Ravens Cut Ties With Jason Brown
by DT711 on Feb 26, 2009 1:09 PM EST
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A very interesting 24 hours lies ahead for the Baltimore Ravens.
And the first domino has fallen. According to an NFL source, the club has informed center Jason Brown that he is not in their plans for the 2009 season.
Brown, who turns 26 in June, is expected to garner immediate, strong interest from four or five clubs when the NFL’s free-agency period opens at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Brown started in '06 and '07 at guard for the Ravens, before moving to center to replace Mike Flynn last season.
The move to let Brown leave allows Baltimore to focus on its two free-agent linebackers, Bart Scott and Ray Lewis.
Negotiations are ongoing with both players -- with the expectation that the Ravens will be able re-sign one, but not both -- and are expected to run up to midnight, when the club will lose exclusive negotiating rights.
The Cowboys continue to come up as a possible landing spot for Lewis, despite Dallas owner Jerry Jones’ insistence that his club will not be big players in free agency. Former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan’s presence with the Jets makes New York a possible suitor for either player.
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I got no problem with this cut
Brown wasn’t vital to the Ravens and to be honest, its good for him as at least 4 or 5 teams are lining up to negotiate.
As for Jones, he could say the sun was going to rise in the morning and I would have to wait and see.
"When they get drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, we expect them to play like that. Are we surprised? No."
by UMBC Oriole fan on Feb 26, 2009 2:28 PM EST reply actions
Yea, Good for Jason
I always liked Brown. He appeared to be a smart, thoughtful dude. Hopefully he’ll get paid and kill a competitiors cap in the process.
Exactly
I posted this as a comment earlier today as I heard the Ravens had already informed him. He is just not worth what someone else is going to pay him. Either Chris Chester or someone else will end up doing a serviceable job instead. Hopefully he’ll go to a NFC Club or get lost in Miami with those losers.
I still think there is a chance that both Bart and Ray re-sign, but it looks more and more the Ravens will focus on Bart first, as he could be a fixture in the middle for a longer time. Besides, there is much more of a market for Bart out there than a 34 year old MLB. Dallas is flush out of cap space, but perhaps Ray will sign a one year deal here and then go to Dallas next year? Nah, if not us, I see Ray in NY with Rex.
Rexx
Worst Case
we lose Ray, Brown, and Leonhard. Keep Suggs, Scott, Landry. If this occurs we will have plenty of cap space to be major players in FA, where we can address our most pressing needs, ie; WR and CB. I’d love to have Ray, but not at a price that will screw us.
let ray go get his billions…he’s not worth it. i know we will miss his leadership but thats what good coaches get paid to do. if we keep making ray the franchise i guess we pack it in when he leaves. its time for other guys to step up and be the face of the team. its tough to say but ray’s seen better days and now the future is here. we can’t sqaunder it on heart strings.
scott is a number 2 LB thats it. not a lead LB. he can be replaced with our backups and we won’t be hurt much. I actually think Jason Brown is worth keeping over both of these guys value wise and Leonhard is definately a better value than ray and bart. I seem to remember when Ray went out with the bum shoulder years ago at his peak we played surprisingly good. i rather find out what we have without him instead of all the cash we’ll lose with him.
Total Disagreement Here
Leonhard was a great pickup last year and is a good player. GOOD. Landry was just as good, maybe even better. Both Zbikowski and Nakamura give us more than enough depth than to spend it on Leonhard. Trust me, w/o having Ed next to him, he will not be a factor wherever he goes. Jason Brown is young but a one year wonder and is easily replaceable and certainly not worth the bucks he’ll get tomorrow. Both Ray and Bart coming back would be huge. Ray is not ready to retire and this team is not ready to move on after him and stay successful. Not yet. Once Tavares Gooden gets some playing time and the rest of our other LB’s get theirs, Ray will begin to ease on out and the transition will begin. Now is just not the time. He is too valuable to these kids right now.
Rexx
I agree Rexx
Right move in letting Leonhard walk. We will get a bargain on Landry since he sat out last year. As long as his health checks out, he has Pro Bowl potential. Leonhard does not.
Bart is better then a #2 LB, he’s made a Pro Bowl, you remember that raven? He absolutely has the talent to be a lead backer for years to come.
I say we keep Ray if he’s reasonable.
Bart is no Ray
Yeah he had something like 10 sacks and made the Pro Bowl. Remember, that was with AD on the other side. The opponents had to contend with not only Ray, but AD, Suggs, Pryce so Bart was an afterthought. Typeical scenerio where playing on this defense allows you to garner great numbers that do not translate at all when they join other teams. AD is doing okay in NE, but certainly not the beast he was here.
Rexx
Yeah he had those 10 sacks
with AD because AD helped out on coverage duty. Since Bart doesn’t get that anymore he stuck doing the coverage dirty work while others get the sack. I can’t think of a single pass that went to a TE covered by Bart the entire season. Again, I look at what Bart did when Ray was out and it wasn’t like there was a drop of in defensive performance with Bart at the helm.
