Saint Doug

This is funny, because some Tool on espn radio (Jeremy Green I think) said Lynch was going to drop into 2nd round due to him combine. Combine, schombine, he'll go in first. This Green guy is really saying some stupid stuff.

plays with a mean streak

Interesting read... http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/footbal...sports-football Table all but bare, team throws dice Mike Preston The Ravens acquired running back Willis McGahee from the Buffalo Bills yesterday in a move that is supposed to upgrade their running game, but it's nothing to get really excited about - not when it cost the team three draft picks. To put it bluntly, within the past two days the Ravens have given up on an older malcontent of a running back with a bad knee for a younger malcontent of a running back with a bad knee. McGahee is a couple of years younger than former starter Jamal Lewis, and he might put a little more pizazz in the rushing offense, but the trade is somewhat puzzling. Soon after the 2006 season ended, top Ravens officials said they no longer were interested in mortgaging the present for the future, but they gave up third-round draft picks in 2007 and 2008 plus a seventh-round pick in April for McGahee. As of today, they don't have a third- or fourth-round pick in April's draft because they gave up the latter in the trade for quarterback Steve McNair last offseason. So, were the Ravens putting out a spin about a new philosophy or were they admitting that the window of opportunity was about to close because they mortgaged part of their future with the addition of McGahee? "I've talked to Ozzie [Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome] and told him I don't like some of the things that have gone on," said the Ravens' Pro Bowl offensive tackle, Jonathan Ogden, who still hasn't decided yet if he will retire before next season. "Ozzie has been in this business for a long time and is one of the best, so I can't criticize him, but there is a fine line in this business of getting ready now and getting ready for the future. I've been through salary-cap purges and rebuilding processes and I'm not sure where we're at." The addition of McGahee does make you scratch your head. It seems safe to assume that the Ravens, despite all the nice things they had to say about Lewis, really didn't want him back. Lewis signed with the Cleveland Browns for a reported $3.5 million, and the Ravens only offered about $2 million. If the difference were only $1.5 million, it would have been better to re-sign Lewis than to part with three draft picks. With Lewis, the team only had to give him a one-year deal. The word around the league is that the Ravens and McGahee have agreed in principle to a seven-year deal that could be worth as much as $40.12 million, which includes a $7.5 million signing bonus and an option bonus of $6 million for next season. Ouch! That hurts. McGahee has had success in his four seasons in the NFL, but he does carry some baggage. He's from the University of Miami, and that's both good and bad. Miami players play with a ferocious attitude (see Ray Lewis and Ed Reed). They are also the ultimate I-guys (see Ray Lewis and Ed Reed). McGahee complained in Buffalo about not touching the ball enough. There was a belief there that he demanded this trade, and the Bills were more than happy to oblige. There is also the injury factor. McGahee was one of the most explosive runners in the college game until he tore three ligaments in his knee during the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. He still has reasonable speed and can run inside as well as outside. He can pass-block and is a threat out of the backfield as a receiver, but he doesn't have the ability to hit the home run anymore. And after complaints about his role, he basically shut it down at the end of last season. That could be a problem, especially with coach Brian Billick, who often strays from the running game, even when effective. "Jamal Lewis is my boy and I wish him well," Ogden said. "I will say this, and that's during the last two years, we underutilized him. We should have run him more." It's a gamble by the Ravens, one they really had to make once negotiations with Lewis broke down a couple of days ago. McGahee's best season was in 2005 when he was named a Pro Bowl alternate after rushing for 1,247 yards and five touchdowns. McGahee has started 40 of 46 games in which he has played, carrying 868 times for 3,365 yards and 24 touchdowns. After McGahee, the only other alternative for the Ravens was former Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots running back Corey Dillon, another potential malcontent who once refused to go into a game against the Ravens in Baltimore during the 2000 season. So in the Ravens' eyes, they made a great move. With the No. 29 pick in the first round of April's draft, they probably couldn't have picked up an impact running back and they couldn't have drafted a player of McGahee's talents in the third round. But on the flip side, they probably could have selected a good offensive lineman with each of those third-round picks, and that would have significantly improved the running game. At least, though, the Ravens didn't give up a first-round pick for McGahee. Now, that would have really caused a stir. Giving up what they did is a big enough deal. mike.preston@baltsun.com

He does hate the Bills. On ESPN radio last night (in Baltimore), he said the worse 2 signings of FA have been #1=walker and #2=Dockery. He thinks the Bills took a huge step back by not signing both Fletcher and Clements. Yes, he was ragging on the bills for not signing both of them and going o-line instead.

Transition tag is pretty much a non-option too. All teams have to do is slip a poison pill in it. As a previous poster said: Washington can offer him a contract worth a total of 50 million, with it becoming all guaranteed money if Clements plays more than 3 games in Orchard Park in year one.

If NC comes out to the media and public and rescinds this clause, there will no harm done to anyone now or in the future. There may be a scenario where NC waives this clause (and lets everyone know this), we tag him, and then trade him to Team X for a draft pick. Team X then signs him for a trillion dollars. In this case, NC leaves on great terms, he hits the jackpot (he's gotta think about his family), we get a draft pick, fan are happy, and current and potential players for this team still have respect for the current management. This is entirely realistic.

