There comes a time when a football fan should release himself of all inhibitions, stand up, and yell with excitement at the top of his or her lungs. Back in 1995 when Baltimore was granted a football team is a good example of one of those times. The Super Bowl during the 2000-01 season is another. And now, with the work the Ravens have done this off-season, including the trade for Anquan Boldin and the most recent move, fans should be on their feet once more, arms stretched toward where planes fly, screaming joyous, incomprehensible amounts of love, affection, and possible profanities (positive, of course).

Derrick Mason is coming back to Baltimore, beotches! Damn, hell, ass!

Mason, who has become a fan favorite during his four year stint in Charm City, will be back for the next two seasons, staking his claim as the rightful veteran leader on the offensive side of the ball. Nothing against Boldin, who I am just as excited about to see play in the purple and black, but this is Mason’s team. It is his core group of players that he has helped to develop, ranging from Joe Flacco to Ray Rice to Michael Oher. Mason is the voice, and will continue to be so.

The Ravens have agreed in principle to sign Mason to a two year deal, the contract that he requested as a free agent. While it is not known as of now how much money he’ll be getting, one can assume that Ozzie Newsome has taken care of what should be considered a prize possession.

Mason, who has been one of the most underrated wide receivers in the league, has only had one season with under 1,000 yards receiving since coming to Baltimore. He has averaged over 60 yards a game during his stint with the team, leaving nothing left to prove; The man can play his position as well as anybody else in the NFL. Now, with a counterpart across the field in Boldin, Mason should feel the effects that O.J. felt when he was declared not guilty. The freedom, the fresh air, and the feeling of great things to come should rejuvenate Mason into a player that has seen great years before.

If you don’t believe that Derrick Mason is a great signing, we can make some comparisons. As if we were in middle school all over again, let’s take a look at how Mason matches up with some of the other signings around the AFC North. Starting first, let’s draw our attention to the defending division champions, the Cincinnati Bengals.

• Antonio Bryant, Bengals: Bryant was brought in by the Bengals to replace a disappointing Laveranues Coles, who under performed more than Miley Cyrus at a Dr. Dre concert. With all the dropped passes, and the need to give Chad Ochocinco a right hand man, the Bengals went out and got one of the top free agent wide receivers on the market. The problem is, however, that Antonio Bryant is a mediocre wide out who will most than likely leave the Bengals organization wondering why they paid him close to the same amount of money that Baltimore gave Boldin. With only two seasons with over 1,000 yards catching, Bryant has little to defend himself. I can’t help but believe that the guy was a decent player on really bad teams. I guess we’ll find out this season when he gets to face the Ravens’ defense two times. Ravens – 1, Bengals – 0 (sorry, David, it’s nothing personal!)
• Antwaan Randle El, Steelers: Man, this is a face that I had forgotten about. Randle El left the Steelers after the 2005-06 season to join the Washington Redskins (yeah, slick move, kid) in hopes to prove that he wasn’t a product of a system, but actually a good player. What happened, however, was that he stopped returning kicks, which happened to be the thing he was best at, and watched his production eat dirt hard. Despite playing for an organization that is in shambles beyond belief, Randle El has never been a truly great player. He is a slot receiver at best, leaving the Steelers with nothing lost, but more so nothing gained, with his return. Ravens – 1, Steelers – o
• ?, Browns: I really am trying to keep myself from jumping on the longest running joke in the NFL, also known as the Cleveland Browns. They have yet to make much of a splash in free agency, leaving Joshua Cribbs as the lone ranger. They took care of depleting any sort of receiving threat during the season last year by trading away Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards, and are possibly looking toward the draft to start their rebuilding process. Good luck, Brownies, you’ve got more work ahead of you than a blind guy riding a bicycle down a mountain. Ravens – 13498213, Browns – 0

Derrick Mason’s resigning with Baltimore looks better and better with each comparison to divisional rivals. He knows the system, he knows Joe Flacco, and he knows how to be a role player for a team that has not made a wrong move thus far during the off-season. While it’s not hard to avoid imagining what the Ravens will be capable of next season after they plow their way through the draft (we all know Ozzie has something up his sleeve for the draft because, well, if the draft was a super sexy lady, Ozzie would totally be all over her), the image of the New England Patriots losing the Super Bowl to the Giants flashes through my head whenever I read an article about the future of the team. But, then again, being able to compare this team to the Patriots is already a great sign.

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1. What is the plan for Anquan Boldin’s role in the offense?

On the surface, the answer to this question seems quite obvious. Boldin proved himself time and time again in Arizona. The Cardinals could score at will with the combination of Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, giving opposing defenses the hardest of times. That offense was a machine, setting records and making defenses look stupid, while also reaching a Super Bowl.

But the deal is that the Ravens are a run first, pass second offense. Despite the addition of Boldin into the scheme, the Ray Rice and Willis McGahee tandem proved themselves last season to be successful, and to think that John Harbaugh would pull away from that recipe for winning would be a bit strange. The Ravens have always been a running team, and are set up to do so again next season.

However, don’t get your panties all up in a bunch. Boldin was brought to Baltimore for the very reason that he is a dominant force when it comes to passing the ball. He will not only provide a threat to the outside, giving Flacco opportunities to find a big target down field, but he will also help to open up the running game. Opponents won’t automatically feel comfortable stacking the box with eight or nine guys on every play, allowing the Ravens’ running game to hopefully find more holes.

