Ken Hamlin Signs with Ravens

[baltimore_hokie]

Baltimore agreed to terms with safety Ken Hamlin on a one-year contract Thursday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

We don't know the details, but it's safe to say Hamlin will take a sizable hair cut from his bloated salary with the Cowboys. (Perhaps this is more like shaving your head than a haircut.)

Hamlin's roller coaster journey over the last few years proves how fickle an NFL career can be. A free agent in 2007, Hamlin only attracted a low-cost short-term deal from the Cowboys. Just one year later, Dallas awarded Hamlin a deal comparable to Troy Polamalu and Bob Sanders that included $15 million in guaranteed money.

Now two disappointing seasons and one release later, Hamlin is back on a low-cost one-year deal, trying to keep his career afloat as Ed Reed injury insurance.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/06/17/ravens-reach-deal-with-ken-hamlin/



Here is an ESPN scouting report on him:


Hamlin was not as active in 2008 but remains a solid free safety. He is a tall, slender player with good strength and athleticism. He is a tough and can be a physical filling the alley as a run-support player. He is a solid open-field tackler, maintaining proper body positioning and techniques on contact. Hamlin is best in off zone coverage but can handle man coverage if necessary.


Thoughts on the signing?

[Sephy]

Meh. As a starter I'd be annoyed but as a backup S I'll take it.

[trailhiker85]

From what I saw of him during his Dallas days, I can't say I'm particularly enthusiastic about Hamlin. But I don't hate the move either. Seems to me it's a question of veteran DB depth at the right price. I didn't see what kind of money is involved, but I'm guessing the Ravens feel this is a good value move in the short term. And not at all surprising after what happened last year on the injury front ...clearly they're looking to avoid a repeat of being stretched so thin if someone else goes down in 2010.

[chicagoravensfan]

I'm guessing (hoping) that if Nakamura and Reed are 100% in Training Camp he'll be cut

[Losac]

He's the one LeRon McClain stiff-armed to the turf in his long TD run in the Cowboys game in 2008. I bet McClain will remind him of that a few times at camp this summer. :thumbup:

[HoustonRaven]

Had a once in a lifetime chat with Ed Reed last night at the Ruth's Chris in Atlanta. Those of you who are on my Facebook saw the post last night.

Asked him about the hip. He shook his head, said "Dunno. It's takes a while and it's day to day".

Now I read Hamlin signs. Insurance policy in case Reed hangs it up?

[Mike B]

To me this seems more like insurance for Haruki than Ed. If Ed does not return we have big issues. Hamlin may be an upgrade over a healthy haruki but no replacement for Ed.

[elland]

To me this seems more like insurance for Haruki than Ed. If Ed does not return we have big issues. Hamlin may be an upgrade over a healthy haruki but no replacement for Ed.

True however there is no replacement out there.

Hamlin with 6-7 years of starting experience with solid D.s, and probably in his prime, not sure about his health, but an insurance for Haruki? If Hamlin for one minute thought he should be that kind of insurance, he would have waited for another offer or he is more than desperate.

So I think HR is rigth, this is more like Ed we are talking about.

[HoustonRaven]

To me this seems more like insurance for Haruki than Ed. If Ed does not return we have big issues. Hamlin may be an upgrade over a healthy haruki but no replacement for Ed.

Are their other options out there at Safety?

I am asking seriously because I cannot think of anyone out there in FA. Haruki seems to think he will be fine come training camp. OTOH, the team is mum on Reed and given what me and my co-workers heard, he was something well short of confident about his hip. Now throw in his neck issues to the mix.

This whole thing tells me the insurance policy signing of Hamlin has everything to do with Reed.

[Jeremiah W]

Are their other options out there at Safety?

I am asking seriously because I cannot think of anyone out there in FA. Haruki seems to think he will be fine come training camp. OTOH, the team is mum on Reed and given what me and my co-workers heard, he was something well short of confident about his hip. Now throw in his neck issues to the mix.

This whole thing tells me the insurance policy signing of Hamlin has everything to do with Reed.

O.J. Atogwe

Hamlin is a good player I do not think he is better than our backups and he will have to battle for a roster spot. This is more like the Kelly Washington situation last year, a vet with some gas left in the tank with something to prove, even though he says he has nothing to prove. He was a 7 year starter, franchise tagged player and pro bowler coming off a bad year. Maybe more like Redding than Washington.

[HoustonRaven]

O.J. Atogwe ... He was a 7 year starter

Wrong. He has only been in the league for 5 years and he did not start one game his first year in the league.


pro bowler coming off a bad year

Wrong and wrong. Never scratched the pro bowl and he is coming off IR.

When I asked for examples of FS's that are out there, I assumed people would understand I was not referring to scrubs that cant hack it in St Louis.

[Jeremiah W]

Wrong. He has only been in the league for 5 years and he did not start one game his first year in the league.



Wrong and wrong. Never scratched the pro bowl and he is coming off IR.

When I asked for examples of FS's that are out there, I assumed people would understand I was not referring to scrubs that cant hack it in St Louis.

First of all I wrote than Hamlin had 7 years of experience and has been to a pro bowl.

