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Good points OTR. When they went into New England this year they were not intimidated. They were not nervous. They KNEW they would win and how to do it. It was not going to end like last year. Shutting out the Pats in the second half was an incredible statement on how determined all 53 were. Sometimes you have to climb the mountain, slid down some, come back and make that finaly push tothe summit. That's what they did for the 4 previous seasons. Hungry veteren leaders pushed the pack. They kept the team focused on knowing they could do it. Ozzie brought in the key players who pushed they over the top. The coaches coached their ass off developing players to fill the gaps because injuries should have sunk this team. I'm optimistic on the 2013 Ravens being competitive. I know we have perhaps a 50% knowledge of what the roster will look like opening day. So there is a lot of guess work but past organizational performance and history says they will field a solid team. Maybe not Super Bowl caliber but enough to stay overnight on the mountain.

There are factors working in the Ravens favor to make the playoffs next year despite the tight cap situation and very tough schedule. 1. They made the playoffs this year despite a ton of injuries. Usually that many injuries kills a teams season. Just being healthy this year will make a big difference. 2. Many back ups had extenisive playing time and experience as a result of the injuries....and proved they were quality football players. 3. Win the division and they are in. It's do-able. The Steelers are hurting bad. They have to make massive cuts to just get under the cap. It's definately a rebuiilding year for them. The Brownies? So the Bengals will be their only competition. 4. The Ravens front office will not mortgage the future for another Super Bowl...for a repeat. That's good. The coaching staff has done an excellent job developing players as evidenced this past season. When unknowns had to step up, they were ready and steped up big. Don't sell this team short on the existing talent on the roster...it's deep. 5. As for the schedule....that's what you want. Compete with the best and you'll learn how to beat the best. 6. The offense will be lights out with Caldwell. Special Teams will be damn good and the D????? We'll see. They have to get better and that can happen too.

The writer is writing more about himself.

Thanks for the find. It was terrific! This Ravens team has character and characters galore. He was entertaining, in control and funny. Another Raven to the bone.

They are going to sign Flacco and it will be for a lot of money. That's a fact. A reality they will have to deal with as far as the CAP and getting a competetive 2013 roster. It's a fixed point....so the focus goes to how will they get the players that they need to put together a playoff caliber team. They talked about that today...

Can I bring them?

It's all here. It will answer a lot of questions...but not all of them. It's a long read but I look forward to it every year. I like to hear it directly from the brass and form my own understanding and interpretation rather than get it second hand from the media. http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Season-Preview-Press-Conference/2559ec96-8ea8-495f-a8c1-0835bc74175d

It wouldn't be one tenth the nightmare of going back and forth from the Meadowlands. Everything would be right at the beautiful Inner Harbor in walking distance to everything. Why shouldn't Baltimore be allowed to empty all those visitors wallets like these other cities?

Here's more of what his agent said...

I absolutely agree. The alternative is unthinkable for me. I can't take another Boller, Blake, GrBac, Mitchell, Banks, .....12 years of waiting for a good QB to put on a Ravens jersey. When you put it that way I say "sign him."....with no hesitation. Joe is just a great all around guy IMO. I'd love to see him here for many years to come. Hell...he's young and just hitting his prime.

at repeating as Super Bowl Champs.

Ray cleaned his locker out today. The name plate is gone.

They'll get screwed just like in 2001. The 2000 Champs did not have the opening game of the season. Instead they had a 1pm game against the Bears. It was hot as shit and Terry Allen was our leading rusher with 37 yards.

I haven't thought about this yet but here's my first random thoughts.... 8 weeks ago nobody would have said that Joe's worth that kind of money. The Ravens are not World Champs without Joe. He did carry this team down the stretch. They needed points in a hurry against Denver and the 49'ers because the D could not hold those teams down. Joe got then. But it wasn't all Joe. This explosion co-incided with Caldwell taking over and his new, reconfigured O line that bought him the time that he needed to look....spectacular. If Joe doesn't have that moving forward, he may look like the Joe we know. But if he has the supporting cast he will look like Playoff Joe more often than not. The D gives up way too many yards and points. Only the Redzone D saved them anmd don't expect that every year. Without Joe and a high scoring offense this team will be sub .500. In any negotiation start as high as you can go. Therefore ask for top dollar. In this case, ask to be the highest paid QB in the NFL after such spectacular numbers and results in the playoffs. The Ravens counter and off we go. Paying Joe doesn't guarantee anything. Rodgers and Brees have only 1 Super Bowl ring each and haven't been back since they won. Peyton only has 1 ring. The price may seen ridiculous now, but it won't by year 5-6 as future QB's line up to cash in. Yes....this will hurt the team as far as how many good players they can afford to keep each year.

Nice!....so they broke the SI curse. Get this one too OTR...

That's just wrong. Age and the mileage caught up with Ray, but after 17 years of tons of huge games, he didn't get a case of the jitters.

You Can't Ask For A Better Playoff Run Than The 2012 Baltimore Ravens Had. They Beat the Best. Underdogs all the way. A playoff run that was loaded with spectacular plays. This 2012 Ravens team had just as many great characters and key contributers as the 2000 team. It had a ton of adversity to overcome....and they did it in inspiring fashion because they believed they could when all others doubted. They hung together just like the 2000 team did...like family. Yea...it's Storybook.

How wrong and out of touch was Tagliaboo to say "Build a museum."?

Wow...here's the link... http://www.baltimoreravens.com/videos/videos/Phone_Call_From_President_Obama/80bfa642-5d69-431f-8783-f325ee7d83ba

dum-de-dum-de-doo

Do-de-do-de-do...

Here's the link... http://www.pressboxonline.com/blog.cfm?ID=5756 It has the 2013 Ravens Free Agent Class, 2013-2014 NFL calender, and 2013 Strength of Schedule for all teams (Ravens basiclly have the 3rd toughest as 3 teams are tied at #2).

I got to see the whole stadium part. I stopped at a barbershop for a haircut and they had it on the TV there just as the Ravens were pulling up to the stadium. Awesome. There had to be over 100,000 fans there. My son was there and sat in our seats and took tons of pictures. He said everybody felt like family....you could feel the love. Great Show Baltimore!