Media: “Lamar Jackson shouldn’t be on the field without a contract. He needs an agent, if I were him I’d want out of Baltimore. The Ravens are done. Sashi Brown is a bad hire. This is the Browns and Bengals division. Baltimore you’re done.” Marylander: OOOOOOH BOY! If we haven’t been doubted enough this offseason proves it. If there is one thing you don’t do it’s wake a sleeping giant. They forget what organization this is. THIS IS RAVENS NATION! WE NEVER GIVE UP! Poe: Whistling (THAT’S RIGHT BUDDY!)
CHARM CITY BEASTS
Starring Lamar Jackson, Rashod Bateman, Morgan Moses, Marcus Williams, Michael Pierce, John Harbaugh, Mike Macdonald, Greg Roman, with Eric DeCosta, and Sashi Brown. Guest Appearances by the Salty Marylander and Poe.
Season 2 Episode 20: Sashi and EDC go Big Game Hunting
Created by Bragging Rights
Narrator: There have been plenty of events going on around the Ravens organization since they were eliminated in Week 18. The Bengals reaching the Super Bowl, Lamar Jackson’s contract situation, Deshawn Watson possibly going to Cleveland, plus Brady playing mind games with the media about retirement, and Russell Wilson getting traded to Denver. (All of these things affect the Ravens schedule) It certainly has been busy around here plus with the teams that will face them next year. Eric DeCosta has made one thing clear. “We are going big game hunting.” And he made it very clear to everyone in the Baltimore Media. He heard what a majority of the fanbase said about him and Steve Bisciotti being cheap and now they want to play NFL Blackjack again. It’s not just in free agency look at who they brought in on the coaching staff and front office. Obviously the hiring of Mike Macdonald to replace Wink Martindale is the major splash but an underrated hiring was bringing back Zach Orr to coach the linebackers. Just look at how much promise Queen, Oweh, and Bowser have. They have shown flashes of their potential but according to the Salty Marylander they needed the right scheme around them. Well they get their wish for now. Another landmark hiring for the Ravens this offseason was the hiring of Sashi Brown to be the new Team President. Yes his timeline in Cleveland is a concern but he was the one who drafted Myles Garrett, Nick Chubb, and Denzel Ward. Plus got an insane haul of picks from Houston in the Watson Trade on Draft Day 2017. Look at him as president of the Wizards in the NBA he basically fleeced the Lakers thanks to LA getting desperate for Russell Westbrook. (The Lakers gave up Kyle Kuzma, KCP, Montrezl Harrell, and 3 1st Round picks) This man with the right organization around him is going to do great things. Although many people on Social Media argued that the Ravens just jumped the shark. There’s a famous phrase in this city that says “ideas take root in our hearts, inspire us to be bold, to be more, to be brave in the darkness.” And that’s what this team is.
There is one man that everyone has its eyes on. PLANET LJ! He, like Joe Flacco 10 years ago, has decided to play out the 2022 season without a new contract. In my opinion, I don’t blame Lamar, he is trying to focus on improving his game instead of getting paid. The media however was all over Jackson. ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Stephen A Smith, and Dan Orlovsky claimed that he shouldn’t be on the field if he doesn’t get paid. I mean for gosh sake you guys did this exact same thing a decade ago. Remember how they wanted the Ravens to blow it up after their AFC Title game loss in 2011, that aged poorly. Poe: Whistling (I mean why are these people trying to claim that we’re done, we’re still a top team) Narrator: That’s right Poe, plus I want one of those Old Bay protein shakes please. Poe: Whistling (Ok, buddy I’ll get one) Narrator: Thanks Poe, anyways Jackson unlike many players is not holding out without a new contract. As I was saying he just wants to win. That’s the #1 thing on his mind. John Harbaugh has claimed despite those BS trade rumors that Lamar is our guy and we want to support him as much as possible. Considering that they are maxed out at Wide Receiver and Running Back, all they need is an O-Line and they are set. With free agency set to begin. The Ravens don’t really have that many needs. All they need is Lineman on both sides, plus depth in the secondary and at Tight End. Considering that they just released Tavon Young plus the Army Ranger retired after a one year dud in B-More the Ravens now had about 20 million in cap space which in franchise terms is about right for them.
