It is time for Jamal to go

I dont see how that woudl make the Ravens lose leverage. Corey Dillon, Chris Brown, Travis Henry . . . there are many veteran runners out there the Ravens could sign affordably who actually looked more explosive than Jamal was last year.

Count me out as a believer that Jamal's speed was affected by Bone Spurs. He's lost a step regardless.

And, we have Mike Anderson as a solid backup / starter. And there is the draft.

It strikes me, Mike, that maybe you talked to your boy Jamal and are trying to help him get paid and break the stalement between he and the ravens?

Yeah, this is just a blog, but the bias to me of your saying 2 signed runners mean the Ravens lose leverage . . . its apparent

Mike- Any word on if the Ravens would make a bid on Travis Henry? I think he would be a great compliment to Mike Anderson. Henry is extremely underrated and should be hungry after being cut by a team for which he just rushed for over 1200 yards.
Let's sign Travis Henry instead of aquiring Magahee. The Buffalo Bills probably wish they would've done the same thing after the 2004 season.

Maybe the Ravens will wise up and forget about Lewis. He's done, and anything they pay for him will be too much. Draft a young fast back with some moves like Marshawn Lynch rather than re-signing this stiff.

I keep reading that we want to keep Jamal. How about we give Mike Anderson a chance and try to pick up a 3rd Running Back in the draft? I do not think Jamal will ever be the player we remember from a few years ago.

Hey Mike, what do you think about the Ravens possibly drafting Michael Bush? What do you view as the Ravens biggest need out of the draft?

Corey Dillon, Chris Brown, better than Jamal? No I don't think so. Mike Anderson can't be a starter. He is slow and he fumbles, he basically sucks. Travis Henry won't make it past the line of scrimmage. These players are in worse shape than Jamal guys.

Do you think what Jamal does is easy? Running behind an offensive line that doesn't create holes, with predictive play-calling. Completing passes, setting up the run and winning some games, that is what the Ravens need to do. Forget about all this HB free-agent signing. The Ravens need to get Jamal back, trade Anderson and draft some new fresh HB talent.

I wonder why Mike Anderson did not get more carries in the 2006 season. When he did get the ball, he usually showed more burst and speed than Jamal Lewis did.

What's the worst that could happen if Jamal walks away? We keep Mike Anderson, and draft a young RB with speed to complement him. And save some money.

At this point in their careers it looks like Anderson is at least as good as Jamal anyway, so we can afford to let Jamal walk away if he's asking for too much money.

It's telling that no other teams seem to be expressing much interest in Jamal. I'm sure he could still get a job somewhere, but he's obviously not anyone's #1 choice. Probably not #2 or #3 or even #4 either.

The Ravens need to let go of the past, and see Jamal for the player he is now, not what he used to be. I get the sense that they probably are wising up, and that the breathless anxiety over resigning Jamal is coming more from the media than from the Ravens.

If the Ravens do sign Jamal, they had better NOT do two things they did last year:
1. Overpay
2. Guarantee him a starting spot

Let Mike Anderson and a draft pick compete for the starting RB position for REAL this time.

I like Jamal and appreciate what he's done for the Ravens but he needs to be realistic. He hasn't played well for two straight seasons. Jamal is the one who has no leverage here.

Jamal is done- Why isn't Mike Anderson a consideration for starter? Every time he came in last year it seemed the offense had an extra bounce (like 2 yeras ago when Chester Taylor was a Raven). I think Travis Henry would be a good compliment to Anderson as Henry can get to the outside easier. I dont think I would go with a back for a first rounder but maybe a wide out or a cb?

I like Tuner from San Diego. He is young, has speed and runs hard in between the tackles. I think we would be better off making a play for him and forgetting about Jamal or the other older backs available in free agency. What would be the price to get him? a second or third round pick?

How can you be sure jamal is used up he ran just as much as any other running back there trying to go after. Travis ran for around 1200 and McGahee ran for 990

mike anderson is 33 and nearly past his prime. In his hey day he still was not the runner Jamal was. Jamal gives the Ravens a power back who is used to the system. and to david, you try running with bone spurs and let alone any ankle problem affects ur s[peed and acceleration. Everyone forgets the that the jama lof old had better offensive line. Anchored by casey rabach, bennie anderson and orlando brown on the right side, all downhill run blockers. the offesnive line this year only improved bc of steve mcnair. People need to think before they post. Jamal will never b 2,000 yard form again. But who is? upgrade the o-line and watch "twinkle toes" turn into a 1,300 yard rusher again./..stop complaining about jamal we need him.

