Greg Roman Deserves Better
Any NFL player or coach knows that one of the occupational hazards of life in the NFL is that job performance is out there for all to see. The customers, so to speak, know which of the team’s employees has screwed up. And given the presence of social media, the screw ups are debated over and over while the alleged perps are vilified in an extreme way.
Those players and coaches know what they’ve signed up for. They know that with the favorable wages and the accompanying lifestyle that comes with their highly specialized employment, that it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There is a downside to life in the league that needs to be considered. Some passionate fans have been known to be extremely unruly, and their criticisms can be downright vicious.
They can also be personal.
Yesterday while exiting the stadium, per usual, players and other staff members were greeted by fans. Usually the exchanges are in passing and they are regularly cordial. But sometimes, the exchanges aren’t so pleasant. They can become quite contentious as fans vent frustrations like this one did yesterday after the game.
It’s time for you to go Greg Roman #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/lmPpLlxOA2
— Malcolm🌩 (@Just_do_it_j18) December 4, 2022
There’s no denying that Greg Roman had an abysmal game against the Broncos. Even Roman would probably agree that it wasn’t one of his best efforts. But never is it ok to make it personal. We all have bad days at “the office”. The difference between your job performance and that of Greg Roman’s is that yours is probably not out there for millions to see, analyze, grade and dismantle.
I get that this particular fan is probably the exception to the norm and his reprehensible behavior is that of a person who has bigger problems than the Ravens winning by just a point over a team that they were favored to beat by 9. But let’s be mindful of how hard these men work. Let’s be mindful that the 32 men in the world who have earned the job title of NFL Offensive Coordinator have forgotten more about football than you’ll ever know. And never forget that most of these men are great people with loved ones who are also exposed to and injured by such unruliness.
Greg Roman is a good man with solid core values. Neither he nor anyone attached to the NFL should be subjected to such despicable and probably drunken behavior, culminating in an unsavory verbal assault.
Don’t be this guy.
Don’t be this guy, ever!
John Harbaugh on the Ravens' interest in free-agent WR Odell Beckham Jr., whom the team's reportedly met with: "I really haven't thought too much about that."
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) December 5, 2022
The thought of Odell Beckham, Jr. coming to Baltimore as anything other than an opponent is laughable. Word is that OBJ wants a multi-year deal. BUT…he hasn’t worked out for anyone, just 10 months removed from his ACL tear. And if OBJ really can’t help a team in 2022, and there’s really little reason to believe he can, why would anyone look to sign him long-term unless it was on the cheap? And does anyone really expect OBJ to sign on the cheap? AND…why would any WR sign in Baltimore given the team’s unsavory reputation for underutilizing receivers coupled with the uncertainties at offensive coordinator?
[Related Article: The Aftermath, Ravens v. Broncos]
Lamar Saga
Lamar’s contract situation continues to grow murkier. He decided to play for his next contract instead of accepting the one the Ravens offered. And now you have to wonder if the Ravens are glad that he declined their offer.
It will be interesting to see how the Ravens handle Lamar this offseason. His market value today isn’t what it was before the season started. And now that he’ll miss some more time with another leg injury, it serves as a reminder that a mobile quarterback with injuries who isn’t making progress as a passer under Roman, doesn’t grow more in demand. Quite the opposite.
When the Cleveland Browns traded for Deshaun Watson and a 2024 sixth-round pick, they gave up first-round picks in 2022, 2023 and 2024; a third-round pick in 2022; and a fourth-round pick in 2024. That is a ton of draft capital and given the fact that Lamar, prior to the 2022 season, was thought to be a better and more accomplished player than Watson, many thought that the Browns established the market value for such quarterbacks.
I’m not so sure anymore.
Who knows what the future holds for Lamar in Charm City. But I think it’s safe to say that the Ravens will be hard-pressed to land a haul of picks for Jackson like the Texans did for Watson, given his performance of late and yet another injury. Many thought that the Ravens would extend an exclusive tag to Lamar in order to keep him in 2023. That way no other team could make an offer. Now, it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Ravens use the non-exclusive franchise tag on Lamar.
With the non-exclusive tag, the Ravens would save $13M (exclusive is $45.4M). If another team opts to sign Lamar and the Ravens refuse to match, the Ravens would receive the signing team’s first round pick for each of the next two seasons. At this point, that might be the most the team could get for Lamar.
35 Responses
Well said
Tony, glad to hear you say what I have been thinking for weeks about Jackson. Bischotti is probably happy Jackson didn’t sign that contract that was on the table. If it were me, it would no longer be on the table. Everything we worried about has materialized- bad mechanics, poor accuracy down the field, leg injuries. Maybe Jackson should have signed, for an incredible amount of money when it was offered, and lifetime security rather than wanting the ego boost of being the highest paid.
