Daily Haze

Enjoying the weekend?

I certainly am.

It’s raining outside, so I’ll be watching a movie on my new TV. If you aren’t be held up by the rain, I’m sure a backyard BBQ would be nice.

Whether it’s raining or the sun is shining, these great reads will definitely brighten your day:

·           Here is an important person that thinks the global economy isn’t as bad off as everyone fear.

·           Dominic Rhodes: Insurance policy for the Bills. The former Colts running back will help out a Bills backfield that sees its star running back suspended for three games, and their backup Fred Jackson sitting out of workouts due to contract disputes.

·           NBA playoffs start this week; here are lists of the matchups with a prediction to who will win it all.

2008-2009 Newest NFL MVP: Adrian Peterson

As you have seen in the picture and the title, today’s player is Vikings’ running back, Adrian Peterson.

Although he was on the MVP list for in the voting, he did not win. Peyton Manning did and won it by a ton of votes.

Adrian Peterson, last year, had almost 1,800 rushing yards. He also had 21 receptions for 125 yards. Man, this guy is a future Hall-of-Famer for what we have seen so far in this article.

It may be to early to tell, though.

The Vikings, with the help of Peterson, had a 10-6 record. Unfortunately, they lost in the playoffs to the Eagles.

Heck, Adrian Peterson had one of the best games of his career. He had a total of 80 yards including a 49-yard-touchdown. But you still have to consider that was a playoff game.

See why? He should have gotten more votes.

More articles to come in the series, so stay tuned!

With the First Pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions Select…

I’ve been told on many occasions that I’m “too optimistic.” I don’t think there is such a thing.  After an 0-16 season, I could see the Lions making the playoffs.  Not likely, of course, but with the right coaching anything could happen. I believe in Jim Schwartz.

I see no problem with Detroit drafting a quarterback in this draft, but I don’t want to see it in the first round. Although Matthew Stafford can be a great QB, I haven’t entirely given up on Daunte Culpepper. Something I’m in the minority on.

If the Lions can’t manage to trade out of the first pick—which is most likely impossible—I would prefer to see them draft Eugene Monroe. I firmly believe in building your team in the trenches. No matter how great a quarterback you are, without offensive lineman to block for you, you’re never going to succeed.

Drafting Monroe would benefit the Lions in two ways. They would have a starter at left tackle from day one, and an instant upgrade at left guard. That makes Daunte Culpepper a better QB, and Kevin Smith a much better runner. 

Although I think B.J. Raji is a great defensive tackle, I don’t think his warrants being taken first overall.  Even if Detroit did draft him and he didn’t perform like a No. 1 pick, he would be an upgrade over everyone on the Lions current defensive line.  Both the linebackers and secondary could use the help.

Widely called the most sure pick in the draft, Aaron Curry would be a great fit for the Lions. But being a great fit doesn’t entirely mean he’s worthy of being No. 1 overall.  If the Lions truly believe that Curry can play middle linebacker, then he would be worth the draft pick. I see Curry starting his career more as a strong-side linebacker though.

I wouldn’t have a problem with the Lions drafting Jason Smith, the left tackle from Baylor University. Smith will be a great player in the NFL, but I think that Monroe is a little more NFL-ready due to the college system he played in. Smith looked better at the combine, so he gets more hype.

Stafford could end up being the best quarterback to ever enter the league, but who knows?  I believe that in the long run, he would be the smartest pick. I tend to like winning right now, and I see no way Stafford beats out Culpepper as a rookie. 

After drafting a quarterback first overall, there’s no way Stafford starts a second season on the bench, whether he’s the best quarterback or not.

The Lions could do many other things in the draft as well and I would love to see them draft a wide receiver at No. 20.  I wouldn’t mind seeing them let the clock expire on their pick, but that would cause a media frenzy and will probably never happen. 

I’ll be killed for saying this, but I wouldn’t mind if the Lions drafted Michael Crabtree. Drafting Crabtree is only an option if they were able to trade down and get another pick or two.

One way or another, I believe the Lions are on the right path. I feel that they are two years at most from being a playoff team. I’ll support the decisions of the Lions front office in this draft, no matter what. 

Just not entirely sure I’ll agree with them.

Dr. James Andrews: The Athletes’ Surgeon

You crouch behind the quarterback, waiting for the snap. He calls for the ball and turns and hands it to you, it presses into your hands and you run forward into the pile of players and you go down, someone lands on your leg, someone on your knee, the pain is terrible, will it ever stop?

You lie on the field, the rest of the players get up, but you stay on the ground, your team’s trainers run out onto the field and soon, you find yourself riding off of the field on a cart and your replacement comes running onto the field.

In your mind, you know that something is wrong, although you don’t know what. Your knee feels horrible, like some one is pounding on it with a sledgehammer. Will you ever be able to play again?

Many NFL players, as well as other athletes, turn to Dr. James Andrews, an orthopedic surgery in Alabama, when they suffer injuries on and off of the field.

Andrew has operated on such notables as Peyton and Eli Manning (above), Reggie Bush, Drew Brees, Barry Zito, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, and just this week, Andrew performed surgery on New Orleans Saints’ wide receiver Lance Moore after Moore injured his left shoulder while lifting weights.

