While I hate to see AD leave its a no brainer, Cap wise we have to chose between him and Suggs and with a five year age gap that is an easy one to make.

Unless Ozzie knows something about AT's health that we don't, this is a terrible mistake. AT is a gamer and a true team player. I think he'd line up at running back, QB or receiver without complaint if Billick asked him to. Not only can he can play most of the defensive positions, but he can play them very well. AT is a very rare sort of player because of his ability to play all over the field. He's won a lot of games for the Ravens over the last few seasons because of his big plays when it mattered most.

You can bet that Mike Nolan and Bill Belichek are planning a bidding war for this guy. The bigger question for the Ravens now is who to sign to replace AT. I like resigning Jarret Johnson and maybe giving Cody a bigger role next year. My two initial fears are that Ozzie will fall in love with some overrated LB who's looking for a big pay day but will be a proverbial bust in the longrun, and that by letting AT go, he'll now have enough money to keep "Twinkle Toes" Jamal. So long AT, thanks for the memories. 'Ozzie Ball" strikes again.

are the ravens morons?we need to sign thomas. he is the best defensive player we have .he is a beast!!!!!!!

I will be very disappointed if they let AD go. I'm sure a lot of other fans will feel the same way. Not only is he a great player, but he's great in the community. He'd be missed on and off the field. I hope they can work it out and bring him back.

Lets hope that Adalius is franchised today. He can not be replaced and Green Bay is talking aobut making him a full time DE which would be kind of boring.

As an aside, I was reading an article on the super bowl rings last night, and Trent Dilfer is still upset to this day about not being brought back after the SB. He said we just had "it" and we should have another ring. (I love the design of that Baltimore ring). Lets hope ozzie doesnt lose It this time.

If we lose Adalius, who is a viable replacement?

Dan Cody probably has talent but with the injuries he's had I doubt he's ready.

Terrell Suggs could do it but he is playing well at defensive end and should stay there because that's where he's best-suited to play and we don't have another starting-caliber DE to replace Suggs if he were shifted to linebacker.

Jarret Johnson? He's OK, but not at the same level as Thomas, and I think he's also a free agent anyway?

I can think of several other highly-paid Ravens I would rather see cut in order to save the money required to franchise Thomas. I understand that the Ravens probably don't want to pay a guy Thomas' age (almost 30?) a big-money long-term contract, but that's why the 1-year franchise tag is perfect: we can keep him for one more season without committing beyond that, and have him to cover what I think is a 1-year window for a final serious playoff run for the Ravens and their aging star players (Ogden, Ray Lewis, McNair, etc.).

If we don't keep Thomas for another year, it will be a big mistake.

Can believe we are not going to sign A.D

If that's true, well, unfortunately that's life in the NFL these days, you can't keep everyone no matter how well you manage the cap, the truth is with so many stars on the D side, to keep them all would seriously weaken the chances of adding any firepower to the other side of the ball, better to let him go, resign Johnson for a whole lot less than Thomas, and see if he and/or a healthy Dan Cody can at least do most of what Thomas did.........and as long as that D can remain a top 5 D, the extra 7 mil would allow them to consider resigning Pashos and Mughie, and having the necessary bucks to sign all the draft choices.....this upcoming draft is pretty important, there are a few starters getting long in the tooth like Lewis, Odgen, McNair, Mulitalo and the time to start restocking the coffers has come, so the salary cap purge that needs to happen next year can be a little less damaging.........I'm sure if he's left unprotected, it's because Ozzie and company feel it's for the best in the long run, don't need this team becoming short sighted like the Snydermen up the beltway........

Man oh man, this is gonna end up biting us in the rear, just doesn't make sense, and I'm surprised that you Mr. P haven't been tearing the Ravens a new one for this

I believe the Ravens must be looking at getting more offensive weapons like Dominick Rhodes possibly and maybe re-signing Pashos?? I doubt they'll let Jamal Lewis receive that March 1st bonus.

I'm sorry, I must not have read a previous post correctly, but "Ozzie Ball" has led the Ravens to a Super Bowl and multiple playoff appearances. I dont really think any decision Ozzie Newsome makes should ever be questioned as he is without a doubt better at his job then almost anyone in his position throughout the league.

And you just know that AD, if he hits the free agent market, is gonna get snatched up by the Bengals, Browns, or Steelers. That's the worst part about it.

From a practical perspective I think it makes sense to let AD hit the free agent market, but from a fan's perspective it really sucks. The salary cap forces GM's to look at hard numbers rather than intangibles that in many cases don't even end up on stat sheets. In AD's case he's a class act who leads by example on and off the field. One would think he's great for team chemistry which in this league is the single biggest reason team's win or lose. Look at the raven's 6-10 to 13-3? was that due to signing pro bowl players or team chemistry. I think all Raven's fan and MP knows it had a lot more to do with chemistry than anything else. No easy answer so IN OZZIE WE TRUST! I am kinda upset that instead of seeing news on thomas resigning, I'm hearing about Billick's 4 year extension. I like billick and I'm happy he's still around, but the timing of this announcement seems a little odd?

Remember, this is the " business" time of the year for football. Letting Thomas go is purely a business decision. That said, having about 10 of 11 starters return from the number one defense in the league and keeping your defensive coordinator is still pretty darn good.

Niccolo Machiavelli believed that "the promise given was a necessity of the past; the word broken is a necessity of the present." In other words: lie, cheat, steal, do what ever you must to win. He would have condemmended the Ravens for not tagging Adalius Thomas notwithstanding their implied promise NOT to franchise him.

I think the Mr. Bischiotti and GM Newsome should be praised for their wisdom, class and ethical behavior. By not franchising AD, indeed, suggesting a policy of never using the franchise unless a player consents, the Ravens have demonstrated that rarest of management traits, the ability to look at the long term picture. If they are consistent in not using the franchise tag, some free agents may sign with the Ravens specifically because they won't be tagged. The club may win as many free agents as they lose while gaining the respect and goodwill of the players.

More importantly, though, with regard to AD, the Ravens will be seen as a class organization that "did the right thing". AD was square with them and they were square with him. That simple fact will reverberate throughout the league. IF the Ravens consistently play fair with the players (and coaches), I believe they will accrue benefits beyond the immediate year to year requirements of feilding a team.

Look at the successful organizations in and outside of football. It is ALWAYS better to take the high road. Just ask Skilling and Lay at Enron. How about ML baseball? Look at the mess they are in for cutting corners on steroids. Sooner or later, people will learn of the cheaters and neer-do-wells. Likewise, those who CONSISTENLY do the classy thing, the Rooneys in Pittsburgh for example, eventually develop a reputation that benefits their organization in multiples over the years. People are loyal to those organizations.

The Ravens seem to be on the right track as an organization; they treat their staff, players and fans with class. (Just look at the mess thirty miles to the south for comparison.) Letting AD go was the right move for many reasons, not the least of which is that the move will benefit the Ravens for many years to come as players realize what a class organization we have in Baltimore!

Impressive post Rob. I never looked at it that way.

We had him we loved him and now we cant afford him .. just like a wife.One things for sure there will never be another Adalius Thomas.