The first 2 days of the negotiating period for free agents was very quiet around the Under Armour Performance Center, many Ravens fans on Social Media were calling DeCosta and Sashi cheap and conservative. They said that we are tired of this same crap year in and year out. BOOM! (Ravens Nation by FreeState Workshop playing) Those 2 luckily heard the requests of all of the Marylanders. Day 3 of the negotiating period was when Baltimore made it clear to the NFL Media that they indeed were going big game hunting. First they signed quite possibly the best safety on the Free Agent. Marcus Williams, a huge victory for the organization. They got a guy who should fit in nicely with Peters, Humphrey, and Clark in the secondary. 5 years at OH BOY! 14 million a year. That’s steep but hey he’s 25 and entering the prime of his career. (Marylander: “I still don’t understand why Bengals fans think Chase will burn him and Marcus Peters, YOU HAD ONE YEAR!”) Next they went after one of the better run blocking tackles on the market. Morgan Moses, they signed him to a 3 year deal worth 5 million a year. In my opinion that’s a good deal considering how underrated a player he is. (This move means that Ja’Wuan James will most likely be used as a swing tackle in run formations) Then you chuck in the fact that Ronnie Stanley’s bad ankle is a concern, but he should be back too. How about ZaDarius Smith, pair him with Oweh and Tyus Bowser, that’s good. Plus he was a former Raven. I wonder what the cost of this is? (YoYo Sound) He decided to back out because he was only going to get 8.5 million a year. Marylander: WHAT IN FROSTY’S FROZEN CARROT IS GOING ON HERE!? DON’T TELL ME BUFFALO PAYING VON MILLER 20 MILLION A YEAR FOR 6 YEARS WAS WHY HE OPTED OUT! IS THIS DEANDRE HOPKINS AND MICHAEL BROCKERS AGAIN!? Narrator: Who knows but let’s be clear. Smith is going to be 30 and he’s coming off a major injury. Marylander and Poe: Got it! Whistling. Narrator: Boys, I have a better one for you. Look everyone, MICHAEL PIERCE! He’s coming back to the Ravens, and yes the team made it clear on Social Media. Marylander: HAHAHAHAHA! TAKE THAT NFLPA! Poe: Whistling (I love this!) Narrator: He like ZaDarius Smith has injury concerns but like Smith when he’s healthy Pierce is a very good player. Poe: Whistling (Plus he loves snacks just like me) Narrator: Poe I tend to agree with you on that but as long as he returns to 2018-19 form it’s a plus. Poe: Whistling (Thats cool)
Narrator: DeCosta did say even with the Pierce signing he still plans to make more moves. Plus there is one guy that is still on the market that every Ravens fan wants on this defense. (DRAMATIC MUSIC!) Bobby Wagner. One of the architects of the Seahawks Legion of Boom defense in 2013. An 8 time Pro Bowler and 6 time All Pro. Plus he was the emotional leader in that locker room in Seattle. Baltimore has not had an alpha at that position in a decade. And you know who I’m talking about? Marylander: THE GOAT! Poe: Whistling (Ray Ray) Narrator: Exactly, it’s insane that the Ravens despite having CJ Mosley and Patrick Queen in his place after that haven’t gotten a middle linebacker with legendary status. Plus I don’t think the rest of the division hasn’t done anything significant BOOOOOOOM! Marylander: GOD ALMIGHTY! PAUSE. (The moment where Jimmy Haslam drank 3 quarts of stupid juice)
Narrator: (Ms Baltimore Crabs theme playing) I don’t know how they did it but the Browns took an already unlikable team and made it even more unlikable. Look at this, they traded their entire future to the state of Texas for 2 of the most overrated players in the game. Deshaun Watson and Amari Cooper. They traded 5 of their 8 draft picks this year for those 2 players. And you want to know why? Because Jimmy Haslam is the most unlikable owner in the NFL excluding Daniel Synder who Marylanders also hate with envy! (You heard that right) This man thinks that Watson in particular will be the guy that finally gets the Browns past their boogeyman. Yes Watson may be the most talented QB that Cleveland has had since Otto Graham but there are more risks on Watson than most Browns fans think. This is a man that hasn’t played a game in almost 2 years and he is still dealing 23 lawsuits of sex allegations with women in the city of Houston. (And he will likely be suspended for the first 8 games) For goodness sake Haslam, you guys did this exact same thing 8 years ago. Johnny Football, remember how they traded 2 1st Round picks and Trent Richardson to move up to select Manziel? How did that work out, he got Ngata’d in Week 17 of his rookie year and became a massive bust after that. The worst part to me about this trade is the amount of insufferability coming out of the Dawg Pound. Oh if you think they crowned themselves Super Bowl Champs during the last 3 offseasons, this year makes those 3 years look like choirboys. This is why the Browns are the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NFL. All of Cleveland.com is coming out of cages to convince us that they will win the Super Bowl on paper for the 4th year in a row. This is the only crew of sports personalities that I think rivals LeafsNet. This trade to me is the equivalent of when the Maple Leafs signed John Tavares in 2018. Because the fanbase already booked the parade. If I thought Cincinnati fans were getting insufferable about their Super Bowl run, Cleveland is doing the exact same thing. 2 franchises that have 2 of the most inept owners in all of sports think there is nothing in the world that can stop them. Perhaps the 2 greatest punchlines in the league throughout most of my lifetime and years before I was born think that they will just run away with the AFC North title. You have to understand that those 2 teams just woke the parents of the division. The Ravens and Steelers aren’t giving up easily. Yes Pittsburgh got Mitch Trubisky but I think he will be better than he was in Chicago because of Mike Tomlin’s leadership, Najee Harris, Pat Freiermuth and a strong defense. Ohio residents, don’t you dare think that the division will be yours by default, you need to understand that 2 of the most successful franchises in league history have lorded over you for the last 25 years. Yes the Bengals did make the Super Bowl, and the Browns now have Watson, but here is the reality. Browns and Bengals fans: This is awesome! The 2 teams in the state of Ohio are both Super Bowl Contenders and are better than the Ravens and Steelers, it’s the New Frontier! Marylander (Doing his best Michelle Pfeifer impersonation): NOT IN BALTIMORE IT ISN’T! Poe: Whistling (Never talk trash about my Ravens) Narrator: Thank you boys teach those insufferable Ohio sports fans a lesson. I have been hearing smack talk not only from them but Ohio State, and Cavs fans too about how their teams will beat the Bucks and Penn State. I now can officially say that the State of Ohio is the most insufferable sports state in America over New York, California, and Florida. Why? Because of things like this. Lamar I have one request for you, exercise the doubters again, don’t let those media people get in your head. Because if you return to old form, you know what this would mean. Marylander and Poe (Whistling): THE RAVENS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! PAUSE.