… guess criticizing Lamar is not allowed here …
We don’t delete comments unless they are politically charged or spammy. If your comment is gone, we had nothing to do with it. Oh and if criticizing Lamar was banned here, I’d have to fire myself.
My original comment was in agreement with what you said. I believe Bischotti is glad Jackson didn’t sign the contract that was, at the time, on the table. Not sure that offer is still on the table based on performance and now the predictable injuries.
Asterix, the Ravens instantly become a lottery team without LJ_era8… Instantly!!!
You may very well be correct. But my point is, if Jackson had signed the contract that was offered, which was for a huge, life changing amount of money if the rumors were true, he wouldn’t be in the situation he’s in now. He would have life long financial security even if he plays poorly… or gets hurt. This obsessing with being the highest paid is not serving him well. He went from proclaiming he wanted to win multiple Super Bowls to now saying his goal is to be a billionaire. To me that’s pure greed, that’s what has turned me off.
What lottery?
I think you mean the NBA, and now MLB. The NFL does not have a draft lottery. You draft by finish
Okay Tony, the powers that be will not post my comments…
One of the biggest mistakes Lamar has made is in his failure to hire an agent! He’s also hindered by playing in an offense that does not feature a passing attack, which is why Marquise Brown asked to be traded, and WRs don’t want to play here and why Lamar could also wind up playing elsewhere! At this point, it’s all conjectural at best! As for the unruly fan, you can’t fix……stupid! Lots of frustration to go around and as I commented elsewhere, the fans have to be disgusted with the garbage they’re being subjected to!
why the doom and gloom. there are really very good players in the majority of position in this team.yes this team is built flaw. the premium positions has been neglected lika passrushers and playmakers. and greg roman is who is alway been a very good run oriented OC with very limited passing scheme every one knew that and the only lamar we have seen is lamar under greg roman with an underwhelming wide receiver group. besides let us be honest. is there any qb that ravens substitutes for lamar today and the offence will operate better under these current staff and structure, the answer is no. and please don’t say huntley the guy is one read only. go and look the film and routes, lamar will get paid either by ravens or other team, the guy is 25 years old. who has won 46 av 70 games with this system, the league regard honom very high we will sign very quick if the raven tag honom with non exclusive franchise tag. and ravens will recieve two mid-round picks and rebuild. it doesn’t sound smart strategy. let’s hire oc with a basic understanding of spacing who can demand widerecivers from EDC.
Well Tony, when Lamar turned down the Ravens offer in September and effectively bet on himself a lot of people, many in the media, thought that was a smart move. Ravens won’t give him a fully guaranteed contract? Well, somebody will! Just you wait! The Ravens are foolish and cheap! (Fill in a pundit’s name; they were legion back in September). Now….crickets….
So it appears that the Ravens’ reticence is well served. I said back then that the Ravens would be best served in working on a contract next off season and, if an agreement was not forthcoming, franchise L.J. on a prove-it-or-lose-it contract in 2023. Under no circumstances fully guarantee anything. If he didn’t not show progress the Ravens could start scouting for a replacement in the 2024 draft.
I’m not giving up on Lamar yet. But I do think that he and Greg Roman have to part ways. He’s no longer growing, progressing under GRo’s game planning and play calling, together with the lack of proven, healthy targets. And you gotta wonder if Lamar isn’t thinking the very same thing – that he may have to go elsewhere to do better. Food for thought….
See my reply to Josh above! This is Harbaugh’s offense……PERIOD!
1st things 1st, clearly inappropriate behavior and can’t happen. No matter how upset you are with Roman and want change. Remember this- say nothing if you can’t say something nice. As for bigger picture, Fan Apathy is setting in. You are getting boos when the offense is on the Field etc. It’s because There’s a expectation since 2018 with Lamar that regardless of facing a top 5-10 defense this offense puts up 20-25points atleast. And fan frustration and Apathy setting in is because it’s like Groundhog day every Sunday watching Roman offense having 0 explosive plays unless Lamar takes off& Ravens organizational FAILURE to supply legitimate WRs beyond Bateman. And your whole passing attack can’t hinge on basically 2 guys 89 and Bateman, when Bateman goes down TD production and explosives drop off the cliff. That’s organizational FAILURE. It’s 2022 stop running the organization like it’s 2000& all you need to do is just run the ball& play defense &special teams. No there’s a reason this offense struggles through the air because organization hasn’t supplied adequate WR talent and a OC that knows modern pass game. Thatll be the big change this off-season once they get eliminated because it can’t be Lamar go do everything all the time. It’s not sustainable
Some good points! However, this isn’t Roman’s offense, it’s……Harbaugh’s! And, the only time it’s changed is when he was FORCED to fire Cameron mid-season, which led to Flacco’s spectacular SB MVP run and when Kubiak was hired without consulting Harbaugh! Kubiak brought his own assistants, answered to no one and Flacco, who Kubiak referred to as, ELITE, had his most productive season! All the others have been Harbaugh……lackeys! As for personnel decisions, you’re 100% correct in citing the organization, but…..following that SB win, Harbaugh, who is not a fan of the passing game, usurped a lot of power and no doubt played a key role in personnel decisions! Time for a change at the……top!
