This year is different than other years

[OriginalColtsFan]

As has been reported, this off season's personnel moves are log jammed because of the pending deal with Joe Flacco. (i.e. the Ravens can't make a move for Ellerbe until the deal with Joe is done.) In prior years other teams have made fast off season moves while the Ravens FO has waited. Some have been critical of that approach, while some have defended it. And while I understand that it takes two to tango, by waiting to give Joe the long term contract he deserves, the team is significantly handcuffing itself when it comes to signing other players. The Ravens have never had a franchise QB, so it's never been an issue for them before. And so while it's one thing to duke it out with Joe Flacco and Joe Linta, it's another to put the entire team behind the 8-ball when it comes to signing other players. I'm not sure their "let's just take our time and wait" approach is going to benefit the team this year. We'll see.

Note: As far as "the cap" goes, SEVERAL teams have restructured players salaries already to MAKE cap space. Not a word on Suggs, Ngata, or Rice.

[rgh]

The Ravens are the ones who don't want to restructure deals. No one including Tom Brady is taking less money when they restructure. They always end up with more. Restructuring just kicks the cap hit down the road. For the Patriots they will take a huge hit when Brady retires. However when that happens they probably feel they will have to rebuild anyway so they are willing to stink for a year.

The Ravens are not going to restructure and take a huge cap hit in 3 years when Joe, Torrey, Webb, KO etc. are still in their prime and Suggs, Rice Gnata and others have a year or two of play left. If they did they would have to lose some of those guys and have an off year. Their goal is to make the playoffs every year. They will do what they always do which is come up with a way to put a competitive team on the field with the hopes of getting hot come playoff time.

[bmore_ken]

Note: As far as "the cap" goes, SEVERAL teams have restructured players salaries already to MAKE cap space. Not a word on Suggs, Ngata, or Rice.

Restructures aren't an automatic thing. The players have to agree to it and Ozzie doesn't lie eto do them. By the way, it's not like they're not working on Flacco's contract

Linta also said that talks between he and the Ravens are "going fine" and that the two sides spent plenty of time discussing the matter at the 2013 NFL Combine.

"Nobody yelled," Linta said. "We're moving forward. This thing could be done in three minutes or three years."

It's a deal both sides would like to get done before March 4, the deadline for teams to use the franchise tag.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/ey...accos-contract

[Struds]

I won't pretend for one minute to understand all the cap rules and strategies, but IIRC, a couple of weeks ago either Biscotti or Ozzie commented on restructuring, and it was negative. The quote was something to the effect that the mistake the team made after the 2001 Super Bowl was restructuring too many veterans which led to tearing the team apart over the next few years. They do not intend to repeat that error.

[OriginalColtsFan]

I won't pretend for one minute to understand all the cap rules and strategies, but IIRC, a couple of weeks ago either Biscotti or Ozzie commented on restructuring, and it was negative. The quote was something to the effect that the mistake the team made after the 2001 Super Bowl was restructuring too many veterans which led to tearing the team apart over the next few years. They do not intend to repeat that error.

That's fine. But what DO they intend to do? As I said, this year isn't like other years, and if they don't start moving, the net result will be the same, whether it's cap hell or simply the hell of not being able to sign the players you want/need to sign.

[Ravens2006]

I think Ozzie probably meant what he said at the post season wrap up conference... they're probably not interested in / not going to do a round of restructures the push money our over a longer term. Which increases the chances of carrying more "dead money" 4 or 5 years down the road.

They're probably going to have 10, maybe 11 picks in the upcoming draft. Given they're likely FA departures / additions this year, they'll probably have 10 or 11 picks next year too. My guess is that Ozzie and company are content taking their chances on those 20 to 22 draft picks, some un-drafted FAs, and maybe training camp low-dollar cast-offs... rather than shuffling money around to add other guys in the earlier stages of free agency.

They've never really been BIG players in free agency overall, and rarely make a big splash when the signing period opens. I hate to make the comparison because the comparison only has one surprising good year under their belt right now... but I think the concept fits the Ravens fairly successful philosophy... Dan Duquette defended the Orioles lack of splashes by saying he looks at the process of improving the club as a year-round effort. Whether it's day one of FA, the middle of camp, the middle of the season, or the middle of the off-season, there's no rush to do anything just to fit a specific deadline. That's pretty much how Newsome has run the organization, and while it would be nice if they had 2 more trophies this decade... very few teams can claim more success.

