Sal Paolantonio responds to reports regarding his quote on a San Diego radio show
I was going to do a DeflateGate-free version of links, but I had heard Ken Weinman and Steve Davis discussing a conversation that they had just had with Sal Paolantonio. So that dream was gone.
In case you haven’t heard, Sal Paolantonio has come under a bit of fire this weekend for his comments on a San Diego radio show regarding DeflateGate. In this segment, Sal tries to clarify some of what he said. He says that he was speculating on the matter, not giving a report.
It may be true that it started out as an opinion, but when an insider tells you, “I know who they are,” and then they mention both Bisciotti and Irsay, it no longer becomes conjecture. Whether or not he directly said that the NFL owners were pressuring Goodell, it was certainly implied.
He admits that he should not have said what he did. “I was wrong to say what I said because clearly, Steve Bisciotti doesn’t care…The owners are not pressuring Roger Goodell at all.” Here is the full interview:
Sal also goes on to say that the Ravens are “stacked,” and that he expects the Ravens to have a very good year this year. LINK
Marshal Yanda the Top-Rated OL in Madden 16
Madden rates Marshal Yanda as the best offensive lineman in the NFL, according to EASports’ (It’s in the game) website. Which is where he rightfully belongs. He was the top rated guard in the league according to Pro Football Focus with a score of +43.4. Here is what the site has to say about him:
Yanda is one of the game’s elite guards, and is playing for a contract extension in 2015. His 99 Run Blocking is tops in the league, and he also brings 90 Pass Blocking and 94 Strength.
Grantland’s NFL 100 Rankings Part 2: Who Is Football’s No. 1 Player?
On Wednesday of last week, Bill Barnwell listed the 100th best to 61st best players. Afterwards, I was able to conclude that Flacco would fall into the top 60. Which was correct. He was the first remaining quarterback off the board in this one, with a ranking of 49th overall and the 13th best quarterback. I would put him higher, but I’d say that ranking is fair. At 57th best, Suggs is the first Raven off the list. That ranking is also pretty fair.
Where I draw my issue is with Marshal Yanda‘s ranking. It’s better than it was on the NFL Top 100, but Yanda is the best lineman in the league, even according to Grantland’s other NFL writer, Robert Mays. In this list, he ranks as the 7th best OL and 41st best overall. LINK
Another Year Of Luxury With Flacco
Ryan Mink of Ravens media discusses how important it has been to have consistency at the quarterback position. My favorite point that he makes is this:
“He once again sparkled in the playoffs, where he had a quarterback rating of 100.7, tossed six touchdowns to two interceptions, and threw for 551 yards. He beat the Steelers and built two 14-point leads against the Patriots.
Perhaps it’s for that reason that Flacco has seemingly received less criticism this offseason. Sure, there are still debates about whether he’s elite.”
All that we’ve heard locally this offseason when it comes to Joe Flacco has been people coming to his defense. No criticisms of him for not going out in the park and throwing the ball around with his new receivers. No complaining about his contract. None of it. I, for one, am very happy about that. LINK
After Smith, who will emerge as Flacco’s go-to guys?
Steve Smith will be Joe Flacco‘s number one target this upcoming season, but Clifton Brown of CSN Baltimore wonders who will become the go-to guys behind him. Will it be one of the tight ends, Maxx Williams or Crockett Gillmore, or one of the young non-rookie receivers, Kamar Aiken or Marlon Brown? Or will it be Breshad Perriman who emerges ahead of the pack in his rookie year? LINK
2015 Division Series Preview: AFC North
Nick Cicere of The Sports Quotient looks at the AFC North and determines that the AFC North is Baltimore’s division to lose. The Ravens have one of the most complete rosters from top to bottom, so it makes sense. He points to better performances from Lardarius Webb toward the end of the year as one of the reasons and a threatening pass rush as two of the reasons. LINK
