Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) catches a pass for a touchdown over San Francisco 49ers strong safety Donte Whitner (31) in the first quarter in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

With the recent signing of Joe Flacco to the richest contract in NFL history, the team was needing Boldin to take a pay cut. Boldin declined, feeling he had earned the right to play out his contract and rightfully so. Boldin was clearly the best receiving option on any team in the post season. Flacco will miss the sure handed Boldin. Whenever there was a play that needed to be made, Flacco would look to Boldin. And most of the time, Boldin would come through.

Yes the Ravens were able to dump the $6 million dollars that Boldin was due but this deal is really a steal for the Niner’s. The Niner’s are getting a real leader in the locker room as well as a leader on the field. This will open up the offense for Colin Kaepernick, Michael Crabtree and the running game. The move makes defenses have to contend with 2 serious receiving threats. The role that was left unfulfilled by Mario Manningham. The move makes you wonder what will become of Manningham.

The NFC West was a strong division last season. Even the Rams and Cardinals had their moments, but with the addition of Boldin to the Niner’s combined with the Seahawks acquisition of Percy Harvin, the division will once again be a force. It may be more top heavy than last year with the Rams losing some key offensive pieces (Jackson and Amendola)  and the Cardinals being in a year of transition. These moves are certainly a case of the rich getting richer.

These moves are the first major transactions of what will be a great NFL free

Feb 21, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Carolina Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

agency period, leading up to a draft that is critical for many teams. The draft will be the most important aspect of the Panthers off season when it comes improving their roster. With the limited cap space we have, the Panthers could not pull off major moves like these. I can only hope the Panthers are doing their due diligence in selecting whom they will select in the draft.

Gettleman could really set this franchise up for long term success with as deep as this draft is at certain positions. He was brought in to do just that. I hope he can deliver.

GOD BLESS!

Follow me on Twitter @JoeRiollano

December 18, 2011; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson (83) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens line backer Ray Lewis (52) following a nine-yard gain during the first quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-US PRESSWIRE

Baltimore nearly made it to the Super Bowl last season and should be hungry to take that last step. They were a dropped TD pass away last season. Are they prepared? Here’s their draft:

2 35 Courtney Upshaw LB Alabama
2 60 Kelechi Osemele T Iowa State
3 84 Bernard Pierce RB Temple
4 98 Gino Gradkowski G Delaware
4 130 Christian Thompson FS South Carolina State
5 169 Asa Jackson CB Cal Poly-S.L.O.
6 198 Tommy Streeter WR Miami (Fla.)
7 236 DeAngelo Tyson DE Georgia

The Ravens are a team with tons of established talent especially on the defensive side of the ball. I think it’s safe to say they’re legendary for their physical style along the lines of the Steelers’ teams of pretty much forever, but the window of opportunity is closing fast. Ray Lewis is 37. Ed Reed turns 34 on 9/11 and has a lingering hip problem. Terrell Suggs is the team’s all-time sack leader and last year’s NFL Defensive MVP. He won’t be playing until the final third of the season at best, having torn his right ACL in a pick-up basketball game in the off-season. Massive Haloti Ngata should continue to be a force along that defensive line, but this team is on the way back downward on that side.

Offensively, Ray Rice is as productive and complete as any back in the league. If the Ravens can get the contract straight, look for another monster season from him. The guy can run, catch and pass protect so he doesn’t have to come off the field on 3rd down and is a great weapon to have. WR Torrey Smith had an understandably up-and-down rookie campaign but showed an explosiveness and deep-threat ability that other teams are going to have to take seriously. Fellow WR Anquan Boldin is an excellent complementary player and one of the league’s best-known and most fearless receivers over the middle of the field.

QB Joe Flacco is the one most under the microscope this year. Yes, he did his part last year. Where was Gisele when Lee Evans dropped the would-be winning TD pass in the AFC Championship game last year? Flacco has rather quietly gotten off to a nice start to his career, but people have been waiting for him to perform at an elite level for the past couple of years now.

No, he’s not being asked to pick up the team and carry it on his shoulders a la AR-12 or Tom Brady, nor will he be asked to be like that this season. However, it would be nice to see him be ABLE to do so if needed. Sometimes Ray Rice doesn’t have holes to run through and the defense won’t quite be what it has been in the past. I see them slipping without Suggs there to generate pressure and with Reed and Lewis being another year older.

Their top draft pick, Courtney Upshaw, has zero chance of performing like an NFL MVP as a rookie but don’t take that as a knock on the young man. He’s got incredible talent, but in Alabama’s system his job was 1) kill the QB 2) if in doubt, see rule number one. Reports so far seem to suggest Upshaw is everything they were looking for and more, but unless your name is Lawrence Taylor, you don’t just come into the league dominating from day one from that position very often. Cleveland may not yet be world-beaters, but they do have a left tackle named Joe Thomas. The Steelers drafted Mike Adams. There’s talent in the division at LT.

Assuming Flacco maintains his steady, competent but something-short-of-spectacular play, their normal potent rushing game, and the challenges they face on defense, they’ve got some bumps in the road before them. The Ravens play in a division with no pushovers now and I think they’ll find more than their share of struggles at times…especially before Terrell Suggs is able to rejoin them.

Considering they were that one dropped pass from making the Super Bowl last season, for this season my verdict on the progress of the Baltimore Ravens is…..

Two steps back. One step for the defensive issues and one for being in a rapidly improving division overall. They’re also a team that could, with Suggs’ return, really hit their stride and peak at exactly the right time – the end of the regular season.

Next up: The Buffalo Bills

I hate gossiping; at the same time, if I’m not partaking in it, then someone else is. And when someone else is gossiping and giving their opinion on our Carolina Panthers free of charge, well, I’m either going to agree or rebut what they have to say. (more…)