While John Harbaugh and Cam Cameron have led the Ravens to three consecutive playoff trips, there is question if they are the right men for the job.

The year was 2008, the Ravens were fresh off of a dismal 5-11 season, and Super Bowl winning coach Brian Billick was given his walking papers. The franchise that had won a Super Bowl in its infancy, and had stability at the coaching the position for almost a decade, was about to go through a major overhaul. Throughout the Billick tenure, the Ravens offense was anemic at best, and the teamed looked for another brash offensive mind to help this offense turn the corner. Cowboys’ offensive coordinator Jason Garrett was offered the job, but chose to spurn the Ravens and stay in Dallas. The Ravens and their fans were left with a bunch of candidates that had no head coaching experience or notable pedigree. The Ravens finally decided on a special team’s coach, who while being the son of coach, had never held a coach position or offensive or defensive coordinator position at any level. That man was John Harbaugh, and many Ravens fans, myself included, wondered if this was the right man for the job.

It was no secret that the Ravens organization was defined by defense and a smash mouth running game. But, the NFL was changing into a pass happy league, and with the defense aging, fans and the organization knew that the time had come to start improving the offense. Enter Cam Cameron, former offensive coordinator of the potent San Diego Chargers, and many believed the Ravens offense was now in good hands. In their first season on the job, Cameron and Harbaugh were not left with much offensive talent. Their options at quarterback were Kyle Boller, who had already reached first round bust status; Troy Smith, former Heisman Trophy winner, but 5th round pick with only 3 career starts; and rookie Joe Flacco, who many believed would be the franchise quarterback in a few years— but not ready to play 16 games in his rookie season. Flacco won the starting job, and was a game manager, taking the Ravens to an 11-5 record and the AFC Championship game. Many believed that as Flacco got more comfortable, Cameron would open up the offense and make it more dynamic and explosive.

I personally am of the mindset that coaching can win football games, so it is hard to argue with Harbaugh’s 36-19 record, including trips to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons. But, I think talent will get you wins in the NFL, but coaching can get you over the top. In his 3 seasons Harbaugh is 2-6 vs. the Steelers, 1-2 vs. the Patriots, and hasn’t come close to beating the Colts. The Ravens have been to the playoffs the past three years because of the talent on the field. However, Harbaugh hasn’t coached down his players, but his track record in big games shows that he is not managing that talent properly. This season the Ravens were built to take that next step to beat upper echelon teams like the Patriots, Colts and Steelers and finally make it back to the Super Bowl. But, after watching a 14 point lead evaporate in Pittsburgh, people are left looking for answers as to why the Ravens came up short of their goal. The answer: Coaching. The NFL is about making adjustments, and many times the Ravens would have a strong first half, only to see teams come out and make adjustments in the second half which the Ravens could not counter. The talent on the field was good enough to overcome the lack of adjustments made by the coaching staff, but had the coaching staff been able to counter those adjustments and win just one more game, the Ravens would have hosted the Steelers instead of being forced to go on the road for the playoffs this season. In fact had they been able to get one more win because of coaching in each of Harbaugh’s three seasons, the Ravens could have hosted the likes of Indy, Pittsburgh and New England, and would have had a much better shot of beating them at M & T Bank stadium.

Another area where Harbaugh failed this season was with his trust in Cam Cameron. I understand the job of the offensive coordinator is to run the office, and that interfering could cause dissension (we have seen it happen to many franchises). However, if you continuously see conservative play calling in the second half of games, and watch an offense with Pro Bowlers at every position finish behind the likes of the Redskins, Bucs, Dolphins and Jags in total offense (22nd overall), the head coach should step in and do something about it. That being said, the reason the offense finished 22nd in the NFL was because of Cam Cameron. During his time in San Diego Cameron was respected for his innovative play calling and his offenses put up points and numbers. However, that offense was led by a Hall of Fame running back, which makes any coordinators job easier. Cameron failed to utilize the talents of Drew Brees who toiled in mediocrity, only to become one of the elite quarterbacks in the league after leaving Cameron for Sean Payton. Many will say that the reason San Diego does not have a Super Bowl trophy is Cameron’s vanilla play calling in the playoffs, and that he was one of the reason’s the Chargers were labeled the most talented team in the NFL yet to hoist a Lomardi Trophy. There are grumblings around the league from former players that Cameron will take no input from anyone on his staff, nor does he let his quarterback audible to a different play.

