Looking back and then forward

[dlockz]

I see you're digging in on Ellerbe just like you did when we signed Wake....how'd that "certainty of failure" work out for you LOL? This is despite the fact that Ozzie Newsome, one of the savviest GMs in the league who knows him best was willing to sacrifice the SB hero Bolden to clear enough cap space in order to sign him to be one of the ILB GOATs heir apparent. But you're "willing to bet." LOL

Wallace, even with Leftwich and Batch throwing to him was THE home run "hitting" receiver of 30+ yards overall since he's been in the league (and that's with oft-injured Ben and the scrubs pulling his stats down the last two seasons. In 1927 Babe Ruth got paid more than President Hoover, not for setting the strike out record, but for hitting more home runs than any other batter.

Please tell me what Wake has to do with Ellerbee. So you never have an opinion on a player because you might be wrong lol okay. Also since you say Ozzie is the one who knows him best well Ozzie did not want to pay him more than 5 million a year and the dumervil contract proves they could have easily paid Ellerbee the same money.Also lets not remember that Rothlisberger still started 13 games last year. I was speaking over last year and half. The year prior Rothlisberger started 15 games. Your excuse holds no water because Rothlisberger missed more games in 2010 and that was Wallace's best season. Rothlisberger only started 12 games that year. He had some of the same scrubs throwing to him that season but lets not let facts get in the way.

 

[Vaark]

Please tell me what Wake has to do with Ellerbee. So you never have an opinion on a player because you might be wrong lol okay. Also since you say Ozzie is the one who knows him best well Ozzie did not want to pay him more than 5 million a year and the dumervil contract proves they could have easily paid Ellerbee the same money.Also lets not remember that Rothlisberger still started 13 games last year. I was speaking over last year and half. The year prior Rothlisberger started 15 games.

Ellerbe was expected to get at least $30MM on the open market if available (per about 5 different Balt media columns) and the bidding ramped up (could have been more if Ireland didn't preempt the free market machinations). Ozzie was severely cap-strapped and wanted to sign Ellerbe first and Krueger second.. and was hoping Ellerbe would give them a home town discount. Well guess what? He lost Boldin as the sacrificial lamb given away more or less to sign Ellerbe and then he lost Ellerbe and Krueger. Now all of the sudden he had the cap room to sign Dumerville who thru a fluke fell into his lap for a competitive contract specifically because there was no more Boldin, Ellerbe, or Krueger. No matter how you try to paint it, it's all related.

As far as Wallace goes, I'll say again, Wallace's home run hitting avg went down last season but still he's the most prodigious 30+yd receiver and 2nd most prodigious 20yd+ receiver since he's come into the league. Imagine how much better he'd have been if Ben played all 16 games healthy or the offense didn't throw to Brown as often to justify the big contract he signed.

The reason I bring up Wake is because you were so truculent about him failing despite anecdotal evidence otherwise. This is analogous in that you're so confident that Ellerbe will never excel, let alone be better than the underperforming ILB he's replacing - despite Ozzie Newsome anecdotal evidence. It's too bad Uncle Sam has first dibs on you for awhile as I suspect Steve Bisciotti would strongly consider you to either replace Ozzie or be his successor upon his retirement. But as they say "timing is everything" :idk:

 

[dlockz]

Ellerbe was expected to get at least $30MM on the open market if available (per about 5 different Balt media columns) and the bidding ramped up (could have been more if Ireland didn't preempt the free market machinations). Ozzie was severely cap-strapped and wanted to sign Ellerbe first and Krueger second.. and was hoping Ellerbe would give them a home town discount. Well guess what? He lost Boldin as the sacrificial lamb given away more or less to sign Ellerbe and then he lost Ellerbe and Krueger. Now all of the sudden he had the cap room to sign Dumerville who thru a fluke fell into his lap for a competitive contract specifically because there was no more Boldin, Ellerbe, or Krueger. No matter how you try to paint it, it's all related.

As far as Wallace goes, I'll say again, Wallace's home run hitting avg went down last season but still he's the most prodigious 30+yd receiver and 2nd most prodigious 20yd+ receiver since he's come into the league. Imagine how much better he'd have been if Ben played all 16 games healthy or the offense didn't throw to Brown as often to justify the big contract he signed.

The reason I bring up Wake is because you were so truculent about him failing despite anecdotal evidence otherwise. This is analogous in that you're so confident that Ellerbe will never excel, let alone be better than the underperforming ILB he's replacing - despite Ozzie Newsome anecdotal evidence. It's too bad Uncle Sam has first dibs on you for awhile as I suspect Steve Bisciotti would strongly consider you to either replace Ozzie or be his successor upon his retirement. But as they say "timing is everything" :idk:

There is no way he could have signed both Kruger and Ellerbee and most sources said they had no intention of resigning Kruger. You still ignore the fact that they had the money to pay Ellerbee it would have been a minor cap hit if they wanted to sign him. Sources have pointed to him capping his value at 5 million but yet you choose to ignore that of course. As for the absurd idea that Rothlisberger chose to throw more to Brown to justify his contract that makes little to no sense. Ozzie Newsome the GM genius would only pay Ellerbee 5 million a year when he could easily have paid him more but you choose to believe otherwise. To pay him the same the cap hit would have been less than 3 million.In fact more like 2.3.

