Lombardi’s Way

New Ravens Approach Leaves Some on the Outside Looking In

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

The release of Bernard Pollard to save no more than $1M in cap dollars has left many scratching their heads – some in shock. It shouldn’t. The league is changing and the days when teams can overlook poor coverage skills from their strong safety provided he’s a thumper and can play in the box are over. This is the new NFL, dominated by passing. If you need proof of Pollard’s weak coverage skills, go back and watch Super Bowl XLVII. He almost single-handedly lost the game for the Ravens. The … Continue reading →

Ozzie Sticks to His Credo on the NFL’s New Year’s Day

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

So Day 1 of the 2013 NFL Year is under way and for many Ravens’ fans, the Super Bowl Champion bubble has burst. First there was the trade of Anquan Boldin and then the departures of Paul Kruger and Dannell Ellerbe. Some have taken to not only throwing Ozzie Newsome under the bus for the departures, some are backing the bus over him too. Thankfully such fans don’t run the Ravens’ front office. Does anyone really think Paul Kruger is worth $41M? Here’s a very good situational player who only … Continue reading →

One Unpopular Move Doesn’t Define an Offseason

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

Only once since 2005 has a Super Bowl Champion won a playoff game the following season when defending their title. Let that marinate for a moment… Why is it so hard to defend The Lombardi? Well there’s the unavoidable target placed on the collective back of a champion. By nature teams come gunning for you and those teams are among the NFL’s most competitive by virtue of the first place schedule forced upon a champ. And then of course there’s the issue of the salary cap. Players and their agents … Continue reading →

Ravyns Still Reaching for the Stars!

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

One of the great marvels of sport is to watch a team gel, achieve unprecedented heights and reap the rewards of hours upon hours in the weight room, in the classroom, on the practice field and in the quiet of their homes studying film. There’s a surreal feeling, even for fans of such teams, when that team – their team, reaches the pinnacle of a sport as the champagne sprays and confetti tumbles from the sky. As fans of the Ravens we experienced that a little over a month ago. … Continue reading →

READING TIME: 1 Minute 60 Seconds

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

There is a ton of talk and speculation surrounding the future of Anquan Boldin these days. Clearly he was instrumental in the team’s successful playoff run hauling in 22 postseason catches for 380 yards and 4 scores during the four game stretch. But apparently the team doesn’t think that productivity is worthy of a $7.5M cap figure. And that’s understandable. So do the Ravens convince Q to take a pay cut or possibly extend him to ease the cap burden? For the moment it looks like Boldin will be a … Continue reading →

Keeping “Q” Will Boldin Hopes in 2013 for the Ravens

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

Multiple sources have suggested that the Baltimore Ravens have approached Anquan Boldin to convince him that a pay cut is in order. That likely comes as no surprise to the Boldin camp. Such deals when originally structured with high backend numbers often end with a re-structure, an extension or another cap casualty. Before drilling down on contract’s numbers and a proposed alternative, it’s important to take a look at Boldin’s body of work and what the team can expect from him going forward. At 32 years old clearly Boldin is … Continue reading →

Stadium Smoking Ban Could Curb Fan Enthusiasm

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

I’m not a smoker…never have been, never want to be. I loved it when the State of Maryland passed the law banning smoking in bars and restaurants. All of those bar owners who complained that they would lose business, remember them? Hear any bellyaching from them lately about lost revenue? Of course not, because they haven’t lost a dime! How great was it that it was YOUR choice whether to wash your clothes or take them to the dry cleaner after a night at the local tavern? No longer did … Continue reading →

ED REED: The Ravens Conundrum

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

On Monday at 4PM the bell will sound signaling the start of the NFL’s free agency period. That also coincides with the time when all teams must be in salary cap compliance. Big names will hit the street. One of those big names is Ed Reed and for the Ravens the All World safety represents a conundrum for Ozzie Newsome & Company. Like any negotiation, there’s a process – a natural ebb and flow, pull and tug where both sides try to assess value by weighing the plusses and minuses. … Continue reading →

With big dollars come bigger expectations

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

The newspaper business is on life support. Go ahead, pick up the latest edition of The Sun and you will feel like you are reading yesterday’s news. Television is changing. How many of you watch your favorite programs as they are happening? Queue up the crickets. DVR’s and On Demand viewing have helped speed up the delivery system of your TV faves – you can even get some of them on your Smartphone! Radio? That has changed too with podcasts, satellite and iTunes. Does anyone buy CD’s anymore? And who … Continue reading →

Say Hello to the NFL’s Richest Man!