Lost leverage or not, we need to start making moves. If the Ravens continue at this pace, we could be looking at one of the worst offseasons in team history. With a first place schedule next year and other teams in our conference making serious moves, it could get ugly. Putting our hatred aside, we should make a run at Joey Porter, who wil surely play motivated on the rival of the team that let him go. We should also try to swing a deal for mcgahee(a 2nd rounder and 3rd?), while drafting either another linebacker(preferably Willis, an impact player) or o-ineman with our first rounder. We need to have something to show for 11 million that were under the cap.

Mike Anderson is not an every down back. He will turn 34 this season, and at his age cannot be expected to carry the ball 300 times. I would think the Ravens are taking a hard look at Bush, and Travis Henry would not be a bad option either.

Hey Mike,

I think you're one of the best football beat writers around. I love you're work despite what all those no-life posters on Sunspot say. Please, no more Twinkle Toes. Maybe he ought to audition for Dancing With the Stars, or whatever that show's called. Keep up the excellent work...you rock my friend!!

If they don't upgrade the center and guard positions, the RB production will not be any different. Regardless, the Ravens need a scat back who can stay healthy. Musa gets a season ending injury every year.

I'd like to see the Ravens get a "change of pace " back and let Jamal hit the road. He doesn't have much gas left in the tank.

The stable of RB's in Baltimore are all out of the same mold. Make MA starter, bring in a speed / 3rd down back and try to bring back Musa in a cap friendly deal.

Hopefully P.J. Daniels will work out in the mix.

Leverage? Mughelli received an enormous contract because NFL scouts consider him one of the best lead blockers in the NFL. Jamal had a less than mediocre season behind a great lead blocker and apparently (given Pashos' contract, Ogden, etc) a decent line. The Mughelli and Pashos deals (plus the many, many Rb options between draft and free agency) give Ozzie tons of leverage to say -- you can 't produce when you're running behind good talent... tell me, Mitch Frankel, why Jamal's going to produce when they're gone?

In the games the Ravens offense was at its best, Jamal was getting a lot of attempts and punishing would be tacklers. Ask the Steelers which feature back had a better game. Hopefully the saturated market and history will make Jamal want to return at a cap friendly number. The running back is only a part of the running attack though. If there is no dominant inside blocker, and no fear of a big pass play, teams just load up the box to stop him. I would still rate Jamal in the top 15 right now, even higher with the right system and support. Lets forget how good he was for a second, and look around the NFL. Deuce regained his form when he got a good passing attack and a quick little 1st rounder to push him for PT. Bettis led the Steelers to a ring while about 3 steps slower than Jamal is. If they balance the attack and truly make teams pay for stacking the line, Jamal can still carry us through a playoff run. He would have done it vs the Colts if he had gotten the carries in the second half. I would focus elsewhere though and make a play for C. Johnson of GT or Jarrett of USC, perhaps Randy Moss would do. Who ever the running back is, they would have an unstoppable passing attack to make running easy and fun. Our receivers are all nice, but none of them demand double coverage or have a huge mismatch on jump balls. That, more than any one move personnel wise will open up run lanes. Blazing speed at RB is over rated anyway. The most effective guys patiently set up the blocks and then move the pile on contact. Jamal can still do that better than most backs. Stop trying to blame the offensive struggles on one player. It all starts with the philosophy that defense wins championships. All the defensive draft picks and big contracts on that side of the ball limit the offensive arsenal. I like it that way. root for the Bungles if you want a team that can put up 28 but give up 31. Peace.

Why do the Ravens and Lewis "have to dance"?

Running back is by far the easiest position for an NFL rookie to play well.

Let's see - should the Ravens pay big bucks to resign an old running back with two bad knees, no burst or speed, and whose best days are far behind him? Or should they draft a fresh kid out of college with a healthy body and tremendous upside?

Tough decision, isn't it?

You can continue to choose to not post it, but I am saying again that your reference to Jamal Lewis as "Twinkle Toes" is inappropriate and unprofessional, whether it's on your blog or posted in an article in the Sun. Just like references to you on many Ravens boards as "Mikey Bag Of Donuts" is inappropriate. But YOU are the professional; and you should adhere to a higher standard.