JO Interview on WNST

[The Fanatic]

Anybody else here this interview on NST today around 4:45 PM today?

First off, props to NST for actually getting the big guy on there where as a fan I can actually hear the guy express his feelings.

Real hard to get a gauge on the situation reading a Preston article when you really have no idea how the comments were verbalized and then transfered onto the fish wrap.
Also nice to have Drew, Rob and Nestor in their own way express to him as "Fans" how much he'll be missed if he does retire, and basically speak for the rest of us as "Fans" since we obviously don't have that ability like they do.

You definitely aren't going to get that from a Mike Preston doing an interview for his own agenda.

I'm getting the feeling that JO is not coming back after listening to that interview.
I'm by no means a good judge when it comes to this type of stuff. (trying to get a good feel as to what's going through his mind)

Listening though, this does not sound like a guy that can't wait to get back on the field and take care of unfinished business.

Dude sounds pretty emotional to be totally honest, and more towards the side of wanting to get on with his family life, etc. rather then beat himself up for another year of football.

To me, a football player that has that love in his heart has that burning desire to strap on the pads and have at it.
When you listen to Ray Lewis talk you can clearly tell this dude has football in his heart, and basically that is what makes up his DNA.
It's what he lives for!!

In no way was I getting that feeling listening to Ogden today.

Was just curious if anybody else heard this interview today, and what you got out of it regarding what you think Ogden will do.

The fact that this situation is even a situation at all somewhat pisses me off.

If he retires then his cap figure is relatively big $$ that could have been used to possibly retain Pashos, maybe Edwin or another acquisition making the line problem a little less problematic.

Not that Pashos is the second coming, but he still played well, knows the system, etc. and would have left one less hole to fill.

Dunno.....

[camdenyard]

I did not hear it. One question I have is, was what he said consistent with what Preston reported?

You mention that you're pissed about the situation. I'm not really, it's not causing the Ravens a problem yet. This isn't like Willie Roaf leaving the Chiefs in a lurch at training camp. We have over a month until the draft.

I expect he's going to take a while longer. It's not as if he's getting blown up by average DEs now; on the contrary, he's playing nearly as well as he has in his career. That's got to make his decision harder.

Regardless, he's a lock HOFer and the original Raven, so I'm gonna cut him as much slack as he needs.

With that says, my gut tells me he'll give it one more year. This team is Super Bowl caliber. That chance doesn't come along every year, and he knows it. Hopefully, the lure of going out with another ring is too great an incentive.

[duffybr]

I think his cap number is almost the same if he plays or if he retires

[camdenyard]

I think Drew said this morning that we'd get only $800K cap relief if he retired.

I'd rather have JO than the $800 grand.

[festivus]

I heard the last part of it.

My take on it was different from yours. I think when he says, he doesn't know what he'll do, he meant he just doesn't know. Rob asked, if training camp started in April, what would you do? He implied he wouldn't come.

But I think that may have been a reflection partly of the fact that he's still physically recuperating from the season.

What I heard was a great interview, and when an eloquent guy like JO says he doesn't know, I think we should give him a break and take him at his word. I also think as his body gets more healthy and the 'season' of training, etc., returns, temptation for him to return likely will grow.

I'd wager 60:40 in favor of returning.

:2c:

edit: Preston made JO sound like a malcontent jerk. JO during the interview was anything but a malcontent jerk, so Camdenyard, that may answer your question.

[ravenwoman]

I heard the entire broadcast this afternoon. Props to WNST for getting this timely interview since this was the main discussion all day long.

First, I really enjoyed listening to J.O. I can tell by his demeanor that he is sincere when he says he doesn't know what his decision is going to be. His decision will be based on factors in his life, not what the Ravens did or did not do in the off season. I agree that at this point he doesn't have the same fire in the belly that you would expect from a player looking forward to next season, but I think he is still mourning the death of his father, which is to be expected when his Dad was both the mother and father figure to J.O. I think his parents divorced years ago. It is evident that he doesn't want to cause any problems and he loves the Ravens. He wants to retire a Raven. I think if he made the decision today, he would retire. But he wants to return to working out and healing his body and he will come to a decision before the draft. He said once he retires, the decision is final and he wouldn't come back and play the following year.

Another concern he has is that he wants to retire at the top of his game. He doesn't want to hang around, just to make more money and then perform less than his best. The man has pride. So I think as fans, we need to give the man space and hope he makes the right decision for himself and his family. I really do think if he comes back, it will be just for this year only as he knows he is at the end of the road.

[Greg]

I think Drew said this morning that we'd get only $800K cap relief if he retired.

I'd rather have JO than the $800 grand.
Agree, the cap savings would be in 2008 and beyond if he retires. If he comes back one year, then retires, we get little cap savings in 2008 but having him return would be worth it.

[jonboy79]

The '08 hit must be smaller then what '07 would be. I hope we get 1 more year, then let the youth movement begin.

[B-more Ravor]

The '08 hit must be smaller then what '07 would be. I hope we get 1 more year, then let the youth movement begin.

