Shout out to Jarrett Johnson!

[LukeDaniel]

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.

Yes...this. I too don't recall the Ravens ever even making him a formal offer, unlike with Grubbs. I was so frustrated when we didn't even make him a below-market-value offer with the hope he'd take a hometown discount. However, as much as I love JJ and will always consider him an all-class, all-grit Ravens lifer....we made the right choice letting him go.

Johnson was a stud in 08 and 09, but his play clearly dropped off in 10 and 11 to the point that setting the edge was really the only thing he did well. He was as much a liability on passing downs as he was an asset on running downs. That type of player might be worth $3-4 million/year to a team that has the cap room to pay a specialist that type of money. We weren't in that position. We needed CB depth and WR depth/experience far more than we did a 1-2 down linebacker.

Ozzie executed a virtually flawless offseason. Grubbs leaving meaning we had the $ to keep McKinnie. JJ (Upshaw/Kruger) and Redding (Art Jones) were pieces we were able to replace internally for a far cheaper dollar amount. Meanwhile, Zibby/Nakamura (Ighedibo) and Brandon McKinney (Kemoeatu) were replaced with veteran-minimum free agents. The end result is that, despite having our backs up against the salary cap wall, we found enough room to keep the core together, while adding Bronco-busters Graham and Jacoby to the mix. Ozzie also found 3 valuable players in the rookie class with Pierce, Osemele, and Tucker.

Losing players we become attached to always stings, but the sting is a necessary measure to keep competitive year-in and year-out. If it wasn't for Ozzie's willingness to let aging veterans like JJ walk away, our roster would look a lot like the Steelers right now (which is not a good thing). We have the best front office in the NFL, and I don't think 2nd place is even close.

[scbgirlxo]

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.

I'm not arguing that he didn't get paid too much or we should feel sorry for him. Just think it's very sort sighted to think he was the sole reason he isn't here especially if you understand our cap situation. Like you said he is a declining player so why would the Ravens keep him when they could play and develop younger players instead and when there are much more important players that need to be signed and every million counts. I'm sure JJ would love be apart of this team but it was just time to go different ways.

[AirFlacco]

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.

Ok, thanks. I stand corrected but that was a very big and good line that came from Cleveland. It had Blackshear-sp too.

[Captain Silver]

I'm not arguing that he didn't get paid too much or we should feel sorry for him. Just think it's very sort sighted to think he was the sole reason he isn't here especially if you understand our cap situation. Like you said he is a declining player so why would the Ravens keep him when they could play and develop younger players instead and when there are much more important players that need to be signed and every million counts. I'm sure JJ would love be apart of this team but it was just time to go different ways.

If he gets cut or restructures in the next two years, it may very well have worked out that a home town discount and a Super Bowl ring could have been better, but I can't feel bad for him.

[MarkS]

Ok, thanks. I stand corrected but that was a very big and good line that came from Cleveland. It had Blackshear-sp too.

Yep - and Zeus (O. Brown) in the prime of his career playing RT. That was an amazing unit - easily the best we've ever had.

[GOTA]

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.

You make a really good point. These guys wanted the money. No one forced them to leave

[SHORTTRACK]

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 here

Me too, it's sort of funny because he basically had a hissy fit in the press and had all kinds of bad things to say about Modell and the organization

[Filmstudy]

Jarrett Johnson deserves a spot in the Ravens Ring of Honor.

But, after being a top edge settter for many years, he didn't have a good year with SD in 2012. Some of that may have been change of system and some of it age.

The NFL is a tough business. The face of your franchise must occasionally be shown the door in order to stay competitive with the cap. It's what makes the NFL the fantastic success it is that continued vigilence is required to evaluate your own talent relative to cost.

It's sad he never got to play in a SB with the Ravens, but it would be even sadder if the Ravens were not in the SB because they decided to give a mess of money to JJ.

[leachisabeast]

Stop hating on JJ, he didn't even have a home town discount offered to him, Steve said he didn't want to give him a contract offer as it would insult him given our cap situation at the time, plus I think the FO wanted to give Kruger a shot.

[Ravens27Girl]

Stop hating on JJ, he didn't even have a home town discount offered to him, Steve said he didn't want to give him a contract offer as it would insult him given our cap situation at the time, plus I think the FO wanted to give Kruger a shot.

Okay, I was mistaken then...I thought I heard they threw a low ball offer out there. I love JJ and miss him as a Raven but this is a business and I think he understood that. It's still hard seeing him in a Chargers uniform.

[Purpleguy]

Is there even a precedent for giving rings to former players? This is ridiculous to be handing out rings to all of the fan favorites who had nothing to do with this Superbowl run. I don't even think the players would want a ring that they didn't earn.

[ballhawk]

Is there even a precedent for giving rings to former players? This is ridiculous to be handing out rings to all of the fan favorites who had nothing to do with this Superbowl run. I don't even think the players would want a ring that they didn't earn.

Irsay gave Edgerrin James a ring when the Colts won it even though he played for the Cardinals that year.

I wouldn't do it though. If you not part of the team that wins it, why would you even want the ring?

[RavenScallywag]

Irsay gave Edgerrin James a ring when the Colts won it even though he played for the Cardinals that year.

I wouldn't do it though. If you not part of the team that wins it, why would you even want the ring?

I think maybe one or two special cases could exist, but can't really convince myself that we'd do it. JJ, Heap, Mason...they are all great guys who did great things for our team, but we're two years removed from Mason and Heap, and JJ actively went to another team.

If Ray had retired after LAST year, he'd get a ring this year. That's the exceptions I can see. Or Reed, had he retired, would get a ring this year.

[Hraefn]

Johnson was a lunch pail player. He was stuck in the unenviable position of having a lot of value (to the Ravens or other teams), but the team had limited cap space. I miss not seeing him in there - but Kruger's growth would have continued to be stunted. I wish him well.

[sailorsam]

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.

don't see Pags getting a ring as he's HEAD coach elsewhere, and will want to earn his own (and might)
...does Cam get a ring? I guess they have to!

[Purpleguy]

I think Pagano would be insulted by getting a ring from the Ravens. I mean, C'mon, we had to beat his team to get to the dance.

[RavenScallywag]

don't see Pags getting a ring as he's HEAD coach elsewhere, and will want to earn his own (and might)
...does Cam get a ring? I guess they have to!

Don't have to, but I'd be shocked if they didn't. He's probably best example of former team personell getting a ring.

Pagano is a stretch, the more I think about it.

[AirFlacco]

You make a really good point. These guys wanted the money. No one forced them to leave

And we all would have done the same thing. Every kid in little league is working for a big pay day like that in the pros
while only 1% make it so good for him. I just don't feel sorry for him.

[Ravenswintitle]

He was great while he was a Raven but he has nothing to do with the team in the SB this year

[Raveninwoodlawn]

He was great while he was a Raven but he has nothing to do with the team in the SB this year

Yes.

I don't understand why anyone would want to give a ring to a player playing on another team.

The ring this year represents this year only.


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