Anquan knows his role will be different than it was in Arizona. Anybody under the impression that the Ravens’ pass offense would automatically become equivalent to the Cardinals will be quite disappointed. But, that is not to say that Flacco’s newest weapon won’t make things a bit more exciting.

2. Will Derrick Mason return?

While nothing has been mentioned yet, I can’t help but think that Mason will come back to Baltimore for another season. For one, the Ravens have no reason not to give him a new contract. They just went out and got a true number one receiver, and Derrick would be the perfect complement to Boldin. He proved last year that he is still fully capable of making a positive impact on Joe Flacco and the rest of the offense by catching for over 1,000 yards.

The real question is, however, is if there is really any interest by any other team in Mason? From the speed of the Ravens’ to make him an offer, it’s hard to believe that many other teams have shown much of anything. That’s not to say that Mason doesn’t have what it takes. We saw the same situation last off-season when Ray Lewis was a free agent, but generated next to nothing in interest. It’s an advantage to Baltimore that Ozzie Newsome is sure to make the most of.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mason re-signed soon. It would be in the Ravens’ best interest to bring back a player that wants to return, who knows the system, and would complement Boldin very nicely.

3. Will Troy Smith be a Raven next season?

The fan favorite is a backup quarterback who feels like he deserves to be a starter for an NFL team. Regardless of whether he is correct or not, Smith does deserve a chance to prove how good he actually is. He held the starting spot going into the pre-season of the 2008 season, but became ill and lost his hold to Flacco. Talk about some bad luck.

Smith has mentioned being interested in playing in Cleveland. Up until the Browns traded for Seneca Wallace, it seemed as if Smith could have had a real possibility of getting shipped off to his preferred destination. Now, it’s not so clear whether Troy will be traded at all. The Browns seem to still be interested in acquiring another quarterback, as proved by their recent news that Brady Quinn is on the trading block. But, as for Troy Smith, aside from his own comments, all you hear are crickets when it comes to trade rumors involving his name. Whether it’s the 3rd round pick the Ravens are asking for is too high, or that nobody really wants to give Smith a chance, each day that passes before the draft makes it seems as if Smith may be walking the sidelines for Baltimore again next season.

4. What is the Ravens’ plan for the draft now that they have Boldin?

With Anquan in town for the next four years, it seems as if the Ravens may be a little less persistent come draft time for a wide receiver. However, Newsome has never looked at the draft that way. He has always taken an approach a bit simpler, not focusing on specific positions as much as just taking the best overall player available. It’s hard to imagine he would take a different route this April.

With that said, there are still a few needs to be addressed. The Ravens desperately need a pass rusher, and could look at the cornerback position as well as safety. While a wide receiver is still on the list of needs, especially with an aging Derrick Mason, the Ravens don’t feel the immediate pressure to get Flacco help via the draft.

5. What does the future hold for Billy Cundiff?

For all of those who are still calling for the return of Matt Stover, forget about it. Stover showed during the Colts’ playoff run that his leg strength is nothing compared to what it used to be. With him out of the question, the door is wide open for Cundiff to prove he deserves to be the long term option for Baltimore.

Going into camp this summer, Cundiff is sure to face competition. However, he has the advantage of being around last year on his side. Whether the Ravens bring in another kicker through free agency, or they choose to use a late draft pick to acquire one, Cundiff is sure to be the front runner for the job next season.

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Five minutes later, I saw the breaking news for myself. I may or may not have cheered loudly enough in the middle of a crowded public setting to scare a few children and have everybody turn around to stare at me.

Although the news of the trade was brought to me first by a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, there is no way I am going to let that ruin what is definitely the biggest off season trade acquisition in Ravens’ history. By signing Boldin, Baltimore has vastly improved a wide receiving corp that the front office was very public about upgrading.

Boldin, who was looking for a way out of Arizona for the past two years, got his wish. For a 3rd and 4th round draft pick, the Ravens convinced the Cardinals that letting their troubled wide receiver go was the right move to make. He is a tough, physical athlete who digs down hard to pull out plays in order to help the good of the team. He wants to be the best, and brings a strong mentality that Ravens’ fans are awfully familiar with when it comes to leaders on this team.

The guy is a force to be reckoned with. Even though pain and injury last season, Boldin was able to haul in over 1,000 yards receiving. He has broken the 1,000 yard plane five of his seven seasons in the NFL, and has been named a Pro Bowler three times. He knows what it takes to win; He helped take his team to the Super Bowl in 2009.

With the trade, the Ravens signed Anquan to a new contract, something that he had been asking for if he were to be traded out of Arizona. Baltimore signed him to a four year deal worth $28 million dollars, $10 million of which are guaranteed. For a guy that holds several records in Cardinals’ history, I can’t help but say that the deal isn’t too shabby at all.

So the question is, is Anquan happy with the move? After all, he is the one that wanted out of the desert. Here’s what he said.

“I’m definitely excited. For me, I’ve been hoping for this for a year since I first heard that the Ravens might be interested in me. The Ravens play a certain way. They play as hard and as physical as any team in the league, and I want to add to that. I think I play the way they play.”

Regardless of whether or not he would have said that about any team he was traded to, it’s nice to see that Boldin is excited to come to Baltimore. He obviously has an idea of what it takes to play for this franchise, and he is going to fit the model perfectly. He makes catches and earns yards afterward. He will leave everything on the field and will make Joe Flacco a better quarterback because of it. He will provide an answer to Chad Ochocinco and Hines Ward, except that at this point in the careers of all three players, Boldin would be my top choice. There is not much else you could ask for from this guy.

