Which of these CB's would you consider?

[TL24x7]

Which of these veterans CB's if available should the Ravens seriously consider?

Ronde Barber
Ken Lucas
Fred Smoot
Dre Bly
Ty Law
None of the above

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[Jeremiah W]

Of that list I like Barber and Bly as nickle backs, but I think we have to be looking for special teams guys, youth and speed. I think there is enough vet talent and leadership. The competition should sort it out, and by the time teams cut down to 53, I am confident we will have 5 solid CBs.

[jonboy79]

Of that list I like Barber and Bly as nickle backs, but I think we have to be looking for special teams guys, youth and speed. I think there is enough vet talent and leadership. The competition should sort it out, and by the time teams cut down to 53, I am confident we will have 5 solid CBs.

We're currently looking for a starter. When people come back healthy and show they are ready they can push the guys we bring in down the chart. At the moment we have to plan to have neither((obviously not all year). If they plan to start the season with neither, and end up with one or both we have good depth. If they plan around having one or both and don't we're in a heap of trouble.

[Carey]

From everything i've read Fabian should be ready for the season. I think him and Foxworth are solid. That leaves Carr and Cary Williams behind them with whoever we bring to compete behind them. I would mind bringing in Ty Law to play some nickel. Even though im sure Webb will be back in some capacity next season i think we have to operate under the assumption that he wont give us much next season.

[Rxdoxx]

I remember last year when N.O. had a major hole happen in their secondary, they signed McKenzie and CMac, the best hole pluggers they could find.

The current list is kind of similar. CBs are unsigned for a reason, in this case usually age and skill deterioration.
The times I saw Ronde last year, he definitely looked a shell of his former self, he looked slow, almost indecisive, and not great with the tackles.

Bly is going to be 33, haven't really seen him recently.

Fred Smoot, 31 (Love Boat headlines), was re-signed by the skins in 07 for $25mil, cut this year, money saved but also have to consider he was part of the Shanahan 10 player purge. I'd be more concerned if it were a solo cut instead of a purge. We'd get downfield coverage but no slot physicality. And a trash talker.


Kenyatta Cornelius Lucas was a salary move, 2.3mil (his black eye/broken nose from Steve Smith healed), only 31 he may have the most left in the tank

Right now, I'd say none, they should stay available unless injuries hit other teams. With all the CBs drafted, I'd think other teams aren't even thinking of them until they are into camp seeing what they've got, and we should have a better idea of our CBs progress.

As much as I hate to say it, Frank walker is more than adequate in the slot, it is when you get him outside and downfield that we start screaming in pain.

[RustonRifle]

I voted for Ken Lucas, Dre Bly would be a close second. Whomever is brought in I have faith in the Ravens front office. Right player- right price.

[baltimore_hokie]

I think we should sign all of them. Our secondary is so atrocious that we should just blow it up and start all over again.

[jonboy79]

I voted for Ken Lucas, Dre Bly would be a close second. Whomever is brought in I have faith in the Ravens front office. Right player- right price.

I'd consider picking up both to take the pressure of Washington and Webb, to allow them to come back only when COMPLETELY healthy.

[Merlin]

In the spirit of keeping it lively

1) How come Pacman isn't an option?? He would go for the minimum at this point :ref:. Of course even the Lions are uncertain at this point about him.

2) It's not easy to draft defensive backs -- check out this recent, very funny article on how Belichik has whiffed on defensive backs (12 picks over the last 7 years since Asante Samuel in 2003). He would kill to have drafted Lardarius Webb

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Articles/11_3204_Belichick_umpteen-uples_down_on_DBs_in_the_draft_.html

[RavenScallywag]

No chance of William James coming here? He seems to be the CB with the least question marks, but probably the lowest ceiling. To me, he had the best overall year last season, has no injury ?s, and probably would be the least likely to try to do something stupid. I'd love to see him brough in for a 1 or 2 year deal.

From the rest of the list, I'd go Dre Bly or Ken Lucas. Was Pacman EVER a good CB in the NFL? All I can remember of him is his REPEATED character mistakes. No thanks, times a million.

[trailhiker85]

If we were looking to rebuild an entire secondary, I'm not sure I'd want any of these guys. For most, if not all, their best days are behind them.