It was announced at the Ravens yearly “State of the Ravens” address that Cameron would be coming back and that he is on the hot seat. Harbaugh will not only be back but is likely to receive a contract extension by the end of the month. There was a major disconnect between the players and Cam Cameron, yet the team still won 12 games and made the playoffs. There is talent on this Ravens team at every position, so I could probably coach them and they would still make the playoffs. But, that is not what this team was built to do. This team was built to win the Super Bowl and unless things change, I do not believe this coaching staff can get them there.

Making the playoffs in three straight season certainly helps make a case to keep your job as an offensive coordinator (as in Cam Cameron’s case), or help you garner a deserved contract extension as in Harbaugh’ case. But winning a Super Bowl as a coach and organization puts you in a whole different stratosphere.

The Ravens have good coaches and a good team, but they have yet to get over that hump and everyone needs to take a look in the mirror on how to fix it. Their former defensive coordinator, who they failed to give the head coaching job, just made his 2nd AFC title game in as many seasons while their most hated rival is playing for their 3rd Super Bowl in six years.

There is a popular saying that says “always a bridesmaid, never a bride” and thus far that has held true for John Harbaugh and Cam Cameron.

If the Ravens want to make the Super Bowl then these might not be the right men for the job.

Hopefully they can prove me wrong.

The Little Roman

For almost the entire history of their franchise, the Baltimore Ravens have been defined by two things: great defense and inept quarterback play. Names like Eric Zeier, Stoney Case, Anthony Wright, Chris Redman, Elvis Grbac and Kyle Boller remain in the minds of every Baltimorean, and have led every Ravens fan to long for a “franchise” quarterback. In 2008 the Ravens selected Joe Flacco out of Delaware, and many believe that Flacco would provide stability at the quarterback position for the next decade. The love affair with Flacco was instant, and Charm City became “Wacko for Flacco”. Two years later, those fans who loved him so dearly are now calling into sports talk shows saying that he is not the right quarterback for the Ravens. A statement that I believe shows how fickle, jaded, and uneducated some sports fans can be, even the great fans of Baltimore.

Joe Flacco inherited a team that was 5-11 the year before they drafted him, who had just fired their Super Bowl winning coach, and brought in a special teams coach who had never been a head coach at the NFL level. Couple that with a motly crew of offensive talent around him, and it looked like Flacco would experience some growing pains in his rookie season. But thanks to injuries to Kyle Boller and Troy Smith, Flacco was given a start in the preseason and then named the starter for week one. Seventeen weeks later, the Ravens were 11-5 and heading to the playoffs, something they absolutely WOULD NOT HAVE done with Smith or Boller. Baltimore was Flacco crazy and after leading the Ravens to the AFC Championship game, the franchise and its fans truly believed they had found their quarterback.

I admit Joe Flacco was not the sole reason the Ravens won games in his rookie year. While he was not the typical “ game manager”, Flacco was often just asked to not make mistakes and be good enough to help this team win. Since his rookie year however, Flacco has become more than just a game manager, he has been a WINNER. Yet somehow many fans here have a problem with this. Flacco improved from year one to year two, and this season he is on pace for his best season as a pro. A season that every single quarterback in the NFL today would love to have (he is on pace for almost 3900, 26 Touchdowns and currently has thrown one interception since week two). Can anyone remember the last time the Ravens had a quarterback throw for alost 4,000 yards? Oh yeah it was Vinny Testaverde in the mid 90′s. He has the same number of interceptions as Peyton Manning, and has only 300 yards less than Tom Brady (who has played one more game then Joe). Flacco is not just controlling clock or managing the game, he is winning them for the Ravens. His game winning touchdown in the final second on the road against the Steelers currently gives the Ravens the tie breaker and the division lead. He led the Ravens to a comeback in the final minutes at Atlanta, and out dueled Tom Brady for three quarters in Foxborough, only to see the defense relinquish those leads. What more could you want Ravens fans? Is a win over the Steelers not good enough? Would Marc Bulger really have this team at 9-1? If you think this then you must have slipped some Jameson in your morning coffee because there is no validity in this statement whatsoever.

Sure there are things Flacco does not do well, but there are things that every quarterback to ever play in the NFL does not do well. Instead of crying about him taking sacks or not being fiery enough, maybe you look at the 17 quarterbacks that have started for the Ravens since the franchise started. Be thankful for what you have: a quarterback who will win many games for this franchise and one day will bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Charm City.

I am thankful for Joe Flacco, so why aren’t you? For those who don’t want Flacco under center I say just one thing: “ be careful what you wish for, you might just get it”, and in turn you will get losing franchise.

