Contract won't distract Suggs
Pro Bowl defensive end Terrell Suggs said yesterday that he wasn't concerned about his contract negotiations, and despite all the greediness we see in pro sports, I believe him.
Suggs looked at ease and extremely comfortable in front of the media when asked about a new contract. Suggs is entering the last season of his contract.
On the field, he seemed to be having a lot of fun trading barbs with offensive players and goofing around with inside linebackers Ray Lewis and Bart Scott.
Maybe I'm reading this wrong, but Suggs appears confident that a deal eventually will get done that will keep him in Baltimore, regardless if it is completed now or at the end of next season.
Other observations:
-- Naughty boy, Brian. I heard coach Brian Billick recently took a shot at his favorite local sports columnist at a seminar for local high school football coaches.
What a shame. My heart grieves. I thought I taught him better at the end of the 2005 season when owner Steve Bisciotti publicly reprimanded him, but apparently a little success last year has gone to his head.
I guess I've got to start all over again. Some people never learn, but like any teacher, I'll never give up hope. I love the Compu Coach.
-- Receiver Demetrius Williams blew by Samari Rolle on a long pass play Tuesday, which was reminiscent of last year. The ball was overthrown, but it had touchdown written all over it.
I waited patiently for defensive coordinator Rex Ryan or secondary coach Dennis Thurman to come over and declare it was safety Ed Reed's fault. These days, every thing is Ed Reed's fault.
-- There was speculation that guard Keydrick Vincent walked out of a recent minicamp soon after he learned that he wasn't starting on the right side, and was backing up Jason Brown on the left. Vincent denied it and said he left because he had some personal business to take care of, and it involved an automobile.
"I'm under contract, and I'll play wherever they want me to play," Vincent said. "I'm very aware that this is a business, and I will do anything to help my team."
I like the guy's attitude.
-- The Ravens got into a formation yesterday where there were three receivers bunched together on the right side, and I started to get excited. Maybe this was going to be one of those explosive plays they had talked about during the off-season, and finally there was going to be some creativity.
And then quarterback Steve McNair threw a one-yard pass to tight end Kendrick Ballantyne.
Oh well...
It's Ed Reed's fault.
-- Middle linebacker Ray Lewis anointed rookie Troy Smith the quarterback of the future Monday afternoon when he said he was a Troy Smith fan. That was Lewis' way of giving Smith the blessing, and if Lewis said it, you better believe Smith has the backing of McNair.
It will be interesting to see how it all works out with McNair, Smith and Drew Olson.
Ooops, forgot one, "My Man" Kyle Boller, who now becomes "The Big Man" Kyle Boller because he has gained about 15 pounds of bulk.
-- And while on the subject of absences, reserve running back Musa Smith might make veteran Mike Anderson disappear from Anderson's backup role if Smith can stay healthy. Smith is a better third-down back coming out of the backfield.
-- Between McNair and receivers Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton, they have the timing down on a lot of out routs in practice. McNair doesn't deliver the ball with a lot of zip, but he puts it right on the fingertips of the receivers.
That's the ideal location because if the receiver can't catch the ball, then it's incomplete and can't be intercepted.
-- We won't see much of the running game until training camp, according to Billick. He would like to run the plays when the players are in full pads. The Ravens are expected to attack the edges or the perimeter more because new running back Willis McGahee is more of a change-of-direction back than former starter Jamal Lewis.
What's interesting is that the Ravens, in 2000, forced teams to attack the outside because they had two enormous defensive tackles in Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa. A lot of the teams copied the Ravens, but the Ravens were one of the last teams to attack the outside until they signed McGahee in the off-season.
I bet it was Ed Reed's fault.
Comments
Mike,
Great column. I always enjoy your sense of humor and football insights. I think you're one of the best writers in town. Thanks. I'm excited about the new offensive line speculation...much more athletic. Hope Grubbs pans out...looks very promising.
I forgot to get eggs at the grocery store. My wife didn't get mad. I blamed it on Ed Reed. Keep up the great work!
Posted by: Jimmy | June 6, 2007 5:45 PM
Oh god forbid Billick take a pot shot at you.
