Off Wing reader and irate Baltimore Ravens fan Dave Smith isn't happy about Jerry Rice getting shipped from Oakland to Seattle:
Jeez, if the Seahawks can get Rice for a conditional 7th round pick, why can't the Ravens offer a 6th???And Bobby Shaw was released by the Bills almost a week ago... a guy who had 56 catches, 732 yards, a 13.1 average, and 4 TDs last year. I guess the Ravens couldn't use any of that.
Shaw was ultimately signed by San Diego, who also acquired holdout wide receiver Keenan McCardell from Tampa Bay for a package of draft picks. For a rundown on all the deadline deals, click here.
Smith continued:
Meanwhile, Kordell [Stewart] sits on the bench and the Ravens have no plays designed for him at QB, RB, or WR.I guess the Ravens figured their 32nd-ranked passing game - with 116 yards per game, they're gaining a whopping 23% less than 31-ranked Detroit! - didn't need any tweaking over the bye week.
With Jamal Lewis, this team had just enough offense to claw to a couple of wins. Without him, what separates them from Miami?
Well, not a whole lot, unfortunately. To be fair, the team did sign wide receiver Patrick Johnson yesterday -- though it's hard to see how somebody who managed just 15 catches last season in Washington is going to make a dramatic impact on Baltimore's offense.
More distressing, however, is the team's continued inability to show any sort of imagination on the offensive side of the ball. For as long as I've remembered, it's been same formation, different Sunday with the Ravens for far too long. I've got tickets to this Sunday's game between against Buffalo, and the prospect is pretty cringe-inducing at this point.
UPDATE: One reader sends in the following note:
Note-Due to scalpers buying many season tickets (and demand for games being so high), tickets for this tilt are selling about 2x face for upper level and 3x to 4x face for a lower level seat.My average cost was $115/seat for four.
Parking passes are going for over $60.
Wow. That's almost enough money to make me want to start scalping.
It should be more cringe-inducing that:
a.) I will be at the game with numerous die-hard Buffalo fans waiting to get our @sses kicked by a bunch of folks in purple. I thought there were a lot of meatheads at Jets games…
b.) We actually have a decent chance in winning since we are playing one of the few teams who have less scoring options than we do.
c.) No Jamal Lewis, Bills fans begin chant of “Chester” to the response of “Molester”
d.) The Ravens Defense will not only be expected but will be *counted* on to outscore our inept offense
e.) The key to the game will be pressuring Drew Bledsoe. If that occurs, the Ravens will force turnovers and win for sure. If our awful OL actually keeps Drew off his back, we *may* have a shot at an upset.
f.) Buffalo takes at least 2 awful personal foul penalties, with at least one being for hitting Kyle Boller late or in the head.
Ravens 16, Bills 13