Personally I am going to sit back, enjoy the ride and cheer on number 5 as he leads my beloved Ravens to yet another trip to the playoffs.

Marco Romanell – The Little Roman

As the host of the JOAS, I am embarrassed that I finished in the bottom quartile of the league last season. This year, Romo’s Homo’s is all about redemption and earning respect. I wanted to publicly display the roster of all twelve teams in the league, and offer a few thoughts on each. Who do you think will win the league? What teams to do you like/dislike? Enjoy!

Team 1 – Baltimore’s Favorite Raven’s Fan Pat Cary – Ilegal Asian Fantasy

QB’s – Kevin Kolb, Chad Henne
RB’s – Chris Johnson, Ronnie Brown, C.J. Spiller, Chester Taylor, Leon Washington
WR’s – Larry Fitzgerald, Brandon Marshall, Steve Breaston, Braylon Edwards
TE’s – Heath Miller, Zach Miller, Dustin Keller
Defense – Cincinnati D
Kicker – Matt Prater
IDP – Demeco Ryans

I love Marshall and think this team has potential. However, I am always suspect of any team without a top 6/7 QB. Kolb is a wildcard that could make or break this team. What’s up with a Raven’s fan who will now be cheering for half of Cincinnati’s team? Gotta love the commitment to drafting TE’s, especially one’s named Miller.

Team 2 – New York Beat Reporter Tim Recigno – Club Roethlisberger

QB’s – Joe Flacco, Brett Favre
RB’s – Adrian Peterson, Jamal Charles, Jerome Harrison, Thomas Jones, Jason Snelling
WR’s – Randy Moss, Donald Driver, Kenny Britt, Mario Manningham, Legedu Naanee
TE’s – Vernon Davis
Defense – Cleveland D
Kicker – Mason Crosby
IDP – Patrick Willis

There are things to like and dislike with this team, but once again the absence of a top 6/7 QB worries me. Nice handcuff of Charles with Thomas Jones, but Moss is aging, and the RB and WR depth doesn’t offer hope for an upside surprise. The building blocks are in place, but a tweak or two will be required to be a serious contender.

Team 3 – Pat’s boy Rob – Boller Sharts the Bed

QB’s – Carson Palmer
RB’s – Ray Rice, Jahvid Best, Justin Forcett, Brandon Jacobs, Bernard Scott, Montario Hardesty
WR’s – Miles Austin, DeSean Jackson, Mike Wallace, Derrick Mason, DeMarrious Thomas, Mohamed Massaquoi
TE’s – Dallas Clark
Defense – Ravens
Kicker – Jay Feely
IDP – Jared Allen (sans mullet)

Unfortunately, this team is lacking that last quarter inch. Once again this team is built around a mid-tier QB with very little break-out potential on the bench. This draft was deep at TE, so I would have passed on Clark in the 4th to fortify other areas of the team. Who will start at the flex each week? Can you trust Palmer?

Team 4 – Pat’s boy Smart – Team Steel City

QB’s – Tony Romo
RB’s – Michael Turner, Ahmad Bradshaw, Reggie Bush, Ricky Williams, Bryan Westbrook
WR’s – Marques Colston, Hines Ward, Jerricho Cotchery, Anthony Gonzalez, Louis Murphy, Nate Washington
TE’s – Antonio Gates, Todd Heap
Defense – New Orleans
Kicker – Garrett Hartley
IDP – Jarred Mayo

There are some good building blocks on this roster, and this team should be competitive most weeks. However, one problem will be the weekly decisions on who to start at RB and the flex. Second guessing could be the theme with this team. Also, this team is one injury away from disaster.

Team 5 – JOAS Variety writer Gordon Southard – Magic! The Gathering

QB’s – Matt Ryan, Vince Young
RB’s – MJD, Knowshon Moreno, Joseph Addai, Michael Bush, Julius Jones
WR’s – Calvin Johnson, Mike Sims-Walker, Percy Harvin, Johnny Knox
TE’s – John Carlson, Greg Plsen
Defense – Chicago
Kicker – Nate Kaeding
IDP – London Fletcher, D’Qwell Jackson

I have one perfect word to summarize this team: Average. I love Gordo, but I think he ran out of ideas by the fifth round.