 

[Vaark]

There is no way he could have signed both Kruger and Ellerbee and most sources said they had no intention of resigning Kruger. You still ignore the fact that they had the money to pay Ellerbee it would have been a minor cap hit if they wanted to sign him. Sources have pointed to him capping his value at 5 million but yet you choose to ignore that of course. As for the absurd idea that Rothlisberger chose to throw more to Brown to justify his contract that makes little to no sense. Ozzie Newsome the GM genius would only pay Ellerbee 5 million a year when he could easily have paid him more but you choose to believe otherwise. To pay him the same the cap hit would have been less than 3 million.In fact more like 2.3.

Strong Likelihood: The SB hero, Boldin would still be there if Newsome didn't intend to sign Ellerbe with whom he was in negotiations. You don't know that he's capped his value at $5MM, only that it was the starting point of the negotiations on the eve of Free Agency. You don't know that the bidding wouldn't have ramped up for the ILB who performed excellently on the biggest stage if Ireland didn't preemptively swoop in. And you can't say that Ozzie didn't consider Ellerbe a fitting successor to Ray Lewis... or that he won't turn out to be a stud for us. All you can do is conjecture based on the Ravens cap space and who they signed in the past. Dumerville fell in their laps and wouldn't have been on the Ravens radar if they could have inked Ellerbe. As far as Wallace is concerned, he still managed to be the league's home run hitter with 2 other studly WRs there to keep the defense honest. Who's to say another good receiver we sign or draft coupled with Tannehill's arm won't add to Wallace's prowess? On paper we may have overpaid in a perfect world, which this market for the premier receiver was not.....and really how much is a game-breaker worth if he lives up to the advance billing

 

[dlockz]

Strong Likelihood: The SB hero, Boldin would still be there if Newsome didn't intend to sign Ellerbe with whom he was in negotiations. You don't know that he's capped his value at $5MM, only that it was the starting point of the negotiations on the eve of Free Agency. You don't know that the bidding wouldn't have ramped up for the ILB who performed excellently on the biggest stage if Ireland didn't preemptively swoop in. And you can't say that Ozzie didn't consider Ellerbe a fitting successor to Ray Lewis... or that he won't turn out to be a stud for us. All you can do is conjecture based on the Ravens cap space and who they signed in the past. Dumerville fell in their laps and wouldn't have been on the Ravens radar if they could have inked Ellerbe. As far as Wallace is concerned, he still managed to be the league's home run hitter with 2 other studly WRs there to keep the defense honest. Who's to say another good receiver we sign or draft coupled with Tannehill's arm won't add to Wallace's prowess? On paper we may have overpaid in a perfect world, which this market for the premier receiver was not.....and really how much is a game-breaker worth if he lives up to the advance billing

He did intend to resign Ellerbee I dont think anyone is arguing that fact but he intended to resign him for 5 million a year thats wildly publicized and did not raise the price because the dolphins offered more. He had his price and he stuck to it, there is no other way to read it although u continue your hollow arguement. I mean seriously do you think Ozzie would have made space if he didnt think he could resign him. Yes we outbid them and they chose to not bid any further. Your living in a fantasy world if you dont think his agent just took the contract without seeing what Baltimore would do.

 

[jetsh8r]

I went back and watched all of our games last year to a better idea of what we need to do this offseason.
1. Clemons had a great year IMO. He showed up every game with solid play we should pair him and Jones together for the next 5 years. Give em both solid extensions.
2. Daniel Thomas runs well and with power. I think he wins the job this year and puts up very good numbers. 1200 yds and 12 tds.
3. Tannehill found the mismatches when they were there. We had about ten all season maybe.
4. Im going to miss the size of our departed linebackers. They came to the line, didnt avoid contact, and were pretty solid tacklers. They took some plays off here and there but they were pretty solid in my opinion. Underrated at least.
5. O. Vernon flashed in a few games and I think the experence he gained will allo whim to develop into an 8 sacks pass rusher.
6. Mike Wallace had a good season last year despite the numbers beng down. I was shocked at the amount of plays that he was not the primary receiver. It looked like his role was reduced to get him cheaper in the ofseason. I know that is conspiracy theorist takl, but I cant explain how he became the second and thrid option so many times.
7. I like the Keler signing but Fasano had some big catches for us as well so a little improvement there and I think we are fine.
8. The Oline needs quite a few pieces IMO. That leads us up to the draft.

The draft has only a couple capable guards and the top 2 are pretty stellar. WE need Tackle, Guard, red zone receiving threat and CB. Guard is the only one we will get an average player at if we pass in the first round. So I believe our strategy should be to trade down a few picks and take Cooper. In the seconhttp://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2013/3/25/4144880/joseph-fauria-nfl-draft-scouting-reportd round take a tackle and a CB, and the third take a CB and a S. The UCLA tight end had 12 tds last year and is a huge target.

Just looking back at something I was thinking a year ago. Ill take crap again about item #2 because I still believe in Thomas and him needing some better blocking and maybe a different scheme. Vernon exceeded my expectations of 8 sacks and was a good find by Ireland. It would have been nice to see Keller healthy last year because he flashed so much. I went into the draft hoping for Oline help and we got a developmental player that hopefully pans out this year. The biggest disappointment was the red zone TE/WR. I wanted the UCLA TE badly and look what he did. I liked some of Irealnd's non traditional picks but he really missed some of the obvious problems with our team.