What can Brown do for you?
There's been a lot of talk this season about the impending free-agency of linebackers Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and Bart Scott.
There have been countless debates as to how many of the three the Ravens can afford to resign and which of the three should be brought back to Baltimore next season.
Center Jason Brown is in the same boat as Lewis, Sizzle and Scott, he's just flying a little more under the radar.
Brown will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, and thus might be playing in his final game as a Raven this Sunday against the Steelers. Currently in his fourth year out of North Carolina, Brown has quietly developed into a key piece of this puzzle that has taken the Ravens to the AFC Championship game.
After playing left guard during the 2007 season, Brown made the move to center this year and has anchored the Baltimore O-line with his hard-nosed attitude and tenacity on the field. He has played the role of veteran and mentor to Jared Gaither, Adam Terry and other lineman despite being just a couple years older than them.
The line was a huge question mark in training camp, as inexperience and injuries seemed to point to this being a rough year on the offensive side of the line of scrimmage. But Brown has helped spark a remarkable turnaround, taking the youngest O-line in the league and turning them into a human shield for rookie QB Joe Flacco.
Brown is due for a nice pay-bump this offseason, and while the Ravens would love to have him back, other teams will come calling. With the linebacking trio also looking for a big payday, Brown might not be the team's first priority, but GM Ozzie Newsome would be wise to lock him up for the next few seasons.
To his credit, Brown says he's not worried at all about free agency right now. He just wants to go out and win two more football games.
Let's hope he sticks around and wins a lot more in seasons to come.
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Categories (click for archive)Dan Kolko | Ravens News |
In all honesty I think Jason Brown should be ou most important free agent. He is the anchor of our offensive line and our offensive as a whole. He is the one of the main reasons this team has done well. Hopefully Ozzie does not think he can just replace him with Chester because I think that would be a huge mistake. Playing center is probably the second hardest position on the field, only behind QB. The Titans were not as good this past week because of Kevin Mawae being out and it certainly caused a little more chaos in the offense.
I would say our priorities should be:
1. Jason Brown
2. Ray Lewis
3. Finding a new home for McGahee and McAlister
4. Terrell Suggs
5. Bart Scott
It will definitely be a tough offseason for all Ravens fans because there is no way we are going to retain all four of these players.
Some will think I am insane for placing such a high emphasis on Brown and Lewis but they really are the anchors of the offense and the defense.
I certainly, like main others, figure we could get by without Lewis but i just don't see how it is possible anymore. Hopefully he is willing to take some sort of discount to stay with the Ravens and allow them to sign some other talent.
Any chance we can start up talks with Arizona for a Boldin - McGahee swap? Of course with the Ravens adding in a draft pick and more.
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Marty,
I think it's much more likely the Ravens will target a wideout in the draft than through a trade. I definitely like the idea of Boldin coming to Baltimore, but the Cards know how much he's worth and it would take a monster deal for Ozzie to pry him away from Arizona. The money left on McGahee's contract makes him a less attractive trade chip as well.
-Dan
Agreed on the Boldin thing. That would be like a dream coming true. McGahee could fit well in Arizona to compliment their strong passing game but Arizona never used Edge the right way so they probably will always struggle to find the right back for their system.