Today on Charm City Beasts! The free agency saga takes on a massive plot twist after the recent events that have occurred. The Ravens were searching for a #1 receiver and pass rusher but it would take a serious effort to bring them to Baltimore. GM Eric DeCosta claimed that “he would do everything and then some to try and get a marquee receiver to come to the Ravens.” This is unsurprising to everyone who looks at his resume. The pass rusher department may have taken a hit since Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue signed with other AFC teams but bringing back Tyus Bowser and Pernell McPhee was a must. (Fun fact Bowser had a better season than Judon and Ngakoue and McPhee was the main reason King Henry was stuffed.) Also they brought back Derek Wolfe at a price that was rather reasonable. The must get signing of the offseason was bringing in Former Browns guard Kevin Zeitler, the Ravens have always had a pulling guard on either the left or right side with an accomplished background (Examples: Mike Flynn, Edwin Mulitalo, Ben Grubbs, Kelechi Osemele, Marshal Yanda, and Bradley Bozeman.) and Zeitler is a perfect fit for their run first offense. Which leads us back to the receiver core. What are the results? Kenny Golladay: 1,2,3 STRIKES YOU’RE OUT! JuJu Smith Schuster: 1,2,3 STRIKES YOU’RE OUT! TY Hilton: 1,2,3 STRIKES YOU’RE OUT! Once again the Ravens failed to get a big game Wide Receiver! Many are saying that receivers don’t come to Baltimore because they would have to block in the Ravens run first offense. This isn’t the first time in franchise history that this has been the case. Marylander, give us a history lesson.
Marylander: When Brian Billick was the head coach, he changed his starting QB every year from 1999-2007. Part of the reason the Ravens had mediocre QBs during that period was because no receiver wanted to block for Priest Holmes or Jamal Lewis. The only receivers that came to town that had plenty of talent in that span were Shannon Sharpe, and Derrick Mason. The main reason Terrell Owens signed with the Eagles instead of the Ravens in 2004 was because he wanted to have more of a role as a receiver than as a blocker. The same applied for Marvin Harrison in 2001. In the terms of Keyshawn Johnson “Just give me the damn ball!” Narrator: Hold on one second, the receivers don’t want to come here because they want to go to a place where the QB has to only throw to them. Marylander: Yes we get it, can you excuse me for a second, “WHYYYYYYYY!” (The insufferable Marylander wants that Trophy so bad!) PAUSE.
So with that being said the only receivers the Ravens could chase are ones on the cheap price. The example for this case was Sammy Watkins, an underrated receiver who thrived in Kansas City especially in the playoffs when he was healthy. (His receiver coach in KC is now in Baltimore that too) It wasn’t the best signing but getting a player with big game experience and a high catch radius at 1 year and 6 million a year was a reach but time will tell with that story. The common reaction outside of the city on this signing was that the Ravens clearly don’t want to fix the passing game. The real wrath of the media according to fanboys across the NFL and the ESPN subscribers should be on Action Jackson, Lamar has been quiet in terms of his internet antics but was angry that the front office wasn’t able to get him a legit top flite receiver in his prime. But he has made it clear that they need to get either AB, Julio, or a star wideout in the 1st Round of the Draft. (LJ wants a Super Bowl badly!) With him understanding the concerns of receivers not signing in Baltimore because of potential assignments in the run blocking department he feels that DeCosta should draft another young receiver and have him develop from within.
With Judon and Ngakoue gone, the front office has chosen the approach of adding a pass rusher in free agency instead potentially taking a risk on getting WR Antonio Brown to go along with Watkins. The 3 names that were linked with them were Justin Houston, (Former All-Pro in Kansas City and had issues in the Colts system despite age getting to him.) Jadeveon Clowney, (Linked to the Ravens in 2020 only to sign with Tennessee thanks to the NFLPA disapproving Jacksonville signing him and then trading him to Baltimore within the day, also a former #1 pick.) and Melvin Ingram. (All-Pro in 2017-2019 only to miss the majority of 2020 due to injury.) With one of the 3 names if not 2 of them coming to Baltimore, Wink Martindale should have plenty of new tricks up his sleeves.
In terms of the ESPN vs Lamar Civil War, the team like most of Charm City would have chosen to back Action Jackson. Team president Dick Cass has claimed that LJ is a forward thinking QB who is doing everything he can to bring receiving talents to Baltimore and trying to capture the Super Bowl that he has dreamed about since he was drafted. Lamar reached out to him, Ozzie Newsome, plus EDC and said that “I want as many weapons with some semblance of talent that you can find.” Dez Bryant also tweeted that the “Lamar Hate” hate gone way too far. Let’s be real Dez, most of the people doubting him are members of the Dawg Pound who are jealous of the Ravens supremacy over Cleveland. (I KNEW IT!) Thus leads us to the Roman Empire being called out by former assistant David Culley for saying that he never did anything creative in the playoff loss to the Bills and never adjusted. Roman stated that he tried to run a few trick plays yet either Lamar or JK was stopped each time. (Marylander: Culley, have fun dealing with a QB that decided to be an idiot instead of staying here and running Era8 into the ground. Thank God!)
In the department of #PlayoffSammy, Watkins has quoted out that Lamar can be a great passer if receivers start to get separation. Having been in Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid he obviously understands that a QB needs all the help he can get if his receivers know what they’re doing. He has made it clear that he wants to be available in all 17 games (He said all 16 games on his conference call with team insider Cassie Calvert. LOL!) despite his injury history. Sounds like a forward thinking receiver to me. In terms of the “Fruit Punch” department, Marlon Humphrey took on the challenge of racing his dog on a local high school soccer field near Cockeysville. (Let me guess Trace McSorley gave him the idea since T-Mac tried that and failed miserably.) In what appeared to be a close race right from the start but Marlo unlike his fellow TikTok sensation beat his dog by a matter of a few seconds. (I wonder how his cat Snowflake is doing plus did Zendaya ever get back to him?) This is why he is the best all around corner in the league. (Marylander: Sorry Jalen Ramsey!) With Action Jackson and Hollywood Brown continuing their offseason workouts together they decided to clone a good buddy of theirs for a potential contract in Baltimore for the 2nd consecutive year. THE DIVA! They were working out this time at a local gym in South Florida and Jackson was being honest saying that he has had all of his past mistakes behind him. (If he signs with the Ravens the rumors from the Yinzer media will be extreme like they were in New England.) Unfortunately we don’t have time for the AB saga since that will be in another episode. Charm City Beasts will return after a few weeks of waiting until the draft. (Please make up your minds about the receiver and pass rush issues. Ok!)
Bragging Rights Sports 