Team 6 – Emile “Beagle” Desjardins -Green Street Elite

QB’s – Aaron Rogers, Sam Bradford
RB’s – Cedric Benson, Cadillac Williams, Darren McFake, Darren Sproles, Larry Johnson
WR’s – Roddy White, Steve Smith (NYG), Santana Moss, Eddie Royal, Roy Williams, Devon Aromashodu
TE’s – Visanthe Shiancoe
Defense – Minnesota
Kicker – Robbie Gould
IDP – Jon Beason

I love the Beagle, but I hate this team. Aside from Aaron Rogers, I couldn’t root for any of these bums. My one real gripe with this team is that there is no draft value anywhere on this roster.

Team 7 – Baltimore’s #1 Bachelor P.J. Grochmal – Baltimore’s Cuddle & Fetch

QB’s – Drew Brees, Matt Cassell
RB’s – Shonn Greene, Jonathan Stewart, Marshawn Lynch, Willis McGahee
WR’s – Steve Smith (Car), Michael Crabtree, Dez Bryant, Devin Hester, Devery Henderson
TE’s – Kellen Winslow, Jeremy Shockey
Defense – NY Jets
Kicker – Stephen Gostkowski
IDP – David Harris, Terell Suggs

I think P.J. is buying into the Jets hype (Greene is this years Matt Forte). This team could have used some depth in the rounds that he was chasing the Jets D and David Harris. I love Crabtree and Dez, but they are one year away from being consistent contributors. I don’t hate this team, but I don’t like it either.

Team 8 – Woodman – Romo’s Homo’s

QB’s – Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger
RB’s – Felix Jones, Marion Barber, Donald Brown, Javon Ringer, Mewelde Moore
WR’s – Andre Johson, Greg Jennings, Chad Ochocinco, Jacoby Jones, Sydney Rice, Dexter McCluster
TE’s – Jermichael Finley
Defense – Dallas
Kicker – Rod Bironas
IDP – Ray Lewis

Obviously, I needed to inflect some Cowboy’s personality into my team. Granted I would rather have gotten some additional running back help, but members of this league blew through running backs more quickly than my moch drafts had prepared me. I am an Addai injury away from winning the league. Regardless of the end result, I can’t wait to root for this team.

Team 9 – League Runner-Up and Regular Season Champion Jim Mellendick – Tails Leahy

QB’s – Matt Schaub, Jay Cutler
RB’s – Frank Gore, Ryan Matthews, Matt Forte, Laurence Maroney, Tashard Choice
WR’s – Wes Welker, Vincent Jackson, Robert Meachem, Bernard Berrian, Austin Collie, Kevin Walter
TE’s – Brent Celek, Aaron Hernandez
Defense – Steelers
Kicker – none selected
IDP – Paul Posluzney

Who needs a kicker? I knew from doing a number of moch drafts that is was crucial to grab WR’s early. This goes against conventional wisdom, as taking RB’s early has been the norm for the last decade. Jim has three quality backs, but obvious question marks at WR. I forsee a Matt Forte for Sydney Rice trade brewing in late October.

Team 10 – Pat’s boy Brooks – Bathroom Burrito

QB’s – Eli Manning, Matthew Stafford
RB’s – Steven Jackson, LeSean McCoy, Pierre Thomas, Clinton Portis, Steve Slaton, Kevin Smith, Buckhalter
WR’s – Reggie Wayne, Jeremy Maclin, Santonio Holmes, Mike Williams (TB),
TE’s – Jason Witten
Defense – 49ers
Kicker – Neil Rackers
IDP – Barrett Ruud

Everyone knows how I feel about Eli Manning. Aside from Maclin, do not see any good draft value. This is yet another team that ran out of ideas by round 6. Holmes is a wildcard, but I hate Sanchez and the Jets passing offense. I know I wouldn’t want to root for this squad.

Team 11 – Pat’s boy Bennett – Benton’s Bad Snakes

QB’s – Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb
RB’s – Ryan Grant, Arian Foster, L.T.
WR’s – Anquain Boldin, T.O., Malcolm Floyd, T.J. Houshmanzadeh, Chris Chambers, Josh Cribbs
TE’s – Chris Cooley, Owen Daniels
Defense – GB
Kicker – Ryan Longwell
IDP – Rolando McClain

I love Peyton Manning and McClain, like Boldin and Cooley, dislike or distrust everything else. Foster is laughably over-valued, and Cooley was selected way too early. No value, no sizzle, no soup for you.

Team 12 – Defending League Champion Chris Kinling – Give Troy Smiff a Chance!