Posted on March 2, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

So the Baltimore Ravens and Joe Flacco have finally come to terms. The news is good albeit expensive. According to Jay Glazer from FoxSports.com the deal is for six years and $120.6 million and will be signed on Monday. If signed the deal will eclipse the 5-year, $100 million deal that Drew Brees agreed to in 2012 and make Flacco the highest paid player in the NFL. Let’s allow that to marinate… Joe Flacco, the highest paid player in the NFL. Wow, the same guy whom if it were up … Continue reading →

Ravens will manage their roster by the 80/20 rule

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

When an NFL team drafts well, they will eventually experience the cruelty of the salary cap and its razor edge. Mix in a Super Bowl title, and the blade becomes even sharper. That’s just the way of the world in the NFL. Talent begets winning and winning begets bigger paychecks. And once those checks push a team’s salary cap out of whack some players will move on to teams that have more inviting cap climates. You can’t blame the players really. One crushing blow to the knee or another shot … Continue reading →

The Story of John Harbaugh and Bryant McKinnie

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

Photo courtesy of Sabina Moran and Press Box

Bryant McKinnie promised to report to training camp in 2012 at the weight prescribed by the team. He didn’t! Instead he showed up late and out of shape. The story goes that McKinnie had a bit of a mishap at his home in Miami, fell down a few stairs and injured his back. When word of the alleged mishap reached team headquarters in Owings Mills eyes rolled like slot machines in Vegas. John Harbaugh had reached his breaking point with McKinnie. He had heard and seen enough and he was … Continue reading →

Non-Exclusive is The Way to go if Ravens Play “Tag” With Flacco

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

Hopefully the Ravens and Joe Flacco successfully structure a new long-term deal that is fair. But what exactly is fair? A fair deal exists when both sides believe they walked away from the negotiating table leaving something on it. That suggests compromise with the result usually being the greatest good for the greatest number. But what if the numbers are on opposite ends of the franchise quarterback wage scale spectrum? A compromise then might be about as realistic as a Steelers fan winning a spelling bee. Then, the number becomes … Continue reading →

A Bright Future Lies Just Beyond the Horizon for Pierce

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

During last season’s training camp there was little evidence that the Ravens had a capable backup to Ray Rice. Earlier in 2012, Ricky Williams decided that he had had enough of football and opted to forgo the remaining year on his two-year contract. The candidates to fill his shoes as the “two” in the 1-2 punch at running back were Damian Berry, Anthony Allen, Bobby Rainey and 2012 third-round pick Bernard Pierce. Pierce left the collegiate ranks with a year of eligibility remaining. The Ravens thought enough of Pierce to … Continue reading →

Character Can be Taught

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

“I won’t give up on us. God knows I’m tough, he knows we got a lot to learn. God knows we’re worth it. I won’t give up on us even if the skies get rough. I’m giving you all my love. I’m still looking up…” ~ Jason Mraz Like all teams the Ravens do their fair share of scouting and homework on prospective collegiate talent when it comes to the physical skills and abilities of athletes. They are often described as “measurables.” These are real. The 40-times; the vertical leap; … Continue reading →

Ravens Won’t Allow Emotion to Influence Flacco Extension

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

Pay me now or pay me later! With Joe Flacco the Ravens chose to pay later and now they will REALLY have to pay. The question is, “How much?” Flacco’s agent Joe Linta has traveled a few laps around the radio dial and he’s been pounding his chest and stomping his feet to give credence to his belief that the Ravens quarterback should be the highest paid player in the game. Seriously Joe, I’d like to party with you! The notion of Flacco sitting atop the NFL’s salary leaderboard is … Continue reading →

Could the Ravens Become the new “America’s Team”?

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

One of the steepest challenges the Baltimore Ravens face as it relates to growing their fan base is geography. The walls surrounding them are daunting. To the north are the Philadelphia Eagles; to the south, the Washington Redskins; to the west, the Pittsburgh Steelers; and to the east this ocean they call The Atlantic. All three of those teams and of course that aquatic playground are far more established than the 17-year-old Ravens who for all intents and purposes are a relatively young expansion franchise. Each of those clubs boxing … Continue reading →

The Fairy Tale Had a Spectacular Ending!

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

WOW! It was one week ago today that I was a nervous wreck. Super Bowl XLVII! The Baltimore Ravens v. the San Francisco 49ers. Sixty minutes away from being named World Champions. And it happened. The Ravens hoisted The Lombardi, visited Disneyworld, made their way around the late night talk show circuit and soon they will be fitted for their Super Bowl bling and visit the White House. What an improbable season! Through the injuries, the tragedies, the loss of identity, the late season firing of the offensive coordinator and … Continue reading →

Ravens Will Win Convincingly

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

The national media and all of the so-called experts just don’t get it do they? I don’t even know why I bother to watch that garbage. The Ravens may as well catch an early flight home. These talking heads get so absorbed in the flavor of the month that you would think that Colin Kaepernick has the arm of John Elway, the speed of Michael Vick, the release of Dan Marino and the ability to read defenses like Peyton Manning all rolled up into one player with 9 starts on … Continue reading →

“It’s Our Time!”

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

Like many of you, I didn’t get much sleep last night. The adrenalin is running through my veins like a freight train. And apparently it has influenced my dreams. I woke up frustrated because in my dream, Ray Lewis was addressing the team as he always does the night before a game. But just as he began to speak I awoke and looked at the clock. It was 3:52. Of course I took that as a sign, a good one. Today is February 3 and Ray’s number, well, you know. … Continue reading →