Here the cap hit info:

2007 cap number: $8.791M

Unaccounted for bonus shares that will accelerate: $8.043M
2007 cap savings if released/retires: $748K
2008 cap charge: $0

Post-June 1st release:

2007 savings: $6.11M
2008 cap charge: $5.361M


2008 cap number: $10.196M

Unaccounted for bonus shares that will accelerate: $5.362M
2008 cap savings if released/retires: $4.834M
2009 cap charge: $0

Post-June 1st release:

2008 savings: $7.515M
2009 cap charge: $2.681M

As was said, getting one more year out of him makes a world of difference for our 2007 season and for our salary cap.

[ExiledRaven]

I can't help but wish JO the best of health and hope that he can figure out what he wants to do at this point in his life.

It can be hard to hang up the cleats or having something else in the way.

I figure we all need to chill out unless he's saying he's unsure at draft time about returning. In that case you have to plan like he's not.

But even if he does come back in the case, I'd be all for it. It's going to be so strange not seeing 75 at left tackle.

[F Angelos]

Does anybody have the interview?

[Bez513]

Well the FO has said that we are in a small window for a SB run. 2007 may be our last shot for a little bit due to cap constraints and FA. JO should return for 2007 and retire if we purge the team after the 07 season.

[ravensjeff]

Whether JO retires, or not-- we need to get Left & Right tackles in here ASAP.

Also, I cant hold JO responsible for Pashos going.

[UKRavenStockers]

Whether JO retires, or not-- we need to get Left & Right tackles in here ASAP.

Also, I cant hold JO responsible for Pashos going.

We already have our left tackle if Ogden retires.

[Chromehill]

If JO were to retire, couldn't the Ravens ask for the prorated portion of his signing bonus back (2007 - 2009) since he is not playing? If this is the case, it would provide $8 mil in cap relief (not that it matters for 2007 now that most good free agents have signed).

I know that the Lions demanded that Barry Sanders pay back part of his signing bonus on his last contract because he retired. Also, the Dolphins got cap relief when Ricky Williams retired.

The money could be a factor for JO, if he retires, he losses $6 mil in salary and could have to pay back $8 mil of signing bonuses.

[flraven]

I don't think the Ravens would ask JO for their money back if he retires before completing his contract, that would be quite a lack of class, IMHO.

I'd like to see JO come back for the 2007 season, but can understand that its a difficult decision to make concerning a career.

Like someone else said earlier, us fans should allow him all the slack he needs to figure it out.

[B-more Ravor]

If JO were to retire, couldn't the Ravens ask for the prorated portion of his signing bonus back (2007 - 2009) since he is not playing? If this is the case, it would provide $8 mil in cap relief (not that it matters for 2007 now that most good free agents have signed).


Yes, they could, but I doubt that they would.

Plus, it wouldn't help us this year because it would likely go before an Arbitor and he would count the same until that ruling. At that point, IIRC, it would then count next year. So, short of him voluntarily giving it back, it's of no use this year.

[jonboy79]

They could pull a Danny Snyder and slide $7m of his own personal money to Lavarr to get him to give back $6m in unearned bonus to become a free agent. Biscotti could golden Parachute JO's retirement, and win in the Salary Cap game. No I do not have any proof the skins did it, it just looked like it, and yes I would assume it'w way outside the rules.

[F Angelos]

By the way, NST has the interview up on their website. It's worth listening to.

[bassgtrst]

If JO is going to retire, it will probably be before the draft. I dont think he would leave Oz & Co. hangin on Draft Day.

Im ready to see Adam Terry at LT now. I think he can be good for us. We've been spoiled by one of the best LT's to ever play the game, its time to come back down to earth IMO.

[jonboy79]

See, and I'm jsut gettign to the point where I'm thinking that Terrry will improve in the long run at LT by being forced into a season at RT. He will be forced into working on his lower body strength, and keeping his hips and pads low to improve his Run Blocking. Also he will have to improve on holding up to the bull Rush of the heavier RT side pass rushers. That would all help him for when he does go back to the left.

[highwater]

See, and I'm jsut gettign to the point where I'm thinking that Terrry will improve in the long run at LT by being forced into a season at RT.

Not a bad idea -- JO himself started his rookie season as a guard, as I recall.

[Greg]

JO doesn't need to do anything even before the draft, we should proceed under the assumption he will retire and if he comes back we get another year. We need a RT anyway, so we should go get one and a swing T. Plan for Terry on the left side, he performed well there when asked. We need a backup who can play both adequately and a competent pass blocker and road grader on the right.

[RavensDomination]

I believe JO said he would let them know before the draft, which is fair.

[bassgtrst]

Greg,

How'd you inflate your rep like that??

lol

[festivus]

It is a fair representation of Greg's superior awesomeness.

[Greg]

Some of us are loved by the masses.

[UKRavenStockers]

The type of respect mere Brits can only dream of. ;)

[Jggjaron]

Well i just hope that JO doesn't wait till training camp to make his decision