Re: Potentially Interesting Free Agent...
 

Ravens ironically might need to keep Gaither.
[url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/22/questions-remain-whether-michael-oher-can-play-the-blind-side/]Questions remain whether Michael Oher can play the blind side | ProFootballTalk[/url]
[QUOTE]NFL Network’s Mike Lombardi wrote this week that the Ravens “must” move Oher back to right tackle, where he played as a rookie. The second-year player struggled with penalties and speed rushers in his second season, although he was still strong as a run blocker.

Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun echoed the sentiment earlier this week, saying that moving Oher back to the right side would help fix Baltimore’s line problems. (In that scenario, Marshall Yanda would move to right guard.)[/QUOTE]

Funny thing is last year we were talking about how the team couldn't have gone wrong with Orakpo or Oher. Now it's looking like Orakpo will clearly end up as the better player. Not that Oher is bad, in fact he might be one of the leagues best run blockers.

Re: Potentially Interesting Free Agent...
 

Why take a chance on a guy that might have a chronic problem? Sure the surgery might go well and things might be fine for a while, but then boom, he gets hurt again. Back problems are no joke, and they rarely are totally permanently healed. You also have to think, if it really is a serious problem and the surgery does do the job, he probably shouldn't be playing football for awhile, so he most likely would take a year off in rehab and to heal. Would you want to subject your spine to that type of punishment so soon after surgery?

Re: Potentially Interesting Free Agent...
 

Why would we go after Gaither? It's time to realize that we addressed the offensive line perfectly last off season.. It will take time to build a successful line.

Trent Williams and Jammal Brown are two players that 31 NFL teams would love to have.

The best free agent for us is Barrett Ruud. I cannot express enough how convenient it is for him to be a free agent this season. Drafted by Bruce Allen, had some arguments with the Bucs management after they wouldn't give him an extension. Barrett Ruud is what we need and I would give him a lot of money at only 27 years old (UFA).

Re: Potentially Interesting Free Agent...
 

[url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/02/01/slim-chance-jared-gaither-re-signs-with-ravens/]“Slim” chance Jared Gaither re-signs with Ravens | ProFootballTalk[/url]

Re: Potentially Interesting Free Agent...
 

[quote=IrMitchell;780044]Why would we go after Gaither? It's time to realize that we addressed the offensive line perfectly last off season.. It will take time to build a successful line.

Trent Williams and Jammal Brown are two players that 31 NFL teams would love to have.

The best free agent for us is Barrett Ruud. I cannot express enough how convenient it is for him to be a free agent this season. Drafted by Bruce Allen, had some arguments with the Bucs management after they wouldn't give him an extension. Barrett Ruud is what we need and I would give him a lot of money at only 27 years old (UFA).[/quote]

I agree. Ruud would be a HUGE upgrade over Rocky and allow us to fill other areas of need in the draft. Let's do it.

Re: Potentially Interesting Free Agent...
 

[quote=DCtoAZ;778467]i couldn't agree more ... enough "projects" .... i'd rather roll the dice on a young healthy guy than have another banged up OL[/quote]


I agree...........we have done this for 10 years!!!!!! lets stop taking other peoples rejects and start BUILDING our own team with young hungry draft picks...........in addition. No more drafting BPA and go with what we NEED. We have drafted BPA for ten years and we STILL dont have a solid OL. As you can tell, im ready to do things different for a change. Mayble like the steelers????

Re: Potentially Interesting Free Agent...
 

I'd prefer to avoid any players with questionable work-ethic. The Ravens fans I know told me he's a lazy head-case.

Re: Potentially Interesting Free Agent...
 

[B]Gaither is coming off a year lost to a foot injury that may have resulted from his showing up at camp in poor shape as a result of back problems and unhappiness with the lack of a contract extension.

The injury problems are bad enough, but the questions about his work ethic raised by last summer’s issues have made it hard for the Ravens to put a full level of trust into Gaither.[/B]
THAT does not sound like the type of FA I want to bring in..........more like Al's twin

Re: Potentially Interesting Free Agent...
 

I just heard a report on ESPN Radio that Gaither is likely to sign with the Cerrato All-Stars.

Re: Potentially Interesting Free Agent...
 

[quote=IrMitchell;780044]Why would we go after Gaither? It's time to realize that we addressed the offensive line perfectly last off season.. It will take time to build a successful line.

Trent Williams and Jammal Brown are two players that 31 NFL teams would love to have.

The best free agent for us is Barrett Ruud. I cannot express enough how convenient it is for him to be a free agent this season. Drafted by Bruce Allen, had some arguments with the Bucs management after they wouldn't give him an extension. Barrett Ruud is what we need and I would give him a lot of money at only 27 years old (UFA).[/quote]

Maybe you mean the tackle position but we definitely didn't address the line perfectly. We extended Rabach at 4m/yr before any sort of team activities and ended up with Artis Hicks as a starting guard.

Re: Potentially Interesting Free Agent...
 

[quote=SkinzWin;781755]I just heard a report on ESPN Radio that Gaither is likely to sign with the Cerrato All-Stars.[/quote]

What's that supposed to mean?

Re: Potentially Interesting Free Agent...
 

[quote=Buster;781836]What's that supposed to mean?[/quote]

lame attempt at comedy?

Re: Potentially Interesting Free Agent...
 

I think Heyer played decently at guard and if he could be kept on the cheap, he might be good to keep around as a back up considering he can "play" guard or tackle in a pinch. The idea is to only keep him if you are set on using him only as a back up. As for Gaither, I'll pass too. It would be one thing if we already had a good line and were just looking for depth. Signing a guy like Gaither as depth wouldn't be a big deal especially if you could sign him cheaply, but we're not in a position to risk it with him.

Re: Potentially Interesting Free Agent...
 

I got no problem with signing Gaither so long as it's clear to him and the coaching staff that he is not the "final piece". If he is willing to come here cheap as depth. Great. I just don't see him doing so. Someone will overpay for him, I just hope it isn't us.

Re: Potentially Interesting Free Agent...
 

[quote=Mattyk;781868]lame attempt at comedy?[/quote]

Lame? Really?!? Come on, I thought it was funny. Yes, comedy.... :(

Cerrato All-Stars was a reference to Cerrato's propensity to sign veterans he had no business signing. Ones who were on the down side of their careers or injury problems.