"When they get drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, we expect them to play like that. Are we surprised? No."
by UMBC Oriole fan on Feb 26, 2009 8:14 PM EST up reply actions
Wrong raven.
It is not time for Ray to leave. We are too close to accomplishing the ultimate goal in winning our 2nd championship. I just do not think that at this time in the state of our franchise that we have efficiently prepared ourselves for Ray’s departure. We have not drafted for the position as well as we would NEED TO. I know we got T-Good, Barnes, McClaine, Burgess, but are these guys ready to be the starting middle LB on this team? NO. Agree with Rexx, great pick-up by Ozzie and exceeded what we thought he would do. But he is not more important to this team than Ray and Bart. If we didnt have a Dawan Landry back there, maybe he is, but we have 3 solid safeties to play that spot.
I also strongly believe that Leonhard’s success comes from our system. A good amount of players that come to play and start for our defense would be average players in this league. You really ever hear of Jim Leonhard that much before this season? You think any other team gives the Bart Scotts, the Adlius Thomas’, the Kelly Greggs, and the Dawan Landrys chances to be a significant impact? Most likely not. Our type of system and playing behind Ray Lewis and next to Ed Reed, that makes you play at a level that you just don’t usually see with other teams.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Keep Bart...if Ray chooses to go, see ya..
I think Bart is a very good LB. No he is not Ray Lewis in his prime. He is a bit emotional and flighty in some interviews in the past, but i think he would graduate to a higher level if Ray goes. Sometimes people need opportunities to take the next step. I think this team does not need Bart to be Ray, just a better Bart. We have several excellent LB’s ready to go, so if we keep Suugs and Bart, we’ll be younger and eventually maybe even better geting out of Ray’s team shadow….
We need serious help at CB and WR in particular. TE too. I think T.J. Whosyourdaddy would be a good fit here. I read where someone said he would not be good here because he is like Mason. I think that is silly. He is a real good receiver for one…and Derrick as much as I love him does not have too much more in terms of peak yrs left … I would sadly have to believe. We go through FA to grab him and CB if he is cheap enough…and grab a stud TE and an upswing WR in the draft. Of course Ozzie will make good on other areas of need.
This team will be quite different next year. Stover will be gone, Ray, Chris is gone, Jason Brown, Leonhard, and who knows whom else not even mentioning the huge loss with Rexx. Bur I like our new Defensive Coordinator and this team can now be built to contend every year with the available cap space. Next, lock Sugs up long term, asap. He is a monster that is getting better.
In closing, it was great to see Lewis play. He was great no doubt. But a man that chooses money over situation when he already has wealth beyond most folks wildest dreams, is making a big mistake. Ray, don’t make the mistake of leaving because Suggs makes more than you. All things relative Mr. Lewis, you made quite a handosome sum of money…well deserved certainly, but can you really say you would leave Baltimore for money…and play for Dallas? Or even the Jets for that matter? C’mon Ray, there is no shame at 34 getting a good contract and staying a Raven for life…and to be here when we kick the Steelers butts next year…
Can you imagine?
how Ray would feel if he leaves and we beat the Steelers on our way to a Super Bowl title next season? Just fantasizing.
Rexx
I was thinking that today Rexx.
If Ray went to the Jets and Joe and Reed lead us to another ring, how stupid would Ray feel. I was also thinking about how I would feel if that happened. I really think I would not enjoy it as much if Ray wasnt there to celebrate the victory with us in purple. It just wouldnt feel right because he deserves another ring as much as these guys deserve their first. It would just suck that Ray couldnt celebrate a superbowl victory with us. But I am also dreaming
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
I really don't
see any team that can give him a much better deal over the Ravens and not be completely out of the Playoff hunt. I don’t see how the hell the Cowboys or the Jets could make salary cap room. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ray hits the market…see whats available and then comes back to the Ravens.
"When they get drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, we expect them to play like that. Are we surprised? No."
by UMBC Oriole fan on Feb 26, 2009 8:17 PM EST up reply actions
Yea me neither
But i was just saying how much it would suck to win the superbowl next year if Ray would was not part of it. I dont mean it would suck and i would be all sad, I would be happy as shit, but I just want one more for Suga Ray.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Remembering the good times
Jason Brown isnt going any where. Baltimore will get a deal done for sure. 5-6 years and about 15-20 million.
There is no way Brown is leaving. We dont have another center to take his place that is anywhere close to his skill level. Keep dreaming that you had a line like ours.
Word is that they will give him a "First Round Tender (?), whatever that specifically is, and he will be paid around $2+ million in 2009 with the idea to get him signed to a long term deal shortly after that. Brown is not going anywhere. Sorry.
Brings tears to my eyes.
charity standing orders
Whatever
You still wish you had a Line like ours!
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
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