tsylvester

Keep in mind, he, the ball boy, had all the footballs for the game, for both teams, when he went to take a leak... Yep, this is on the NFL, whether it was the refs or the league trying to set up the Pats and catch them for supposedly doing this in other games...

He didn't have time crav. No matter what "some claim" they did to replicate the action, none of them, NONE used a gauge, they just used a pin. These footballs, according to reports, were all the same weight, you can't do that with just a pin. Thus, 19 seconds is not enough time. This is really smelling like the NFL officials did not do their job properly to start the game.

That is your opinion, but so far, there is no proof, none, that they, Bill, & Tom, had anything to do with this issue. Again, if either the stories I mentioned are true, that would make the NFL guilty, not the Pats.

Actually, it is Bill Walsh's offense, the same offense that won many super bowls. Maybe you should read his book, you would learn a lot about the game, let alone about the philosophy.

OK, let the worm turn.... With Kraft now demanding an apology, once the Pats are cleared, hmmmm could Goody be ducking for cover? One story out there is that the NFL was trying to run a sting operation to catch the Pats "cheating". Another, is that the NFl is now just covering for their officials who never used an air gauge to check the lbs in the footballs, simply used the Charmin test, hey, don't squeeze that......... Either of these "stories" would certainly explain Kraft's latest strongly & carefully worded statement to the media at the Super Bowl.... So does Goody issue an apology at the end of this? No matter which of the many stories comes to be true, there is no evidence, so far, to prove the Pats purposely deflated the footballs between the time of the pre game suspension and half time.... If he doesn't and the Pats are found to be innocent, is his relationship with Kraft and thus, all the other owners who support Kraft, over? Maybe Kraft is just blowing smoke to make it appear he is angry with Goody, to give Goody a chance to show: hey, he is strong, he stood up to Kraft......

That is a pretty good deal, but I think the clincher will be the 3rd year. So the Ravens could always make that an option year based on incentives. I can't see Denver offeringmore than that for him when they have him in two other backs already on their roster. Here he would be the man, there, he would have to compete for the job. Then there is his family, do they want to move to Denver, in that weather? Players today, put more thought into where they sign based on family.

forgive him. his quest to bash Flacco went down the drain along with Wilson's four picks and the SeaHawks win. The fact every quarterback in the playoffs threw picks was the drain cleaner.

No, there is $9 mil in dead money next season from Rice, nothing the league has said indicates they will give the Ravens a break. I know, they got two Super Bowls out of those contracts over the years, so yes, they "do a great job", but I just think they could be more creative, nothing major....

Another play book, new terminology, who ever gets the job, I sure hope Flacco gets off his lazy butt and studies the playbook! Marone is out, took a job as assistant head coach/offensive line coach........

Yeah, as we talked about a few months ago, I also expect the NFLPA and NFL to agree to some sort of franchise excempt for the top player, such as qb's. Those contracts are getting out of control. Word has it Wilson and Luck, who both had horrible games when their teams needed them most, though Wilson won, are going to get close to if not more than $25 mil per season.... The Ravens have a lot work to do, they have the $9 mil of dead money from Rice, as it is now, going into next year, they are at about what, $138 million now, not counting Rice's hit, which would leave them, if it just went up to $138.6, just $380k under. I've never been a fan of the way they work the cap here in B-more. Those escalators they got hit with Dumervil and a few other players were quite silly and cost them this year. I would love to know how much they settled with Rice for, that number will count against the '14 season too....

Yes, they announced it at the league meetings in December. Estimated to be between $138.6M-$141.8M. Some expect it to go a bit higher, even speculating that by 2016 is will be upwards of $160 mil.

He turned down a good contract over the summer. His 30 touchdowns since his rookie year have him thinking top dollar or close to it for sure.

Odds on Marone becoming the OC here? Do the Ravens trust a man who gave up a job thinking he ha anothr locked up only to find out no one wants him? Will they rent an OC for a year again?

So Marone on Saturday, Kubs on Sunday, unless Marone wows them.

Yep, the wide outs will fly for a while, but I truly believe there are as many as 10 who can play right away and be true #1's.... Funches, as I said on the draft thread would be nice in the late 2n or 3rd round. He is too inconsitant with his hands, is lazy in his route running and a poor blocker.

Teryl Austin, Lions defensive coordinator, has with drawn his name from the Brncos coach search. Word is because he is now the front runner for the Falcons job. In any event, this takes one more name out of the Bronco coaching job........ Good luck Kubs, you are gonna need it out there. I understand him "wanting" to coach there, having played there, coached there, raised his kids there..

Maybe, or maybe he is just waiting to hear from Peyton. If not for Manning, Kubs would be walking into Houston all over again. No qb, a good defense, some good weapons on the outisde, but again, it would be no quarterback if Manning doesn't come back.... In that case and with their cap situation, that would not be a desirable job.

Team and Rice reach a settlement, no word on how much they gave BACk to him.....

