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It’s Time for the Ravens to Toss Doss

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Last year during Ravens training camp on a typically hot and steamy summer afternoon in Baltimore, a member of coach Jim Hostler’s receiving corps was off to the sidelines working with trainers, stretching and rehabbing what appeared to be a not-so-serious leg injury.

Tougher players may have practiced anyway, particularly one trying to make his mark in the NFL.

Not Tandon Doss.

Making matters worse that day, Doss made the mistake of criticizing then Ravens cornerback Cary Williams.

So picture this…

Williams, an overly amped up player on a normal day is out on the field working, sweating buckets and here is this wide receiver in shorts and a t-shirt, essentially missing another day of work and he has the audacity to criticize the work of another player.

Williams blew a fuse! Extremely offended by criticisms coming from a player who essentially called out, Williams ripped into Doss with a rather profane soliloquy during which he labeled the absentee receiver, “soft”.

In the NFL players would rather you insult their mothers than to be called “soft”.

Former Ravens’ offensive coordinator Cam Cameron following practice one summer day – one during which Doss actually took the field and had a rather productive afternoon, was asked about the team’s 2011 fourth-round pick from Indiana University and his successful outing.

“This is practice”, said Cameron. “Let’s see how they do when we introduce the threat of contact.”

Apparently Williams wasn’t alone in his opinion of Doss.

And you have to wonder how many others felt the same.

Fast forward to the 2012 postseason when Jim Caldwell called upon Doss in the Wild Card Playoff Game against the Indianapolis Colts. He was targeted by Joe Flacco three times, twice with an opportunity to make a play for a score and he failed to deliver.

This offseason the Ravens parted ways with Anquan Boldin believing that Doss, a player who is a Raven in part because he earned Flacco’s endorsement before the 2011 NFL Draft, would step up and at least in part fill the void left by “Q”.

Cue up the crickets.

They speak for Doss’ productivity thus far in 2013.

Last night against the Panthers, Doss was Flacco’s hot read running from the left slot. Flacco had to set and deliver while an uncontested blitzer barreled down at him off the edge, right beside the space just vacated by Doss.

It should have been an easy read for a 3rd-year receiver.

Flacco threw to the spot where he trusted Doss would be. Instead Doss opted for a double move leaving his quarterback hanging out to dry and the Panthers 6 points richer.

Doss would later say, “We just have to communicate better. It’s on both of us.”

Really?

After three years of working together and considering the very basic read that Doss needed to make, that’s the best he can do?

Where’s the accountability? Where’s the support of the quarterback, the man who actually had a hand in him being a Raven and earning a Super Bowl ring? Wonder how Flacco feels about that endorsement now?

Cary Williams was right about Doss.

And it’s high time the Ravens get over their wasted fourth round pick.

It’s time they minimize their loss.

It’s time they toss their Doss!

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