So much for the Baltimore Ravens hometown discount

by David Fucillo on Feb 6, 2009 11:00 AM PST in San Francisco 49ers News

Last month somebody threw up a FanPost mentioning that Terrell Suggs was going to be talking with Ray Lewis and Bart Scott about putting together a hometown discount for the Baltimore Ravens. If that had worked out it would have been rather impressive. Of course, then Ray Lewis came out with this quote in the Baltimore Sun yesterday regarding a hometown discount:

"I dont play less," Lewis told the NFL Network in Hawaii, where he will play in the Pro Bowl. "If you don't play less, you don't take less. That's just life."

So much for the grand ideas of Terrell Suggs. Lewis has indicated he'd return to Baltimore but is intrigued by other situations. He's intrigued by the Jets, in part because his former defensive coordinator Rex Ryan is running things there. He also indicated he's intrigued by the Cowboys and thinks he could bring leadership to a situation that requires "one general."

So this certainly opens things up a little more with Terrell Suggs. I'd imagine nobody could really be surprised a hometown discount didn't work out with at least one of the Ravens trio. The question becomes what happens next. Who will the Ravens franchise? On the one hand, Terrell Suggs has indicated some desire to come back, so maybe you franchise Lewis. Of course, then Lewis gets a a hefty one year pay day, and Suggs is stuck holding the bag.

Maybe they work this all out and there's nothing left for us to discuss. While that is certainly possible I wouldn't hold my breath in the high risk, high reward world of the NFL. There has been discussion of bringing a guy like Everette Brown in with the first round pick. As solid as he could be, a long term investment in a guy like Terrell Suggs would surely pay dividends for years to come.

However this plays out, it should make for a crazy opening couple of days (or maybe even just couple of hours) of free agency. I think most people are sufficiently intrigued by Suggs to want to make a run at him.

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ray lewis to dallas

i’d love to see ray lewis and t.o. on the same team.

by tenjay on Feb 6, 2009 11:31 AM PST reply actions

they might actually kill each other

Lewis has said he could move past it, but you know TO would start something.

by David Fucillo on Feb 6, 2009 11:33 AM PST up reply actions

Without patting myself too much on the back...

Called it.

Glad to see Ray Lewis is a smart NFL player. Knows when to get his money, knows he deserves the money, hell, he’s smart enough to escape murdering someone, he’s earned that money!

Too soon…?

I’d like to see us enter this sweepstakes for one of the three Ravens, get some esperience for the draft picks we are sure to spend on defensive players (fingers crossed). Imagine Patrick Willis and Ray Lewis in between the hashes? How many careers would be ended by these two?

A pipe dream, I realize, but a man can still dream right?

Blind devotion.

by ProfessorBigelow on Feb 6, 2009 11:39 AM PST reply actions

A smart NFL player?

Simply following the money is far from an indication of intellegence.

by methodrampage on Feb 6, 2009 12:14 PM PST up reply actions

Couldn't resist that, could you rampage?

Blind devotion.

by ProfessorBigelow on Feb 6, 2009 5:32 PM PST up reply actions

Fantasy(?) Land...

Sign Suggs, sign OJ from the Rams at Safety. With rest of cap room: 1st rounder a RT and 2nd rounder a DT, find a QB with any of the remaining…Problems solved, off to Disneyland in ’10!

by StepUp on Feb 6, 2009 11:42 AM PST reply actions

Suggs

He might get an extra half sack a year just because of his last name. That’s a great name for a pass rusher.

by save10 on Feb 6, 2009 1:04 PM PST reply actions

Suggs

As I’ve said before, the only way Suggs would be a “definite” improvement over what the 49ers have right now is if they land a player capable of improving their NT play. In other words, I don’t think the team should pursue Suggs unless they feel they can also land Haynesworth or have an inside track on some NT prospect in the draft (that is better than Franklin).

by sfgfan on Feb 6, 2009 2:09 PM PST reply actions

I totally agree with you on this

I think we’ve had discussions on this point before, and you have made the arguments with much more intelligence than me. To me, obtaining a quality NT should be niners #1 priority this offseason allowing us more flexibility then in how we decide to pursue a quality pass-rushing OLB.

by Ninerfromacrossthepond on Feb 6, 2009 6:24 PM PST up reply actions

I agree we need a NT to make the 3-4 work.

Does anyone know if he’s ever played NT in a 3-4? If not, I wonder how Haynesworth would make the transition. For one, it’s almost like learning an entirely new position. Also, Haynesworth is really good at what he does and I wonder if he would be willing to give up all the sacks to play NT. As I understand it, a true NT isn’t going to be pressuring the QB much. He’ll just be trying to occupy as many blockers as possible in order to let the linebackers through.
Given his success at DT, I wonder if he’ll even want to play NT for the niners. He’s a dominant DT and trying to make him into a NT might be trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

by Rocktopus on Feb 8, 2009 11:46 AM PST up reply actions

Haynesworth.

I don’t even look at him as a pass rusher. Before his last two seasons, his sack totals were relatively low. From what I understand, he draws A LOT of double teams, and even then he knows how to over-power two men. I don’t think someone who’s capable of that would have a whole lot of issue with transitioning from 4-3 DT to 3-4 NT.

Your point about whether or not he’s willing to give up the glitz and glam of being a “sack artist” makes some sense. I happen to believe that while the NT position is less of a glamorous job, it’s one of the most important defensive positions in football and I’m sure Haynesworth would understand that, too. I don’t think Vince Wilfork has a hard time earning the praise of his peers, coaches and even fans.

by sfgfan on Feb 9, 2009 9:46 AM PST up reply actions

Im the one that posted the whole Suggs and discount thing never said it would work or not. Late last nite i commented that Ray Lewis was not interested in the discount and we should go after him or either Suggs, or Scott. Maybe try to get 1 of the 3 big
D-Lineman (Haynesworth, Peppers, Canty).

by BIG49ERS_1 on Feb 6, 2009 2:34 PM PST reply actions