I used to get more worked up over what the Ravens did / didn't do in the March / April timeframe... what their cap situation was... etc. Now I just sort of let it go and take stock of what they have right before the season opener.

[Struds]

I don't know what they do, but it had better be soon. Publicly, they're telling us Joe stays. Period.

If that's true, we lose at least Kruger and probably more such as Boldin and Leach.

As you've pointed out, we may have overpaid some guys in the past few years, and that is costing us now. Since the past can't really be changed, Joe's potential contract is all most of us focus on as far as being cap friendly.

[Ravens2006]

Kruger's gone in all likelihood. And in the castle, they're probably thinking... Upshaw showed more in his rookie season than Kruger did in his first two years (when Kruger was often not even active). Kruger goes, it's on Upshaw to step up. I think Upshaw might be a better edge setter / run defender anyway, and very soon, based on what we saw this year.

[bawlmer_fan]

I won't pretend for one minute to understand all the cap rules and strategies, but IIRC, a couple of weeks ago either Biscotti or Ozzie commented on restructuring, and it was negative. The quote was something to the effect that the mistake the team made after the 2001 Super Bowl was restructuring too many veterans which led to tearing the team apart over the next few years. They do not intend to repeat that error.

This team seems different. 2000 was more a pile-on team of established Pro Bowlers and future HoFers brought in with a different view than this years team. Restructuring those guys was definitely going to catch up with them as the window with those certain guys was very small. Dont get me wrong, 2012 had their established gamers but we have a younger team with a more team-first mentality and i think Ozzie has more wiggle room than 12 years ago.

Or maybe my youthful perception of 12 years ago is wrong.


Note: team-first does not mean nobody should get paid. Especially Flacco and the others deserving of their first big deal.

[OriginalColtsFan]

I don't know what they do, but it had better be soon. Publicly, they're telling us Joe stays. Period.

If that's true, we lose at least Kruger and probably more such as Boldin and Leach.

As you've pointed out, we may have overpaid some guys in the past few years, and that is costing us now. Since the past can't really be changed, Joe's potential contract is all most of us focus on as far as being cap friendly.

The problem is the "soon" part. They only have until MONDAY to get a deal done with Joe. Without a deal, they're stuck with tagging him, and that chews up unnecessary cap space to the tune of $5-6M, which is enough to at least sign one player.

Leach is a luxury (if there's one type of player that really DOES grow on trees it's blocking full backs), and IIRC, he still has one year left on his contract. Ellerbe is a must re-sign. Kruger is more of a one trick pony and expendable IMO. I seriously hope they do NOT re-sign Ed Reed for any amount of money. Boldin for the right price. And the same with J Jones.

[Struds]

The problem is the "soon" part. They only have until MONDAY to get a deal done with Joe. Without a deal, they're stuck with tagging him, and that chews up unnecessary cap space to the tune of $5-6M, which is enough to at least sign one player.

Leach is a luxury (if there's one type of player that really DOES grown on trees it's blocking full backs), and IIRC, he still has one year left on his contract. Ellerbe is a must re-sign. Kruger is more of a one trick pony and expendable IMO. I seriously hope they do NOT re-sign Ed Reed for any amount of money. Boldin for the right price. And the same with J Jones.

I like Leach - a lot - but I think you're right, especially with the more open offense Flacco seems better suited to, losing him isn't terrible.

I would like to have seen if Kruger has really come into his own, or simply shined because Suggs was back, but Ellerbee is much more critical, and as Ravens2006 noted, Upshaw can likely step into his role immediately.

The team made a hard but correct decision about Heap two years ago; they may need to do that with Ed Reed as well.

[OriginalColtsFan]

I like Leach - a lot - but I think you're right, especially with the more open offense Flacco seems better suited to, losing him isn't terrible.

I would like to have seen if Kruger has really come into his own, or simply shined because Suggs was back, but Ellerbee is much more critical, and as Ravens2006 noted, Upshaw can likely step into his role immediately.

The team made a hard but correct decision about Heap two years ago; they may need to do that with Ed Reed as well.

