Shout out to Jarrett Johnson!

[GaRaven]

Eisenberg points it out in his column today that he is sad to see JJ not on this team for this run!

I second it whole heartedly as the Ravens "Iron Man" sits and watches his former team compete! So here is a shout out to him!

[ballhawk]

No doubt!!! I hated seeing him go and I hate that he is missing this!

[RavenDavey]

Hate that he is not here as well...

But "this is a business" as most free agents say when going after the money (instead of the ring!)

[Justlovemybirds]

+1 It really sucks that he spends such a long time here and the year he leaves they get to the big one.

[AirFlacco]

I don't feel sorry for the millionaire. He got what he wanted. Money is more important.

The same thing happened to Wally, the LT before JO. He was franchised and pissed. Finally he left and ended up
in NO when they were still really bad and the Ravens win the SB right after that. I laugh at him everytime I hear
him on the radio but he got what he wanted.

The guys I feel sad for are Heap and Mason who contributed to so many wins here but were cut and just missed it.
Bisciott can still give them a ring if he wants to and probably will but it won't be the same w/o being here.

[ravenjoe]

I don't feel sorry for the millionaire. He got what he wanted. Money is more important.

Exactly....they wanted the money, so tough cookies! Count your millions, while your teammates holdup the Lombardi!

[ballhawk]

Are we so sure that Ozzie made JJ an offer though? I've kinda been assuming that they just wanted to get younger and let JJ walk.

[Ravens27Girl]

Are we so sure that Ozzie made JJ an offer though? I've kinda been assuming that they just wanted to get younger and let JJ walk.

I heard they did make him an offer but I think they knew he wouldn't take it. I agree with the other posters who say 'too bad'... JJ chose the money over staying with the team he knew and loved. Believe me, I love JJ tremendously but that is the chance you take when money becomes the main factor in your decision.

[kronusthebonus]

You say that, yet... do we even make it this far with JJ as opposed to Upshaw? He's had some key plays. If Upshaw is riding the pine does JJ make those plays? Who knows.

[MarkS]

I don't feel sorry for the millionaire. He got what he wanted. Money is more important.

The same thing happened to Wally, the LT before JO. He was franchised and pissed. Finally he left and ended up
in NO when they were still really bad and the Ravens win the SB right after that. I laugh at him everytime I hear
him on the radio but he got what he wanted.

Williams was actually our RG, who moved inside to starting C when Steve Everitt left after the 96 season. He was pissed because he claimed he was promised a long-term deal by the team, then had to play under the franchise tag. I'm always shocked too when I see him broadcasting for the team, cause he was NOT happy when he left here.

Our starting LT before (and during) JO's first season was Tony Jones. He was pretty vocal about his unhappiness as well, when we drafted Ogden. He played here for one year at LT (JO was inside @ LG), then was traded to Denver for a 2nd rounder that we used to draft Kim Herring, the starting SS on our Super Bowl team. Things worked out better for Tony than for Wally - he won back-to-back SBs with Denver.

[scbgirlxo]

I don't see why we are saying he left for the money. I mean he did to an extent but JJ said the writing was on the wall and there is no reason not to believe that. With our obvious cap situation, his age, and young guys waiting.. do you really believe the Ravens were really trying to pay him even if he took less than he could get else where? Come on now. Leave it at that it was mutual parting and he was nothing but class.

[Captain Silver]

I don't see why we are saying he left for the money. I mean he did to an extent but J.J. said the writing was on the wall and there is no reason not to believe that. With our obvious cap situation, his age, and young guys waiting.. do you really believe the Ravens were really trying to pay him even if he took less than he could get else where? Come on now.

Screw JJ, he went for $$$. I don't feel sorry in the least. He was made an offer, he has declining skill set. So he finds a team desperate enough to overpay him. He got a 4 year 19 MILLION dollar deal, bet you he NEVER sees the whole 19 MILLION because the new GM is going to see his declining skills, and he will either renegotiate his contact for less, or be flat out cut. Either way there is no ring for him, he deserves none. Yanda could have taken A LOT more elsewhere, but a fair deal and the chance to be a part of something was stronger.

I am sure Ozzie would have loved to use the pick for Courtney Upshaw on someone else, but he had to replace J.J. and it worked.

J.J.'s championship is counted in the bank.