Now, there is just one problem. How can we make football season get here faster?

Free agency is among us, let us rejoice and exclaim hallelujah! The “super” dead season of sports is over, and now we’re entering the “just a little bit dead” season. Between now and the NFL draft, well will likely see some pretty ridiculous deals go down, mainly because there is no salary cap and some of these NFL owners are downright crazy. And by some, I really mean Dan Snyder, Jerry Jones and, speaking of just a little dead, Al Davis.

For the Ravens, a lot of us have been drooling over the opportunity to land some potential season changing players via the free agency market. Baltimore is by no means a cash strapped organization, and with just a few upgrades away from a Super Bowl, it’s hard not to welcome a free agent market full of wonderful gifts and treasures.

However, there is a little bit of a catch.

I know what you’re saying. You’re thinking that it probably has something to do with how Ozzie Newsome looks for players with just as much character off the field as they have on it. He doesn’t want to spend money on problems, and rightfully so because it really never gets anybody anywhere when you throw a ton of cash a an already egotistical athlete who has no grasp on real life. That’s why he signed Dante Stallworth, duh!

Or maybe you’re thinking, “Hey! The Ravens never really participate in free agency the way some teams, like the Redskins, do.” Baltimore has never been a huge participant in the act we refer to as free agency. However, they have made it very well known this this off-season, the team plans to delve it’s isotoners deep into the free agency barrel in order to haul in the missing pieces to a world championship team.

But really, neither of those reasons, or any of the other reasons that I didn’t mention, but knew you were thinking, are correct. Instead, it’s because the NFL has outsmarted those teams that thought they would have no trouble fielding a contender, and then turning around and throwing huge dollars at stopgap players in order to win a championship. The NFL saw this uncapped season coming; It was of very little surprise to anybody, NFL or Players’ Union, when no new collective bargaining agreement was settled upon. And so, like every good Disney villain does, the NFL set stipulations in order to control good teams.

So, here’s the slight problem for Baltimore. The rule says that if a team reached the divisional round of the playoffs last January, as they Ravens did, then that team loses the ability to sign a free agent with no questions asked. Instead, it can only sign a free agent if it loses one of its own. This is not an all-you-can-eat free agency buffet; There is no freeloading allowed.

Now, you’re really kicking yourself. Damn it, why did the Ravens have to beat the Patriots??

Will Fabian Washington be allowed to sign elsewhere in order for the Ravens to obtain a receiver like Vincent Jackson?

So now we’re left with a good question. Who will Baltimore be willing to let walk in order to free up free agency moves?

Will it be Fabian Washington? No, not a great idea.

Or how about Frank “Let Him Walk” Walker? Hmmm… it would be a good excuse to tell him to kick rocks.

Maybe it will be L.J. “I’m Made Of Glass And Haven’t Played In So Long I Forget What Color The Field Is” Smith. Forget excuses, this guy should be long gone, with our without the free agency rule.

Whoever it is, the Ravens are going to have to part ways in order to make a run at a player like Brandon Marshall or Antrell Rolle. This is not to say that the decision to keep a player like David Tyree instead of attempting to sign Vincent Jackson will be a brain buster, but the cards have to be played right when it comes to making contract offers. Tyree costs a lot less than Jackson, and money has to be taken into some sort of account. We’re not all as fortunate (and as football ignorant, thank goodness) as Dan Snyder.

Regardless, the Ravens should be able to figure out the new rules; Ozzie has already stated that he looks at it as a new, exciting challenge. Honestly, he has the right frame of mind. The rules aren’t changing, and the Ravens were good enough last season to have to play the off-season game with stipulations. How they attempt to maneuver should be another part of the fun over the next two months.

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Announcing that they would upgrade the receiving corp this off-season, I assumed that the Baltimore Ravens would automatically take into consideration the pieces that they would persue while making the changes. I assumed that free agency would be a good place to get started. I assumed that the draft would be a great spot to find a good, young wide out, and that if something fell through, persuing a trade to bring in talented, long term solution would be the best way to go.

I did not assume that Terrell Owens would be included in any of those situations.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve defended players that have tempted to tear apart teams, bathe in overpaying contracts, and single-handedly driven every person within a 50 mile radius of the stadium mentally insane. Brandon Marshall comes to mind, as does Chad Ochocinco. I’ve gone out on verbal limbs for players that speak their minds, even when it would have been better if they had kept their thoughts to themselves.

When it comes to Terrell Owens, it’s not about attitude anymore. Owens has spent his time in the doghouse of the NFL, and still reflects to fans the epitome of a true problem player. He has danced with cheerleaders, signed autographs with stashed away sharpies, and even set the trend for Matt Sanchez by eating food (popcorn) during a game. He has shown a wide perspective of emotions, whether it has been yelling at coaches, crying for quarterbacks, or whining about lack of catch opportunities.

But believe me, for T.O., teams shouldn’t be scared of his behavioral shortcomings.

The fact is, Father Time is catching up to the flashy receiver. He has spent 15 years in the league, racking up over 14,950 yards receiving while hauling in over 1,000 catches in 205 games. Owens has seen playing time on the same field as the likes of Jerry Rice, Dan Marino and John Elway. He has been playing since the year after the Ravens were established as the Baltimore franchise.

So why would any team, including the Ravens, be interested in a player like Owens? For Baltimore, the interest doesn’t make any sense at all. The team needs to lean towards young players, ready to take on a workload for years to come in order to turn this franchise into a Super Bowl contender year in and year out. Problems won’t be an issue; Age will become one quickly.

