If I was Ozzie Newsome and I looked at my “stable” of receivers during the bye week, I’d be embarrassed. Sure, I get that Steve Smith, Sr., Breshad Perriman and Michael Campanaro are all injured – that’s just the NFL.
But when the dust of the strained and torn muscles settles, the Ravens are staring at four undrafted free agents and an easily discarded former 4th round pick from the Rams.
Would any of these guys even start for the University of Alabama?
“The Ravens need a wide receiver” is the NFL’s answer to Groundhog Day.
Look Steve Bisciotti employs some rather brilliant guys in their front office. I’d even say that in some ways they are visionaries. But how they have ignored the position of wide receiver during an NFL era that is bee-lining towards arena football (see Saints 52, Giants 49 for proof) is mind-blowing.
Today the Ravens will haul in guys from the wide receiver dumpster fire like Hakeem Nicks and Reggie Wayne hoping that they can resurrect 8 games worth of decency from their rapidly declining skill sets.
Why bother really?
They need to learn a new offense, get familiar with Joe Flacco and then do something impressive enough in practice that keeps them from Sunday’s inactive list.
Speaking of which, two weeks ago the Ravens promoted Jeremy Butler from the practice squad only for him to be inactive since. Butler was a phenom during team OTA’s. He drew the praises of Joe Flacco and Steve Smith, particularly when injuries forced Butler to run at times with the first team.
But somewhere along the line, Butler fell out of favor with the coaching staff.
To borrow from Robert Plant, “And it makes me wonder…”
What do the Ravens have to lose by giving Butler some reps? Snaps for Marlon Brown? Please! To borrow again from Plant, Brown regularly looks “dazed and confused.”
If Butler isn’t Harbaugh’s cup of tea, why bother with Hicks or Wayne? Give Randy Moss a call. Supposedly Moss has stayed in shape, can still run and even if he was 50 he’d still be better than a 24-year-old Marlon Brown.
Surely I jest, right?
Well, when you field the worst receiving corps in the NFL, maybe not.
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