Ozzie Newsome Press Conference Highlights
Today Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome addressed the media in attendance at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Ozzie spoke for over 15 minutes. Here are a few of the highlights from his press conference.
On the Ravens quest to upgrade their wide receiver corps:
We’re looking for the opportunity to change that room in terms of personnel and the people that are in that room and we are not going to leave [any] stones unturned.
My Take: This is priority number 1 for the Ravens!
On whether or not Jeremy Maclin will return:
We have some decisions that we have to make in the next two weeks. We have not come to a point where we have decided that this guy’s gonna be here, this guy’s not. But that will occur in the next two weeks.
My Take: Hey Von Paris, I think Jeremy Maclin could use your assistance!
On if the Ravens will consider a quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft:
Wherever quarterbacks fall [on our draft board], that’s where they fall. That’s why we drafted Keith Wenning. That’s why we drafted Tyrod Taylor. It’s no different this year. We’ll set the board and if we get to a position in the draft and a quarterback is the best player available, we’re gonna take him.
My Take: Round 4 is the earliest the Ravens will consider a quarterback. Key words from Ozzie: “if we get to a position in the draft”.
On the progress that Jimmy Smith is making:
I see Jimmy. I see him there because he’s rehabbing. He’s in the building. He’s telling me he’s doing very well. I spoke with Drew [Rosenhaus] earlier in the week and he indicated that he had spent time with Jimmy and he’s doing well. That puts us in situation where I think, if you count Jaylen [Hill], we have six corners. And based on the last two years we need six corners. We need all of them.
My Take: The Ravens will be drafting another corner.
On Steve Bisciotti’s concerns about fan discontent:
Not only does Steve see that, I see that. I’m there every home game and I look around our stadium. I see that it’s not the same as it was. I get the product better on the field, I think our fans are gonna show up.
My Take: Winning cures most of the discontent but I still believe that the Ravens need to be very active in the community in a public way in order to satisfy many fans who are still upset over the player protests. But granted, that part of the operation doesn’t fall at Ozzie’s doorstep.