Without youth, T.O. brings next to nothing to the table. He doesn’t provide a figure to look to in the locker room for leadership; He proved that in Dallas and Philly, bringing more headaches than it was even worth. He drops passes faster than Chuck Norris drops bad guys with a roundhouse, but he will complain if he isn’t given looks. And the glaring fact that he is 37 years old.

Remember at the end of Jerry Rice’s career, when everybody could start to see how his numbers were fading? He didn’t want to admit to it, and so he continued to try to become a difference maker in offenses around the league. First, it was in Oakland, and he struggled. After that, he took his show to Seattle, where he struggled even worse. Finally, after a couple of unnecessary years to extend a sure Hall of Fame career, Rice called it quits, understanding that age sneaks up on you faster than anybody could ever want it to.

Owens could do himself justice by taking a page out of Rice’s book. While he may have a year to two left in his career, we can only hope that the Ravens don’t provide the blank paper to which Owens can write – in crayon – the end of his story. He belongs somewhere, playing for a team that doesn’t seem to have a grasp on the direction it is going *cough* Al Davis *cough*. Baltimore is the exact opposite of a situation like that.

The Ravens don’t need an old man on the offensive side of the ball. There are several options in front of them that they would be better off taking. Terrell Owens would provide nothing that Baltimore needs in order to make it over that last hump to become Super Bowl-worthy. Instead, if the past proves true, Owens would become a hinderance that nobody in the organization would want to see.

Well, I guess that answers my question as to whether or not Ozzie Newsome reads my blogs. And to think that he takes the time to look over my stuff once and a while when he wants to get something right…

On Wednesday, the Ravens signed free agent wide receiver, Dante Stallworth to a one year deal reported worth around $900,000. His new contract with Baltimore is a far cry from the 7 year deal he had agreed to with Cleveland back in 2008 that was worth $35 million.

Man, that guy really drove his career into the ground.

Stallworth, who served 24 days of a 30 day jail sentence over the summer for hitting and killing a man with his car while intoxicated, will get a second chance thanks to his former coach from Philadelphia, John Harbaugh. It’s hard to think that Harbaugh’s opinion of the guy didn’t play a big role in Newsome giving the green light to bring him in to workout. So here he stands, the new shining piece of the puzzle to the Ravens’ drive for a championship in 2010 (or 2011, depending on how you look at it).

Let’s rewind for a little bit. As a Ravens’ fan, I’ve grown accustom to defending players based on past mistakes. If you’re reading this article, you too are probably familiar with all of the general notoriety that seems to be attracted to Baltimore’s reputation like Remora attaching to sharks. Yeah, Remora. Duh?

Nothing will change now that Stallworth, whose reputation now proceeds him as a murderer, as some have so nicely put it, is wearing the purple and black. What once looked to be a somewhat promising career, at least during the time he spent in New Orleans and maybe Philadelphia, was close to being completely destroyed when he drunkenly struck a jay-walking pedestrian in Miami. Since that day, Stallworth has spent time in jail and will be under house arrest for the next two years. Following his house arrest, Dante will be on probation for more than a half of a decade.

But that’s not what concerns me. The man has made it very clear that he is very remorseful and takes full responsibility for what he did. After being signed, Stallworth spoke about the topic.

“There was a time I felt the mistake I made was the end of the world for me. I’ve had trouble putting it into words. So, when teams started inviting me for workouts, and the Ravens called, I was excited. It means a lot that they would be willing to take a chance with me. I have a lot of people I am thankful for, and that now includes the Ravens. I can’t let any of these people down, including my family, Commissioner Goodell and the Ravens.”

You have never heard Brandon Marshall speak like that. Pacman Jones couldn’t even conjure up a sentence that uses the word “mistake” if his life depended on it. Plaxico Burress and Tank Johnson are too busy figuring out how to better hide their handguns than concerning themselves with apologizing to the fan bases, the league, and the teams they have let down. Hell, even a Remora fish, which can’t even talk, probably says it is sorry when he attaches himself to a shark who just wants to be left alone.

Dante has done everything he can do to make up for a reputation that swirled down the drain faster than bath water. His number one objective is to get back on track and to prove to everybody that he is a good person who made a stupid mistake. And quite frankly, there is no reason to blame him. What other option does he have?

However, the mere fact that Baltimore is the team to sign him worries me just a little. Don’t get me wrong, I have no qualms with Ozzie bringing in a player that has recently struggled staying within the good graces of the league. The Ravens are about has hard headed and experienced in that area as Muhammad Ali was in the boxing ring. Instead, it is his production on the field.

For some reason, Stallworth holds another reputation among some fans that I don’t quite get. His career has never been anything spectacular, despite how much buzz his name has always created. In New Orleans, he posted his best numbers, but was always second to wide receiver Joe Horn. In Philly, he began to fall off the map even more. New England was a dropped pass away from a complete disaster which can only mean that the Cleveland experiment is comparable to that scene in Bio-Dome when Bud and Doyle have the huge party and completely lay everything to waste. Except the movie was funnier than Stallworth’s time with the Browns. Well… maybe not.

Either way, his revitalization, or the high hopes for it, must be the rise of Doyle and Bud as they cleaned up the Bio-Dome and saved the project from humiliation. Can Stallworth plant the seeds in the Ravens locker room, inspire the rest of the offense to join him in his journey to the top, and in roughly one year have Baltimore on its collective feet, cheering the team on as they parade out of the NFL season as heroes?

