Lardarius Webb...

**EdReedDaGawd** · 02-08-2013, 01:31 PM

After all of this talk about free agency, who we might resign and who we might lose, I've almost completely forgotten about Webby.

Great to know that even if we do end up losing Reed, Kruger, or whoever that we still have one of the top CB's in football

Ngata, Suggs, Ellerbe (assuming he stays since he seems to be our biggest target), Corey Graham, Chykie Brown, Ladarius Webb, Jimmy Smith, Bernard Pollard, and so on and so on.

We still have a great core on defense, and this is even before free agency, the draft and possible up n coming stars on our team already.

Kind of went off topic with the whole Webb thing, but thinking about him coming back made me realize how great of a defense, team and even organizaion we have heading into the future.

**RavenScallywag** · 02-08-2013, 01:32 PM

Just another compliment to this team...we won most of our games without our best CB. Arguably, our best defender.

Corey Graham goes down as a MAJOR homerun this year. His play, along with Cary Williams, and a little bit Chykie Brown, kept our secondary good enough to win the Super Bowl.

**esmd** · 02-08-2013, 01:40 PM

Provided Webb's rehab goes according to plan, I'm very comfortable with him at one starting CB slot and a Jimmy Smith/Corey Graham competition for the other side. The loser plays nickel, with Chykie Brown as the 4th CB.

**GOTA** · 02-08-2013, 01:44 PM

Crazy cap question. Any chance they decide to dump Webb given his health issues? He's due a $5 million option bonus this year.

**esmd** · 02-08-2013, 01:48 PM

I seriously doubt it, he's too good (and young) of a player that will be a major contributor going forward. Only way they make a move like that is if he has a major setback in his rehab like Foxworth did. I guess that's possible, but I think it's not very likely.

**Dirt1** · 02-08-2013, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by GOTA

Crazy cap question. Any chance they decide to dump Webb given his health issues? He's due a $5 million option bonus this year.

Wouldn't that crush the Ravens cap though? Webb just signed his contract.

**esmd** · 02-08-2013, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by Dirt1

Wouldn't that crush the Ravens cap though? Webb just signed his contract.

Good point, all the guaranteed money would accelerate. Unless his knee injury is career threatening/ending, I don't see it happening.

**The Excellector** · 02-08-2013, 03:45 PM

Webb did such a good job returning from the first ACL tear, that I would think the team will give him the opportunity to prove his full recover from this one.

**PurpleApocalypse37** · 02-08-2013, 03:48 PM

If we can keep Reed, Ellerbe, McKinney, and either Jacoby or Anquan I'll be happy.

**terps19** · 02-08-2013, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by PurpleApocalypse37

If we can keep Reed, Ellerbe, McKinney, and either Jacoby or Anquan I'll be happy.

Jacoby Jones signed a 2 year deal last year, so there is nothing the Ravens need to do to "keep" him. And it sounds like Boldin wants to retire a Ravens, so I would THINK he would be a likely candidate for an extension that is cap friendly.

**RavenScallywag** · 02-08-2013, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by terps19

Jacoby Jones signed a 2 year deal last year, so there is nothing the Ravens need to do to "keep" him.

The key with Jacoby is that he costs us about 4 mil against the cap. That's a significant portion when we're looking at places to get cap relief.

What I'd like to see, but it may be overkill, is extending both Jacoby and Boldin to lower their cap numbers. Boldin probably is more likely than Jacoby.

**GOTA** · 02-08-2013, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by Dirt1

Wouldn't that crush the Ravens cap though? Webb just signed his contract.