Torrey wants to be back so much he turned down a contract last summer.... Smith Sr, if you look at his stats as the year went, really started to slow down, had trouble getting seperation, broke or made people miss, less & less. Oh yes, and there were the drops that also came back........ All signs his age has caught up to him....I am sure they would like him back, I am also sure, they wouldn't mind if he decided to retire....

As Papa said, too high for Funches, who is not very good with his route running, look closely at Kipper's write up; quickness to, not that he does run crisp routes. He is also not a good blocker what so ever, and has suspect hands. I like the kid, he is the type, athletic, of tight end the team needs, but they can get him in the 2nd, maybe even the 3rd pending on how the draft goes. With that said, I wouldn't mind the Ravens drafting him, the potential is enormous and he could play right away in certain situations.

My favorite is Kevin Johnson from wake. 6-175, runs a 4-4.5 he is quick as well as fast, has loose hips, great instincts and loves to tackle. He has good quick hands to jam receivers and the quickness to recover. he also can return punts...... where will he go? Anywhere from low first to early 3rd round. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu from Oregon is a smaller db, but wow, can the kid play. A ball hawk, recognizes routes quickly, good speed & quickness. With his injury, who knows where he will go, pre injury, he was a first round talent, 15-20 in round 1. Ladarius Gunter from the U, 6-2, 200, 4.5 speed, another great hands db with the arm legnth and hands to jam, the quickness to receover. He needs some work on recognizing routes, on technique, but he can be had in the 3rd or so. A sleeper is Cam Thomas from Western Kentucky. All the tools, 6'-1, 190, 4.5 speed, but he didn't face the best talent at wide out. When he did play the big boys, he stood out, so there is some evidence he can be a starter sooner rather than later.

I've no doubt he has all the talent, a great top receiver. However, his drops are not from poor hands, they are from a lack of concentration that goes back even to his college days. DB's have been able to get in his head, make him press, which leads to his drops. Shoot, just look at the key drops he had last week alone, all from pressing, trying to do too much. At this stage of his life, that should not be happening. For the cost to get him, and what this team would have to lose player wise, I don't think he is worht it. Especially, as I have been saying, with this draft class of receivers; deepest in a long, long time.

He is a wild card right now. he has all the physical tools, a true number one receiver type, however, did he learn anything from the past two years on how to be a professional? Those character issues would give me pause, but with the right "answers" from him, I would take him in a minute. Butler, eh, another possesion receiver. They have him in Aiken/Brown. All three work well against zone, but none of them have the agility this team needs, the quickness, the jitter to get open against man or to make people miss in the open field. His major flaws were route running, which are teachable and I am sure he has worked on them this season. But he is not a number one, not really a #2 even, more a slot receiver.

Yeah, I know I am going out on a limb, but I think the proof is there as I said to crav, the coaching at early ages has gotten so much better, just look at this past year's draft class for proof. Listening to the coaches, front office people over this season, I know alot of it was coach speak, but they seem OK with the receivers they currently have, sadly. However, Brown and Aiken, who both saw a lot more action later in the season, are the same player types, and Camp, while showing flashes, has not been able to stay healthy after games. He also doesn't block well, nor does Torrey, but both Aiken & Brown do.... So what the team does with this core, is a mystery right now. I doubt they draft one at 26 unless by some miracle Kevin White falls there. He is the perfect receiver this team needs, he has all the tools, blocking as well. I personally feel there will be one or two worth taking at 26. The bigger names, Cooper, White will go in the top 5-15 picks, after that, not many teams looking for a wide as a first priority. Baring that miracle, I think and would be very happy with them getting Lippet from Michagan St. Tall, fast,quick, great hands, controls his body well and because of his coaching, he is a great down field blocker. I could also see them taking Shaq Washington from Cinci, though he should be there in the late 2n, maybe even the 3rd round. He has the hands, speed, agility, decent blocker, and good size. He is more slot receiver though he has been used out wide. But as I said, I doubt they go there, I can see them getting a lb'de as I mentioned early, or even a db like Kevin Johnson from Wake. A big, strong, fast kid with quickness, great hands & instincts. He need some work on his technique, but could easily be a nickle or dime back next season, starting corner by year two. I also love, love Jamison Crowder, Duke, talk about Steve Smith Sr, part II wow is this kid electric, fiesty, great route runner, catches everything and has the Hines Ward attitude of blocking.... One name to watch witht the Ravens on day three, IF he comes out, is Mekale MacKay also from Cinci. 6-6, 200, huge hands, decent speed (4.6-4.7) raw talent.

It never really went away. They switched over to a more predominate 3-4 because they had more talented line backers than they had defensive linemen. Today, now, hey have used the 4-3 at times, as every team does. They also have the linemen to run the 4-3 more often. That is one of the great things about having a player like McFee, he can play the tackle, end or backer position. Williams can play all the positions of the tackles as well. I doubt they go after him, and yes Crav, he got his start here under Billick.