QB’s – Phillip Rivers
RB’s – Rashard Mendenhall, DeAngelo Williams, Beanie Wells, Tim Hightower, Rashad Jennings
WR’s – Dwayne Bowe, Pierre Garcon, Hakeem Nicks, Lee Evans, Laurent Robinson, Chaz Shillens, Burleson
TE’s – Tony Gonzalez
Defense – Eagles
Kicker – David Akers
IDP – James Lauranaitis

Mendenhall wouldn’t even make the Cowboy’s roster, but this team has decent starters and depth. If Beak can correctly manage his game day decisions, this team will be competitive.

Prediction for Final 4:

Smart, Woodman, Jim, & Chris.

Woodman – haven’t posted in almost a month. Time to ramp it back up!

The NFL off-season is in the books, training camp is upon us, and football is in the air in Baltimore. With the Orioles in the middle of a dreadful season, the excitement of the Purple and Black is just the cure for the dog days of summer here in Charm City. Much of the excitement amongst the fans is due to lofty expectations for the Ravens, not just locally, but nationally as well. I know you can never be certain of anything in the NFL, and that predictions aren’t even worth the breath you spent making them…but given everything that happened in this off-season, the AFC North is the Ravens to lose.

The Ravens were wildly inconsistent last season before finally making it into the playoffs at 9-7. One minute they looked like a Super Bowl contender (33-14 beat down of the Patriots on the road in the 1st round of the AFC Playoff, while other times the Ravens looked like a team that was over matched and undisciplined. The Ravens struggled against the elite teams in football last season, and were swept by the AFC North Champion Bengals (who swept every team in the AFC North). Unlike previous off-seasons, the Ravens went out and acquired legitimate weapons for Joe Flacco, sending a message to the rest of the division, and NFL, that they won’t accept anything short of the Super Bowl. In addition to the acquisitions of Boldin and Stallworth, the Ravens had what many, myself included, believe to be a stellar draft, giving them weapons on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. The most important thing that they did, which is the difference between good and great teams, is solidify depth by acquiring Ken Hamlin and Walt Harris to bolster the secondary. Depth was a major problem last season, especially in the secondary, and while their better days are behind them, Harris and Hamlin should are a significant upgrade from some of the defensive backs the Ravens were forced to play at times last season.

Another reason for optimism is the fact that the Ravens look to have improved, while it’s a fact that the other teams in the division looked to have digressed off the field, as well as on it. I truly believe the Bengals are a legitimate contender ,but they keep bringing cancer and problems into the locker room and eventually that is going to catch up to them. Drafting Dunlap and Shipley definitely helped them on the field, but acquiring Matt Jones and his cocaine problem, should do more harm then good. The Bengals have no history of sustaining success for years, so given that and the fact that they have too many players with baggage that could come back to bite them, I think they will take a step back.

Meanwhile, the Ravens biggest rival, the Steelers will be without Big Ben( or little Ben depending which night club female you ask) for at least the first four games this season, handing the reins over to Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon. Once Roethlisberger returns, he is likely to return to a locker room that does not like him or support him. Some Steelers players have been very vocal in their disdain for Roethlisberger, and they are likely to rally around whoever is under center for the first four games of the season, leaving a divided locker room once Roethlisberger returns. To top it off, they traded away the former Super Bowl MVP and big player receiver Santonio Holmes and really did not make any significant strides in improving the team.

With training camp starting in just a few days, fans everywhere will be predicting 11-5, 12-4,10-6 or whatever they think the Ravens record will be. The NFL shows us that you can never assume or predict anything, but given the circumstances that transpired in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Cleveland this off-season, the AFC North looks to be the Ravens division to lose.

Many think the Ravens will be the last team standing in Dallas in February.

This is one prognostication that is alright with me. I just hope it holds true.

What time is it? What’s our name?- The Little Roman

Reed said that he should have never came back last season and that he probably shouldn’t play at all this season, and then says that he could see himself playing for ten more years. Reed claims the Ravens previously took him off the PUP prematurely and without consulting him…he also compares the team’s mistreatment of him to that of the Tennessee Titans when they locked Steve McNair out of their facilities. Reed then compares his relationship with the Ravens to a marriage that’s just hit a minor bump in the road. Oh yeah, and he wants a new contract. Despite all his health issues and erratic statements he wants the Ravens to restructure his current deal which locks him up through 2012.

I’m all for giving players who produce like Reed a pay day. In his eight season he has 46 INTs and 11 defensive TDs, not to mention a highlight reel packed with devastating hits and tremendous special teams plays (despite all the ill-conceived laterals). But if I was Ozzie Newsome I wouldn’t restructure Ed’s deal at this point, it’s just not a sound business move. He has the nerve impingement in his neck that looks like a permanent condition, his hip was just reconstructed, and lately he’s been acting like a flake. I’m not saying that something can’t be worked out financially for Ed at a later date, but right now it’s time to look at things from a business standpoint. The Ravens are one of the best managed teams in the NFL, because they aren’t afraid to make the hard decisions and hold their ground.