[Crabcake]

It's not like the Ravens could have signed JJ but he turned down their offer, was it? I don't think they really made him a competitive offer. Everyone knew this was his last year. We had big contracts with Ray, Suggs, Reed, Ngata, Rice, Yanda, Webb and Boldin. We couldn't pay him close to what he was worth. I imagine any report of an offer as Ozzie calling him in, telling him how much we love him, but explaining that they weren't going to be able to give him what he deserved.

Same situation with whomever leaves of Reed, Kruger, and Ellerbe going into this offseason. It's not a matter of greed. They want to play more and we can't pay him what they're worth.

JJ would have helped us out a lot this year. He's a Raven for life in my eyes. Same with Ed even if he goes to Indy this summer.

[leachisabeast]

JJ didn't leave for the money, the FO didn't offer him anything.

[scbgirlxo]

Screw JJ, he went for $$$. I don't feel sorry in the least. He was made an offer, he has declining skill set. So he finds a team desperate enough to overpay him. He got a 4 year 19 MILLION dollar deal, bet you he NEVER sees the whole 19 MILLION because the new GM is going to see his declining skills, and he will either renegotiate his contact for less, or be flat out cut. Either way there is no ring for him, he deserves none. Yanda could have taken A LOT more elsewhere, but a fair deal and the chance to be a part of something was stronger.

I am sure Ozzie would have loved to use the pick for Courtney Upshaw on someone else, but he had to replace J.J. and it worked.

J.J.'s championship is counted in the bank.

Lol yall are ridiculous. It was best for BOTH parties. Your post is just proving why the Ravens didn't really want to pay him.. really COULDN'T pay him.. even at a lower price.

[scbgirlxo]

It's not like the Ravens could have signed JJ but he turned down their offer, was it? I don't think they really made him a competitive offer. Everyone knew this was his last year. We had big contracts with Ray, Suggs, Reed, Ngata, Rice, Yanda, Webb and Boldin. We couldn't pay him close to what he was worth. I imagine any report of an offer as Ozzie calling him in, telling him how much we love him, but explaining that they weren't going to be able to give him what he deserved.

Same situation with whomever leaves of Reed, Kruger, and Ellerbe going into this offseason. It's not a matter of greed. They want to play more and we can't pay him what they're worth.

JJ would have helped us out a lot this year. He's a Raven for life in my eyes. Same with Ed even if he goes to Indy this summer.

Not looking forward to the fans that turn on Ed if he doesn't end up staying a Raven.

[RavenScallywag]

I have to wonder...would JJ even WANT a ring from us?

Like...I know none of those guys will be petitioning Steve B for a ring, but in some sense, if they are still playing, they probably want to EARN it on their own. I'm sure he wouldn't turn it down, but I don't think he expects one from us.

Heap and Mason are the possible guys I could see, simply because Mason already retired a Raven this year and Heap is likely doing it in the offseason.

Here's one that could happen, and might be odd....does Pagano get a ring? VERY close ties with the organization, would've coached in the SB last year except for Evans drop. And given everything he went through this year....I could see Steve B doing it for some reason.

[Captain Silver]

Lol yall are ridiculous. It was best for BOTH parties. Your post is just proving why the Ravens didn't really want to pay him.. really COULDN'T pay him.. even at a lower price.

My opinion, no way in hell is Jarrett Johnson worth 19 million. Hat's off to him for getting it, but the reality is that he like most former Ravens, he benefits from the cast around him. Me personally think he is a great guy, but I am glad he walked because Upshaw is going to make people say Jarrett who?

But no way I am EVER feeling sorry for him. I feel sorry for Lardarius Webb for not being able to play, but last time I saw Jarrett he had lighting bolts on his helmet and was playing against us. Have a warm spot for what he did, but today he is merely an conquered opponent on our quest to the Super Bowl.

[alien bird]

I have to wonder...would JJ even WANT a ring from us?

Why would the Ravens even offer him a ring? He isn't a part of the Super Bowl equation. Period. Yes, he gave a lot to the organization while playing here, but he was reciprocated with a pretty good salary and a reputation that he turned into a big payday. There's nothing wrong with that, but the Ravens don't owe him anything and he didn't contribute to a Super Bowl appearance.

If anyone thinks he should get a ring, then a ring should be given to every ex-Raven who started over the last ten years. And that's just ridiculous.

[LukeDaniel]

If we re-signed JJ, we wouldn't have had cap room to sign Graham or Jacoby Jones. Not to mention that Kruger probably would have seen fewer downs. We wouldn't be in the Super Bowl without Jacoby or Graham, so it worked out well that he wasn't back.