We will see, but the Bio-Dome 5 (well, 4 since Dr. Noah Faulkner went crazy halfway through the movie and grew a pretty badass beard) may have been a Cinderella story that Stallworth can’t match. Or, it may have been just a ridiculous movie that really has no business being mentioned in this blog at all.

Stallworth has the backing of the entire Ravens’ universe. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to see the guy succeed. He has been through some things that most of us would hope upon hope to avoid, and has done everything a professional athlete can do to right the wrong. Still, he has a lot to prove in the production department; We don’t need a glorified Derrick Mason wannabe running routes, instilling false hope among everybody from Newsome to the male cheerleader that is pretending to know what football is.

So here is to the first major off season move by the Ravens. It’s the beginning of a drive to improve, get over the hump, and turn this team into a Super Bowl champion. Let’s just hope it’s a move forward, and not just a complete waste of time.

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For a guy whose role diminished quicker than my interest in the Winter Olympics opening ceremony, Willis McGahee has learned to keep his mouth shut and work though the “tough” times. He’s been through the highest of the highs, when the Ravens traded for him with the intent of making him their feature back, and the lowest of the lows, when Ray Rice began his boy wonder role, pushing McGahee to the back burner. But, despite his urge to make his issue public (he’s almost slipped a couple of times, and has even used his frustration as an example when explaining/lecturing to Brandon Marshall about what NOT to say to your current employer), McGahee has held his tongue.

We all know what he really wants to say though. Roughly, it would probably sound something like this.

“Are you *bleep*ing KIDDING me?! I can’t *bleep*ing believe this! You’re telling me, you don’t give a *bleep* and trade two third rounders and a seventh rounder for me, even though I’m the best *bleep*ing running back in the entire *bleep*ing NFL, and then you go and replace me with some Matt Roloff lookalike who runs like the god*bleep* wind and smiles like a *bleep*ing idiot! I have a *bleep*ing visor on my helmet! Do you know what that means? Do you KNOW how INTENSE that makes me? If you could see my eyes through my *bleep*ing visor, you could tell I’m *bleep*ing angry!”

To make it fair, the visor does make him look pretty intense.

The fact is, the Ravens have a decision to make. Willis couldn’t be blamed for demanding a trade in order to take a deal with a team that would benefit from having a player of his caliber as a starting tailback. We all saw the damage he is still capable of this past season, despite Rice being the starter. He averaged 5 yards a carry and scored 12 touchdowns in a limited role. Put THAT in your pipe and smoke it, Willie Parker. Your name AND your stats are both abbreviated in comparison.

Stiff arm to the FACE!

However, Baltimore will have to watch McGahee whine if he feels so inclined, which he is almost sure to do unless, somehow, Newsome can whisper seductive sweet nothings into his ear and convince him stick around. It would have to include a restructuring of his contract in order to make it beneficial to both sides. Whether Willis realizes, or is comfortable with his role in charm city being that of a backup remains to be seen; All signs thus far are pointing to a big, fat NO.

So what is Ozzie Newsome to do? Well that’s a stupid question because I can’t predict the future! But, he has some options.

1. Baltimore can sit Willis down, preferably over a nice steak dinner and a bottle of wine, get him hammered, and explain to him in very simple terms that Ray Rice is the starter and he is not. Hopefully, the reaction will not be violent because dead employees are of no value. If McGahee accepts, crying tears of disappointment and sorrow all over the linen tablecloth, then the chances of re-working a contract to get him to stay in the purple and black stand a better chance. LaDainian went through it, and look where it got him! Actually, nevermind, don’t look.

2.The Ravens can play the situation as best as possible. The 2010 season will be almost positively be uncapped, leaving the Ravens, who are still financially strong, with the ability to spend some extra cash. Whether or not they would be willing to spend that money on a backup running back is another story. However, if the team is really run by crazies, and do decide to spend dump trucks of money to keep McGahee and his awesome visor in town, don’t count on other priorities (i.e. wide receiver, Haloti Ngata contract extension, defensive free agent signings, etc.) to be fulfilled. We aren’t rooting for the Yankees here… just Ravens. We’re just birds, damn it.

1. 

   Ray Rice's success has to be testing McGahee's patience.

3 The most plausible scenario would be to let McGahee walk. Because he is still under contract, the Ravens can push to see what kind of trade talks their running back can generate. While the Ravens official website reports that teams like the Houston Texans and San Diego Chargers may be interested, it seems as if the Ravens should take into account their needs as well. While it is tough to figure out the demand McGahee will generate, draft picks are an essential pull for Newsome. Speaking off the cusp, depending on any trade Baltimore may make for a wide receiver that includes a draft selection, they could reclaim via a McGahee trade. Then again, offer him to the Texans; I’ll take Andre Johnson for him straight up!

So while Ray Rice continues to make claim on the starting running back job in Baltimore, whether it’s his combined all-purpose yardage or his spot on the AFC Pro Bowl roster, Willis has to be thinking about what his future holds. While his best bet may be to accept a secondary role in Baltimore, ultimately giving up the glory and the spotlight of a feature back in exchange for a technical position in which the gratification is severely out of the public view but couldn’t be clearer from a personal standpoint, don’t be surprised to see McGahee put on the pads and plow away at earning a (hopefully) well deserved paycheck elsewhere. While he hasn’t officially demanded a trade out of town, it would be hard to pass blame if he were to eventually speak up. It’s hard to put a finger on what exactly is keeping Willis from regaining respect around the league as a running back that can terrorize a defensive line at will(is… ha!); It may be more a matter of perception than ability. His situation poses just another question mark in the future off-season for Baltimore.