Second, have you ever watched a Rams game? Atogwe is not a scrub who could not hack it in St. Louis. That may be the worst football opinion you have ever written, and you have put a lot of strange opinions out there. Read any article about the guy.

The difference in price between Atogwe and Hamlin is most likley greater than the difference in performance, but Atogwe is the best player available and it is not even close.

[HoustonRaven]

First of all I wrote than Hamlin had 7 years of experience and has been to a pro bowl

ok, my bad


Second, have you ever watched a Rams game? Atogwe is not a scrub who could not hack it in St. Louis

Yes I have. He is not that good. If he is such the man you claim, why is he a FA? Why have teams like the Seahawks and Lions passed on him?


That may be the worst football opinion you have ever written, and you have put a lot of strange opinions out there

One of us is mocked on an almost daily basis. The other, outside of Tra ... er ... "AirFlacco", seems to get along with everyone. You need help on this one?


The difference in price between Atogwe and Hamlin is most likley greater than the difference in performance, but Atogwe is the best player available and it is not even close.

:rolling:

[Jeremiah W]

ok, my bad



Yes I have. He is not that good. If he is such the man you claim, why is he a FA? Why have teams like the Seahawks and Lions passed on him?



One of us is mocked on an almost daily basis. The other, outside of Tra ... er ... "AirFlacco", seems to get along with everyone. You need help on this one?



:rolling:

I get along with you. I do not think you know what you are talking about but enjoy this type of exchange.

You can not be serious about Atogwe. He had a strange low level tender on him that allowed the Rams the right to match any offer sheet, but that expired at the start of June. I do not know what his asking price is, but most likley his agent is asking for Antrel Rolle money and teams are not jumping at that.

That is why I think he may be available to the Ravens at the right price on a 1 year deal, where he could prove that he can do more than make plays for a bad team and that he is recovered from his injuries.

You should get to Know O.J. a little before you form an opinion like that anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZqGiwRyKqo

Boldin Knows O.J.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRA7nOHU3ms

Like Ed, he has been dominant in the NFL at FS and SS, came up playing CB/RB and a lot of other sports.

His latest Madden rating was like 89 Hamlin a 79. If he wants 5-7 mil a year and Hamlin is willing to take vet min and Ed Reed is coming back, it does not make a lot of sense, but if he is willing to play for @3Mil for 1 year and see how it goes, they should get him yesterday. We will see how it goes, but he is not just sitting on the market because he is a scrub from St. Louis, that is inaccurate at best.

[Losac]

Zbikowski did a fine job filling in for Reed and he should get the starting nod if Reed isn't ready.

[baltimore_hokie]

Scouts Inc on Hamlin:


"I would say he's somewhere between 'underwhelming' and 'solid.' Those are often-used adjectives that describe guys that don't stand out, don't make a whole lot of big plays, but he also doesn't embarrass himself out there. In a way, it kind of surprises me that it took him this long to get signed. I think he could play strong safety in a pinch, but really he's a free [safety]. But if you're a free safety with just average range, just average ball skills, you're more or less a dime a dozen. I agree that he wasn't worth what Dallas was paying him. They didn't get enough production out of that position. But Baltimore brings him in and I think it's a nice insurance policy if Ed Reed continues to have neck or shoulder problems. Hamlin wouldn't be a liability back there."

[Tspot-D-Ravenator]

Zbikowski did a fine job filling in for Reed and he should get the starting nod if Reed isn't ready.

:iagree: Very well....IMHO

[HoustonRaven]

Since youtube is the only basis for which JW grades players, we may want to take another look at this guy at QB then. Because everyone knows, if you're on youtube, you must be good!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41Yuqp9c7JE

Look out Flacco, your job is on the line now!

[Jeremiah W]

Since youtube is the only basis for which JW grades players, we may want to take another look at this guy at QB then. Because everyone knows, if you're on youtube, you must be good!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41Yuqp9c7JE

Look out Flacco, your job is on the line now!

Yeah u tube is my main source for football. You must be right as usual and Atogwe is not signed becaue he is a scrub from St. Loius. Well said.

[psuasskicker]

Since youtube is the only basis for which JW grades players, we may want to take another look at this guy at QB then. Because everyone knows, if you're on youtube, you must be good!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41Yuqp9c7JE

Look out Flacco, your job is on the line now!

[/threadwin]

[Raveninwoodlawn]

His latest Madden rating was like 89 Hamlin a 79. If he wants 5-7 mil a year and Hamlin is willing to take vet min and Ed Reed is coming back, it does not make a lot of sense, but if he is willing to play for @3Mil for 1 year and see how it goes, they should get him yesterday. We will see how it goes, but he is not just sitting on the market because he is a scrub from St. Louis, that is inaccurate at best.

You've got to be kidding me.

A Madden rating?

A guy who was offered, and turned down a 1 year deal for over $7 million is going to take a deal for $3 million?

This is a case where he severely overplayed his hand...there has been such a leaguewide restraint on signing guys that there are collusion rumors out there. I agree that he will wind up having to take less, but I'm sure he can get close to what the Rams were offering before if push comes to shove.