tsylvester

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.

Yep and with the talent of the defensive tackles, monster weights, and their flexibility to play multiple positions, a 4-3 would not be a bad switch, back.

right, send them both off, get Swartz back here. While I don't like the guy, he is a great defensive mind....

No on D Thomas, he drops too many balls, often loses interest in games, a real head case. we have that now in many receivers........ Now Julius, yes, go after him if the cap allows... Kub's offense to work full go, really needs an athletic tight end like Daniels use to be, to exploit the linebackers. Thomas, J, would open up so much for this offense. But then, I feel there are several tight ends in the draft who have the same or similar skill sets....

Looks like their linebacker coach, Keith Butler is the likely choice.

Manning is likely to retire, especially now. I doubt Kubs goes there, even if Manning stays, he only has a year if that left in him. Once you start pulling & ripping muscles at his age, they don't heal right...........

Resigns, not retired, perhaps the key words........

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24958026/john-fox-out-as-broncos-coach-three-things-to-know Wow, Marvin Lewis has gotten more leash, Tomlin has as well, though he does have a super bowl win

2.5 yards to the left would have been out of bounds. How do you know Joe doesn't work with the receivers in the off season? Torrey is known for not running routes properly and every qb throws a pass slightly off target, especially from 30+ yards out. Was it off target? Yes, but not by yards, by a foot at most. Torrey could have easily gone after the ball...

Wow, I just heard the news, what a great coach he was... Swartz may become available, what hear you in the Burg? Did he resign because of issues in the front office? Who else, besides positional coaches are the fine folks in Stiller town looking at?

I don't think White will last to the 26th pick. He has Julio Jones type talent, some, Cris Carter, have compared him to Randay Moss with a better work ethic. Strong is likely to go in the top 15 (maybe top 10) also, along with Cooper from Bama who should go top 5... However, there are many the Ravens could target at 26 for wide out who can come right in and make a huge impact next season. The big question will be what they do wth all their free agents, especially my favorite, McPhee. If he walks, they might look to fill his role with some one like Dupree from Kentucky, who has played defensive end and outside backer. He has the size, 6-4, 264 and the speed to go along with a good wing span and leaping ability to fight off blockers, to get around the edge. He would be a good replacement for McPhee, who is more versitile however. But Dupree is a smart cookie, he could pick things up quickly. Pending his pro day and the combine, he is currently slated for the 2nd, but at 26, he would be a good pick. I would hope the Ravens go after or "rank" either Shaq Washington from Cinci, who has bliserting speed & quickness, great body control, big strong hands and is not affraid to give his body up nor to fight to make a catch. or as Papa mentioned, tight end Pharoh Brown from Oregon. Where he will go is a mystery right now as he is recovering from a broken leg. Julius Thomas comes to mind with him,a great talent, though not the best blockers. Lippet from MSU is another option for wide out. Or Gerod Holliman, safety from Louisville.