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The Baltimore Ravens are certain to be a part of a lot of trade and free agent rumors this coming off season as Ozzie Newsome looks to fill holes. After so much was discussed as the season progressed, Newsome knows that the fans are expecting some changes in an attempt to make the Ravens an elite Super Bowl contender.

So while I wait in ultimate suspense for my cell phone to ring, my email to fill up, and however else my two friends can figure out how to contact me, I am left contemplating and researching vague rumors revolving around the mindset of the Ravens’ front office in a weak attempt to generate excitement for next season. I mean, really, we are all already looking forward to the 2010 football season, right? Just say yes.

For starters, here is some good news! According to the Ravens official website, the asking price for Cardinals’ WR Anquan Boldin is likely to be a bit less than most had originally thought. Whether it is due to a lack of interest because of speculation over his durability, or possibly his diminished role in the Arizona offense, the Cards are apparently looking for a 2nd round draft pick in exchange for the services of Boldin.

All of a sudden, Brandon Marshall has become an afterthought. Marshall is a receiver that has the potential for shenanigans just as much as he does for big plays, which can be scary. Yes, the Ravens have had players that have had their fair share of problems, but their shenanigans are cheeky and fun, while Marshall’s are cruel and tragic, making them not really shenanigans at all. For all we should care, knowing that Boldin is available for as cheap and a second rounder, Marshall can keep his little piece of hell up in Denver.

You’ve got to be out of your mind to think that Anquan isn’t a tough player. It’s hard to imagine anybody wanting to call into question the toughness of a guy who declined pain medication when having metal plates put into his face in order to restructure his jaw. Boldin missed minimal amount of time after being crushed between two New York Jets defensemen in 2008. Want to see it? Well I just so happen to have the rare video footage right here.

Click here to view the embedded video.

As for wide receivers, Brandon Marshall is still generating a lot of interest around the league. Despite conflicting claims by him and Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, it seems to me that Marshall wouldn’t be able to convince people he doesn’t want out of the mile high city, even if he tried. He has thrown together a small circus in an attempt to gain the attention of the front office, but Bowlen has chosen to ignore such antics, saying that he wants Marshall to stick around. Brandon will most likely be granted his wish, but it is still up in the air as to whether he will be happier with the team he is dealt to.

According to James Walker of ESPN, Dawan Landry may not be in the long term plans for the Ravens if it comes down to having to shell out big bucks. In an uncapped season, as 2010 will be unless the world ends, it might not make a lot of sense financially to invest tons of cash into a safety that may never fully recover from a neck injury like the one Landry suffered last season. One would have to think that the Ravens’ final decision will only come after Ed Reed has chosen whether or not to hang up the cleats.

Walker also doesn’t consider the Ravens to be making a huge push to keep Fabian Washington in town. When asked about what he thinks the future CB situation will be for Baltimore, Walker claimed that it seems as if the Ravens are leaning towards Lardarius Webb and Domonique Foxworth as their go-to guys. After seeing the way those two played towards the end of the season, I hold no qualms towards letting Washington go and putting the money saved towards an extension for a receiver like Boldin.

Several other free agents have been brought up in connection with the Ravens. Most recently, former Raven Adalius Thomas has surfaced as a possibility to add more pressure on the quarterback. While Thomas has not yet been released by New England, it seems inevitable that the day will soon come when Adalius will be looking for a job.

It seems as if this move would make sense for the Ravens. The team has always been deep at linebacker, and a rotation of Thomas, Dannell Ellerbe, and Tavares Gooden may serve the defense well. Thomas is somewhat familiar after spending several seasons in the purple and black, and may adapt more to a style of football that is less strict and player performance-reliant such as the New England defense. Thomas had his best years as a Raven because of the role he played, not because he was a super, automatic hall of fame-worthy linebacker who was relied on to do everything. It would suit him best to find a system that is similar to the one that Rex Ryan ran in Baltimore during the years that Thomas played here.

Free agent Donte’ Stallworth is another name that has recently been connected to a possible answer to the Ravens’ wide receiver problems. To this, I can ask only one question.

Why?

Why, in the name of Roger Goodell himself, would any team, much less the Ravens, want to sign this guy as the answer to a glaring problem? When was the last time this guy has had a better season than current #1, Derrick Mason? The answer is never. Stallworth, who is coming off a year during which he made birthday cake for his dead cat, has never broken the 1,000 yard receiving plateau. In 2008, he only had 17 receptions, a career low. He has been a glorified wide receiver his entire career, but has never actually proven himself to be a true asset to any team. For these reasons alone, I hope that Ozzie Newsome will not attempt to provide Stallworth with a chance to revive a career that was never that great to begin with. Talk about shenanigans- this guy brings the worst shenanigans of them all.

So, while we wait for the off season picture to shape up, check back in from time to time to catch a glimpse of what might happen in a few months. The acquisitions will be there, it’s only a matter of time.

The Baltimore Ravens are not the only team that is concerned about the effects that will be brought with the lack of a CBA next season. Without an agreement, there will be no salary cap, allowing the most financially endowed owners to spend freely. The Ravens, while stable in terms of their financial foundation, will have to learn alongside the rest of the NFL what it takes to balance the money they spend with the shortage of money that is being made.

