Boldin: I'll retire a Raven.

[prairieaug]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/r...,2762363.story

God I love this guy. Says if they cut him, he'll retire. Baltimore is the last place he'll play, and he considers himself a Raven for life. The feeling, at least for me, is mutual.

I really hope they find a way to retain him. He's one of the toughest WRs I've ever seen.

I agree. If we were to have a son I think he would be named Cal - Brooks - Anquan.
Q really shined in the post season and I would like to see him stay as long as he is productive.

[Fang]

Anquan for the ROH. Has to happen when he done playing which I hope isn't for many more years.

[Rael]

Whoa...Palmer had Chad Johnson, Housh, and Chris Henry. Very few teams could stop that juggernaut. They were more threatening than Manning in his prime. They literally changed the way defenses played, with the move to more nickel and dime packages. It was only when Palmer went down that everything fell apart. But you can't say they didn't surround him with enough talent to go all the way, can you?

And with all that how many playoff games did they win? At the time they had that offense, wasn't their defense horrific? They haven't won a playoff game since 1990 and from 1991 forward the most points they scored in the playoffs was 17 so I'd say there were quite a few teams that stopped that juggernaut. I think you are slightly overstating the Bengal offense during the Palmer years. They were good, but not good enough to carry the team and not what I'd call a juggernaut. IMHO of course.

[can you hear me now!]

Suggs and Ngata will occupy $24.5M of the cap in 2013. THAT'S a massive amount of money for 2 players who don't contribute NEARLY that amount in terms of services rendered.

not to be a PITA...but honestly, this type of complaining is the same as those who think joe should take a discount....at the time the contracts were signed they were reasonable deals....both played through injuries this year and there is no question, they didn't earn every penny...however, these contracts were applauded by many here (including me)...it is the downside of a competent front office that generally drafts very well in rounds 1, 2 and 3...

they have a capologist who is recognized as one of the best....let the offseason play out before making a judgment....

[can you hear me now!]

Whoa...Palmer had Chad Johnson, Housh, and Chris Henry. Very few teams could stop that juggernaut. They were more threatening than Manning in his prime. They literally changed the way defenses played, with the move to more nickel and dime packages. It was only when Palmer went down that everything fell apart. But you can't say they didn't surround him with enough talent to go all the way, can you?

IF the deal gets done in a few days, I'll agree with you. But even Bisciotti is talking about there being no rush to meet the March deadline. He's talking about July. So we'll see how that plays out.

the lack of success during this period reinforces my point about how badly run they were....they had no defense to speak of.....bet if you look back they were at least 15% under cap as well....

[OriginalColtsFan]

at the time the contracts were signed they were reasonable deals.....

I respectfully disagree. They were not good deals at all. They over paid, and now they're paying the price for those over payments.

[OriginalColtsFan]

the lack of success during this period reinforces my point about how badly run they were....they had no defense to speak of.....bet if you look back they were at least 15% under cap as well....

Brown has always been cheap, and that's a problem. Thing is...there are two issues here regarding Joe. The first is what's in Joe's best interest. Related to that is the $64,000.00 question: Do the Ravens really have Joe's best interest at heart. I don't believe they do; they have THEIR best interest at heart. And in principle, there's nothing wrong with that. By the same token, Joe has to do what's in his best interest; nothing wrong with that either. That leads to the question: Which NFL team will work out best for Joe? It might be the Ravens; and it might not be. It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out. But looking strictly at the cap numbers, the Bengals are in a position to offer as much as $25M/year. It might seem crazy, but look at how ridiculously low Rodgers' contract looks now. QBs contracts are geared towards the future. Joe is a young guy just hitting his prime. His contract has to reflect that. And he and his agent know that. If the Ravens want to deal, fine. If not, that's fine too as far as I'm concerned. The Ravens have demonstrated nothing to indicate their appreciation for what Joe brings to the table. If they change course, fine. If not, someone else will definitely deal to get Joe; of that you can rest assured.

[can you hear me now!]

I respectfully disagree. They were not good deals at all. They over paid, and now they're paying the price for those over payments.

we'll agree to disagree about overpaying....we aren't the gm and he made the decision...I'll defer to his expertise over mine....unless something has happened in the last 30 seconds they haven't paid a price for anything yet.....as I said, let the off season play out before deciding what price has been paid--- july is a long way away...

there isn't a single team in the nfl that doesn't experience some roster churn based the salary cap....

[can you hear me now!]

Brown has always been cheap, and that's a problem. Thing is...there are two issues here regarding Joe. The first is what's in Joe's best interest. Related to that is the $64,000.00 question: Do the Ravens really have Joe's best interest at heart. I don't believe they do; they have THEIR best interest at heart. And in principle, there's nothing wrong with that. By the same token, Joe has to do what's in his best interest; nothing wrong with that either. That leads to the question: Which NFL team will work out best for Joe? It might be the Ravens; and it might not be. It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out. But looking strictly at the cap numbers, the Bengals are in a position to offer as much as $25M/year. It might seem crazy, but look at how ridiculously low Rodgers' contract looks now. QBs contracts are geared towards the future. Joe is a young guy just hitting his prime. His contract has to reflect that. And he and his agent know that. If the Ravens want to deal, fine. If not, that's fine too as far as I'm concerned. The Ravens have demonstrated nothing to indicate their appreciation for what Joe brings to the table. If they change course, fine. If not, someone else will definitely deal to get Joe; of that you can rest assured.

