Who would you Rather Keep? Boldin or Ellerbe

**GOTA** · 03-10-2013, 03:30 PM

This is a hypothetical question

You only have cap space in 2013 for 1 of them.

Who do you keep? Boldin or Ellerbe?

**jonboy79** · 03-10-2013, 03:33 PM

Tough question... Boldin's reliability vs Ellerbe's upside... I think I lean towards Boldin.

**Paintballguy** · 03-10-2013, 03:34 PM

Ellerbe. He's still young and in his prime. Also, I think losing Ellerbe would be the bigger hit. He was probably the best player on defense. Boldin had an amazing playoff run, but we still have other receivers that can make plays. We don't really have any solid depth behind Ellerbe.

**leachisabeast** · 03-10-2013, 03:35 PM

I love Boldin, but its got to be Ellerbe for me. Currently we have a lot more depth at WR than we do ILB, and Ellerbe has more upside.

**riprulz8** · 03-10-2013, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

I love Boldin, but its got to be Ellerbe for me. Currently we have a lot more depth at WR than we do ILB, and Ellerbe has more upside.

In a vacuum, without looking at who we have/ don't have on either side of the ball I would say Q. But, our defensive needs are a lot more pressing than our offense so it's Ellerbe who is more of a necessity. I still think we can keep both.....

**BcRaven** · 03-10-2013, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by GOTA

This is a hypothetical question

You only have cap space in 2013 for 1 of them.

Who do you keep? Boldin or Ellerbe?

WOW, Gman, you've really posed a question that will take some time to think about. I believe that Ellerbe has more years to play, but Boldin brings a facet that our newly signed ($120 mil.) QB needs. Since our team is still a Super Bowl contender, and I feel Boldin would be a little harder to replace, I'm going to vote for Q. WHEW... Bc

**saintmatthew** · 03-10-2013, 03:48 PM

Boldin. I never liked Ellerbe though. Showboating while down two TDs in a preseason game. He showed up last year year but never seemed to make the jump in the prior years despite flashes. I think he was merely the best of the worst on a decimated squad and I think we can bring in better via FA and draft to go with Suggs, Upshaw, Bynes & our PS depth.

**GOTA** · 03-10-2013, 03:50 PM

It's a passing league. I think it's a lot tougher to find a receiver who can replace Boldin than an inside linebacker who can replace Ellerbe. It's also a lot easier to win without a great defense than it is without a great passing offense. It wouldn't be the best move for the future but it would be better for 2013 in my opinion.

**ursula** · 03-10-2013, 03:53 PM

Ellerbe without doubt.

**Raven Werewolf** · 03-10-2013, 03:59 PM

Ellerbe and to me it's not that close. Ellerbe is younger and fills more of a pressing and immediate need as well gives us some continuity (and a much needed impact player) at the LB position. I love Quan and he will always be a Raven to me where ever he winds up next but he's a WR. Those guys are a dime a dozen even one as tough as Quan. There was the same fretting and anxiousness when Mason and Heap were cut. Those guys got replaced pretty well.

Who knows --maybe Oz takes a guy like Austin at 32 and adds an even greater dimension to the O than Quan would.

**BcRaven** · 03-10-2013, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by Raven Werewolf

... I love Quan and he will always be a Raven to me where ever he winds up next but he's a WR. Those guys are a dime a dozen even one as tough as Quan...

Are you sure you don't want to rethink this ? A dime a dozen ? He not only snatches passes out of the air, even with a DBack hanging all over him, but he is one of the best blocking WRs in the league. wolf, you have vastly underestimated Boldin IMO... Bc

**Tspot-D-Ravenator** · 03-10-2013, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by BcRaven

Are you sure you don't want to rethink this ? A dime a dozen ? He not only snatches passes out of the air, even with a DBack hanging all over him, but he is one of the best blocking WRs in the league. wolf, you have vastly underestimated Boldin IMO... Bc

^ THIS without a doubt

People are freggin' nuts if they think Boldin can be replaced

**MrPoeJangles** · 03-10-2013, 04:35 PM

It has to be Ellerbe. We have to remember that we are not going to running the same offensive system next year. I don't think Q is a great fit for Caldwell's system. His position is normally filled with shifty fast guys. Boldin is neither of these. I am sure Caldwell can make it work but 6+ million for a square peg in a round hole is kind of steep. Maybe they have not looked at an extension because even if they keep him this year, they don't see him in their future plans.

We are already looking to fill a lot of holes in the D next year. Ellerbe is being looked at as a cornerstone player going forward. Our front seven has a dearth of playmakers at this point, and Ellerbe has the potential to be one.

**leachisabeast** · 03-10-2013, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by MrPoeJangles

I don't think Q is a great fit for Caldwell's system. His position is normally filled with shifty fast guys.

Yeah, we clearly seen that in the play offs.

**Tspot-D-Ravenator** · 03-10-2013, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by MrPoeJangles

It has to be Ellerbe. We have to remember that we are not going to running the same offensive system next year. I don't think Q is a great fit for Caldwell's system. His position is normally filled with shifty fast guys. Boldin is neither of these. I am sure Caldwell can make it work but 6+ million for a square peg in a round hole is kind of steep. Maybe they have not looked at an extension because even if they keep him this year, they don't see him in their future plans.

We are already looking to fill a lot of holes in the D next year. Ellerbe is being looked at as a cornerstone player going forward. Our front seven has a dearth of playmakers at this point, and Ellerbe has the potential to be one.

Ellerbe is always injured and Caldwell's going to be gone next season

**leachisabeast** · 03-10-2013, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by Tspot-D-Ravenator

Ellerbe is always injured and Caldwell's going to be gone next season

smh.... some of the wild comments around here.

**JMUpurkfool** · 03-10-2013, 04:41 PM

If you put it like that I say Boldin.

We are in position to draft an ILB in the first round and we have McClain under contract already.

WR's today are more valuable than ILB's.

**MrPoeJangles** · 03-10-2013, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by Tspot-D-Ravenator

Ellerbe is always injured and Caldwell's going to be gone next season

So you are saying that if Caldwell produces a good enough offence next year that he will be hired away, we should change it back to something that would work for a 34 year old Boldin. I don't know why I didn't think of that.

**NC Raven** · 03-10-2013, 04:49 PM

Only because the Ravens have done so well in the past filling ILB with loose parts do I say Boldin.

Whereas our track record with finding WRs is.... yeah.

We are also well positioned to strengthen the D line (which will help the ILBs) with the way the draft is shaping up (where at least one good DE or NT should be available at the end of the first), and how even a decent ILB prospect like Kevin Reddick looks to be available at the end of the third. There are also some decent low cost vet FA options. We could plug and get by.

I don't see nearly as clearly how we would replace Boldin. If somebody showed me a Boldin-replacement scenario that's more plausible to me than the above "Ellerbe replacement scenario" I could certainly be convinced to change my mind about this one.

**RustonRifle** · 03-10-2013, 04:51 PM

Boldin because I'm not convinced that Ellerbe will be able to stay healthy when he gets his payday. Injuries just seem to find certain players. Ellerbe has never been on the field for a complete season.