But we already have the bulk of what we need ...provided Washington and Webb come back from injury. For the purposes of both depth and to have a guy who could start early in the season, I guess Ken Lucas is as good as any on your list. Partly it depends on the price. It wouldn't have to be someone we need to count on for multiple years. I see it as more of a stopgap to ensure that Washington and Webb have time to come back effectively.

[Carey]

I think we should sign all of them. Our secondary is so atrocious that we should just blow it up and start all over again.

We are awful arent we

[ravenwoman]

None of them. I would wait and see if any teams cut any CBs, including undrafted free agents. There must be somebody who is at least serviceable.

[psuraven]

No chance of William James coming here? He seems to be the CB with the least question marks, but probably the lowest ceiling. To me, he had the best overall year last season, has no injury ?s, and probably would be the least likely to try to do something stupid. I'd love to see him brough in for a 1 or 2 year deal.

From the rest of the list, I'd go Dre Bly or Ken Lucas. Was Pacman EVER a good CB in the NFL? All I can remember of him is his REPEATED character mistakes. No thanks, times a million.

I agree. My order based on what I've seen in the past is 1) James 2) Lucas 3) Bly.
There's a very simple solution to this. You bring in all 5 or 6 guys to the mandatory minicamp on Friday. The practice all weekend and then you pick the best guy. This is exactly how they picked up Kelly Washington last year and it worked out pretty well.

[jonboy79]

None of them. I would wait and see if any teams cut any CBs, including undrafted free agents. There must be somebody who is at least serviceable.

That's kinde of the problem, in this day and age of the NFL, teams don't get rid of serviceable Cb's, there is a dearth of them and they are worth their weight in gold.

[Stealthbirds80]

None of them. Somone will shake loose I guess. It is a #'s game.

[psuraven]

None of them. Somone will shake loose I guess. It is a #'s game.

I wouldn't depend on that. This year is completely different than years past. There's no salary cap so in most cases, you won't be getting a guy who was cut for salary reasons. Most of those guys have already been cut.

[Rxdoxx]

I wouldn't depend on that. This year is completely different than years past. There's no salary cap so in most cases, you won't be getting a guy who was cut for salary reasons. Most of those guys have already been cut.

Actually half depend on it.
Maybe not see any from the Jones' and Snyder's
but there are still Bidwells and Bensons (otherwise Sharper is hired for another year). Still have to see how their draft choices progress.
So there will be some, maybe not league-wide every team....
And there is still the final roster limit in effect.

[Stealthbirds80]

I wouldn't depend on that. This year is completely different than years past. There's no salary cap so in most cases, you won't be getting a guy who was cut for salary reasons. Most of those guys have already been cut.

Yeah, but by #'s I mean 53 man roster and not $$. I well aware of the cap dealings. There is always a team that is loaded at one position and a well deserving player gets the ax unless they change how may players you can keep. Someone's coming our way.

[jonboy79]

Yeah, but by #'s I mean 53 man roster and not $$. I well aware of the cap dealings. There is always a team that is loaded at one position and a well deserving player gets the ax unless they change how may players you can keep. Someone's coming our way.

This is certainly the year to keep the $2.3m dollar entrenched Vet as your 5th corner, as opposed to letting an undrafted guy give it a shot...

I don't think anyone good will be available.

[effo5231]

This is certainly the year to keep the $2.3m dollar entrenched Vet as your 5th corner, as opposed to letting an undrafted guy give it a shot...

I don't think anyone good will be available.

Unless that 2.3 million dollar vet will cost 5.6 million next year, in which case plenty of teams will dump him now, absorb the bonus acceleration and avoid the cap hit next year.

[jonboy79]

Unless that 2.3 million dollar vet will cost 5.6 million next year, in which case plenty of teams will dump him now, absorb the bonus acceleration and avoid the cap hit next year.

Those players already happenned.

Sure, there might be a guy that is the corner equivalent of Mark Clayton... but I doubt it. There won't be any corner versions of Barnes, MCKinney, etc... there simply aren't any teams with embarrassignly deep depth charts at corner hta twill be cutting good players like we will be in the front seven... it doesn't exist.