What's in Joe's best interest is up to Joe....he's already hit the lottery once in not signing the original offer...I think he made it clear to the entire NFL that he is capable of carrying a team to a championship. are there teams that could use Joe? no doubt...however none of them are that close to being an instant super bowl winner with his addition....

I understand how the structuring of contracts work...that's why I have said that whatever contract Joe signs will be backloaded in the last two years....

I disagree with the lack of appreciation...they installed him as a starter from his first snap and have lived with growing pains, some inconsistency and a somewhat manic fan base screaming for a new QB at every stumble (few as they've been)...maybe you weren't listening when the owner said he's going to get money above the franchise tag...other than making him part owner, I don't the team can do much more that they have....

know this, at least for 2013 he'll be behind center for the Ravens....

[OriginalColtsFan]

we'll agree to disagree about overpaying....we aren't the gm and he made the decision...I'll defer to his expertise over mine....unless something has happened in the last 30 seconds they haven't paid a price for anything yet.....as I said, let the off season play out before deciding what price has been paid--- july is a long way away...

there isn't a single team in the nfl that doesn't experience some roster churn based the salary cap....

The cap impact of Ngata and Suggs has already been a factor in previous years as well. It's the reason given for not getting this or that player before. But as far as what the future holds...I'm more than willing to let it ride. This is just preemptive discussion, is all. Since there's already been plenty of discussion about how Joe should give a hometown discount based upon cap considerations and constraints.

Cheers.

[OriginalColtsFan]

What's in Joe's best interest is up to Joe....he's already hit the lottery once in not signing the original offer...I think he made it clear to the entire NFL that he is capable of carrying a team to a championship. are there teams that could use Joe? no doubt...however none of them are that close to being an instant super bowl winner with his addition....

I understand how the structuring of contracts work...that's why I have said that whatever contract Joe signs will be backloaded in the last two years....

I disagree with the lack of appreciation...they installed him as a starter from his first snap and have lived with growing pains, some inconsistency and a somewhat manic fan base screaming for a new QB at every stumble (few as they've been)...maybe you weren't listening when the owner said he's going to get money above the franchise tag...other than making him part owner, I don't the team can do much more that they have....

know this, at least for 2013 he'll be behind center for the Ravens....

1. Whether or not Joe could find a team as good as the Ravens remains to be seen. The team I think is the best fit is the Texans. They have the best balance of offense and defense, they play in a domed stadium, and they have a good running and passing game to boot. But they also have Schaub, and that pretty much puts the kabash on that, even though I believe Joe is much better, and more durable, than Schaub. I'd hate to see Joe go to the Browns. They stink. The Vikes? Maybe. Other than that, I can't really see him going anywhere other than the Bengals. But Mike Brown is a heavy negative in that formula as well. We'll see how it pans out.

2. We'll agree to disagree on the appreciation factor. Joe won the starting job by default, plain and simple. The fact that the Ravens kept choosing Cameron despite the documented difficulties between Cam and Joe is a matter of fact, and a matter of total disrespect, IMO. So was the attempt to squeeze him out of a well-earned contract.

3. The owners words, at this stage, are just words. The owner ALSO said there's no rush to get it done before the March deadline, meaning ANOTHER year of having to wait until all the prime F/As are gone. We'll see how that plays out as well.

4. The likelihood, because of the way the NFL is structured, is that Joe will be here for at least one more year. I understand that that's how it works, but it still strikes me as strange that a player is a so-called "free agent", but he's really not free at all to go and negotiate a deal with another team because of the "tag".

[can you hear me now!]

you can only franchise a player twice....eventually they become FA's if they aren't signed to a long term deal....the owners and players agreed to the current terms of RFA, UFA, Franchise Tag and Exclusive rights tags....

default, really? he seized his opportunity and now he's going to reap the rewards...the NFL is a next man up league, ask Alex Smith.....if Flacco hadn't proven he was up to the job, the Ravens would have found another QB who could....

[OriginalColtsFan]

default, really?

Yes, default really. Don't you remember? Boller got hurt and Smith had strep or something. The staff did not choose Joe at all. He won the starting job by default. That's a fact. He then more than earned the job, but it was not a matter of the staff looking at all 3 and choosing him, despite the fact that they SHOULD have, given the fact that we're talking about Boller and Smith. So at no point do I feel that they've shown the necessary respect to Joe. But we can agree to disagree on that as well. Let's just see how it plays out from here.

[Saticon3]

It isn't so much a matter that they're run poorly -- it's that the owner is cheap.

Aren't they the same thing? I mean, are there any top tier NFL teams run by a cheap owner?

[OriginalColtsFan]

Aren't they the same thing? I mean, are there any top tier NFL teams run by a cheap owner?

Yeah. Pretty much.



(The Steelers might be the exception. They've always been known as being tight, not cow-towing to players like Joey Porter, etc. But their cap situation is a total mess now. So they might no longer be in that cheapskate category. But they did the most with their dollars for a long time, IMO. They're the exception, though. They just draft very well.)

[can you hear me now!]

Yes, default really. Don't you remember? Boller got hurt and Smith had strep or something. The staff did not choose Joe at all. He won the starting job by default. That's a fact. He then more than earned the job, but it was not a matter of the staff looking at all 3 and choosing him, despite the fact that they SHOULD have, given the fact that we're talking about Boller and Smith. So at no point do I feel that they've shown the necessary respect to Joe. But we can agree to disagree on that as well. Let's just see how it plays out from here.

what I remember is neither of the three distinguished themselves during the preseason and going into the final week of preseason a starter had not been determined. Smith's viral infection and Boller's shoulder injury left the Ravens with little choice....they put Joe out there and we know the rest....

as always, good stuff....