Many have pointed to the absence of Jared Gaither as a big reason for the collapse of the Ravens promising offense in 2010. What was once considered a long shot is now a possibility – the return of Gaither in 2011.
Left tackles are valuable commodities in the NFL and there is probably a team out there right now that thinks they can screw Gaither’s head on properly and develop his immense physical skills. And don’t think for a second that Gaither’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, isn’t keenly aware of that. Consequently while his return is possible it remains a long shot.
I’m thinking Lloyd in Dumb & Dumber long shot.
Unless…
Rosenhaus also represents Willis McGahee and Donte Stallworth. McGahee is set to earn over $6 million and Stallworth is a free agent. McGahee will never see that kind of money as a back up to Ray Rice who by the way is set to earn $550,000 next season. Stallworth would like to return but Rosenhaus just might view Cam Cameron’s offense as Career Death Valley for his client who “racked up” 2 catches in 2010.
But what if the Ravens could somehow put together a package deal for all three that somehow appeases Rosenhaus while treating all three players fairly? It’s something to consider and it may be something that Ozzie Newsome suggests with a <wink> <wink> to the hard balling Rosenhaus.
Speaking of Rosenhaus, another of his clients who has at least piqued the curiosity of Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is Plaxico Burress. Burress who will be watching some of his former teammates in Pittsburgh from prison this weekend is set to be released on June 6 and by most counts, he’s a reformed man. Burress can provide a vertical threat if he is in shape, something that the soon-to-be departed TJ Houshmandzadeh could not provide.
Maybe Ozzie enhances the package deal?
Back to Gaither for a moment, he’s apparently attracting the attention of Colts’ fans. Folks from
StampedeBlue.com have opined that if Gaither is healthy that he’s far better than anyone else the Colts have on their roster and that he’s worth the risk even if he is considered to be a bit of a malcontent when it comes to the offseason conditioning program and OTA’s. The site points to Robert Mathis and Reggie Wayne skipping OTA’s and they rationalize that they, “don't see anyone questioning those two players' work ethics.”
Good luck with that…
Anyone seen the HBO Documentary on Vince Lombardi appropriately titled, Lombardi? If not hit up the HBO website and find out when it airs next. I was riveted for 90 minutes and the truth be told I was afraid to excuse myself to the rest room in fear that I’d miss something. And I would have.
The documentary does an excellent job of detailing the chronology of Lombardi’s development, strengths and vulnerabilities.
During one scene, Hall of Fame Quarterback Bart Starr describes how he bought in to Lombardi’s philosophies from the start, reciting how the legendary coach pursued “perfection.” Lombardi according to Starr recognized that perfection was unattainable but that would not deter the Green Bay Packers quest of that unreachable star. Lombardi did however reach Bart Starr.
DID YOU KNOW? According to the Baltimore Business Journal, Ravens’ TV broadcasts averaged a 37.1 household rating during the 2010 season — a 20 percent jump from 2009, according to NFL Data. It was the eighth-biggest increase among the NFL’s 32 teams. That meant an average of 408,000 households in Greater Baltimore were tuned to each game.
What I’d like to know, what were the other half tuning in to?
Despite the upcoming Super Bowl they can’t help but spew their steel breath venom towards Baltimore as evidenced by this message board thread on
Steelers Fever.
Speaking of Steelers Fever, many of the town’s steelworkers might soon come down with one – or at least they’ll claim to have one just so they can stay at home and watch Super Bowl XLV.
According to a story at
CBS Sports, a U.S. Steel memo says workers in a few Pittsburgh area mills who miss work on Sunday or Monday “without just cause” will face “severe disciplinary action.” (Maybe they’ll be forced to have dinner with Bill Cowher without an umbrella).
Personally, I think the entire city will be sick come Monday after Green Bay flies home with The Lombardi following a 27-24 win.
Hey, I wonder if the meat packers in Wisconsin will be able to stay at home and watch the game instead of fulfilling their Sunday/Monday shifts…
So far Super Bowl XLV Week hasn’t gone the way that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would have liked. The Dallas area has been hit with snow and ice and well below average temperatures and that will not deliver the economic impact that the city had hoped for.
It won’t get any better next year either for the folks who might want to plan a vacation around the Super Bowl. Next year’s host city is Indianapolis followed by New Orleans and then the Meadowlands.
With all due respect to N’awlins and on the heels of this relative disaster in the Big D, the league needs to wake up and be sure to place future Super Bowls in warm climate cities. Fans are spending fortunes for flights that will be canceled and for rooms that they might even be bumped from as Monday arrives and there’s no way home.
Ravens in the Super Bowl or not in 2012, Indianapolis is a tough sell to even the most diehard fan when considering all the Benjamins it will require.
Proposition bets are interesting (and no they have nothing to do with Charlie Sheen). According to Wikipedia a proposition bet (also called a side bet, prop bet, prop, or exotic) is a bet made on an outcome or a proposition. These can be anything from statistics and happenstance in a regular game to personal, one-of-a-kind bets.
Here are a few of my favorites in Super Bowl XLV:
What will be higher on February 6th 2011?
Aaron Rodgers completions (+1) -105
Dwayne Wade points (-1) -125
How many times will FOX mention "Brett Favre" on TV during the Game?
Over 46 -155
Under 46 +115
How long will it take Christina Aguilera to sing the National Anthem?
Over/under 1 minute 54 seconds
Who will the FOX announcers say has better hair on TV during the Game?
Troy Polamalu
Clay Matthews
Here are more from BoDog
And finally, there’s was a time when the actual Super Bowl game stunk like the aroma of Don-Ton Pittsburgh. Fortunately that hasn’t been the case as of late and it shouldn’t be tomorrow. Yet during those less than desirable games, the Super Bowl ads have too often been the main attraction.
Among my favorites are the E*Trade baby commercials and I have no doubt they will deliver again on Sunday. Until then, I thought I’d leave you with a few of the E*Trade outtake ads that never aired.
Enjoy the game…GO PACKERS!
