Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome promised that he wasn’t going to repeat himself, and over-commit to older stars in the wake of a Super Bowl win.
The length to which he has gone to fulfill that promise is now dawning on the players it applies to.
During his visit with the Texans last night, veteran safety Ed Reed told CSN Houston he hadn’t made and decisions, but that he was a little surprised by the course the Ravens are following.
“I think, as an organization, they kind of want things on their terms,” Reed said. “Seeing how things have transpired over there right now, it’s like wow, I just can’t believe how things are happening from a business standpoint when guys give you blood sweat and tears and give you everything. And try to do the best for the team. Players definitely did that.
“Baltimore’s a great organization over the years as we all know, and do the right things for the organization. You’ve got to respect that. Every organization does that.”
Actually, Ed, every organization doesn’t. There are many organizations that get emotionally tied to players and keep them past their expiration date. And they overspend in the process, and limit their ability to stay viable beyond a specific group of individuals.
The Ravens have cut safety Bernard Pollard and guard Bobbie Williams. They’ve watched linebacker Dannell Ellerbe walk rather than give $7 million a year to an inside linebacker they signed as an undrafted free agent. They groomed Paul Kruger, but didn’t get in a bidding war for an $8 million a year pass-rusher who wasn’t an every-down player for them. They traded wide receiver Anquan Boldin rather than pay him $6 million. They’re not exactly begging Reed to stay.
It’s a cold-hearted way of doing business. But it’s also what they have to do after locking up quarterback Joe Flacco, a more important part to their long-term success.