Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum only has two NFL seasons under his belt, but he’s set to take on a bigger leadership role in Baltimore this season.
The Ravens traded right tackle Morgan Moses to the Jets last month and they saw guard John Simpson sign with the AFC East team. Kevin Zeitler, last year’s other starting guard, is now with the Lions and that leaves Linderbaum and left tackle Ronnie Stanley as the only returning starters.
Next week’s draft could bring in some new players and Linderbaum said that he and other players “have to be vocal, you’re going to have to communicate with guys” in order to make sure everyone is on the same page. The center said he thinks that process will go smoothly as the offseason unfolds.
“Once football school starts up, OTAs, building that chemistry, and all of the other things will take care of itself,” Linderbaum said, via the team website. “As the O-line, we don’t need to really worry about much, we just have to block the guy in front of us and work together. That’s kind of what we’re focused on.”
The Ravens have also made changes to the running back and wide receiver groups, so there will be new faces to integrate across the offense as they move toward the start of the season in Baltimore.
After the Ravens lost the AFC Championship Game to the Chiefs, their offensive game plan came in for criticism.
The team handed the ball off to running backs six times in a game that was close throughout and the lack of running drew poor reviews from head coach John Harbaugh along with outside voices. On Wednesday, linebacker Roquan Smith may have referenced that game plan as well when he answered a question about one of his new teammates.
Derrick Henry signed with the team as a free agent last month and Smith raved about what the running back will mean to the team’s offense.
“I think that’s huge,” Smith said. “I think it’s gonna make us stick to what we do, having a guy like him. Anytime you need a play with him and [quarterback] Lamar [Jackson] back there, I think it’s gonna be crucial. I’m excited. It’s gonna open up a lot for everyone. Going against the guy, I know the type of threat he posed to other defenses. It’s gonna be scary. I’m excited to see.”
Smith said he told friends he might have to “get some popcorn on the sideline” because of how entertaining he thinks it will be to watch Henry, Jackson and the rest of the offense go about its business this season.
One of the top offensive line prospects in this year’s draft class is wrapping up his pre-draft visits in the AFC East.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that former Washington tackle Troy Fautanu is visiting the Jets on Wednesday. The team has also visited with former Alabama tackle JC Latham this week.
The report notes that Fautanu has also met with the Bengals, Ravens, Jaguars, Steelers and Eagles during the pre-draft process. The Jets have the highest first-round pick of those teams at No. 10.
Fautanu started at left tackle for the Huskies over the last two seasons and Washington won the Joe Moore Award for the nation’s top offensive line for the 2023 season.
The Dolphins have been talking to receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The talk has not yet led to action.
G.M. Chris Grier told reporters on Tuesday that there is nothing imminent between the Dolphins and Beckham. Grier added that offers have been exchanged.
Last year, Beckham made $16 million with the Ravens. While his presence might have helped the Ravens nail down a long-term deal with quarterback Lamar Jackson, Beckham’s performance (35 catches, 565 yards, three touchdowns) didn’t justify the investment.
Beckham should be able to generate interest elsewhere. The Jets wanted him in 2023. The Bills have a need, after trading Stefon Diggs. The Chiefs might have a need, given Rashee Rice’s off-field issue.
Beckham also could find more potential suitors after the draft, if teams that hope to upgrade their receiver room don’t get the guy(s) they want.
For now, the Dolphins have been the closest. The real question is whether Beckham is waiting for the best offer he gets, and whether he has a firm floor below which he won’t go.
Yes, he has said he wants to play four more years. Before he plays one more year, he’ll need someone to make him an offer he won’t refuse.
Joe Burrow continues to taunt the NFL regarding its stance on taunting.
During the AFC Championship, when Ravens receiver Zay Flowers blatantly taunted a Chiefs defender following a key catch, Burrow posted on X: “Let the guys taunt.”
Appearing on the podcast co-hosted by a player whose team benefited from that call, Burrow elaborated on his stance.
“Yea, I’m pro taunting,” Burrow said on the New Heights podcast with Travis and Jason Kelce, via Olivia Ray of WLWT. “We’re all grown adults that work really hard at what we do. And sometimes we’d like to show it. I’m not gonna get my feelings hurt if somebody sacks me and taunts me, like, you made a play. I get it. Like good for you.”
He’s not wrong, but his mindset is far from universal. Plenty of players get pissed when another player taunts them after a big play. The league’s goal in restricting taunting is to ensure that there won’t be a pissed-off opponent who’s lurking later in the game, waiting for the chance to deliver a clean, legal, and wholly unnecessary hit that will potentially get a guy injured. Likewise, the league doesn’t want taunting to be met with more taunting and to eventually spark a helmet-swinging fight.
The problem is that the officials have stopped calling it the way they did when it was a “point of emphasis” in 2021. Before the Flowers flag, which came after blatant taunting, guys were getting away with less severe taunts that nevertheless would have drawn a flag when the officials were constantly looking for it.
The 2021 point of emphasis on taunting followed a 2014 point of emphasis on taunting. Which further proves that the term “point of emphasis” is a fancy way of saying to the officials, “We’ve noticed you’re not doing your job the way we’d like you to do your job. Please do your job better.”
Regardless of Burrow’s opinion, the league doesn’t share it because most players don’t share his disposition. If every player on the wrong end of taunting reacted by saying, “Good for you, Jack,” there would be no rule against it.