Rookie Torrey Smith Gets Justin Harper's Jersey Number

by Bruce Raffel on May 10, 2011 10:00 AM EDT

The Baltimore Ravens didn't waste any time showing how much rookie WR Torrey Smith (Maryland) meant to them, issuing Smith the same #82 jersey he wore in college. The jersey been worn the past three years by WR Justin Harper, but he had no say in it being taken from him and he has now been re-issued the new number of 87 for his jersey.

In addition, first round draft pick, CB Jimmy Smith (Colorado) will wear the #22, as his college number (3) cannot be worn by a cornerback at the NFL level. Third round draft pick, OT Jah Reid will sport the #76 jersey and fourth round selection, WR Tandon Doss (Indiana) will get number 89, last worn by former Ravens WR Mark Clayton.

To see all the other draft picks and their numbers, as well as any veteran players who have switched jersey numbers, see the related story at BaltimoreRavens.com.

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I'm not happy about that

Harper had that number and it isnt fair to just give it to Smith. Smith should have had to pony up a little cash to Harper if he absolutely had to have the number.

by Mstevens_Design on May 10, 2011 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

Yea right. Smith is a top tier talent from this draft while Harper most likely won’t even make the team this year. What has Harper done that makes him more deserving?

"No disrespect to Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara, but I just think I have better cover skills. They get tested a lot, and that’s for a reason. The other team sees something in their game that they want to attack, and me playing in the same league as Prince, we played the same teams and they didn’t attack me the same. So why does that happen?" - CB Jimmy Smith

by Mr MaLoR on May 10, 2011 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

It isnt a matter of that

Harper is still on the team, correct? If you just go around giving the players whatever they want based on their estimated talent level, then you have what Billick had…. no one listening to him because they are “special”.

Its also pretty common for a player to have to buy out the jersey number from the person that has it. I know that Smith probably just had it given to him, but that isnt cool in my book. You don’t just give players whatever they want at the expense of another player who has busted their ass.

Malor, your company just brought in someone else. So you are moving down into the janitor’s closet because we gave that person your desk. You probably arent going to be super happy about that are you? Meanwhile, that new guy feels like he owns the place because he is getting whatever the hell he wants.

It just breeds contempt and resentment among the players.

by Mstevens_Design on May 10, 2011 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Happened the sameway when Boldin came here

81 was Marcus Smith’s number and the team didn’t even ask Smith to give it up, they just assigned it to Q. If Smith or Harper complained, the team would laugh and perhaps even cut them. It would be one thing if it was another starter’s number, like Jermaine Lewis when Shannon Sharpe came here and wanted Jermaine’s #84.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on May 10, 2011 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

yea but Boldin is actrally a proven a player and Torrey Smith is not

by jazz20 on May 10, 2011 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

So you just compared Harper to getting thrown down in the janitor’s closest because of a number change? It is a number man and Harper wasn’t making any name for himself with that number, so why does it matter? Plus I bet him giving up his number so easily was a ploy to show the coaches he is willing to do anything asked of him.

by Mr MaLoR on May 10, 2011 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Ehh

I’m just not a big fan of someone getting another player’s number. If Harper doesnt make it through the off-season, then feel free to give him the number.

I just don’t like a rookie getting a number from a veteran for no good reason. Your same reasoning, “its just a number” is the same thing they should have told Smith if he requested it. Smith has the money to pay Harper $10k to buy it out from him.

by Mstevens_Design on May 10, 2011 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Smith has the money to pay Harper $10k to buy it out from him.

Not yet and not any time soon.

by Mr MaLoR on May 10, 2011 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm sure he has more

than Justin Harper. Smith is a 2nd round pick on one of the best teams, his agent is wiring him money as we speak.

Justin Harper’s agent is…… State Farm.

by Mstevens_Design on May 10, 2011 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I doubt any of the rookies have a cent yet.

Did they even get to sign contracts? The draft guarantees that other teams can’t sign them but they still have to sign with the team that drafted them and the lockout probably prevents that.

by Roa on May 10, 2011 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions

True. But its pretty common for an agent to float his player some $ before he actually signs his contract.

"Really, all Americans want is cold beer, warm p***y, and someplace to take a s**t with a door on it."

by StuckInUtah on May 10, 2011 6:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

82 wasn't even Harper's original number

When he first made the team he was 14, then last year he moved to 82. I’m betting it went something like this:
Randon Front Office Guy: Hey Justin we just drafted a guy from the local college and he wears number 82…
Justin Harper: He can have it, I’ll take whatever number you want to give as long as you are willing to keep me on your Practice Squad with all this WR talent we just drafted.
RFOG: Thanks Justin, good luck in Training Camp.

Something like that, a boarder line guy like Harper isn’t going to make any problems out of fear of losing his chance at making the team.

A Ravens fan on the wrong side of the country!!

by Christopher Atwood on May 10, 2011 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

True.

by MrPoopyPants on May 11, 2011 7:57 AM EDT up reply actions

He help the cornerbacks train how to play against bigger receivers doesnt that count for

something but I think Harper may turn out to be something good for the Ravens this year I dont think they are keeping him to be a water bowl for all these years

by jazz20 on May 10, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

It kinda sucks to see that Taylor will be wearing #6. I was hoping they’d put him in #11, that way we could sneak him into some non-traditional WR packages. Flacco still needs his receiving TD.

"Really, all Americans want is cold beer, warm p***y, and someplace to take a s**t with a door on it."

by StuckInUtah on May 10, 2011 2:12 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

He was brought here to be a QB, not a WR and Ozzie stated that.

by Mr MaLoR on May 10, 2011 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I understand that. But what I’m getting at is lining him up as a WR, fake an end around, and have him instead lob one up deep. Follow me?

"Really, all Americans want is cold beer, warm p***y, and someplace to take a s**t with a door on it."

by StuckInUtah on May 10, 2011 2:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Not really. Desperate offenses are the ones who use those types of plays.

by Mr MaLoR on May 10, 2011 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

It didn’t seem too desperate when Randle El tossed a TD in the Super Bowl, but I get what you’re saying.

"Really, all Americans want is cold beer, warm p***y, and someplace to take a s**t with a door on it."

by StuckInUtah on May 10, 2011 2:55 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I'll agree with that statement

Teams can call us desperate all they want. If they can’t stop the play and we keep winning with it, what the hell.

by Mstevens_Design on May 10, 2011 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I am not against the idea, but I would rather take my chances with Joe making the passes to Boldin and crew rather than a rookie 6th round pick.

by Mr MaLoR on May 10, 2011 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

Especially when Torrey, Tandon and David need the reps. But Tyrod could be thrown in there once or twice during the season.

by rayravenknight87 on May 10, 2011 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I will tell you this though, I am very excited to see him in training camp and pre-season. This guy was a beast at V-Tech and has a beautiful throwing motion. He will definitely be a pain in the ass for the defense on some plays.

by Mr MaLoR on May 10, 2011 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I can’t argue with you there, and I’m not suggesting that we make these gadget/trick plays a regular part of our offense. But I wouldn’t mind seeing a couple of them during the season. And my original point was that if Tayler had been given a receiver eligible number, it would only make it that much easier to trick the opponents defense.

"Really, all Americans want is cold beer, warm p***y, and someplace to take a s**t with a door on it."

by StuckInUtah on May 10, 2011 3:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

But Randle El was a WR first. He had been one for a while that just so happened to have some QB abilities. Taylor is going to be a QB in this league, or at least with our team. So if a team sees him at WR, then sees him taking an end around, pretty sure the defense would pick that up rather quickly.

by Mr MaLoR on May 10, 2011 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions