This guy Smith is a joke and is doing a disservice to Mason.

It's becoming obvious what is going on here.

I wouldn't be surprised if Mason wants to go back to the Titans to finish out his career.

I have lost alot of respect for Derrick Mason. I can't believe he is pulling off such a WEASEL move. The only reason he is "retiring", is because he wants to skip training camp obviously. All along he was saying how he wouldn't be ready for training camp, but would be ready for week 1, BUT, Harbaugh said that Mason should be good for most if not all of training camp.
Mason is also "retiring" because he didn't get his contract extension. I say we should forget about Mason, and just go and sign Matt Jones. Matt Jones' ceiling is obviously higher than Mason's and could be a starter for us for a long time, while Mason is only good for one more year.
Mason is actually pretty stupid doing this, if the Ravens don't play his little game, Mason is going to miss out on his final chance to get a Superbowl ring. I hope we win it this year so Mason has to kick himself in the a** for the rest of his life. WEASEL move Mason. Derrick "Weasel" Mason.

I think this is just a contract ploy. He hasn't filed the papers and he has been vocal about an extension. Until he files the papers then I'm not believing it.

I think Mason really made a huge mistake with the way he communicated his retirement via a second rate website.

Now the fans are mad because he didn't show any class towards the organization. If he respected the team and his teammates he would have retired properly. He also made a comment that he wasn't enthused anymore to workout. OK. Well if that is the case, it isnt going to change. If i am the Ravens, let him retire - would not offer him another nickel. Athletes are overpaid. There are people unemployed throughout this world that would jump for an opportunity to make $50k.

Now, if he winds up coming back - he will look extremely selfish.

I have always been a huge fan of his and realize he is going through a tough time with the loss of his buddy. However, this was mishandled and his agent is a moron.

The Ravens must go after Boldin - but nor Burress / Marshall or any other guy that is trouble.

I am very disappointed in the WAY this was communicated. Like it or not, the Ravens have paid him a lot of money. Class act would have contacted the team. He loses either way now.

Very sad.

I think the only sour grapes going on here, is that LaMont Smith is losing a valuable client, which means the end of his payday.

My family has always been a huge fan of Derrick Mason, since his days in Tennessee. Was thrilled that he came to the Ravens, and you have to admire his heart and passion for playing the game. I do not think anyone will ever forget how he kept playing through the shoulder separation and the way he carried the Ravens through the playoffs on the offensive side of the ball.

The way I look at it is like this. Derrick Mason if he really wants to retire, I am fine with it, however this is a very emotional time for him, and I am sure the reason he has not made it official yet, is with good reason. If he and his agent are that close in business and friendship, no big deal.

But if this is a ploy by his agent to try to get something more from the Ravens, both have to remember who pays their salary. He is 35 and that is old for a wide receiver, and 90% of the players do call it quits before this age, and is under contract. He should play this year under his contract if his desire is too play, who knows he may have goals that he wants to achieve in the game, 1000 catches could be achieved if he plays 3 more years. Maybe a Superbowl win, who knows but he is a smart player that always until now has been sincere.

The Ravens should just wish him good luck in retirement at the the time he officially informs the league, until then this is nothing.

Not the kind of agent I'd like to do business with anyway

If it's a ploy, then Smith needs to remember that Ozzie Newsome isn't one to buckle from peer pressure. I think that with Suggs' contract done, then Derrick would have been next in line, for a contract extension.
I'd like Mason to stay, because he still has a couple of years left...... to display his talents.
Does seem odd that Mason was at 0ne Winning Drive and nothing was said about his actions, on Monday. We'll see if Mason files his retirement papers.....or not.

see ya!

this clown is a Rosenhaus wannabe......

Matt Jones?!?!?! Wha wha wha what? Were you the guy doing lines w/ him in the bathroom other night? You must have been for making that statement. Somebody is high and it aint't Matt Jones' ceiling.

It will be Marvin Harrison or Brandon Marshall. Stay as far away from Plastico Bulletass as you can.

Mason has a history of firing off in the emotional heat of the moment ( see post game comments from Jan 07 playoff w/ Indy). I forgave that and can forgive this grief reaction, too. Somebody tell me who's gonna be Flacco's security blanket if he's really gone? And who else(besides Suggs) has the guts to play one -armed in Dec. and Jan?

I don't see the relevance here. Who cares about the ownership of the domain for the website on which Mason announced his retirement? The Sun was embarassed because (a) they got scooped again and (b) they couldn't get a quote from Mason in the aftermath (but he talked to ESPN), so they tried to illegitimie the method by which the story broke. Please try to blog about something relevant to fans; not your behind-the-scenes bickering about crap that has no bearing on our interest in the Ravens.

I find it funny that Bernie says this blog has no relevance to fans as hes the 14th person to post lol. But anyway some people do like to know whats going on behind the scenes, especially on the hottest sports topic in Baltimore atm.

I think we should let Mason and his idiot agent go. We have him under contract for another year and to be quite honest I wouldnt be surprised if his effectiveness starts to go downhill anyway. I say let him stay retired and hold him to his contract so he can not play for anyone else. Mason your ploys are a disgrace to the Ravens and the Fans that supported you here. If it is because of McNaair grow up and become an adult. When people in the real world deal with death we have 3-5 days with our jobs and you are expected back after that. Like I said grow up Derrick. Big Mistake
Mr Smith

The Ravens are playing this situation exaclty right. More and more I am thinking this is a contract ploy. The Ravens are semi calling his bluff by inviting these WR's to camp. The other part is even with Mason i think they should look at some WR's.

Aw, let the man retire. MAYBE HE IS TIRED OF TAKING A BEATING FOR A LIVING. hE IS 36 YRS OLD.

Lamont Smith seems to want to distance himself from JockLife.com, but a year ago that was not the case. To wit:

http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2008/08/19/c-lamont-smith-introduces-jocklifecom/

I don't have a problem with an agent who creates a website to give his clients a voice. I don't have a problem with a player like Mason speaking through his agent's website.

I do have a problem however when the agent is being coy about ownership of said website, when the site becomes the only source of Mason's retirement announcement, when Mason doesn't file papers with the NFLPA, when he says there is a one-percent chance he may come back, and when he or the agent don't attempt to coordinate the retirement announcement through the team's very capable PR office.

Couple that with the fact that Mason was also asking for more money at season's end, and of course we'll find it all fishy.

You could argue that it's sour grapes on the Sun's part that they were not "in" on breaking the news of Mason's retirement. But you could also argue Smith was orchestrating a negotiating tactic the way the "news" was delivered.

One question I have for the Sun's reporters, if Mason was at the facility the day before the news broke (whether he worked out or not), talking to the team, as Smith claims, did he inform the team of his impeding retirement? Has the front office commented on what (besides a workout) occurred during that "visit?"