oldno82

Dickson will be fine in the receiving department. Wish he pass blocked better---maybe he'll learn. As for Ngata, agree we've got to move fast on this. We still need a backup qb, possibly an OT, and it would be nice to pick up a pass rusher.

He's been a very good player and I will miss him. I think Dickson will pick up the pass completions but I am concerned about losing Heap's pass blocking. Overall, though, I understand and approve of the cut because our cap space is so damn tight.

Leach Signed I was real happy to hear we signed this guy as I thought he'd be out of our price range. We just picked up the best blocking FB in the NFL and with us losing Heap this goes a long way to filling Heap's blocking role as well as a bulldozer to open up lanes for Ray Rice. A great pickup!

Gosh, I wonder if thats the end of his career?

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Crav, like I said, we don't have the cap money for a big splash like Aso. Sure I'd like to have him but it didn't happen and with us just a few million under the cap we didn't have a shot. Anyway, its a moot point now that he signed with the Iggles.

As usual, a very good post Max. I am so 'up' for football especially after watching the Orioles tank yet again. Plus, I just like football better---its so much more entertaining than baseball. Even if we, heaven forbid, don't make the playoffs, I'll remain 100% invested in the Ravens football team. The early reports from camp are all positive but there's so much more to go. We need the cap space a contract with Ngata would give us. This is priority number 1 and I was disappointed to hear that the front office is waiting a few more days before starting the negotiations. Now is the time to do this. As for all the new rookies in camp, I'm excited but I temper that with the knowledge that we won't know the true value of these guys until they're in real action. Will Kindle be able to hold up? Can Cody take it to the next level? Can Hardy, T Smith, and Dickson be valuable targets for Joe? Can Dickson improve greatly his pass blocking? What about the guys we still need: FB, OT, C, all around depth? How do we match up against the Steelers at game 1? Who will get injured that we need somebody to step up for (its inevitable)? Tons of questions to be answered in the next four weeks. Exciting, yes, but a little worrisome too.

Signing Ngata longterm frees up a bunch of cap space and I also agree that we have too many needs (the ones you mentioned above) to go after a guy like Aso.

In today's Sun there is an article that says we're only $5 million under the cap.

I hope he's right... http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2011/07/patience_is_key.html

Can anybody point me to where it says what our cap room is? I thought we freed up 18.6mil with the cuts but we need 4 for the rookie pool and we just gave 6.5 to Yanda. So that sounds like 8.1 mil left.

I suspect we don't have the cap money available.

While I'd love to have Naamdi or Joseph I just have a feeling we don't have the cap room available. We must sign Ngata to a long-term cap friendly deal. Right now he's eating up a ton of cap money with the Franchise tag. And this should be done ASAP. We still need an OT and a FB at least.

Well, good for him. Without having Mason and Heap it might be more challenging at first, but he's a year older and its time to take the final step.

If, and its a big 'IF', Sergio can still show the form he had at Texas and be well, this would be a real unanticipated boon for the Defense's pass rush.

Dammit! I always have trouble posting links GRRRRR!

Should be good news if he can bounce back and (please for his sake) not get a head injury. http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2011/07/source_no_pup_for_sergio_kindle.html

I preferred him to Carr but Carr is alright and we have Foxworth, Webb, and Jimmy Smith so I'm not too worried.

You know I was wondering if maybe another reason they cut these guys was to force Joe and Cam to rely more on Boldin and the younger guys. I tend to think not but I do wonder. I still think Mase and possibly Heap will be back but at much reduced cost and thats a good thing since we needed cap space.

Sounds like the direction we ought to be headed in, Max.

Impressed with Berry and Boren. We could sure use the first for a backup to Ray and the second to replace Chester---Maybe!

Yeah, I agree. We have to resign Yanda and that will cost a chunk. With whats left over, we need reasonably priced FAs to fill our holes.

That is absolutely how I feel.

I know how you feel but like I said, we desperately need an outside pass rusher and at least one offensive lineman.

Could indeed be the beginning of a youth move. In 2010 we drafted 2 TEs. This year we drafted 2 WRs. Maybe its time for Dickson and Pitta to step up and Torrey Smith and Tandon Ross and, damn I forgot his name (old age is a bitch) but that real tall WR we picked up after the season was over to take their positions.