thundercleetz

You are right, the DPOY is usually the player with the most gaudy stat. However, that is only if that one stat blows the next high number out of the water. I believe Harrison's 16 sacks (in 15 games) are comparable enough to Ware's 20 sacks (16 games) that you have to consider the rest of the stats. Of course, Ed Reed's league leading INT's have been publicized enough because of his return yardage and TD's that he will have to be considered for DPOY. As for Ware, remember, the Cowboys led the league in sacks. Greg Ellis and Bradie James had 8 sacks, Jay Ratliff had 7.5 sacks. Now, you can spin this as Ware created opportunities for them, or vice-versa (probably a little bit of both). However, the bottom line is that Ware hardly played for a bad defense. Not every player can get 7+ sacks, no matter how good of a player lines up on the other side of them. If I had to guess, I would say Harrison wins the award. He has received a large amount of publicity, has the stats, and plays for the media's favorite sweethart :P . I will tell you what. Us running for 265 yards on the Cowboys defense on primetime will not help Ware any (even if it was not his fault) I guess Flacco could not get them all, he finished 3 yards short of his first career 300-yard game, and 29-yards short of a 3,000-yard season (which would have put him in elite company for a rookie).

You are right, my logic is faulty. I guess my point is that Dallas has just as much talent on defense as us or the Steelers. When it comes down to it, has Ware's impact, not on his own defense, but on the game in general been as great as Reed's or Harrison's? I am not so sure. It is close, but between Reed's INTs and touchdowns and Harrison's ridiculous amount of forced fumbles and tackles for a pass rushing OLB, I do not think Ware has been as much of a gamechanger. Good stuff on Flacco! A 60% completion percentage certainly looks better than a 59.9%, and an 80 QB rating looks a lot better than a 79.9. Good numbers for a rookie, and will certainly be something to build on. Boy, watching Flacco complete deep pass after deep pass was encouraging. I believe Clayton can eventually develop into a Derrick Mason clone (remember, Mason had a similar ability to get deep as Clayton when Mason was younger). Mason's impact on Clayton has been great, and it will continue to be until Mason is ready to hang 'em up. At that point, I fully expect Mark to be ready to step into D-Mase's role. Just get Flacco a tall deep threat, and with Clayton, Flacco should have some solid receivers to pass to for years to come.

Congrats D-Mase on another 80 reception, 1,000 yard season!!!!!!!

I have been saying this all season. If anything this disdain should be shown towards Ivy Nevertheless, Washington better be ready to go this week. We are going to need someone fast enough to keep up with Ginn!

:lol: Ware has had a great season, but if it came down to an OLB, I believe James Harrison is more deserving. He has comparable sack numbers, but has been a better all-around player on a better defense. Ware goes out on a bad note for a team that did not make the playoffs and is currently seen as falling apart. I think it comes down to Reed and Harrison, as both guys are on teams that made the playoffs and are on the #2 and #1 defenses respectfully. Miami is another game I see as one "we should win." We have not lost a game we should have won all season. Once again, I do not expect anything to change next week. In fact, I am calling a *** I'm stupid for thinking this game is easy ***! Things will get interesting when we play the Titans.

Ware has had a great season, but if it came down to an OLB, I believe James Harrison is more deserving. He has comparable sack numbers, but has been a better all-around player on a better defense. Ware goes out on a bad note for a team that did not make the playoffs and is currently seen as falling apart. I think it comes down to Reed and Harrison, as both guys are on teams that made the playoffs and are on the #2 and #1 defenses respectfully.

I have heard that Bart is not about the money, and that he absolutely loves being a Raven. Do not be surprised if he takes a smaller contract to return. I would say out of our free agents, Jay Brown is probably the most important. I would franchise Suggs again. If we cannot sign him, trade him for a Jared Allen-type deal. If we cannot trade him, then let him go before the deadline. I think Ray coming back is a guarantee. When it comes down to it, I trust Ozzie, Harbaugh, DeCosta and company know the type of player we want, and goes get them. Here is the difference between going into next season as opposed to the past, we have a franchise QB. That automatically brings stability to our team, and I expect us to annually contend for Super Bowls in the manner of the Steelers, Colts, Pats as long as Flacco continues to improve.

I saw that during the game. Goodell was sitting between Bisciotti and Gary Williams (Gary and Steve must be really good friends, he is at all the games!). Hey Roger, if you are in Baltimore for the 50th anniversary of The Greatest Game Ever Played, how about giving Baltimore its history back!

We should have an Extreme Ravens playoff party or something!

I would assume not. However, Harbaugh is on record as saying he guarantees 100% that the Pats are beating the Bills. So I doubt that situation is even being considered.

We have not played down to the level of our competition all season, I do not expect us to start tomorrow. Our five losses are to the four of the best teams in the league (Giants, Steelers, Titans, and Colts). We have dominated everyone else. We are not losing to the 5-10 Jacksonville Jaguars.

Merry Christmas!

I do not think we will dominate this game, but I think we will win it handedly in the fashion of the Skins game. The Jags are going to come to play, but the Ravens have not played down to the level of our competition all season. We are 10-5 for a reason, and are clearly more talented and better coached than the Jags. It will not be an easy win, but I believe we will come out on top with some good momentum going into the playoffs.

LOL! The offer is always on the table for you dee! ;)

Book it!

