Two more big-time options at WR
Before I leave for Owings Mills for today's rookie camp, I thought we should continue the theme of the offseason and take a look at two top-tier wideouts that might get mentioned as possible targets for the Ravens.
Both guys are incredible talents. Both guys have the physical build Baltimore is looking for in a receiver.
Both guys can't seem to stay out of trouble.
I'm talking about former Giants receiver Plaxico Burress and current Broncos WR Brandon Marshall.
Yesterday, Burress had his trial for gun possession charges pushed back, meaning he will have a chance to play again this season after accidentally shooting himself in the thigh in a nightclub last November.
Also yesterday, according to Adam Schefter, Marshall requested a trade. The Denver wideout, who made his first Pro Bowl last year, has skipped the team's mandatory minicamps to this point because he wants a raise and has medical trust issues.
Marshall has had a laundry list of off-the-field problems, most notably two misdemeanor battery charges which he will be tried on later this summer.
But while they've caused their teams quite a few headaches over the last couple years, Burress and Marshall are both game-changing type players. Plax had over 1,000 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 2007 (his last full season), while Marshall has averaged nearly 1,300 yards and 6.5 TDs his last two years.
My thoughts on the situation are this:
Burress is a free agent, and a handful of teams have already reportedly come calling, but don't expect the Ravens to be one of them. Baltimore just doesn't want to deal with his soap opera day in and day out.
As for Marshall, his situation is pretty similar to that of another Pro Bowl receiver we're somewhat familiar with -- Anquan Boldin. It will likely take somewhere around 1st and 3rd round picks to get Marshall out of Denver (unless they've just had it with him and are willing to dump him for less), and he'll want a whopping contract as well. The Ravens won't want to give up the picks and they don't have the cap room for the contract.
But again, let me put this to you: Do you want GM Ozzie Newsome to make a run at either of these guys? Are the potential benefits worth the risks?
Or are you OK with how the roster is shaping up right now?
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Categories (click for archive)Dan Kolko | Ravens News |
You know although you make some excellent points for the why the Ravens should have nothing to do with either of these guys I have to admit it crossed my mind when I heard that Marshall requested a trade that the Ravens could use him. But I also know that off the field the Ravens have stellar characters which is part of the reason that I love them so much. Bringing that kind of nonsense to the team...well, a little leavening leavens the whole loaf. On the whole I am personally excited about the team just as it is. Only if the guys were willing to, as a team, let these guys know that if you come here we are not having it, you come here play ball and settle your butt down or get let go. Is it possible to work this out in contract? Something like; act up and go home with nothing? Don't know enough about contracts to know but just wondering? Take care all Go Ravens! God Bless
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Stephanie,
Both these guys will be on thin ice with the league going into this season, so any off-the-field legal issues would give them big-time trouble. It’ll be similar to the Pacman Jones situation last year in Dallas; Plax and Marshall will have to stay on the straight and narrow to avoid punishment from the NFL or being cut by their team.
-Dan
I'll still stick to my answer and say NO WAY!! These two are talented wide recievers no doubt but we already have Suggs who is still waiting for his pay raise while Ngata is preparing for a breakout season and he would want a new contract as well. It's just too risky considering they have off the field problems and they could cause a lot of drama in the locker room and that's the last thing we need is a cancer on the team.
Plus since when do we need top notch wide receiers to make us a better team? Tom Brady won a superbowl in his first season with two unknown wide recievers and he made them pretty good. And we finally have two tight ends that can wreck havoc on Cover 2 defenses and that's all we need right there. Don't you think we'll be just fine without them? The only thing I'm worried about is can the players stay healthy throughout training camp and the preseason.
Dan I see where you said we don't have cap space to get either wide out I've asked this question mant times before on other posts how can other teams sign free agents and never seem to be in cap trouble. Wash. Dallas NE Indy. Every year I read the ravens have to be careful of going over the cap I don't get it. Thanks for all the updates.
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Mike,
The cap is a very complex thing, and I'll be the first to admit that I don't know everything about the intricacies with how it works. But every NFL team has ways of massaging the cap, whether it’s through guaranteed bonuses or spreading the money out over a number of years. Every team has the same cap level to work with, so I can guarantee you the Skins and Cowboys don’t have an edge there.
