The impact of franchising Flacco...who could be lost

**TL24x7** · 12-18-2012, 01:44 PM

LINK

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**wickedsolo** · 12-18-2012, 01:49 PM

Sheesh...5 mill in dead money for Ray and McClain...

**Dirt1** · 12-18-2012, 01:53 PM

Birk was done last year. Bringing him back was a stupid move. Now they will have to dead with dead money against the cap. Giving Bobbie Williams that contract wasn't very good either.

**Captain Silver** · 12-18-2012, 01:56 PM

In fairness to Harbaugh, Ozzie wasn't executive of the year.

**wickedsolo** · 12-18-2012, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by Dirt1

Birk was done last year. Bringing him back was a stupid move. Now they will have to dead with dead money against the cap. Giving Bobbie Williams that contract wasn't very good either.

Definitely agree.

You know, had they not brought him back they might have been able to bring in Evan Mathis and while they would be potentially starting a rookie (Gradkowski) at center, having Evan Mathis at LG would have been REALLY nice.

**trailhiker85** · 12-18-2012, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by Dirt1

Birk was done last year. Bringing him back was a stupid move. Now they will have to dead with dead money against the cap. Giving Bobbie Williams that contract wasn't very good either.

Totally agree. I was puzzled at both moves at the time they were made. At least the dead money for Williams is relatively insignificant. Too bad the same cannot be said for Birk.

**HKusp** · 12-18-2012, 02:11 PM

Here's hoping Gradkowski has been (and will continue being)in the gym like a mad man. He needs to up us bench press for that initial punch and his squat and leg curl for that drive off with his legs.

**HKusp** · 12-18-2012, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by Dirt1

Birk was done last year. Bringing him back was a stupid move. Now they will have to dead with dead money against the cap. Giving Bobbie Williams that contract wasn't very good either.

I think bringing Birk back was more for stability than anything else. Think about it. If he wasn't there, you have Oher (at a different position), and Yanda, and then 3 new starters with at least one being a rookie going in to a season where everyone was figuring on being in serious contention for a SB run. Hindsight...

**Ash55** · 12-18-2012, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by Dirt1

Birk was done last year. Bringing him back was a stupid move. Now they will have to dead with dead money against the cap. Giving Bobbie Williams that contract wasn't very good either.

Agreed 100%

**esmd** · 12-18-2012, 02:21 PM

Of all of those guys, the only ones that really should be back are Jones and Leach.

**PerpetuallyBored74** · 12-18-2012, 03:01 PM

So, if we can keep Leach and Jacoby, lose Mckinnie, maybe Ed Reed too, then we would get rid of much of the deadweight that's dragging this team down?

I don't see a problem here. (other than the dead money)

**BigPlayReceiver** · 12-18-2012, 03:07 PM

The air boss almost had it right...

I WANT SOME CUTS!

**jonboy79** · 12-18-2012, 03:12 PM

I'd like both the Houston imports extended, the rest, IMO can all be gone. Jameel could maybe take a paycut to stay. Boldin I guess as well, with a paycut.

**B-more Ravor** · 12-18-2012, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by HKusp

I think bringing Birk back was more for stability than anything else. Think about it. If he wasn't there, you have Oher (at a different position), and Yanda, and then 3 new starters with at least one being a rookie going in to a season where everyone was figuring on being in serious contention for a SB run. Hindsight...

I think that was likely their thinking.

That said, I don't think the mistake they made was bringing Birk back, but it was not finding an understudy for him at some point from 2009-2011, making the need to bring Birk back more necessary. Had they drafted a Center during that period, then they wouldn't have needed to spend the money on Birk that is going to cause dead money to hit the Cap next year.

**RavensRule21215** · 12-18-2012, 08:57 PM

I'd just keep Jones. Prior to signing Leach, the Ravens always prided themselves on NOT overpaying blocking fullbacks. Then, after Leach, they did a turnabout. I'd go back to the previous approach, and save millions and invest that money in a LT. That's a more sensible way to improve everything on the offense -- improve the O-line, and then you wouldn't have to depend on a $4M battering ram.

**wickedsolo** · 12-18-2012, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by B-more Ravor

I think that was likely their thinking.

That said, I don't think the mistake they made was bringing Birk back, but it was not finding an understudy for him at some point from 2009-2011, making the need to bring Birk back more necessary. Had they drafted a Center during that period, then they wouldn't have needed to spend the money on Birk that is going to cause dead money to hit the Cap next year.

Yea, they've been cheaping out on center for a long time.

**RavensRule21215** · 12-18-2012, 10:17 PM

Cheaping out on center is one thing. But why they didn't at least grab some center along the way in the draft to be grooming a replacement for Birk years ago is a mystery.

**Ravenswintitle** · 12-19-2012, 10:45 AM

wow the real eye opener is the dead money. McClain, $2.4M really? This team will look a lot different next year; good thing they have all those draft picks