I'm looking for something along the lines of the year they didn't re-sign Heap, Gregg, McGahee and Mason. Some of those moves really shocked me. But remember...right or wrong, there were rumors that both Heap and Mason ended up in Harbaugh's dog house, so that might have factored in. And Reed is NOT in Harbaugh's dog house, so I'd expect more of a "Cam Cameron loyalty" mode, although with Cameron there were no injury or cap issues. It'll certainly be interesting to see how it all plays out. But to waste $6M on a tag when cap space is so tight just makes no sense, especially when you factor in that the Ravens have stated publicly that they genuinely want to re-sign Joe. If that's the case, and considering the unique situation of franchise QBs, JUST GET IT DONE THE RIGHT WAY THE FIRST TIME.

[rgh]

If they give Flacco the franchise tag they will need to clear about 1 million in cap space to fit him in. That should be pretty easy to do. Leach and Boldin are both under contract so they will be able to stay.

The Ravens won't be able to sign any FA if that is the case but they still get to keep the guys on the current roster and buy some time. If I were Joe I would not sign anything before Monday. If he gets the exclusive tag he is guaranteed $19.1 million and a $19.1 million cap hit wich gives him leverage. If he gets the $14.6 million tag he is free to negotiate with other teams which will drive up his value. It would be foolish for him to sign before Monday and I would make the Ravens playtheir cards. I am not saying he will do that but it would make business sense to.

As far as our FA Ellerbe and McKinnie are the only ones we really risk losing (I am assuming Kruger and Williams are gone and Reed will only stay if he is willing to take less money then he can get on the open market). If McClain comes back healthy he fills in for Ellerbe if not we cut him and free up his money. There are definitely other guys they will cut to free up money also. In the end I think OZ and Co. have a better handle on all of this than us. Ravens fans just need to relax, enjoy being champs and let them do their jobs.

[Ravens2006]

I might be the only person that thinks this... but losing any of our LBs individually doesn't really concern me at all. Losing "all of them" would be a concern, but only because a whole new group will have to learn the system together. But I don't think Ellerbee is especially good at anything. He was "in the doghouse" (an overblown creation of some local mediots) for a while because they didn't like what they saw out of him in practice, and he never showed much in games that stood out either. There wasn't anything personal involved. He's a mediocre talent to me, one that still gets caught up in the wash in run support way too often, picks the wrong gaps, and doesn't cover the pass any better than most either. If both are healthy and money is out of the equation, I'd rather have McClain anyway. Rumor has it they're optimistic about Josh Bynes too. Anyway, I think any team that gives him the big contract he's apparently looking for is doing what that Barnwell article points out is what Ozzie doesn't do... overpaying / overvaluing a diamond in the rough, just because they found it.

[terps19]

The problem is the "soon" part. They only have until MONDAY to get a deal done with Joe. Without a deal, they're stuck with tagging him, and that chews up unnecessary cap space to the tune of $5-6M, which is enough to at least sign one player.

Leach is a luxury (if there's one type of player that really DOES grow on trees it's blocking full backs), and IIRC, he still has one year left on his contract. Ellerbe is a must re-sign. Kruger is more of a one trick pony and expendable IMO. I seriously hope they do NOT re-sign Ed Reed for any amount of money. Boldin for the right price. And the same with J Jones.

The sky will not fall if they tag Flacco March 4th. I do believe that they still have time to continue talks once they tag him with the hopes of reaching a deal and the tag becoming null. Ozzie and Newsome both said they dont anticipate using the tag this year. I think that means Flacco talks are close and they expect to get it done.

Boldin will not be gone. No way. Boldin is what Mason was to Flacco a few years ago. And I think the Ravens value Boldin more than they did Mason. Boldin is a TEAM player, doesnt complain, goes out and does what he does without the whining and complaining of Mason.

Kruger is gone- but meh- no biggie IMO. He really only came on this year, and he disappeared a few times during the season. Remember MacAdoo will most likely be active next year, and I expect him to replace Kruger in the sacks department.

What the Ravens FO does need to do is sure up that OL. They saw what Flacco could do (carry the team) when his OL blocked and gave him time to scan the field. The offense will be force this year with Rice and Pierce, Bolding Jacoby and Torrey, and the TEs Pitta and Dickson.

[OriginalColtsFan]

It's essentially a matter of the $6M that the tag would cost over the LTC. I'm not sure what happens to that $6M if the tag is removed in place of a LTC. At the very least it can't be used to sign other players while the tag is still in place.