At the same time I can’t fault Reed for wanting a new deal; when healthy him and Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu are in a league of their own. Safety is one of the lowest paid positions on the field, but Ed Reed isn’t just another safety, he’s (cliché alert) a game changer. The reality of the NFL and sports in general is that it’s a ‘what have you done for me lately?’ business. Coaches, agents, AD’s, GM’s…they’re like vampires. Athletes are only coveted when they can produce.

I guess I’m a bit torn on the issue. Bottom line, I think Reed has a good heart and will work things out with the Ravens; however, I’m not so sure he’ll physically be able to contribute much this season. I’m just thankful that two drafts ago the Ravens invested third and sixth round picks respectively in Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura; not to mention the off season signing of Ken Hamlin. The Ravens are pretty deep at the safety position and that should get them by, but there’s no replacing Ed Reed.

~ Pat Cary

Walt Harris is a very good signing for this team. Lardarius Webb and Fabian Washington are progressing well through their respective rehab efforts, but everyone knows that football players, especially speed guys, are not quite the same the first year back from an ACL. The Ravens need a proven vet to be available to start at corner. Remember two years ago when the Ravens were forced to start Frank Walker in the AFC Championship game? Or last year when Chris Carr and even Cary Williams saw their names in the starting lineup? That’s a scary scenario for a team looking to make a deep playoff run.

I realize that Harris is turning 36 and coming off his own knee injury, which forced him to miss the entire 2009 season, but he looked good in a tryout with the Ravens and has 13 years of starting NFL cornerback savvy. Harris has some pedigree as well. He was a first round draft pick by the Bears in 1996; has started just under 90% of his career games; and made the pro bowl in 2006. I’m not getting overly excited here, I actually hope the Ravens never need Harris to make a signal start. I’m just satisfied with the Ravens’ options should Webb and Washington not be available.

I’m also pretty happy with the Ravens other pro bowl signings. Ken Hamlin is a hard hitting safety that could step in should Ed Reed not fully recover from hip surgery in time for the season. Hamlin has some left in the tank at 29 and seems to be hungry to prove that he is still a starting safety in the NFL. At very least, he will push Dawan Landry.

Marc Bulger doesn’t come cheap at $3.8 million, but he is a significant upgrade over Troy Smith and Jon Beck. Hey Troy, you still want to get traded to Cleveland? Well I’m sure they’re not interested, but hopefully we can get a sixth rounder for you. I can’t stress the importance of having a competent backup QB, it’s the most important position in sports. Bulger, even as a backup, is well worth the money.

The NFL is a league of attrition, which is why the Ravens front office deserves a hand for their recent signings.

~Pat Cary

Dez Bryant has been a lightening rod for media discussion over the last year, but very little of this talk has involved his play on the football field. Almost everyone has an opinion on Bryant’s background, upbringing, work ethic, attendance record, and other off-the-field digressions. Most people also have a strong opinion with regard to where Bryant should or should not have been selected in the 2010 NFL draft. This is my opinion of Dez Bryant and what to expect from his rookie campaign in Dallas.

Before I get into my thoughts on Dez, I gotta come clean about something. Even though the World Cup is approaching and we are in the midst of the NBA playoffs, NHL playoffs, and MLB regular season, all I have been thinking about is NFL football. I know that I am not alone. Fortunately for me and all fanatical football fans, NFL training camp’s begin in less than two months.

My beloved Cowboys finally got a few monkey’s off their back in 2009 by winning some big games in December and putting an end to their 12 year playoff drought. The 2010 Cowboys will try to fight another negative trend as they attempt to become the first host city to participate in the Super Bowl.

The NFL network recently aired three documentaries which chronicled the 1977, 1992, and 1993 Dallas Cowboys teams which all won Super Bowls. It has been a decade since the Cowboys were legitimate post season contenders, but the cyclical nature of sports will once again put the Cowboys back in the national spotlight. Whether you like it or not, the Cowboys are stacked and relevant once again.

How about Tony Romo? The Cowboy quarterback recently birdied three of the final four holes at a U.S. Open qualifier to force a three hole playoff (which he proceeded to win). How about that for clutch? There are so many Romo-haters out there, but what does it say about his make-up to be able to focus and execute under that pressure? Don’t you think the ability to make a big putt on that stage can help an NFL QB handle the pressure of playoff football?

