Ravens are looking at Reggie Brown?

**Dave Lap** · 08-27-2009, 12:26 PM

Not trying to derail the thread but we may also need a extra tight end as well as a WR. Heap and LJ Smith are not exactly the poster boys for healthy tight ends and Smith is hurt right now. Does anyone think these two will get us through the season? There is a big drop off in talent after Smith and Heap.

**baltimore_hokie** · 08-27-2009, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by Jeremiah W

I do not really like it eithr, but Ray will jump up flexing and dancing sometimes after jumping on the pile after a 3 yard gain. Whatever. Some guys need to do that for motivation I guess even if it makes them look silly. It is just a game after all. I think the NFL went too far trying to stop that kind of stuff. I miss the group celebrations and goofy high five patty cake routines and what not, but since guys are allowed to do what they do as long as they are the only one doing it, it is what it is. Blame Peirra and the no fun leauge for over regulation of celebration but still allowing this kind of stuff.

i think it's good for our O to have someone with some swagger. he brings a mentality that matches our defense's, something that shoulg give our young core more confidence. we all know that if they can score on our D, they can score on anybody.

**Purpleguy** · 08-27-2009, 12:34 PM

As it stands we have one receiver that has seen any real NFL action, that's Mason. Clayton has a torn hamstring. If he plays this year I would expect him to be tentative. Didn't Heap miss a year and a half over a bruised hamstring? The rest of these guys all have "potential", but isn't this D-Will's 3rd year of potential? How many years did we ride the "potential" of Travis Taylor, Patrick Johnson, DVD, Clarence Moore, etc..? This team desperately needs a bigtime playmaker and the only way they are going to get it is to trade for it. Ozzie can't draft wide receivers, whether they be first rounders or seventh rounders. I'm a little perplexed on why we didn't take a look at Joey Galloway or maybe even TO during FA.

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 08-27-2009, 12:49 PM

Well, I don't think Galloway has anything really left in the tank.

As for TO, no way he or Ozzie were gonna make it work after the fiasco we had here 5 years ago. Honestly, if that fiasco never happened, I wouldn't have minded TO coming here.

I don't know, I think Marshall is a pipe dream and Boldin and Bowe are even more so.

I also am not going to turn down a guy who has proven he could play in this league for a guy in Harper who for every good play he makes, he makes a bad one or 2.

**Carey** · 08-27-2009, 12:58 PM

I think the WR thing is getting to far blown. There were WR's that he liked in the draft but none of them fell and the value just wasnt there, there were runs on Wr's before our picks. Surely WR is not a strength but its certaintly not some black hole. If you look at our team we dont have any true needs going forward, the only quote on quote need is WR. I think we can get by this year and trade for a young emerging guy or draft a WR in the 1st, we can package picks and move up and take the best available guy because we are set at most every position.

**jonboy79** · 08-27-2009, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by Carey

I think the WR thing is getting to far blown. There were WR's that he liked in the draft but none of them fell and the value just wasnt there, there were runs on Wr's before our picks. Surely WR is not a strength but its certaintly not some black hole. If you look at our team we dont have any true needs going forward, the only quote on quote need is WR. I think we can get by this year and trade for a young emerging guy or draft a WR in the 1st, we can package picks and move up and take the best available guy because we are set at most every position.

Great post.

**ravensnhokies** · 08-27-2009, 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by TRAP

If that many are concerned there must be something to it and everyone outside of Bmore knows we need a WR. Its only the people inside Bmore that dont know it.

Did you notice the WR production Monday?

Both Mason and Wash had about 70 yards a piece.

Thats all.

And we only won by 1 point vs a lowly team with a rookie QB.

Wait til we get Pitt again with their fleet WRs.

Its 08 all over again.

Trap, I know you are BM fan #1. Do you really think he will be able to grasp the playbook w/o a training camp under his belt? We all know he isnt the sharpest tack in the box. Sure I agree he would make our offense better later on in the year which hopefully includes the playoffs, but no way is he our ticket to the SB.

Actually I am encouraged by the Flacco and the 1st team performance in both games. They are specifically installing pass patterns that should succeed against the Steeler D. Delayed Slant (Heap Catch), Skinny Post (Washington catch) and my favorite, the RB wheel route (Flacco misfire with Rice wide open). We just did not do these against Pitt to protect Flacco. If these over the middle of the field passes are successful, the safeties will have to come up and defend them. This will open up deeper routes with CBs not getting as much safety help.

