OTL: Stormin’ Into Spring

Happy Friday, Flock. We’ve had a bit of an interesting week here as Ravens fans, thanks to getting a new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken.

Another guy who was on the short list of many Ravens fans (though it seems perhaps not that of the team itself) was Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. It looks like EB might be landing just a bit south after all.

Eric Bieniemy and the Washington Commanders have mutual interest, OC hire could happen today https://t.co/1HQHQlraOT

— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsHH) February 17, 2023

So that’ll give a certain segment of the Flock, who like to be mad for the sake of being mad, something else about which to gripe. I’ll just say good luck to Bieniemy, and hope he gets his head coaching shot next offseason.

Where we didn’t get any news this week, was of course, on the Lamar Jackson front. We did, however, get a bit of non-news news, that Jackson “wasn’t fully integrated” in the hiring process of Monken. Whatever that means.

TL said it best:

Why would they? If your wife is considering leaving you do you ask her input on your new man cave design? https://t.co/ScdDYfq9qr

— Tony Lombardi (@RSRLombardi) February 16, 2023

RSR’s Chris Schisler summed up many of our feelings here:

#Ravens way too early morning thought: Lamar Jackson is not making this easy. That's not necessarily a judgement on him, but it's factual. The Ravens probably are out of ideas that they're comfortable with. It seems like there were win-win scenarios that could have happened.

— Chris Schisler (@footballman58) February 17, 2023

It is what it is. At this point, expecting news is probably foolish. If I were handicapping the outcomes here, it would probably go something like this:

45% chance: Jackson plays 2023 on the franchise tag

35% chance: Jackson signs a new long-term deal prior to 2023

20% chance: Jackson is traded prior to the 2023 draft

But hey, a quick look at my DraftKings account will tell you immediately that I’m not someone you should listen to when it comes to betting on the odds of things happening.

As RSR’s Darin McCann wrote yesterday, it would benefit both parties to end this saga soon.

For Good of Both Parties, Lamar & Ravens Need Resolution Soon

However, both seem dug in and ready to be as patient as it takes. We fans are left to bicker amongst ourselves.

One other quick Ravens tidbit. It looks as though Kyle Hamilton was the one Raven who needed offseason surgery (we assumed it was Demarcus Robinson, as he posted an image of his procedure a few weeks back, but Robinson is a free agent).

#Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton with his right arm in a sling.
(IG: theovon, reposted by kyledhamilton) pic.twitter.com/vZy9gC3S8Y

— Kyle Phoenix Barber (@KylePBarber) February 17, 2023

Kyle was hanging out with…comedian Theo Von? Seems like it was part of sponsorship stuff for Raising Cain’s restaurant, as Kyle B. noted in the replies.

As it’s Friday, I think it’s time for a bit of a palate cleanser. I’m going to assume that most of you reading this also follow the other local teams, and there are big things happening for several of them.

First, Orioles pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training in Sarasota this week. Grayson Rodriguez throwing bullpen sessions to Adley Rutschman is exactly what we need to get our weekend started off on the right arm er…foot.

Grayson Rodriguez throws to Adley Rutschman. A video. And the ball moves faster than the camera. pic.twitter.com/QUEV85AInL

— Dan Connolly (@danconnolly2016) February 17, 2023

Schwing.

Next up, the Maryland Terrapins basketball team! The Terps defeated a Top 5 team last night for the first time since the Obama administration, taking down #3 Purdue at Xfinity Center.

This is College Park, Maryland pic.twitter.com/UJrDCjV30o

— Maryland Men’s Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) February 17, 2023

The futures are bright for Kevin Willard’s Terps and Brandon Hyde’s Birds.

Let’s hope Baltimore’s Purple Birds are also on the upswing.