I know Ravens’ critics don’t like hearing it, but Ray/Oz are the common denominator. You can also ask all the D coordinators whom also chased money and suffered similar fates.

And I stand my ground…Raven or no Raven, Ed>Troy

The elephant in the room is Flacco’s contract. Some will talk about it, others will avoid it. But that doesn’t change the fact that something had to be sacrificed to pay him. It’s just obvious.

Joe isn’t the only one who is benefiting from the championship run. Outside of Baltimore, people didn’t know who Paul Kruger, Danelle Ellerbe, etc was in November? When Ngata and Suggs are on the field, they draw double teams. Next thing you know Kruger racks up double digit sacks and is a $40 million dollar man.

Joe’s upside is much greater than the free agents the Ravens are parting with. Football meet business, business meet football. This is how it works people…

“Cap friendly”? Say WHAT? Yeah, it’s just 6.8 mil the first year, but most big contracts are low the first year out. After that, the deal immediately jumps to about 15 mil. Go do a survey and see how many other NFL players are getting that.

And a couple years later it jumps to a number so big it’s scary… but that’s not even the point. Point is — it’s why you can’t sign guys to FIVE year deals. So Ellerbe walked. Duh.

Look around you, Ravens fans, all over they’re joking about how Flacco’s deal wrecked the team. One ESPN guy said “Flacco better play both sides of the ball now.” And you actually think all these guys leaving have NOTHING to do with Flacco getting so overpaid? Huh?

The deal is laughable because the team is paying for 5 years of mediocre quarterbacking and one freak playoff run, including a miracle Hail Mary heave in Denver. I’m not the one saying it, YOU are, Ravens fans — if you want I’ll show you all the press in Baltimore calling Flacco a bust after he lost to Charlie Batch this year.

Flacco’s got a career 86 rating, which is about right for where he stands in the NFL. He’s second-tier, average. The true franchise guys rate into the mid 90s and above, for their careers. Flacco simply isn’t the guy you build your team around — but the Ravens are paying him like it. That’s why you’re screwed.

Why do you think Ozzie said “if we do a deal with Joe, we won’t be franchising anyone.” Care to answer that? C’mon, man, quit pretending. Ozzie knows you can’t pay Flacco big and keep everyone else, or sign other FAs to big deals. It’s just not mathematically possible.

yeah all he wanted to do was play for his CONTRACT PRICE

1 the contract does not gurantee 120 million – only about 50 million is guaranteed

2 the 2013 salary cap hit is 6.8 million (about the same as Boldin’s cap number would have been and far less that Suggs or Ngata)

Flacco’s contract is not the reason that the Ravens did not sign Boldin or Kruger or Ellerbe. These guys were let go because Ozzie did not think they were worth what they were asking for. Period.

[Three paragraphs of utter nonsense]

So Ravens fans, was the one ring worth it?
–

Yes. Yes it was. Teams that pay ridiculous money to role players or 7.5 mill to 33 year old possession guys don’t usually contend for Super Bowls. [See Browns, Cleveland; Dolphins, Miami]

Sure, it would have been great to keep them both…at the right price.

Just like it was worth paying a mediocre inconsistent QB $120m. LMAO. Good luck with that! He’s all yours now.

And yes I know he only counts 6.8 against the cap this year.

Fact is, Flacco’s freak playoff run and Super Bowl MVP shouldn’t have happened. Honestly. Because the end of the run should’ve been Denver. Only a miracle Hail Mary bomb let the Ravens get by.

If the Ravens lost as they should have, Flacco gets a contract slightly north of Alex Smith — not the team-destroying richest contract ever signed in history. Crippling the team’s ability to offer 4 or 5 year deals in the next few years.

If Flacco gets a deal based on 5 years of so-so QBing, that leaves room for the Ravens to re-sign Ellerbe (and please stop acting like that wasn’t something they desperately wanted to do). And maybe keep Boldin, who’s bailed out Flacco big time. The team can contend for Super Bowls the next few years. Instead of spending it all on Flacco.

So Ravens fans, was the one ring worth it?

I Hope Ed stays but if not close the chapter with a Superbowl win is nice and I have no doubt the Ravens will continue to win like they have for the past 17 years! OZZIE

Hey smartguy…7 of those 17 “winning” years did not result in winning records…Typical Ravens fan…Never let the facts get in the way of you post.

You must be a steelers fan… what happened to their front office when they went close to 40 years between superbowls???

and if your not a steelers fan then tell me how many other teams have won 2 superbowls in a 12 year span? a select few

and how many current teams have won a playoff game the past five years in a row? NONE

Ozzie has kept the ravens in contention for 17 years, just let the man work his magic…

Just calling it the way it is. Ozzie’s record speaks for itself. He doesn’t need me or anyone else to sing his praises.

Boldin is gone because he would not take a pay cut. I would love to still have him, but not at that price. Welker got 6 million form Denver to play the slot and he averages over 100 catches a year. Boldin is not as good as Welker

And just think what will happen if the steelers miss the playoffs for the THIRD year in a row…

The Ravens have lost a lot of talent, but it seems people should have learned their lesson from doubting Ozzie Newsome by now. 2 champoinships in 17 years for a relocated team. No other modern day relocated or expansion franchise has even won 1 that fast. (Texans, Panthers, Titans,) (Colts took 21 years to win 1 after moving). It is blatantly obvious this guy knows what he is doing.

It would also tell what teams/cities are considered by the players as the best places for a player to play. There would be stats for which teams lead the league in hometown discount, and those teams would be the teams/cities that players consider to be the best places to play. Those are the teams that players sacrifice the most money to play for.

This year, the team that is finishing last in the league in hometown discount is the ravens. That would be very hard to argue with right now.

Oh what fun it is to see Flacco’s contract destroy this team.