LOL! Do they really have to use the Riddler? Would it be completely out of the question to create a new villian? I mean, they created Rachel Dawes, why not a new bad assed villian? Better yet, work with DC to make the new villian. Honestly, I do not want to see Robin in any of these new Batman movies. Keep Robin out of it. The only way I could see Robin, like DC said, is if it was a long developing story. Maybe like years from now make a Batman where Christian Bale in a minor role passes the torch to a Robin who is able to carry a movie by himself. It wouldn't really be sequel to Batman, more like a spinoff (kind of like the new Venom movie coming out).

If you think this offseason is crazy, just wait until Matt Wieters (Boras client) and Nick Markakis are free agents. Seriously, I say blow it completely up. Roberts, Huff, Sherrill, trade all these guys. Keep Nick another year or two then trade him. The Billie Bean model is the only way we will be able to compete.

Will you marry me? :lol:

As long as we win, we will get a very favorable matchup against the Jets or Dolphins. The Dolphins do not have anything on us. We can stop their run, and Chad Pennington does not have the arm or mobility to beat us downfield. As for the Jets, we would eat Favre alive. Ed Reed would have a field day playing centerfield. The only way they would have a chance against us is if Thomas Jones could get going. Jones is having an excellent year, and the Jets offensive line is very good. He would certainly be a challenge for us, but nothing we could not handle. The Jets have an average defense with a good run defense and a horrible pass defense. With all this said, the Dolphins would provide the most favorable matchup (the homefield advantage in Miami is nice as well!). However, the Jets would not give us much more trouble. They are extremely inconsistent, play down to the level of their competition, and have lost to some very bad teams (Oakland, San Fran, Seattle). Under Harbaugh, we have not played down to the level of our competition. We have dominated bad teams, the Jets do not. At this point, we just need a playoff win. This franchise has not won a playoff game since 2002, we need to get those wheels moving again.

Here are the candidates: Albert Haynesworth - Haynesworth has 51 tackles and 8.5 sacks as a defensive tackle. However, his impact on the field is much greater than his numbers as he is very difficult to gameplan for. He is an impact player for arguably the best team in the league, which will get consideration. James Harrison - Harrison is having truely an exceptional year very worthy of the DPOY. Harrison has 101 tackles, 16 sacks, 7 FFs, and an INT. The sack numbers are impressive, but I think the over 100 tackles as a pass rushing 3-4 OLB is amazing. Remember, Harrison plays for the league's number one defense as well, which should help him out in the voting. Troy Polamalu - Polamalu is tied with Reed (and Michael Griffin) for the league lead in interceptions with seven. Polamalu is very similar to Reed in his impact on opposing offenses. Polamalu is more active in the run game with 70 tackles but he does not have the return ability of Reed, as evident by his mere 59 return yards and zero touchdowns. Ed Reed - Our very own Ed Reed is having just as much of a deserving year as the next guy. He has 38 tackles, a sack, 7 INTs for an astounding 220 return yards (31.4 average), and of course three defensive TDs. Like Haynesworth, the impact is far greater than numbers as Reed is always on the opposing QBs mind every single play. DeMarcus Ware - Ware is having a great year of his own with 80 tackles, 20 sacks, and 6 FFs. We know first hand the impact he has pass rushing, he opens up opportunities for the rest of his defense, which is why the Cowboys are number one in team sacks. He could get extra consideration if he breaks the sack record this week (needs three sacks). Everyone of these guys is just as deserving as the next. In my opinion, Reed, Polamalu, and Harrison are all hurt because of the talent around them on their defenses. Especially Polamalu and Harrison, who might cancel each other out in voting. It really would not surprise me to see a tie for this award, possibly between Ware and Haynesworth.

I feel the exact same way, I might be done with baseball as well! Except for the occasional game at OPACY, but I might have to get a few brews in me to watch it now. :lol:

Well, be prepared to give up on this team. You really think Markakis is going to extend with the kind of team we have in the AL East? At this rate we will never be able to compete!

Okay, forget everything I said, you were right, Ken. Some reason I am not as mad as I would be as if he signed with the Sox or Nats. I guess you kind of expect this thing from the Yanks.

Because AM said the offer is "flexible". Rumor is that AM asked Boras for the last chance to counter before Tex makes a decision, I guess that is as close as it comes to a "hometown discount". Right now the Nats are rumored to have the highest offer. Do you really think that Angelos would let Teixeira go across town to the Nats? This is why we are still covering the Tex saga. I heard a quote about Boras, it is never good to be the front runner with his clients, because he just plays them. AM is playing it smart, IMO, by not getting played by continuely raising the offer. Even if the O's are willing to go higher, why go higher if you know it will not seal the deal? AM knows how Boras works, and if he feels the opportunity arises where we have a legitimate chance to make an offer and get Tex, he will make it (provided it is within our budget constraint, whatever that may be). I still do not think the O's will get Tex. IMO, the Nats are getting played and Tex will eventually end up in Boston. The O's are certainly in the race still trying to keep pace for a potential sprint down the homestretch. If they weren't, AM is an honest guy with the media and would have come out publically and said the bidding has gotten too expensive (like the Angels). If this is not the case, why is our $140-150 million offer still on the table? That is almost embarassing considering the other offers, and gives us bad rep around the league. It is still on the table because AM is keeping the door open to further negotiations.

Good. New England plays Buffalo at 1PM. So if by the slightest chance New England loses, we will know whether or not we will have clinched a playoff spot by the time we play at 4PM (if New England loses, we are in no matter what). Nevertheless, we still need to take care of business next week. We need to keep the momentum going into the playoffs, and of course, win the last home game of the season! Also, 11-5 looks a whole lot better than 10-6.