Anyone else getting just a little frustrated?

**helloharv** · 03-22-2012, 07:08 PM

I know I know---- Trust Ozzie ---- by our 1st game everything will be in place which I think could/should still happen....but

Why can't we seal the deal with any the 3 or 4 guys we have brought in ?

He wanted to upgrade WR and OL and Kick Returner ---- who is left to do that in free-agency?

Of course he will make a few great draft picks but that won't fill all of our needs.

I really thought Ginn would have been a perfect fit but he re-signs with SF for only a 1 year deal???

**leachisabeast** · 03-22-2012, 07:13 PM

You don't need the reason explained to you why we haven't signed anybody. We just don't have the cap room. And look your never going to have a perfectly filled team for week 1 in any case. I'm sure we will have at least two solid players signed by August, aswell as our drafted players, don't be surprised to see an even younger team take the field in week 1 btw.

**rharris1986** · 03-22-2012, 07:25 PM

I still think the reason is a very deliberate one - to maybe later in the year sign one or two free agents - but to basically have a net loss of three or four free agents in order to maximize the number of compensatory picks we get for next years draft - when they will really go young. If the Ravens go into next years draft with seven regular picks and three additional compensatory 3rd or 4th round picks (for a team total of 10 draft picks) you will see a vastly different Raven's team on the field for 2013.

**Ravenous1** · 03-22-2012, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

You don't need the reason explained to you why we haven't signed anybody. We just don't have the cap room. And look your never going to have a perfectly filled team for week 1 in any case. I'm sure we will have at least two solid players signed by August, aswell as our drafted players, don't be surprised to see an even younger team take the field in week 1 btw.

The Ravens priorities at this moment should be to work on deals for Flacco and Webb. Both are essential on their respective sides of the ball for what the Ravens want to do moving forward and moving towards a era with no Ray Lewis and Ed Reed soon. Ray Rice while it would be nice to get a deal done can remain franchised for now until those two get done. Think at this point you sit back and see how the draft goes and see what depth you can address through that. After the dust settles you can look at any remaining free agents, guys who get cut etc to round out the team. Its a solid core that is here and one that can win a lot of games if surrounded by the right guys who can fill roles.

**Captain Silver** · 03-22-2012, 07:37 PM

First there are what, 256 draftees coming into the league? Some will be ours, then, maybe 150 make the squads? Put that against UDFA's, FA's and soon to be FA's, it is wise to wait and see what is out there.

The only player Oz really wanted was Grubbs. Grubbs didn't really want to play here, he wanted to play closer to home.

Who out there was can't miss WR? No one. I think Moss was the best of what was out there, don't tell me Reggie Wayne either. We will see how great Reggie Wayne isn't all that if Manning isn't throwing to him.

As for lineman, again, there were a couple, but nothing WOW over.

Why sweat safety when we can draft a couple?

Look at last year, Oz had a plan, knew who he wanted and bam got them. Leach and Pollard. Then McKinnie fell into our hands later as a cut.

Ozzie is one of the best GM's seen in the NFL. His only black mark against him is re-upping players a little too slowly.

**psuasskicker** · 03-22-2012, 07:44 PM

615px-JeanLucPicardFacepalm.jpg

**goodandfast** · 03-22-2012, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by psuasskicker

615px-JeanLucPicardFacepalm.jpg

Lol

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**StingerNLG** · 03-22-2012, 07:49 PM

So I guess we have become the forum where you are not to be frustrated or you get the stink eye?

This is why I hibernate during the off season.

**ActualSpamBot** · 03-22-2012, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by Captain Silver

Ozzie is one of the best GM's seen in the NFL. His only black mark against him is re-upping players a little too slowly.

I don't even think you can call that a black mark. By making everyone play out their contract Ozzie consistently gets great production for peanuts.

Look at Ray Rice. Last year he led the NFL in production per dollar, anyone honestly believe we would've saved money on him by signing him last season before people could see how terrible AP, CJ2K, and DeAngelo Williams' deals were? No freaking way. Instead we got massive production from him for peanuts, and now the RB market is much cooler than it was last year and we'll either get him to sign a team friendly deal like Foster or he'll play for less than 17 million total over the next two years and then be replaced by someone playing on another rookie contract.

Frankly, I think letting guys play out their contracts is ultimately the better choice when you draft as well as we do.