Anyway, back to Dez Bryant, the Cowboys first round draft pick. I get at least one call every time I bring up Dez on the radio from someone who thinks he will be a bust. How can anyone possibly came to this conclusion? Dez was a man amongst boys in college football and would have been a top 5 pick had he not been suspended last season. Seriously, Bryant is as close to a sure thing as anyone in the 2010 NFL draft class. However, let’s keep everything in perspective.

The accepted stereotype for receivers is that they take three years to develop into dependable NFL players. Dez will be no different. Just because I think Bryant will eventually become a dynamic Pro-Bowl receiver in the NFL, does not mean I think he will be an overnight sensation. I expect him to flash his potential in the next two years and make some big plays because of his natural athleticism. But, he will not be a focal point in the Cowboy offense for the foreseeable future.

Romo has been working with Miles Austin and Jason Witten for years to build chemistry, trust, and rapport. Austin and Witten are the top options in the Cowboy’s passing game and that isn’t going to change. Jason Garrett is also trying to get the best out of Roy Williams and the talented Martellus Bennett in hopes of expanding their roles. Patrick Crayton is a reliable route runner, and Kevin Ogletree was an emerging rookie who will deserve more playing time.

The real bread and butter of the Cowboys offense is their three headed running attack led by the dynamic, home-run hitting Felix Jones. Marion Barber is healthy and has been a staple in the Cowboy back field, while Tashard Choice will deservingly get more touches in his third year. Choice and Jones both figure to be more prominent this season, and you have to wonder how Garrett will satisfy the appetite of all of these talented weapons.

If you look at the landscape of this Cowboy offense, how many touches could Dez possibly receive? I am predicting 48 receptions, 569 yards, and three touchdowns. However, there is one possibility…and I don’t want to jinx it, but here it is: what if he is just that good that Romo has to get him the ball, even as a rookie?

If Bryant wouldn’t have lied to NCAA officials about his relationship with Deion Sander’s, he would have been picked in the top of the first round, and would be suiting up for the Browns, Bills, Jaguars, etc. Basically, he would have been drafted by a bad team, with a bad quarterback, with the pressure and expectation of performing as a top 10 pick. Bryant would have been double teamed every play on a losing team, and concerns about his attitude and work ethic could have surfaced in this atmosphere.

As a late first round pick, coming to an established team with other weapons and a talented QB, Bryant is in the perfect situation to succeed. Cowboys fans are not looking for him to dominate right away. Fans want him to work hard and earn his opportunity, and two years down the road the expectation will be increased. But, as a rookie, Bryant just needs to stay humble and bust his butt. Period. Any big plays that he can manufacture will be icing on the cake.

Bryant was not suspended for rape, drugs, guns, or any violent crimes. He simply got scared and lied. Bryant’s suspension was ridiculous and this tainted his draft stock and public perception. Seriously, look at some recent negative sport’s headlines and how Bryant’s mistake pales in comparison.

I can’t wait for training camp and the start of the NFL season. Look out for the team with a star on their helmet.

Woodman – Baltimore’s biggest Cowboys fan

Last season the Baltimore Ravens were a run first team, whose passing game was defined by finding Derrick Mason on the 12 yard comeback route and Ray Rice in the flat and hope he breaks it for a long gain. Enter Anquan Boldin and Donte Stallworth, and the Ravens offense has weapons and the potential to be one of the most explosive in the league. Stallworth is still one of the fastest players in the NFL and his ability to stretch the field provides the Ravens with explosiveness that they have not had since Vinny Testaverde was under center. Boldin, is a great route runner and tough receiver who has more breakaway speed then people give him credit for. Couple those two with the always steady Derrick Mason, and the Ravens receiving corp possesses more weapons than North Korea.

Over the last decade no position in professional football has evolved more than the tight end position. Once reserved for people who were too small to be a lineman, but were still good blockers, the tight end position is now filled with athletic pass catchers who create mismatch problems all over the field. Todd Heap, is aging and his better days are behind him, but with Boldin, Stallworth and Mason garnering the focus of the defense, he should be able to find some seems in the middle of the field and will have lots of opportunities to make plays. The things that have made Heap so great throughout his career are his hands and his athleticism, but he is not the explosive, field stretching tight end that some of the elite offenses have.  Enter former Oregon tight end and 3^rd round pick Ed Dickson, and the Ravens offense looks like it has that game changing tight end to compliment Heap.  Dickson, who is 6’5″ and 243 pounds, ran a 4.67 40-yard dash at the combine, and is the perfect combination of size and speed that wreaks havoc on opposing defenses. Dickson has the ability to line up outside the hash as well as in the slot and very few defenses will have a defender with size and speed to match up with him. In addition to Dickson and Heap, the Ravens have sure handed Dennis Pitta who will likely be a great safety valve for Flacco, due to his steady hands and maturity. 

