Ray Rice’s Career Gets Extended

The Ravens added Anquan Boldin and Donte’ Stallworth to their stable of receivers.  Derrick Mason re-signs.  Suddenly, the Ravens passing game is a lot more potent than impotent.  More height, more speed, more options.  But there’s a bonus.  This should result in a sharp reduction of the dump passes to Ray Rice this year, meaning he won’t be getting routinely crushed by 260 lb linebackers in the secondary.  This should extend his career considerably.

Half-Baked

Ken Murray wrote a great blog about the Ravens’ increasing disenchantment with LT Jared Gaither.  The term he used was “half-baked work ethic.”  While his terminology was misinterpreted in some web sites to infer the use of Hippie Lettuce, I completely understand where Murray was coming from.  You know, “Half-Baked” as in “Half-Ass.”  His comment (from the coaching staff, no doubt) is a blunt (no pun intended) admission that the team is running out of patience with Gaither.  Things are so bad that they have to publically chide him to come to workouts.  Ozzie Newsome says he’s had no offers and no conversation with other clubs about Gaither.  Since he said that at the Annual Draft Day “Liars Luncheon,” I don’t believe him.  I think he’s talked, and plenty.

Prediction:  I’m lousy at this but here goes….With the second and third rounds of a very deep NFL draft being held a day later, look for a flurry of trades around the league on that Friday.  Don’t be surprised if Gaither gets moved on the second day for more draft choices.

And Michael Oher gets to live the title of the Oscar-winning film.

This Guessing Game Must End

It is 3 months after the season and Ozzie and John Harbaugh won't call and/or text Ed Reed.  Ed isn't talking.  Nobody knows what he’s thinking or how he’s feeling.  This is ridiculous behavior on both sides.  The draft is days away and the Ravens need to know if Reed is going to play or not. If he hangs it up, it could change the Ravens draft strategy entirely.

Let’s grow up guys.

Preston Stirs the Pot - Again

Mike Preston wrote another silly-ass blog deriding the press conference the Ravens hosted for Derrick Mason.  Another meaningless post by one of the more mean-spirited columnists in the country. His seniority in the Sun’s Writer's Guild is probably the only thing keeping him employed.

Was Preston writing this crap when Mason, a true Ubermensch, was playing with one arm back in 2008 and helped the Ravens close down Texas Stadium and win two playoff games?

Thought not.

Derrick Mason can have a presser every week as far as I'm concerned. He's proved his value again and again and I will be happy to welcome him into the Ring-of-Honor when he career is over.

Roethlisclucker Skates Off – For Now

The Georgia D.A. investigating the alleged assault by Ben Roethlisberger on an underage, highly inebriated college coed dropped the case because there wasn’t enough evidence to prosecute.  Next, B.R. shows up at a Pittsburgh presser, shaggy-haired and scruffy, completely unrepentant and somewhat defiant, looking for all the world like he just left another college-town bar (who knows? Maybe he did).  But ah, then he cleans himself up and puts on a suit long enough to visit the Principal’s Office at 280 Park Avenue. 

The Steelers, meanwhile, performed their ritualistic cleansing of the organization by punting Santonio Holmes to the Jets.  Holmes is serving as the sacrificial lamb for player misbehavior while their $102 million paycheck walks clean.  I’m patiently waiting for the Commissioner’s office or the Steelers to act.  As in Game Suspensions. 

Pittsburgh is hoping Roger Goodell does their dirty work for them.  Then they can continue to spew their “higher standard,” holier-than-thou attitude to the rest of the league.  I’d like Goodell to say to Dan Rooney, “Uh, Dan, I can’t really suspend Ben because he hasn’t broken any laws or been arrested.  But I don’t like his attitude and his pattern of behavior.  I want you to handle this.”  

I wonder what would happen…….

Boy’s Town

The Rexinator is turning Gang Green into the 21^st century’s version of the 1938 Spencer Tracy classic.  He’s added WR Santonio Holmes, CB Antonio Cromartie, and the suddenly over-the-hill LaDanian Tomlinson to his squad.  Holmes has all-world talent but is a walking police blotter.  The Jets had to loan Cromartie $500 grand to settle his various paternity suits.  What a swell!  Tomlinson can’t hold a candle to the RB back that Ryan cut, Thomas Jones.  Then there’s the always unpredictable Braylon Edwards and the ever volatile Bart Scott.  What a cocktail. 

Forget HBO’s Hard Knocks.  I can’t wait until the season starts to see how this cast of reform school bodies performs in the suddenly tough AFC East, and under the glare of a relentless New York press.

Hail and Farewell

The Ravens finally terminated the contract of Samari Rolle.  Given his battles with epilepsy and neck injuries (remember he was operated on last year) it was obvious that he wasn’t coming back. Football is a brutal sport and I’m glad that Rolle can walk away from the game a whole man.  Enjoy the rest of your life, Samari.

Draft Day Prediction

Supposition:  The Ravens will not trade out of the first round and will continue to employ their “best player available approach.”

Most Draftniks have the Ravens drafting 3 positions:  Wide out, defensive line, and cornerback. OK, let’s throw tight end in there for good measure.  The Ravens are nicely stocked at WR, so I don’t see that a position of immediate need unless a can’t miss prospect falls to them at 25.  The good corners may be gone by the time the Ravens draft and the tight ends all have health issues.  I look for them to fill a hole on the defensive line by drafting a road grader to replace Dwan Edwards and Justin Bannan and team up with Haloti Ngata.  Terrence Cody is too fat, too out of shape (he has the man-boobs to prove it) and has a poor work ethic.  I’m going with the intelligent and athletic Jared Odrick from Penn State.

But I could be (and probably will be) wrong.