Have a little faith. There is a reason why Flacco is the only QB ever to win 2 playoff games as a true rookie QB. Playoff caliber defenses just are too good for an inexperience rook. Flacco's growth will be the greatest improvement compared to last year's passing attack.

(I do feel we should add another FA WR or TE by the end of camp, just b/c our guys aren't healthy or don't stay healthy)

**braven98** · 08-27-2009, 02:47 PM

why cant this FO get us a legit number 1 receiver

**Carey** · 08-27-2009, 02:52 PM

You can also tie Michael Oher's progression in with this. At some point, sooner then later we are gonna be able to leave him on a island most times and trust that Flacco will remain upright, we can already do this on the left side with Gaither. This will be a great luxury and will allow for more 3 and 4 WR sets, Heap being able to go out more, and the more time Flacco has the more time the WR's have to get open. BTW when Yanda gets healthy this O-Line is gonna be flat out scary.

**TL24x7** · 08-27-2009, 03:22 PM

Whether you choose to believe this or not is clearly up to you but I can tell you without hesitation and this comes from an extremely reliable and well placed source...the Ravens have NEVER, contrary to what you hear every day on 105.7 the Fan, NEVER, reached out in pursuit of Brandon Marshall.

They had discussions before the draft about Anquan Boldin. Some players were discussed that are currently on the team's roster along with a pick. It didn't work out primarily due to the contract demands of Boldin.

As for Reggie Brown, it's only natural to assume that the Ravens would have a friendly trade partner in the Eagles, given they are out of conference, just up the road and the Harbaugh-Reid connection. I've been told that the rumors regarding Brown are "garbage."

That doesn't mean the Ravens aren't interested in someone from the Eagles roster. It appears though that if there is interest, it's not in Brown.

Oh and the rumors about Tyler Thigpen also were labeled, "garbage."

**Jeremiah W** · 08-27-2009, 03:34 PM

But what about Crabtree? Is Prime telling him to wait to get traded to a good team?

The Andre Smith situation is getting a lot less hype but seems like a tougher situation with 2 above slot deals on both sides of him. Sanchez not DHB was the first guy to blow the slotting system out of the water. Then the Raiders made a decent buis move by over paying DHB but at least getting him in on time at a good distance from the 5th pick's pay. That gap and the bungle mentality could make Smith the more likley last pick to sign.

Instead of a flat out draft or full rookie scale the NFL should make the draft picks like RFAs and let the market at least sort of determine the salary and not just the draft status that has proven to be a crapshoot at best.

The NFL should force a team to give up a player for a future 1st and a 3rd if they are not willing to pay them what some other team is.

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 08-27-2009, 04:04 PM

Crabtree is not and will not be an option for any team until close to next years draft.

**Jeremiah W** · 08-27-2009, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by Raveninwoodlawn

Crabtree is not and will not be an option for any team until close to next years draft.

Do you really think they would take it all the way down to the wire if his agent is telling them it is not going to happen?

Sitting out the season is not his only option.
granted this is from wika but the Rocket Ismail story sort of seems comparable to the Crabtree situation.
The Rocket was supposed to go #1 in the 1991 draft but went to the CFL instead.
"Although Ismail's rights were the property of the Raiders in the National Football League, the CFL had no rules requiring teams to respect the NFL Draft. It would have been difficult to offer him enough money to join the CFL, but Bruce McNall, who, with then hockey player, Wayne Gretzky and actor John Candy, had recently purchased the Toronto Argonauts tried. The Argonauts made Ismail a then unheard of offer for a CFL player: $18.2 million over four years. The average value of his full contract, $4.55 million per season, was more than the anticipated 2006 CFL salary cap of $3.8 million per team. The CFL had a salary cap in place since 1991, but the rules contained an exemption for a "marquee player" who would not count against the cap. Doug Flutie of the British Columbia Lions was about to be paid a million dollars under the exemption, but Ismail's contract was more than anything North American football had ever seen, as his yearly salary was, at that time, the largest in Canadian or American football history.