“Doing well compared to other teams around the league. But just because we’re still doing well in revenues, that doesn’t mean we’re generating a lot of profit.”

Ravens’ president, Dick Cass, put it in simple terms that most of us will understand. While questions loom over the heads of fans who most likely have a difficult time understanding the details of the problem the NFL is likely to face, it is a reality that the teams throughout the league will have to become accustom to. That includes you, Dan Snyder.

Steve Bisciotti has had a strong opinion on the situation since the end of the Ravens’ season. He said he recognized that the CBA was going to be a problem for the owners from the beginning, claiming that the deal was never a good one for the owners. He fears that if the problems persist, the NFL could be staring at a lockout, something that the owners, players, and fans would dread to have happen.

It’s quite obvious that the NFL is facing the same financial bindings that most of the businesses in America are being forced to deal with. The bad economy doesn’t avoid the National Football League just because it provides a welcomed getaway for most of us to forget about the daily grind. Look no further than the Jacksonville Jaguars, a franchise that may soon become the Los Angeles Jaguars due to the inability to draw fans and make a profit. Blacked out games and constant proposals to draw the franchise out of Jacksonville have become common occurrences down in Florida, even while the team pushed for a playoff spot this season.

The example that the Jags provide is an extreme picture of what the majority of the league is going through in some shape or form. While no salary cap next season may sound inviting to some, the fact is that the 32 NFL franchises don’t have the money to spend even without the league imposed limitations.

Biscotti has also made reference to teams having to sell off their star players in order to avoid spending too much money. The problems have taken a method of making money for teams by putting players on the field that people will pay money to watch, and have turned it around to become a burden. What would have happened if the Colts had to rid themselves of Johnny Unitas before his contract ran out, just because they were not in a position financially to keep him around? While that seems ridiculous, we are already beginning to see moves made that would parallel such a scenario. Without a franchise tag option, several star players around the league would be playing in a different uniform.

Julius Peppers comes to mind before anybody else when thinking about players whose contracts are too much for an NFL team to afford. The Panthers stand no chance retaining their star player if they want to be able to function. Without the ability to limit the amount of money Peppers makes, he will find a new  home next season, as long as another team is willing to pick up the tab. Biscotti’s point is right on; NFL franchises cannot continue to operate in such a fashion if they want to avoid driving the league straight into the ground.

The Ravens are still at the top of the league in terms of financial stability, due mainly to the well run operations of a good owner, president, and General Manager. But Biscotti has reason to worry, not just for his team, but for the future of the NFL. Without an agreement being made in the near future, the National Football League could face very harsh problems, leaving many teams out to dry.

Read the majority of the article that includes the comments by Biscotti here.

As some may have watched, the Grammys took place tonight, displaying some of the musically “talented” artists from the past year. For three hours we were witnesses to live performances, speeches, tributes, and fashion trend setters, as CBS’ production group drilled into our heads why it is probably a good thing that we are not outrageously rich, with the only sense of reality being a dressing room, a stage, and millions upon millions of people claiming they want to marry us. I applaud, and am somewhat envious, despite how much trouble I had turning the channel, of those who avoided watching the awards show. Please, don’t relapse next year, for you will, without a doubt, be left terrified, and more than likely quivering in a corner as Lady Gaga drowns out the sorrow in the background.

The performance that stands out the most in my mind is Taylor Swift with Stevie Nicks. Swift, the young, maybe 18 (?) guitar playing, self song writing performer that many have seemed to become huge fans of, including my roommate who decided that his best idea for a Halloween costume was a long, blonde curly wig, a flattering top and a guitar, put together a performance that, in her mind, was for the ages. Stevie Nicks, who has forever sounded like a veteran chain smoker, was singled out by Swift as being her “childhood idol” whom she dreamed of performing with.

Weird.

In my mind, the duo reminded me of the relationship between several players and their current teams. Out of those relationships, the one that stood out to me was that of Terrell Owens and the Buffalo Bills. T.O is the Stevie Nicks of the relationship, singing the same tune year in and year out, hoping for a contract based on his past abilities and successes. While he has been an outstanding player on the field, he is the only person who finds it easy to cover up his off-field issues through boosted stats. The Bills are then forced into the Taylor Swift roll, constantly singing out of tune as they struggle to obtain some sort of respect within in the NFL. When combined, Owens gets put on the backburner, fading off while we all focus our attention on the Bills, some of us wondering how long it will be before they realize that maybe it really is time to hang up the old fashioned ways and start down a new path.

Lady Gaga opened the Grammys, putting on one of her infamous performances that left people wondering why exactly mainstream music these days was anything anybody wanted to listen to. Her live performance was attention grabbing, with flashing lights and bright colors interacting with the dancers on stage, putting together an attractive performance that people had a hard time taking their eyes off of. Her attempt to attract attention of Americans watching struck me as very similar to another NFL story line over the season.

Rex Ryan, talking trash and looking gigantic.

Rex Ryan, rookie head coach of the New York Jets, was also one to use lots of glitz and glamor to attract attention to his new team. Whether it was the quotes calling out Bill Belichick, or the self-inflicted crying stunt that he pulled after his team lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ryan exclaimed his dire need to be heard from coast to coast. Despite the scenario, he realized when the spotlight began to drift, it was time to immediately made the changes to draw it back towards his direction. Just like Gaga, Rex had no grasp on how to go about life as a public figure without the view focused totally on him. Whether it worked out as successfully as Lady Gaga’s attempts is for those to debate, although, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Ryan seemed to be discussed quite a lot for being named a rookie head coach with a team that is playing in the same division as the attention hoarding New England Patriots and the heart attack kid-esque Miami Dolphins.

