Eric on the failed trade news conference

[tsylvester]

 

[tsylvester]

Everyone in the media is killing the Ravens right now. I have no issue with them backing out because of what is likely severe arthritis in Crosby's knee.

My real issue, and sorry Grub, you were right, is the front office actually wanted to pair Crosby with Hendrickson..

The cost of those two on the defense would have had terrible ripple affects on the talent around the team.

Yes, it would have been a force with those two rushing the passer.

[oldno82]

Combining both Crosby and Trey would have been a mistake as bad as trading the two number one picks to begin with. The cap would have been eaten up with those two and Lamar. If Lamar had negotiated an extension rather than letting a restructuring go through, then it just might have been possible.

And, I think DeCosta might have been just daydreaming rather than actually planning such a move from the way he phrases it during the news conference.

Also, Lamar's reluctance on the extension issue again makes me wonder if he really wants to be here. He may regret it because to paraphrase a famous movie, he's writing checks his body might not be able to cash. If his skills are indeed eroding, now should have been the time he jumped at the chance of another 4 year contract.

And, here's a chilling thought...his cap hit this year is now manageable but in this restructure his cap hit next year is, I believe, over $85million!!!

[tsylvester]

Off topic but..

I'm watching the documentary on Barry Sanders, one of my favorite players, ever, in any sport. So humble, how humble? He didn't want to win the Heisman and was a bit embarrassed, Rodney Pete's words, that he did win.

Any way, in it there is a shot of him talking with one of his former head coaches with the Lions, Wayne Fontes. Both of them are old now and reminiscent of their day. Fontes says, ya know kid, if we only had a quarterback back our day, we would have won a few championships. Barry chuckles and agrees. Then Fontes drops what I consider a bomb shell.

Back then, SanFran had cut loose Joe Montana, in favor of Steve Young. Fontes says Joe actually called him and said he would love to play for the Lions and with Barry.

Fontes was over the moon, hung up and called his GM, who said: forget it, Joe is too old...

Joe went on to KC and took them to the playoffs.

Fontes says to the GM, how about Warren Moon, he too would like to play here, same answer from the GM, too old

Moon went to Houston and was an all pro for a few years.

Barry was shocked to hear that and they both laughed.

Why dis Barry retire so young? So close to the all time record?

He never says other than, it was time.

My feeling, after watching it, he didn't want the record, he didn't want the attention from breaking the record, nor to take the record away from Walter. 

It's a great documentary, in the Amazon plus ap if ya have it.

I guess the point I'm making is, we, the fans, never know the entire reason for a signing or, for not making a signing, was it the coach, the gm, both or neither, maybe the owner...

[GrubberRaven]

That's a great story.  Appreciate you sharing it.  In a world where people hoard money and seem to never be at peace, reading things like this bring back some humanity.  Barry is still a millionaire and able to enjoy his elder years I'm assuming.

Honestly, Lamar comes from poverty and he'll never worry about it again, as long as he saves/spends it right.  Maybe he achieved his goals.  I think he still wants a ring, but not here.  

[tsylvester]

Read some reports trying to link Joey Bosa here, frankly I certainly hope not. Never been a fan of his, always dinged up, looked up his stats, they are not impressive either.

Only 3 times has he played a full season, only 4 times has been gotten over 10 sacks, even one of them was 10.5 sacks

 

Please I hope not

[papasmurfbell]

Boss is a big no unless he takes a very team friendly deal.

[oldno82]

There are some media outlets, SI among them, saying he would be viable for the Ravens, but most of the latest buzz seems to involve him going to SFO.

By the way, a nod to Tsyl and Grub: I was mistaken that DeCosta was only daydreaming of Maxx and Trey on the same line as apparently he was serious about that happening. That would have been a devastating D line for sure if they go ahead and draft a stud DT. We wouldn't have had much left for the Offensive line though except through the draft. 

The $40 mil of cap space the team got from the restructure of Jackson's contract really opened possibilities up.

 

[tsylvester]

Ravens should go back to the Raiders with an offer of a 1 this year, a 4 next if he plays in more than 16 games, it can be increased to a 3  

[papasmurfbell]

I don’t think this yr is the issue.  Yr 3 and further is my worry.  I don’t want to trade for a guy who could be lame in a couple yrs.

[tsylvester]

I was joking and do agree, the arthritis was the issue

[GrubberRaven]

you're trading 2 first round pics, you better get 5 years of top performance.  Maxx is running himself into the ground.

[oldno82]

Is that true of Lamar as well? 

[tsylvester]

Nope, different player type. If he can throw and run, fantastic, if he can only throw and scramble, wonderful.

Crosby needs his legs to be productive. Spending 3 or more games out to rest the knee or get scoped every season after this one, then he is not worth 2 #1's