Here's the details from rotoworld

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/5331/lardarius-webb

4/5/2012: Signed a six-year, $52.742 million contract. The deal included a $10 million signing bonus. 2013: $2.385 million (+ $5 million option bonus), 2014: $7.5 million, 2015-2016: $8 million, 2017: $8.5 million (Option Year), 2018: Free Agent

This means that the cap hit would be 5/6 of the $10 million signing bonus or $8.33 million. However if he stays they have to pay him the $2.2385 in salary plus the $5 million option bonus which would add $1 million to the year. That means the hit would still be $5 million. The only way it makes sense is if he's so banged up they are worried about giving him a $7.385 million check next year. Like esmd posted it would really need to be a Foxworth situation which hopefully it won't be

**bmorecareful** · 02-08-2013, 04:21 PM

Webb is a cornerstone of the defense short and long-term, but I wonder how effective he'll be in 2013. ACLs are just so hard sometimes, it often takes a full year or more to really get back to 100%, mentally even moreso than physically, but at least he knows what he's up against having gone through it before.

I won't spend too many words rehashing an issue we've discussed so much in the past, but if Webb's recovery speed/flexibility/etc. aren't 100% for 2013, does it make sense to move him to free safety for a year? We know he can likely play the position at a very high level, and it would give a draft pick or Christian Thompson another year to develop as the starter in 2014... just a thought, and I reiterate temporary only!

Full disclosure, I still think with his skillset Webb is a near-shutdown/Pro Bowl level cornerback, but an All-Pro/top 3 in the league level free safety.

**Shambla** · 02-08-2013, 04:25 PM

I'm pretty confident that Webb can return to form. He went to that wizard Dr. Andrews who put Peterson within 9 yards of the record and Webb knows what it takes to rehab an ACL. They say it's hard to tear it again (unless your RG3 I guess). He's also a very cerebral player who watches as much film as anyone and has tried to absorb all the knowledge he can from Reed.

**Ravenswintitle** · 02-08-2013, 04:26 PM

He's solid in corner blitz too. Hope he has a full recovery

**4G63** · 02-08-2013, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

The key with Jacoby is that he costs us about 4 mil against the cap. That's a significant portion when we're looking at places to get cap relief.

What I'd like to see, but it may be overkill, is extending both Jacoby and Boldin to lower their cap numbers. Boldin probably is more likely than Jacoby.

I'd have no problem giving them both 2 year deals. Especially Jacoby since he's younger. Hell, give him a 4 year deal as he's been a key cog for this team just from his special teams plays, regardless of his abilities as a WR.

**alien bird** · 02-08-2013, 04:50 PM

Questions about Cary Williams' return, and LWebb coming off injury, plus the unknown development of Asa Jackson, could very well result in the Ravens adding a CB in free agency or the draft. It's almost impossible to have too many good CBs in a pass-happy league and long season. And if the investment in depth isn't costly (cheap FA or draft pick), it wouldn't be a bad move.

**londonraven** · 02-08-2013, 06:19 PM

Maybe not this off season because the cap is too tight but...

Is there any benefit in putting osemele on a new contract? He has been a beast which will in 3 or 4 seasons warrant a ridiculous contract. Any sense in even thinking about this to tie him down long term and save some cap in the coming years?

Thoughts?

**RavenScallywag** · 02-08-2013, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by londonraven

Maybe not this off season because the cap is too tight but...

Is there any benefit in putting osemele on a new contract? He has been a beast which will in 3 or 4 seasons warrant a ridiculous contract. Any sense in even thinking about this to tie him down long term and save some cap in the coming years?

Thoughts?

That's a stretch. He's playing on a nice, cheap rookie contract. You re-up him now, his agent will (smartly) demand more money. You'd end up paying him more now, and really only add about a year or two to his deal.

Ozzie's MO is usually not to do a deal until RFA or UFA hits.

**Paintballguy** · 02-08-2013, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

That's a stretch. He's playing on a nice, cheap rookie contract. You re-up him now, his agent will (smartly) demand more money. You'd end up paying him more now, and really only add about a year or two to his deal.

Ozzie's MO is usually not to do a deal until RFA or UFA hits.

"A Rookie Contract for a Drafted Rookie may not be renegotiated, amended or altered in any way until after the final regular season game of the player's third contract year."