It was already struggling with what they had being in the bottom third in defensive rankings. That's not going to change any time soon as a result of these injuries.
The good news is that the team is 5-1 and can likely still make a playoff run. The bad news is that it might not be a deep run. The team's other defensive players will have to step up even more as a result and Joe Flacco and that offense might need to carry this team altogether.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
2012 AFC North Preview: I Say "Mulligan"
The AFC North is hard to call. Thank goodness the Ravens' Terrell Suggs got injured and might miss the rest of the season in order to make this decision a little easier.
This division has been known for the Steelers-Ravens rivalry over the last few years. While I can't say which of these two teams will take the division, I know it will be one these two teams. Sure, the Bengals were a surprise team getting into the playoffs under Andy Dalton but to get in again seems unlikely, especially when they didn't beat the Ravens or the Steelers once last season. As for the Browns, they are turning to a 28 year old QB rookie. Enough said.
Now who has edge between the Steelers and the Ravens? It's got to be the Steelers and just barely. Joe Flacco of the Ravens could come out of his shell and throw like an elite QB but short of that, the Steelers are my pick. They have a slightly better defense with Suggs out of the picture in Baltimore and even though Mike Wallace is coming back to the team after trying to holdout, Big Ben Roethlisberger is still the Steelers' QB and he knows how to exploit a defense. Or is it women?
This division has been known for the Steelers-Ravens rivalry over the last few years. While I can't say which of these two teams will take the division, I know it will be one these two teams. Sure, the Bengals were a surprise team getting into the playoffs under Andy Dalton but to get in again seems unlikely, especially when they didn't beat the Ravens or the Steelers once last season. As for the Browns, they are turning to a 28 year old QB rookie. Enough said.
Now who has edge between the Steelers and the Ravens? It's got to be the Steelers and just barely. Joe Flacco of the Ravens could come out of his shell and throw like an elite QB but short of that, the Steelers are my pick. They have a slightly better defense with Suggs out of the picture in Baltimore and even though Mike Wallace is coming back to the team after trying to holdout, Big Ben Roethlisberger is still the Steelers' QB and he knows how to exploit a defense. Or is it women?
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Forte and Rice Given New Deals
With the eve of NFL Training Camps and the preseason, some big contracts were not yet settled around the NFL. 2 players with two different teams got their deals done yesterday and both were RB's.
Matt Forte and Ray Rice were in the same boat as they were tagged by their respective teams (Bears and the Ravens) and they wanted long term deals. Who can blame either of them knowing that this league uses up RB's like I chow down burgers. On the eve of possibly holding out, deals have been struck for both players. Matt Forte agrees to a 4 year, $32 million contract and Ray Rice agreed to a 5 year, $40 million contract. Both players are in their mid 20's with Forte being a bit older and this is likely going to be their last big contracts for their careers.
Very important moves for both teams but the Ravens needed Ray Rice a bit more than the Bears needed Forte. While Jay Cutler and Joe Flacco are fine QB's, the Ravens depend on the run a bit more while the Bears seem to be shifting to more passing with the off season they had. Running the ball is still important to the Bears and should be to any team (except the Pats somehow) but the passing game led by Cutler will likely be something they lean on more.
With training camp around the corner, the one star player that seems to not be getting the love from his team is Wes Welker of the Patriots. Now he will play under the tag but still a disappointment he wasn't able to get a good contract from the Pats long term.
P.S. Maybe if you stopped dropping the ball during big Super Bowl moments they wouldn't hesitate to get a deal done.
Matt Forte and Ray Rice were in the same boat as they were tagged by their respective teams (Bears and the Ravens) and they wanted long term deals. Who can blame either of them knowing that this league uses up RB's like I chow down burgers. On the eve of possibly holding out, deals have been struck for both players. Matt Forte agrees to a 4 year, $32 million contract and Ray Rice agreed to a 5 year, $40 million contract. Both players are in their mid 20's with Forte being a bit older and this is likely going to be their last big contracts for their careers.
Very important moves for both teams but the Ravens needed Ray Rice a bit more than the Bears needed Forte. While Jay Cutler and Joe Flacco are fine QB's, the Ravens depend on the run a bit more while the Bears seem to be shifting to more passing with the off season they had. Running the ball is still important to the Bears and should be to any team (except the Pats somehow) but the passing game led by Cutler will likely be something they lean on more.
With training camp around the corner, the one star player that seems to not be getting the love from his team is Wes Welker of the Patriots. Now he will play under the tag but still a disappointment he wasn't able to get a good contract from the Pats long term.
P.S. Maybe if you stopped dropping the ball during big Super Bowl moments they wouldn't hesitate to get a deal done.
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