AD article

[52decleetzu]

Great story on the most underrated player in the NFL


http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-sp.thomas03sep03,0,2445773.story?track=mostviewedlink


And I ask,why has this invaluable member of our defense not locked up for the next 3-4 years already??? We cannot let him "test the open market to see what his value is" because some other team will give him the big money he deserves,and we likely wont match.

[UKRavenStockers]

We don't have the cap space, he came back two years ago but he's thirty this coming off-season I believe and this will be his big payday, I'm not sure we can afford to keep him to be brutally honest, just gotta really enjoy this last year with him if it turns out to be the case.

[52decleetzu]

Cap space is not a problem,the cap is going from $102 million to $109 next year,and we have plenty of room to lock him up.I just read an article(I will try to find it) detailing how free agency is starting to not be that great of a factor,because the cap is so high now relative to where it was in the past.It also stated that those 1 yr turn arounds for bad teams are going to be less and less likely to happen because of this.


update: here is the article...http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview06/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=2565134

[TheOrioleWay]

400 stitches!!!!!!!!!!! That's probably more than Big Ben.

Out of curiosity, I just checked and they did include the forehead scar on the Citco bobblehead. (OK, everyone get up and check yours to see if it's there)

[crowdog89]

Yep, I got all three Citgo bobbleheads....Mason, Clayton, and AD....AD's gotta scar on mine.

Wow, talk about realism.....:thumbup:

[PurpleRulz]

With having to extend Terrell Suggs and possibly Musa Smith, it is not likely that Thomas will be back. Besides, we have so many young LB/DE types ready to step in.

[ravensfan86]

Name me 2 OLB's of AD's caliber on this team.....

[jonboy79]

Next year expect a tandem of Cody and Scott, with a combined salary smaller then AD's.

[52decleetzu]

You cant name me 2 in the league much less the team,that have the versatility that AD does.How do you think the Pats D would have faired if they had let McGinist walk when he still had 4 more productive years in him.And Dan Cody has yet to play in one NFL game and he is the heir apparent to AD now?? I know thats probably how the Ravens envision it but what if it doesnt work out that way?
If the Ravens want to keep him they can,and dont rule out the cap savings from letting Ray go to help make that possible,even though they could still keep both IMHO.I also didnt know that Musa Smith was a priority,but I guess 2nd string RB's are a lot harder to find these days from your perspective,and guys who can line up at every posiyion on D are a dime a dozen.

[GreenWave52]

Everyone here knows about the value AD brings to this team. He is an amazing player...right now. He will get a big money contract this offseason and will pretty soon start declining. It happened to Ray, it will happen to AD. Be happy we most likely got AD's best years. I don't want to be sitting here 3 years from now bitching about how we are paying 5 mil a year to a beat up LBer.

AD in his prime is nowhere near as good as Ray in his prime; so when AD is Ray's age how good do you think he'll be?

[PurpleRulz]

Name me 2 OLB's of AD's caliber on this team.....


Does not matter. It is called the salary cap era. As much as it would hurt to lose Thomas, it is a numbers game. Besides, Suggs is the next in line for a huge payday.

Which would you keep; Suggs or Thomas. A smart organization (and we are one) keeps Suggs.

[52decleetzu]

Its the much higher salary cap era,109 million vs what was it 85 or so last year.Big difference

[Sports Steve]

I have faith Ozzie will find a way to keep AD.


:jester: :jester:

[jonboy79]

Quick, pick 2 of these 4:

Jamal, Ray, AD, Suggs. Keep in mind Ray is still under contract for 2 more years, and suggs for one. Jama;'s is essentially a one year deal, and the Ravens loveto extend players with one year remaining(Reed, Heap.....). I think that if AD were kept, he would have been extended shortly after Reed. I have not even heard of talks. If Cody does not show enough by midseason to see a reasonable starter next year, maybe then you will see an extension. I just find that unlikely.

[Sephy]

I dunno - look at the history. The team finds ways (for better or for worse) to keep its productive players, especially on defense. I'm wary on the idea though, that is a TON of money to have wrapped up in your LB corps.

[ravensfan86]

I agree that it makes us over commit to one area for the cap, but at the same time we are talking about an LB who is a player/coach really. He brings so much to the table. I would think he is in the Ravens 3 to 5 year plan. He certainly would be in mine if I was running the team.

[Sephy]

Yes, he does. I'd be a lot more interested if they hadn't given Bart Scott a substantial contract this year.