Couldn’t agree more Armchair. Time for some changes
You’re wrong Lombardi. You did get 1 thing right though. We the fans pay the Ravens with our wallets, or at least a large percentage of their costs….to include players and coaches salaries.
We ARE the customers of the product they put out on the field.
If the Ravens can’t get it done for us (the CUSTOMERS), then why bother at all. And that includes “Glad hand Harbaugh”, and “Twitter” Jackson.
Enjoy the rest of your day Lombardi
Riveting, Hall!
I hope you enjoy the rest of your day as well. Thanks for stopping by, Hall.
I’ve watched the NFL for years and a franchise QB is hard to find… In my humble opinion coaches do more damage to a franchise winning than it’s players… These athletes are human beings who put their pants on one leg at a time, although many of them are gifted athletically… LJ_era8 should begin to focus on warmer climates, the man is too talented to continuously waste away in Baltimore…
Right now I’m hoping Tyler Huntley is the next Nick Foles. You all can argue about the rest. Standings say Ravens are in a 1st place tie. Just win baby!
None of us really know how the game plan is developed and how the play calls are made. I can think that neither of these are solely performed by Greg Roman. There’s a large offensive staff and the players themselves that likely have input. We don’t know what conversations are had during the game between Roman and these people. We also don’t see the hours of film and the practice sessions these coaches see. It’s ludicrous to think any fan has adequate information to credibly criticize the staff.
The problem has persisted for the past 14 years! The only constant during that time period is the HC! You’re entitled to your opinion, but Harbaugh has had his fingers all over this stale offense except for the SB run after he was FORCED to fire his OC and in 2014, when Kubiak and his staff were brought in without consulting Harbaugh, which resulted in Flacco having his most productive season……ever! Kubiak left the following year to win a SB in Denver with a QB on his last legs
You are obviously entitled to your opinion, but Harbs would be on the market for about 10 minutes. Historically one of the winningest coaches in the NFL. Perhaps you’d be better off as a fan of another team.
I’ve been a fan of Baltimore football since 1947 when my father took me to see the Baltimore Colts play the New York Yankees of the old All American Football Conference! It’s because of my devotion to the team that I’m concerned about them! Facts are sometimes inconvenient things, but in my OPINION, Harbaugh has ridden Flacco’s and Jackson’s coat tails to his record! Imagine where he’d be today if Kyle Boller hadn’t gotten hurt and Troy Smith hadn’t gotten sick and he wasn’t FORCED to start a rookie QB in his rookie coaching season! This is Harbaugh’s offensive system that is an ultra conservative, keep it close and play not to lose antiquated system and both Flacco and Jackson have bailed him out over the years more times than you can count……..
Thanks for admitting g that you are exactly one of those people I was talking about. You have zero credentials for backing up your opinions. Harbs isn’t going anywhere so if you’re that distraught about his historically great record, maybe there’s another team for you.
Time will tell! Since 2014, Harbaugh’s record in the postseason where it counts most is 1-3, not exactly a great record! So, we are entitled to our own opinions, but are not our own….facts!
There’s a very long list of NFL coaches who have not made a single playoff appearance. There’s facts and cherry picked facts.
True, because good coaching in the NFL is the ultimate……oxymoron! Most have systems they expect personnel to adapt to rather than adapting the system to complement the personnel! If I were a betting man, I’d bet Jackson wants out of this system, too!
That’s the trouble with people like you. If they win then the players “bailed out” the coaches. If they lose it’s the fault of the coaching staff. Harbaugh is 11-8 overall in playoff games – that’s upper echelon
Harbaugh’s SYSTEM is antiquated! It’s the primary reason why Marquise Brown left and why good WRs don’t want to play here! So, if I agreed with you, then we’d both be…..wrong!
Since you have admitted you have zero qualifications for evaluation, you’ve already agreed with me. Find a new team and save yourself the angst.
And, since you insist upon making this debate personal, I’m through replying to you…..
No need to announce your departure.
There’s a very long list of coaches that haven’t even made the playoffs. There’s facts and cherry picked facts.