If we only get a Franchise QB (totally ignoring Lee Evans pick) out of a draft and everyone else bombs from the draft, I will be happy. I never liked TD, but the years since Kelly retired have been painful. Teams become stagnant without a Franchise QB (just as the fans of the lions, browns, raiders, saints before brees, dolphins, and the list goes on....)

1) Just because players are starting for a previously 5-11 Bills team does not automatically make them good players. That is faulty logic. Look at the Raiders. They had plenty of starters who were horrible. And look at the Bears; they have all-pro starters. The fact is, you can't equate starting with being good (or being bad too). 2) For the DT position, arguing who is starting and who is not is a mute point. They rotate throughout the game. They all should be considered starters. 3) Does it really matter who was picked on Day 1 vs Day 2? Football is a team sport and they are all Buffalo Bills. Why should we be upset we have more starters from Day 2 than Day 1? Would we be upset if all Day 1s were starting and all Day 2s were sitting? That sounds awfully like the TD years. We should rejoice that we found suck gems in the later rounds and let the Day 1s develop more (since they supposedly have greater potential).

Yeah, but with the NFL's Manning family love affair, you never can tell.

OK, let's not get all hung up about Okoye's age. What is the difference between a 24 year old leaving via FA after playing out a 5 year contract verses a 28 year old leaving after his 5 year contract is up? Nothing. Actually, chances are it will be harder to re-sign the 24 year old.

"My family and I have made our home here..." I thought they were spread across southern Florida? He has kids here too?

A (franchise) tag and trade is not out of the question. In this case, both parties would be happy. Nate would go to the skins (or whoever) and make huge bucks and we would get a draft pick. No one would be offended or left bitter. This would NOT leave the bills org with a black eye or turn off future free agents.

Git'er done, Marv.

Yeah. I don't think he realized it. I don't give him that much credit.

This is crap...and the TD lovefest continues.

He wants them athletic and to have long arms.

Fine. But, we need to add a legitimate RB onto our roster for next year. I don't care if he comes from the 7th round or NFL Europe, but he must be able to legitimately compete with Willis (and hopefully beat him out). Willis needs to know that he must be the better RB of the two. If not, he rides the pine. You cannot sit on the bench your contract year or you will watch the prospect of signing a lucrative deal go down the drain. Then after the season, we wish him luck. I am sick of the dancing.

Well, with the 27th ranked rushing offensive this season, we definitely have room for improvement. And contract year motivation sickens me. These people are making millions. Is the potential to make 20 mil instead of 15 mil their only motivation? And if this is the case, what happens the year after the contract year? Willis's motivation and numbers go into the pooper? We might as well just draft a replacement now. They can both share the field for one year while Willis gains motivation to leave. Face it, we need to address the RB position either now or next year. Why is it when we draft a CB with the intention of having our current starter leave, nobody bats an eyelash? I was very jealous watching the playoffs this year. I was watching teams actually run the ball for first downs. Also, excellent RBs will also help the defense. By chewing up the clock, they keep the defense off the field, resting.

The defensive line and O-line can both be fixed by FAs, although a linebacker would be nice with F-B on the way out. And how is having the ability to run the ball sexy? Like Marv say, you need to be able to run and stop the run. A RB, when we have an inadequate running game, is not a "sexy" pick, but more of a neccessity. A WR, TE, DE, FB, QB would be a sexy pick.

Or, it kinda sounds like some stripper's stage name.

My thoughts: 1) Willis's off-field activities have nothing to do with his non-production on the field. Comments aside, he can't get it done. 2) There is nothing wrong with having children out of wedlock IF you are going to be involved in their lives. No, Willis is not an axe murderer, but he is perpetuating a problem we have in this society. I personally work with African American mothers and their children in a very poor area of a large east coast city. It is rare for me to have a meeting with BOTH parents. It is always the mother and the children - no father to be found. Whose fault is this - that's another story altogether. And when there is no father around, you see these kids get into drugs, violence, and teenage pregnancy - the streets become their fathers. It is very sad and the real losers of this whole Willis story is not the fans, the baby momas, Ralph, Rosenhaus, or Willis, but the kids who are now having to grow up without a fatherly figure - no matter how much money the courts throw their way. And Willis is probably no different that at least 50% of the rest of NFL players.

LT, cry me a river. Your team is allowed to do some stupid meaningless dance, but other teams are not. Come on. It's a stupid dance - invented by a player who is a cheater nonetheless. Get over it. As the cliche goes, if you can dish it out, you gotta be able to dish it in.

Agreed. Peters is not moving anywhere...we tried the RT experiment earlier in the season and it failed miserably. Peters is arguably the best LT in the league. Period. Any thought of moving him back to RT is laughable.

Going back to the OP subject, I do agree with part of your post. We absolutely need to be able to run and stop the run to be successful. We do need a great defensive line. However, you then tell us about huge time-eating drives the winning teams accomplished and that we don't have to worry about Willis. When was the last time (excluding Jets game) when we had huge time-eating drives. Whether it be Wills (but I am not holding my breath) or someone else, we need a dominant RB. And I really don't care about Willis's stupid comments - he is not geting the job done on the field. We need him to improve or get an upgrade. Or, get another force in addition to Willis - like the Saints have.

He's not a character guy.