Ismail joined the Argonauts in time for the 1991 season, and in his first game, he returned a kick 73 yards on a reverse with Michael Clemons. Ismail ended his rookie season at the 79th Grey Cup. He recorded an 87-yard touchdown on a kickoff return and was named the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player as his Argonauts defeated the Calgary Stampeders 36-21. He came within fifty yards of breaking his teammate Clemons' franchise record for single-season kickoff return yardage, and made the 1991 All-Star team as a Wide receiver, while finishing runner-up to Jon Volpe for rookie of the year.

In 1992 Ismail broke Clemons' franchise record for single-season kick return yards, Ismail was unhappy in Canada as the Argonauts slumped to a 6-12 record, missing the playoffs. He was also remembered for his participation in a sideline brawl against the Stampeders where he stomped on an opposing player's helmeted face. He later issued an apology for this on an appearance of Speaker's Corner. With the huge contract around Toronto's neck and McNall facing increasing financial trouble, Ismail left the CFL, and, after the season, signed with the Los Angeles Raiders."

I would think they would go ahead and trade him if they get full value as soon as they can get it if they are not going to pay him. They are rebuilding, but the fans already seem to have turned on the guy and there is plenty of pressure to win now because AZ was able to turn it around.

The longer they have to wait, the more clear it would be what picks they would be trading for, but if a team like the Bungles for example put an offer of Andre Smith, and Ochostinko for Crabtree and Vernon Davis or something they say no? If they wait too long they get nothing but a higher pick in the next draft.

Anyway I think the Andre Smith situation is maybe mre interesting. They are trying to get him to take less than the guy in his spot got last year and play him at RT when they have no LT.

There is not a slotting system or any clear indication as to what will happen. There have been players who sat out a season or forced a trade. I am just glad the Ravens used the top 10 pick the way they did last year. They got the 8th best player in the 18th spot and picked up some depth while saving some money. I think they got one of the top 10 players again this year at #23 and the Ravens are one example on the other side of the rookie pay scale argument. When is the last time they over paid a rookie? They even got some value out of Boller and Taylor. Great value in Jamal Lewis and his rookie SB ring.

**StingerNLG** · 08-27-2009, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by Mista T

The "sky is falling" mentality about WRs is exaggerated on message boards and radio call-ins. I know many more than just 4-5 people who think that we're fine at WR -- taking into account that it's no longer 1958 and there IS a salary cap.

I see. So our glaring hole at WR, that's just made up fiction. All a blown up fantasy.

And what does our need for a WR have to do with the salary cap again? Or do the people you know like us being a perennial bride's maid and never a bride?

Originally Posted by jonboy79

I think we are "fine" at WR, mostly because I had predicted Reggie Brown would be a player that would be near the top of what is realistically available. I firmly believe that Boldin, Marshall and Braylon Edwards were never reallistically in play. I do not think that at any point any of them could have been had for a single lonely first.

That still doesn't equate us to being "fine" at the position. It just means we have to make do with what we have because we can't fix the problem. I'm not sure how that makes us fine.

Originally Posted by TRAP

Did you notice the WR production Monday?

Both Mason and Wash had about 70 yards a piece.

It wasn't Washington. It was harper. They both had 2 catches for just over 60 yards. Washington had 1 catch for 22 yards.

Originally Posted by Raveninwoodlawn

I also am not going to turn down a guy who has proven he could play in this league for a guy in Harper who for every good play he makes, he makes a bad one or 2.

But we don't know that will happen. He had drops in the first preseason game and that was it. He made 2 big time catches against the Jets. Need to see more before we label him that way.

Oh well. Back to my fantasy stat land where the Ravens would get to the Super Bowl if we had a legit WR threat, and not the mediocre crew we have now. I guess WR's with 4 TD's a year are just fine for us.

**Jeremiah W** · 08-27-2009, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by StingerNLG

I see. So our glaring hole at WR, that's just made up fiction. All a blown up fantasy.

And what does our need for a WR have to do with the salary cap again? Or do the people you know like us being a perennial bride's maid and never a bride?

That still doesn't equate us to being "fine" at the position. It just means we have to make do with what we have because we can't fix the problem. I'm not sure how that makes us fine.

It wasn't Washington. It was harper. They both had 2 catches for just over 60 yards. Washington had 1 catch for 22 yards.