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**NC Raven** · 03-22-2012, 07:54 PM

Stupid Ravens, always having good teams and never having $70m in cap room to sign great free agents like Albert Haynesworth!!!

**Hammerhead** · 03-22-2012, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by rharris1986

I still think the reason is a very deliberate one - to maybe later in the year sign one or two free agents - but to basically have a net loss of three or four free agents in order to maximize the number of compensatory picks we get for next years draft - when they will really go young. If the Ravens go into next years draft with seven regular picks and three additional compensatory 3rd or 4th round picks (for a team total of 10 draft picks) you will see a vastly different Raven's team on the field for 2013.

I think there is a lot of wisdom to this. There are several veterans that we very well may lose next year - Ray, Ed, Matt Birk, Bryant McKinnie, Anquan Boldin, Bernard Pollard (I think his was a 2 year deal), etc. We are going to need to have the ammunition to replace those losses. Picking up 3-4 compensatories to go along with our regular complement of draft picks should help that replacement process along nicely. Plus, we should also have more cap room by not making crazy signings this year. You are absolutely right that 2012 may be the last run for the Ravens as we have come to know them the past 9+ years.

**Ash55** · 03-22-2012, 08:30 PM

I actually am not that worried to be honest. I think our talent and our depth is a lot better than most people think and it will be supplemented with serviceable players that are still Free Agents, get cut or the draft.

**wickedsolo** · 03-22-2012, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by StingerNLG

So I guess we have become the forum where you are not to be frustrated or you get the stink eye?

This is why I hibernate during the off season.

Well, I don't give the stink eye because it is definitely easy as a fan to get frustrated when you see players that you really would love to watch in a Ravens uniform.

I definitely think that it's frustrating when guys like Grubbs hit the market knowing full well that there is no way the Ravens can or will match other offers. This is the one area where I wish Ozzie, Harbs, and whoever would get extensions done early. I really don't like seeing this team HAVE to use the franchise tag on key players because they started negotiating for a new deal late. It drags the cap room down and it limits what they can and can't do. Who knows, maybe if they had Rice under contract already they could have gotten Grubbs done or gotten Evan Mathis.

**Raven Maniac** · 03-22-2012, 08:32 PM

All kinds of wisdom in this thread, and all true. Ozzie consistently manages to field a competitive team regardless of the difficulties that cap space or player contracts pose, this year will be no different.

**Lime in the Coconut** · 03-22-2012, 08:33 PM

Isaiah Ekejuibah! Hey, if we can land him I'll be happy. Good ST, maybe even Kassim Osgood too. Those are the type of signings I'm expecting.

**wickedsolo** · 03-22-2012, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by Lime in the Coconut

Isaiah Ekejuibah! Hey, if we can land him I'll be happy. Good ST, maybe even Kassim Osgood too. Those are the type of signings I'm expecting.

And those are important signings.

ST's coverage was really terrible last year on a whole.

They re-signed Chavis Williams a few weeks ago as well and he's a ST's guy and was a ST's guy at Alabama as well.

**Lime in the Coconut** · 03-22-2012, 08:38 PM

I liked Chavis a lot last year. I can't see them signing an OL right now, just no one that is an ideal fit right now. I could see them addressing ST's and maybe depth defensively like ILB or S.

**wickedsolo** · 03-22-2012, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by Lime in the Coconut

I liked Chavis a lot last year. I can't see them signing an OL right now, just no one that is an ideal fit right now. I could see them addressing ST's and maybe depth defensively like ILB or S.

I think they're going to really hit the draft and UDFA's hard this year. We're going to see the young guys getting a lot more playing time. Hopefully they'll get some picks that can kill two birds with 1 stone...for example getting a guy who can play guard or center...a WR who is a decent WR and kick/punt returner...a safety who can be a gunner and cover kick off's decently and has upside to be a starter...

**Dragz** · 03-22-2012, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by wickedsolo

I think they're going to really hit the draft and UDFA's hard this year. We're going to see the young guys getting a lot more playing time. Hopefully they'll get some picks that can kill two birds with 1 stone...for example getting a guy who can play guard or center...a WR who is a decent WR and kick/punt returner...a safety who can be a gunner and cover kick off's decently and has upside to be a starter...

I think you're right. I was REALLY hoping that we'd pickup Ted Ginn Jr. but with him re-signing with the 49ers, I believe that we'll be minimal players in Free Agency until at least AFTER the draft.