Beyonce decided that her best performance would have to include a cover of an old Alanis Morissette song, “You Oughta Know“. While her entire show was pretty decent, there were parts that I didn’t understand, including the inclusion of the Morissette song, as well as the soldiers that accompanied her to the stage. It seems as if the audience was expecting something high powered and intense, and, despite getting it, was still let down in the end.

Welcome to the comparison game, Houston Texans. With an offense that included a quarterback that threw for the most yardage in the AFC (Matt Schaub), and a wide receiver that had the most receiving yards in the AFC (Andre Johnson), you still somehow missed making the playoffs, thus extending your streak of unsuccessful playoff appearances another season. You had the defensive rookie of the year in Brian Cushing, as well as Mario Williams with the pass rush. Just as with Beyonce, a lot of us were expecting you to take over the AFC South this year with a solid offensive output, complimented by a defense that had finally found its feet. I guess we really should “oughta know”.

Sorry, it is my blog and I'd rather have this picture than one of Wes Welker.

The build up for the Michael Jackson tribute during the Grammys spared no expense. We all knew that Jackson would be remembered by A-list artists, stunning graphic design, and the utmost respect that the music industry could gather. With several big names in music singing a Jackson song about his love for the earth, the Grammys banked on a 3-D element to show to everybody that Michael was still in the hearts of everybody in the industry, influencing the way they lived their lives and made their decisions (just ask L’il Wayne… when he gets out of prison).

There are two teams that this performance reminded me of. The first, who came to mind almost immediately (being a Ravens fan, of course) was

the New England Patriots. With so much expectation behind them after the return of their savior, Tom Brady, as well as a passing game that included the emergence of Wes Welker, the Pats rode the high road into the playoffs. The fans in Boston had no doubt that New England’s football team was back on track, looking forward to a rematch with Peyton Manning’s Colts. However, the letdown shocked everybody across the league, as Baltimore ran over New England with a game plan that took Brady completely out of the performance. Is it ironic that Michael Jackson was, even through pictures, hardly relevant once the Grammy performance began?

The second comparison, briefly, was the New York Giants. The expectations might as well have been just as high, although it is hard to compare their past success with that of Michael Jackson’s. Strictly as food for thought, the Giants came into the year looking to run over the NFC East, with annalists leaving the Cowboys and Eagles for nothing more than stepping stones. But without a dominating running game behind Brandon Jacobs, New York became the team that fell off the radar, despite being the biggest “blip”.

During the Grammys, Drake seemed to have the biggest hit, putting together the intensity that drew the viewers. He had high energy, accompanied by Eminem who, arguably, is one of the best lyrical poets of our generation. Drake set the tone, bringing in Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, to accompany him in his performance in an attempt to put his show over the edge. Unfortunately for Drake, CBS, with it’s attempts to edit the content, canceled out more than single words and sent the whole performance spiraling. Take a look if you didn’t catch it.

Click here to view the embedded video.

To get an idea of how good the song actually is, especially with Barker’s rock remix, check the video out below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

To compare this performance with any team in the NFL, the award has to go to the Minnesota Vikings. Despite their reputation and expectations, Brett Favre and friends couldn’t figure out a way to close it out. He got as far as he could until the NFL disputed over whether or not to allow him or Drew Brees move on; With a “blind eye”, Roger Goodell allowed a blatant facemask call to go unnoticed, giving Favre a one way ticket back to Mississippi. The NFL found a way to edit out what they didn’t want, allowing the high powered, ratings-grabbing New Orleans Saints to advance to the Super Bowl.

Last, but certainly not least, was the Haiti tribute. One of the biggest names in R&B history, Mary J. Blige, will perform side by side with Andrea Bocelli, one of the most successful Opera singers in the world. The duet was touching, and was one that could send chills down somebody’s spine. Whether it was truly a moving show, or comparably better to the acts that surrounded it, the tribute to the Haitians was one that will most likely go down as one of the best in Grammy history. Supported by good cause, it provided a feel good story that directly helped those who were affected by such a terrible tragedy.

While it is quite obvious what NFL story lines draw a parallel comparison to the Haiti tribute, I will go on anyways. The New Orleans Saints, who have provided such a great, uplifting source for the New Orleans population to draw to after the Hurricane Katrina destruction, have reached the Super Bowl. When the hurricane hit, many felt the pain of not only losing everything, but also losing their football team, something that drew their attention away from the seriousness of life for just a few hours each week. The Saints, who contemplated leaving the city, stuck around. Many of the players became heavily involved with the community, playing their own role to re-grow a city that has so much tradition.

Saints' fans show off their team pride. Will the Saints ever again have a hard time attracting fans?

Never again will the New Orleans Saints face having to move based on a lack of fan support. They have engraved their place in the city’s history, mainly because of the impact and the distraction that the football team provided during a time when nobody in the area could have asked for anything more. While the toll of Katrina drifts into our past as time moves on, you can count on one thing- The people of New Orleans will not forget the struggle they had to make in order to re-grow as a community. Without the NFL franchise to rely on, the climb that was forced upon the city would have been even harder. And so, in that sense alone, the New Orleans Saints are the NFL’s feel good story, just as the Mary J. Blige-Andrea Bocelli performance was during this year’s Grammys.

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