But we don't know that will happen. He had drops in the first preseason game and that was it. He made 2 big time catches against the Jets. Need to see more before we label him that way.

Oh well. Back to my fantasy stat land where the Ravens would get to the Super Bowl if we had a legit WR threat, and not the mediocre crew we have now. I guess WR's with 4 TD's a year are just fine for us.

I get the unproven argument a little, but what did you see out of the top 4 WRs so far that says they can not get the job done?
Mason look like he is back healthy and ready to finish what ws started last year.
Clayton has been productive enough in the past to count on as a #2 or #3 even if not 100% right now.
Williams, Washington and Harper have been producing so far in practice and in the preseason games, and should be a lot more than we had at the 345 spots at the end of the year.
Flacco looks pretty good, so do all the backs. No one up front is really out of shape or injured.

Anytime you can get a good WR for a good price they can find a way to fit them in, but in reality, the sky is not falling. The earth is just spinning. Football is football.

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 08-27-2009, 06:13 PM

Yes I think they will take it down to the wire.

At this point, why would they trade him?

To get a couple of mediocre picks next year? (nobody is going to give them first rounder and anything else for a guy who had a bad rep before the draft and has done nothing but further that rep since he was drafted...and he is unproven).

To get somebody else's trash?

Crabtree is not on the elite level that actual proven guys have reached simply because he has not played a down.

There is no way the niners are going to cave and trade a guy they just picked. While there have been players that have held out into the season, (and even a guy who was held out the full year) and they either signed weeks into the season after the player/agent realized the team wasn't playing that game or was traded the night before teh draft.

Nobody is going to give teh 49ers what they'd probably want for him and they'd be better off holding onto him as long as possible. If you think a team would trade a proven pro bowl WR and one of the best run blocking OT's to come out of this draft for an unproven diva with a bad foot and an underachieving TE you are insane.

**Jeremiah W** · 08-27-2009, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by Raveninwoodlawn

Yes I think they will take it down to the wire.

At this point, why would they trade him?

To get a couple of mediocre picks next year? (nobody is going to give them first rounder and anything else for a guy who had a bad rep before the draft and has done nothing but further that rep since he was drafted...and he is unproven).

To get somebody else's trash?

Crabtree is not on the elite level that actual proven guys have reached simply because he has not played a down.

There is no way the niners are going to cave and trade a guy they just picked. While there have been players that have held out into the season, (and even a guy who was held out the full year) and they either signed weeks into the season after the player/agent realized the team wasn't playing that game or was traded the night before teh draft.

Nobody is going to give teh 49ers what they'd probably want for him and they'd be better off holding onto him as long as possible. If you think a team would trade a proven pro bowl WR and one of the best run blocking OT's to come out of this draft for an unproven diva with a bad foot and an underachieving TE you are insane.

How can he be the best run blocking T if Crabtree is not the best WR

?

diva blah blah unproven blah blah

41 touchdowns is 41 touchdowns.

If Crabtree were to sign with one of the UFL teams and show what he can do his value may go up, but if I want my team to trade for him, which I do, I am fine with all the bad pub driving his trading price down.

Why risk getting nothing when you could get something? Not eveyone is going to answer that the same.

**Stealthbirds80** · 08-27-2009, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by Dade

And dont you just love his first down celebrations.

No doubt they are tops in the league. Lets get him there more often as he brings some "pop" to the offense. No pun intended.

**Stealthbirds80** · 08-27-2009, 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by baltimore_hokie

i think it's good for our O to have someone with some swagger. he brings a mentality that matches our defense's, something that shoulg give our young core more confidence. we all know that if they can score on our D, they can score on anybody.

I agree, where is our flash on O. I mean not a disruptive person, but I'm perfectly fine with the swag he displays. Football is suppose be fun or why would it be called "a game" duh!

**baltimore_hokie** · 08-28-2009, 10:30 AM

from rotoworld:

"Ravens director of player personnel Eric DeCosta was at Thursday night's Eagles vs. Jaguars game, adding to speculation that the Ravens are interested in the Birds' receivers."

"The Eagles have a surplus of wide receivers, with Reggie Brown and Hank Baskett most likely to get cut. Both are likely to garner some looks on the waiver wire, with the Ravens and Jets apparantly showing the most interest."

interesting...