Narrator: Anyways the Ravens just like their Super Bowl Championship season in 2012 are given little chance by the people outside of Baltimore. People don’t realize this but entering that season the Ravens were projected to miss the playoffs by many major sources. Here are the reasons. The Bengals had traded 2 top picks for Taylor Mays who at that time was considered a player that was on Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu’s level in terms of the best safeties in the game. (Mays eventually would become one of the biggest villains in Ravens History because of his dirty hits on Anquan Boldin and Ray Rice that same year) Andy Dalton and AJ Green had a combo which entering 2012 was one of the best QB-WR duos in the league and they had just signed Benjarvis Green-Ellis who was the best RB on the free agent market to replace Cedrick Benson. The Steelers had their entire defense returning headlined by Polamalu and James Harrison, plus this was the beginning of the Killer B’s era. And Cleveland had 2 Top 5 picks in Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden who many said would turn the Browns into contenders. (Both became huge busts) Who thought that year that the Ravens with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed near the end of their careers, Terrell Suggs tearing his achilles in the offseason, Joe Flacco trade rumors swirling, Cap Hell on the horizon, and having to deal with Brady, Manning, Big Ben, Luck, Rivers, Palmer, Dalton, Sanchez, and Schaub would not only make the playoffs but win the Super Bowl following a year that was considered their best and last chance with Lewis and Reed? Not many outside of Baltimore. Look at this now, the Bengals being the defending AFC Champs with Burrow and Chase, The Browns going all in on Watson, the Steelers defense entering their primes, plus the entire AFC loaded with great QBs. Plus there was one common factor I didn’t mention about these 2 circumstances. John Harbaugh was on the hotseat by any Ravens fan that didn’t know the foundation of the team.
Just like the spring of 2012, fans want him out thanks to underachieving in the playoffs just like he did a decade ago. But in his defense this regime just like the last one has a QB that is considered a choke artist. It’s easy to forget now but before 2012 Joe Flacco was one of the biggest chokers in playoff history. In 3 AFC Championship losses, Flacco threw 3 touchdowns and 8 interceptions (plus 0 TDs and 3 INTs against the Colts in the 2009 Divisional Game) Including a 1-6 ratio against the Steelers in the 2008 and 2010 AFC Championships. There were doubts as to whether JoeCool would ever get past Brady, Manning, Roethisberger, Andrew Luck, Philip Rivers, heck even Andy Dalton or Matt Schaub. Plus there was speculation that he would be traded for Matt Hasselbeck. But Flacco did a wise thing. He played out his 5th year option and what did it get him during that year. A Super Bowl MVP and a 6 year deal worth 20 million a year which still is the biggest contract in Ravens History. This could become Lamar’s legacy as well. Considering how everything is lining up for him this year to have a similar run to overcome his playoff failures like Flacco before him there’s still time. Considering that Jackson, Justin Tucker, Harbaugh, Marcus Peters, Marquise Brown, Nick Boyle, and DeCosta are all in the final years of their contracts this could be a boom or bust year for the Ravens. Just like it was in 2012. Poe: Whistling (Look behind you) Narrator: Ah yes Poe, you want me to play Pictionary with you. Ok, I got you. Lets see what you’re drawing, it looks like a football player, he has a helmet, his right leg is going back forwards, the ball is on a kicking tee, I wonder who this could be Poe? Let me take a guess, is that Justin Tucker? Poe: Whistling (YOU ARE CORRECT BUDDY!) Narrator: Hey I’m 2-2 on Pictionary. Poe: Whistling (You are one smart fellow) Narrator: Thanks, anyways how will the Ravens continue to fortify their roster in a stacked AFC North, find out next time on Charm City Beasts. Marylander: RAVENS GONNA WIN THE NORTH!
Bragging Rights Sports 