Posted by: double b | June 6, 2007 6:12 PM
Steve Mcnair throwing one yard passes and rolle getting burned deep.... some things never change. I saw mcnair throwing passes to the little kids the other day in a video. even the little kids had to dive at his passes -although mcnair must have been comfortable throwing one to two yard passes.
Posted by: Kevin | June 6, 2007 6:23 PM
If Troy Smith doesn't make it, it is probably Ed Reed's fault.
Posted by: Jason Keesey | June 6, 2007 8:08 PM
Awesome stuff, Mike. Definitely one of the more entertaining blogs I've read on the Sun website in a while.
Any word on Grubbs' progression (or maybe even a Marshall Yanda update?)? When I heard that he was on the 2nd string offense and Mike Flynn was still manning center for the 1st team, I figured this was Billick simply following through on his message to Grubbs that, "he'll have to earn his starting spot." I still fully expect our man Grubbs to be starting at right guard when Opening Day comes around, with Chester at center, Brown at left guard, JO at left tackle, and Terry at right tackle.
With Terry, Brown, Chester, Grubbs, and Yanda, we actually have a young offensive line to be excited about. It's a nice feeling.
One last thing: Troy Smith is not our future. The kid has talent and there's a chance he could become our starter in the future, but we, under no circumstances, should bank on this guy to be our answer to Roethlisberger, Palmer, and Quinn for the next 10 years. He was a 5th rounder for a reason. You never bank on a 5th rounder to be your future. He's not even our best 2nd day prospect from this draft. That distinction goes to Antawn Barnes.
At quarterback, I'm feeling Bobby Reid as our 1st round pick next year.
Posted by: Ryan | June 6, 2007 8:14 PM
I enjoyed this column, always looking forward to your snide sneers. ;-) But 'I taught him better than that' ? 'A little success last year' ? Come on, that´s thicker than 57´s 'Hot Sauce'!
Of course you are entitled to react to that classy HS standup comedy parlayed by Billick. But what are you suggesting? That you complained to Steve Bisciotti about Brian and he (publicly) shortened the leash ?
Dang, Mr Preston !
Keep up the good work. And if it aint your day, hey! Blame it on Ed Reed. S.o. better get the shirts ready.
Posted by: Stefan | June 7, 2007 7:21 AM
It’s common in pro sports for a player or coach in the last year of his contract, or one with his job on the line to go out and prove himself. They play hard, put up better numbers, adjust their attitude and or coaching style and do everything they can to help the team win. This of course is all for the sake of earning job security and extra money when contract discussions come up. Once the player/coach gets paid they often resort to their old ways. It’ll be interesting to see if this is the case with Compu Coach. Last year he was on the chopping block so he made some adjustments to his attitude and people skills and sure enough the team went 13-3. Now that Compu Coach has a big fat extension and is coming off one of the franchise’s best seasons he just might return to his old Billickesque ways from time to time.
Pay Ray is a fan of Troy Smith? I seem to remember him saying the same thing about Chris Redman, Kyle Boller and Anthony Wright. Thanks Pay Ray, let us know when you’re a professional QB evaluator.
Posted by: Patrick | June 7, 2007 9:26 AM
Mike,
Always enjoy your writing. You might want to lay off the holier than thou shots you directed at Billick. They seem petty at this point.
Posted by: Jerry | June 7, 2007 10:02 AM
Jummy, don't make the man's head any bigger than it already is, there's over a billion Chinese who don't give a hoot about Mike Preston's columns.
Compu Coach dinged you, Mike? I daresay it was well deserved. On second thought, it was probably Ed Reed's fault so you get a pass.
Being an O's fan is so painful, can't wait for football season.
By the way Mike, I like Brian Billick. I even like Steve McNair. Does that get me banned from the blog?
Sign Suggs, let's get it done sooner rather than later.
Posted by: Joe_T | June 7, 2007 12:55 PM
The greatest thing about Suggs (besides his talent, obviously) is his youth. At age 24, he's got the potential to be a major force coming off the edge for at least 8, maybe even 9 or 10 more years. I hope his agent and the Ravens take their time working out this deal and make it a long, fruitful one, because Suggs is definitely worth the money and the effort.
Posted by: Danny | June 10, 2007 12:55 AM