No longer will Ravens watch opposing offenses like the Cowboys, Colts, Patriots and Saints and yearn for the kind of weapons they have.

The Ravens now have their own weapons and a strong arm quarterback under center. Those weapons have the potential to destroy the rest of the NFL.

Boldin, Stallworth, Rice, Dickson, Heap, Mason and Flacco, those are the real “Weapons of Mass Destruction” and they can be found in Baltimore, Maryland.

 Still love smash mouth defense, but I can get to used to this explosive offense thing- The Little Roman

Dez Bryant may have been the most enigmatic and misunderstood prospects of any potential first round draft pick in the 2010 NFL draft. Suspended for almost his entire senior year because of lying to the NCAA about his relationship with Deion Sanders, many thought that Bryant was a deviant who had many problems off the field. People failed to see that he was an Academic- All American, which is a rarity among the elite college football players of the modern day. Furthermore, Bryant was suspended for something that was really not a problem to anyone other then the NCAA, who would suspend a player if a booster bought them a tank of gas or a pack of gum. Bryant had dinner with Deion Sanders on multiple occasions and was questioned by the NCAA about his relationship with Deion. During the meeting with the NCAA, Bryant lied about the relationship and he was later suspended, once it was determined that had indeed lied. With your senior year of college and draft stock on the line, what college kid in their right mind would not lie in that situation? Any GM or Executive who has never lied about anything in their life, has every right to drop Bryant down their draft board, but seeing as how there are none, then they should have just given Bryant the benefit of the doubt.

The NCAA suspension was just the tip of the iceberg in teams’ analysis of Bryant, as they probed into his entire upbringing and life. The story of Dez Bryant’s upbringing is one that I do not wish for anyone. When he was born, his father was 40 and his mother was 12. During his childhood, his mother was in and out of jail, so Bryant was sent to live with his father. While living with his father he was thrown out of the house for eating too much because his father claimed he could not afford to support him. Despite all of that Bryant, got into Oklahoma State where he not only emerged as the best receiver in college football, he excelled in the classroom. It is no secret that during his tenure on the OSU football team he was often late for meetings, and had is own agenda. Those factors led to Bryant being labeled as a “diva” and scared a lot of teams away from him. Those questions, if asked by GM’s were completely fair and understood, however, Miami Dolphins GM, Jeff Ireland, crossed the line completely when he asked Bryant is his mother was a prostitute.

This was a completely classless thing to do and completely irrelevant in analyzing Dez Bryant and Ireland had no right whatsoever to ask it. The story of Bryant’s tough upbringing was something that everyone knew about and something that he has talked about before. If anything, hearing his story should show you what kind of makeup Bryant has, as most people in that situation would not have made it to where he has. And to be honest, its not really anyone else’s business. Michael Oher’s story was well known and people respected him for overcoming such adversity. However, they looked at Bryant in a completely different light for an upbringing that was completely similar to Oher’s. I guarantee you that nobody asked if Michael Oher his biological mother was a prostitute, so why ask Bryant?

The fact that Jeff Ireland was not fired shows what kind of people the Dolphins have working for them and why their franchise has been perennial average since Dan Marino left. This is the same organization that still has Ricky Williams on their team despite numerous NFL suspensions. They also recently acquired Brandon Marshall who has a rap sheet 10 times as long as Bryant’s. If you have Williams and Marshall on your team, then you show that football, not off the field issues, is the number one priority. I have no problem with this thinking, but then why turn around and be hypocritical in your evaluation of Bryant.

I hope the NFL schedules the Cowboys and Dolphins to play each other for the next 10 years and Dez Bryant just lights up the Dolphins.

But most of all, I hope in his next job interview Jeff Ireland, is one of the final candidates but is not chosen because the potential employer found out that his mother once had sex with two men at the same time. If this sounds classless, it is, but typing it here, doesn’t compare to saying it to the face of a 20 something year old.

Ireland has since apologized, and I hope that the Dez Bryant accepts that apology by scoring 20+ touchdowns and leading the Cowboys to the Super Bowl against the Ravens while Ireland and the Dolphins watch from home.

Completely surprised at how classless some people can be- Marco Romanell