RICE VOWS TO STILL BE A PREMIER BACK
Whether this season is remembered as just a bump in what has been an incredibly productive career from running back Ray Rice or as the beginning of the end of his dominance remains to be seen. Rice did not hold back when he was asked earlier this week what he thinks his future looks like.
“Needless to say, I still have focus on this year and finishing out this year as strong as I can,” Rice told the media. “Next year will be next year, I will make sure I come back in the best shape: Bigger, faster, stronger, whatever you want to call that stuff to prove myself again, that I’ll still be a premier running back in the NFL.”
Rice has had his season influenced by injury, as a strained hip flexor muscle in Week 2 caused him to miss a game, and recently, Rice has acknowledged he never fully recovered from the injury. He also is dealing with a thigh injury that has limited him in practice of late.
In his first four seasons as the Ravens featured back, (2009-12) Rice was in the top ten in the league in total yards among running backs but this season he is not even in the top 50. Rice is only 26, but will turn 27 next month and is due to have a salary cap number of $8.75 million next year. While publicly the Ravens have backed Rice, a decision will have to be made in the offseason as to whether or not he is worth that money.
In what has been a terrible year from the offensive line as well, it is difficult to blame Rice completely. Quarterback Joe Flacco has been sacked 46 times this year, which is the second highest in the league. Fellow running back Bernard Pierce has averaged even fewer yards per carry than Rice. Regardless, a strong season finale from Rice in Cincinnati would make it easier to be optimistic about his prospects next year.
BRANDON STOKLEY CALLS IT A CAREER
Veteran wide receiver Brandon Stokley announced Thursday that he plans to retire after the end of the season. Stokley said he met with Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome three weeks ago, and was sure of his decision after he was subsequently placed on injured reserve.
Stokley joins a short list of only 18 NFL wide receivers who played at least 15 seasons in the league. He played for the Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, and New York Giants. He finishes with 397 receptions for 5,339 yards and 39 touchdowns.
The highlight of Stokley’s career will likely be when he caught a long touchdown pass from quarterback Trent Dilfer in the Ravens’ first Super Bowl. Stokley has two Super Bowl rings, as he also received one in 2006 when the Colts won (despite playing in only four games that year).
“I’m glad I played this year because now I know I’m done,” Stokley said. “Had I not played this year I would have always felt I could have kept playing. I still know I can play but my body just can’t go through it anymore.”
TORREY SMITH HAS CHANCE TO SET RECORD
Overall, wide receiver Torrey Smith has had a very successful season in his first year operating as the “number one” receiver on the Ravens. With one game to go, Smith has a career-high 1,101 yards, and is exactly 100 yards behind the all-time Ravens record held by Michael Jackson.
Smith has disappeared in games a little recently, as opposing defenses have keyed in on him as the most dangerous offensive player on the team. Smith has not broken the 100-yard barrier since early October and managed only 46 yards when the Ravens hosted the Bengals earlier this year.
Matt Vensel of the Baltimore Sun (link 3) offers four predictions he expects and wrote Friday that he expects Smith to “get the yardage he needs to pass Jackson and then some.”
Hopefully Smith is able to break a tackle and run for a long gain, because after watching quarterback Joe Flacco struggle with his deep ball last week against the Patriots, it seems unlikely that too many big gains will be had from deep throws, which has been the strength of Smith’s game in the past.
TUCKER NAMED RAVENS MVP
Justin Tucker was named the team MVP earlier this week, as voted on by the beat writers surrounding the team. Middle linebacker Daryl Smith finished second in the voting behind Tucker.
Tucker has been phenomenal this season for the Ravens. Despite missing his only field goal attempt last week against the New England Patriots, the second-year kicker is a sterling 35-38 this year on attempts, and has had his season highlighted by his 6-6 performance two weeks ago at Detroit where he made a 61-yarder in the final minute to give the Ravens the lead.
Smith, who signed a one year deal before the season, has played at a high level as well, as he leads the team in tackles and interceptions, and has played very well for a linebacker who was assumed to be in his waning seasons. Tom Brady favorably likened Smith to Ray Lewis last week.
NFL.com’s Dan Haznus feels that a kicker should never win MVP for a successful team, and feels that it simply means other players such as quarterback Joe Flacco have not pulled their weight. While there may be truth to that point of view, it is hard to argue the Ravens would not have lost at least one or two more games without Tucker coming through in the clutch.
