Show Me The Wade!

I was glad to see that the Ravens were able to reclaim Dayton Wade and add him to their practice squad. He’s an unheralded baller and I think he’s going to establish himself in the league and be a solid contributor with the right team. Whether the Ravens are the right team for Wade remains to be seen.

Admittedly, I thought that the team made a mistake by cutting either Wade or Anthony Miller. They cut both, yet both are now on the practice squad. That’s a win for Eric DeCosta and the Ravens.

Some of asked me why I am so high on the undrafted free agent. When watching him, he does little things that professionals do. Whether that be body control, managing the boundaries with good footwork, setting up a defender to create separation, or coming back to the ball to help his quarterback, I’ve seen that in Wade.

He’s also a feisty player and that combined with his skill set and size, reminds me of a former Raven – Steve Smith, Sr. Now I’m not suggesting that Wade will ever approach SSS’s accomplishments in the NFL, but I do think that he can create challenges for opposing defensive coordinators in the right situations. It’s now incumbent upon Wade to prove that in practice so that he captures the attention of OC Todd Monken.

When Wade was cut, I thought that it was a calculated risk on the part of EDC. More than likely he, along with his staff, scour other rosters to try and anticipate if a player the Ravens plan to cut, hoping to be reclaim later for the practice squad, is at risk to be claimed by another team. That thinking probably came into play with Wade. And if so, EDC won that chess match.

No Successful Claims

I’m not sure if the Ravens tried to claim another RB or offensive lineman and were beaten to the punch by another team, but at least for this week, there might not be any new faces added to the roster. That could change following Week 1.

Let’s be honest, a new addition to the roster at either RB or O-line, probably isn’t going to be the difference in the first game at Kansas City (by the way, I hate the way the Chiefs PBP guy shouts, “KAN-SAH CITY”). Adding a player after Game 1 gives the team roster flexibility should they wish to part ways with the player in-season. If a player is added to start a season, the Ravens are on the hook for his salary for the entire season. If added afterwards, parting ways doesn’t carry the same financial burden in real dollars or cap dollars.

There has been some chatter reconnecting the Ravens to defensive lineman, Lawrence Guy. Guy, 34 years old, is a solid, workmanlike player willing to do the dirty work. And if the preseason is any indication of what the run defense could look like Guy would be a nice add. But it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Ravens wait it out like they did with Kyle Van Noy a year ago. You may recall that Van Noy visited the Ravens well before the start of the 2023 season but wasn’t added to the roster until Week 4.

Diva Receivers

Brandon Aiyuk and Ja’Marr Chase are now chasing the big numbers recently extended to the likes of CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson by their respective teams. And somehow, to get theirs, they and their agents think that it’s best to engage in some disruptive gamesmanship.

Regarding Chase, the Bengals control the former LSU Tiger through 2025 after exercising the fifth-year option on the 3-time Pro Bowler. And if you even remotely pay attention to owners in the NFL, the Bengals’ Mike Brown is the NFL’s answer to Ebenezer Scrooge before being visited by the three ghosts. Good luck getting that guy to budge! Meanwhile, Chase’s selfish ambition only serves to disrupt his team and their chance for success. Keep doing you Ja’Marr. The rest of the AFC North thanks you.

Yikes: #Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase was 13 minutes late to practice and showed up in street clothes despite Zac Taylor saying he was going to practice 👀

(via: @KelseyLConway) pic.twitter.com/nLCBSBoVTi

— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) August 28, 2024

As for Aiyuk, the 49ers should just let him sit. If they can’t get what they want for Aiyuk, let him rot on the bench in street clothes or wherever it is that he decides to host his pity party. The 49ers ultimately have the leverage. If Aiyuk sits out the entire season, it could diminish his value as a free agent if for no other reason, some teams will be uninterested in a player that comes off as a me-guy. With fewer teams interested in a malcontent, Aiyuk’s market value will tumble.

Remember when Le’Veon Bell decided to sit out for a year when at the top of his game? He lost a year of salary and the deal he ultimately signed with the Jets was nowhere near what Bell and his handlers expected. Eventually his game was never the same and he never even realized the full value of his Jets contract (4 years, $52M). New York cut him loose after just 17 games in Gang Green.

Perhaps a history lesson is in order for both the Niners and Aiyuk.