-Dan
Well, I thought about Marshall for a few seconds too, but then I read Michael Silver's column. An excerpt that I found compelling:
I feel his pain, but I also think he’s clueless. If I were running the Broncos, would I give a lucrative extension to a guy coming off hip surgery who reportedly has been arrested or questioned by police 13 times (seven times for alleged domestic abuse) since 2004?
• From a competitive standpoint, having Marshall on your team is a risk, because he might not be available when you need him. Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Marshall for the first three games of the ’08 season for violating the league’s personal-conduct policy (it was later reduced to a single game on appeal), and the player’s next conviction – or even arrest – could lead to a much longer absence. In August, Marshall is scheduled to stand trial in Atlanta for two counts of misdemeanor domestic battery that stem from a March 2008 incident involving Watley, and a conviction would likely trigger another suspension by the league...
The bottom line is that, if he wants a deal averaging $9 million a year anytime soon, Marshall is going to have to hope there’s another employer out there who’s willing to overlook his off-the-field issues and gamble. Further, that employer will likely have to part with at least a first-round draft pick to pry him for the Broncos.
We need to stick with character, IMO. The team supported Ray Lewis when he had his legal issues, and have been rewarded with a guy who hasn't repeated them. Marshall, though, has apparently repeated his problems over and over again. The guy might not even be able to play next year.
I would be more tempted by Burress. He wouldn't cost any draft picks. I don't really know how extensive his character issues are--if Ozzie thinks he's OK, I would trust that, despite the fact that the guy is an ex-Steeler. But--he is up there in years. What I'd really like to see would be a young guy come in to form a QB-WR combo like Manning-Harrison or Montana/Young-Rice (probably almost any good QB with Rice!). If Clayton or Williams can do it, that would be great. But that is why I was hoping for Harvin or Maclin in the draft--the reports on those guys were very very good. Oh, well.... I swear Clayton can be a big time receiver, I've seen flashes of it, but--we'll see.
I'd rather see them make a run at Matt Jones if they were even going to consider these two. He'll demand a lot less $$ wise and still could be a productive player.
I don't see Jones as a "top notch" receiver. Good, but no better than what we already have. I realize drama is a requirement to become an NFL receiver but I guess you have to balance the drama to the talent. Marshall (talent- A; wife beater- F, Expense- $$$$); Boldin (talent- A; drama- B, Expense $$$$$), Jones (talent- C, drug addict- C, Expense $$); Burress (talent- A; Leg shooter- C, Expense $$$)
After this study, I believe Burress would be the best fit for the Ravens, although we haven't heard from Ocho Cinco yet!
Scott, so let me get this straight...u would rather have a confirmed drug addict, who for all his physical gifts, has not lived up 2 his potential as a top 10 pick over a guy drafted in the 3rd round who is an ELITE young receiver? On his record, the league saw fit not to punish him when the precedent has been clearly set with Pacman and I would guess the NFL's security resources far outweighs any of us on these boards. And u also have 2 consider the role of Josh McDaniels who ran out an elite young qb...not so sure he hasn't played a role in this either. The guy isn't in trouble with the law or the league right now, so y not bring him in and finally bring us a receiver we haven't seen since the likes of Michael Jackson and Derrick Alexander. Lord knows Ray Lewis will not be around forever and he and the city deserve another title.
Scott, so let me get this straight...u would rather have a confirmed drug addict, who for all his physical gifts, has not lived up 2 his potential as a top 10 pick over a guy drafted in the 3rd round who is an ELITE young receiver? On his record, the league saw fit not to punish him when the precedent has been clearly set with Pacman and I would guess the NFL's security resources far outweighs any of us on these boards. And u also have 2 consider the role of Josh McDaniels who ran out an elite young qb...not so sure he hasn't played a role in this either. The guy isn't in trouble with the law or the league right now, so y not bring him in and finally bring us a receiver we haven't seen since the likes of Michael Jackson and Derrick Alexander. Lord knows Ray Lewis will not be around forever and he and the city deserve another title.