Andrews was an athlete himself, the Louisiana native won an SEC conference championship in polevaulting at LSU in his college days.

In 1996, Andrews, along with Larry Lemak, his partner, opened Alabama Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center in Birmingham, where he practiced until 2005, when he moved to St. Vincents Hospital and formed Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center.

It is said that every athletic trainer, physical therapist, strength-and-conditioning coach in the land seems to have Andrews’ cell phone number.

Many athletes have had success even after suffering horrible injuries. Take Drew Brees, the quarterback for the New Orleans Saints.

While still with the San Diego Chargers, Brees was trying to prove that he, even though he was short, could be the quarterback of the future for the Chargers. He was hit on the goal line on New Years Day in 2005 in a game against the Denver Broncos and fumbled the ball. As he dove to recover the fumble, other players who were also going for the ball, landed on Brees’ right shoulder.

With the drafting of Phillip Rivers, Brees was done with the Chargers and after having his shoulder fixed by Andrews, signed the next year with the New Orleans Saints.

Brees then preceded to lead the Black and Gold to the NFC Championship game. Since opening the 2006 preseason for the Saints against the Tennessee Titans, Brees has never missed a game—regular season or preseason.

In fact, Brees was a candidate for the NFL’s MVP award in 2008 after becoming only the second player to throw for over 5,000 yards in one season, finishing only 16 yards behind Dan Marino’s single season yardage record.

Instead, Peyton Manning, another of Dr. Andrews’ patients, captured the award.

It has been said that Dr. Andrews belongs in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame because of his contributions to the sport, but it hasn’t happened yet.

As long as he can, Dr. Andrews will sit in Birmingham, Alabama, and quietly put athletes back together, one surgery at a time.

Notable Patients Treated By Dr. James Andrews (courtesy of ESPN)

Football players
• Bo Jackson: shoulder, 1984; hip, 1992
• Doug Williams: knee, 1988
• Bruce Smith: knees, 1990 and 1991
• Troy Aikman: elbow and shoulder, 1991
• Michael Irvin: shoulder, 1994
• Emmitt Smith: shoulder, 1994
• Trent Green: knee, 1999 and 2001
• Chad Pennington: shoulder, 2005 (twice)
• Deuce McAllister: knee, 2005
• Daunte Culpepper: knee, 2005 and 2006
• Takeo Spikes: achilles tendon, 2005
• Donovin Darius: ACL, 2005; shoulder, 2006
• Drew Brees: shoulder, 2006
• Byron Leftwich: ankle, 2006
• Donovan McNabb: knee, 2006
• Matt Hasselbeck: shoulder, 2007
• Joey Porter: knee, 2007
• Kenny Irons: knee, 2007
• Isaiah Kacyvenski: knee, 2007
• D.J. Shockley: knee, 2007

Baseball players
• Roger Clemens: 1985, shoulder, 1985
• David Wells: 1985, elbow, 1985
• Jimmy Key: elbow, 1988; shoulder, 1994, 1995
• Jose Rijo: elbow, 1995; five more elbow ops, 1996-2003
• Steve Karsay: elbow, 1995; shoulder, 2003
• Kerry Wood: elbow, 1999
• John Smoltz: elbow, 2000 and 2003
• Carl Pavano: elbow, 2001 and 2006
• Jon Lieber: elbow, 2002
• A.J. Burnett : elbow, 2003
• Andy Pettitte: elbow, 2004
• Gary Sheffield: shoulder, 2004
• Jim Thome: elbow, 2005
• Mark Prior: shoulder, 2007
• Anibal Sanchez: shoulder, 2007
• Freddie Garcia: shoulder, 2007
• Chris Ray: elbow, 2007

Basketball players
• Charles Barkley: shoulder, 1990
• Michael Jordan: shoulder (therapy, not surgery), 1994
• Penny Hardaway: knee, 1996
• Randy Livingston: knee, 1996
• Scottie Pippen: elbow, 2001
• Allen Iverson: elbow, 2001
• Aaron McKie: shoulder, 2001
• Chris Webber: knee, 2003
• Shaun Livingston: knee, 2007

Golfers
• Jack Nicklaus: knee, 1984
• Jerry Pate: shoulders, 1985, 1986, 2003, 2006
• Mark McCumber: shoulder, 1996

 

 

 

NFC North: 2009 Predictions

I’m back with my predictions for the records of all four NFC North teams in 2009. I’ll also post predictions a month after the draft. I won’t give analysis of the games because I’m too lazy. I’m a Packer’s fan, so don’t be too hard on my bias picks.

Green Bay Packers

vs Bears

Win – 1-0

vs Bengals

Win – 2-0

at Rams

Win – 3-0

at Vikings

Lose – 3-1

BYE

vs Lions

Win – 4-1

at Browns

Win – 5-1

vs Vikings

Win – 6-1

at Buccaneers

Lose – 6-2

vs Cowboys

Win – 7-2

vs 49ers

Win – 8-2

at Lions

Win – 9-2

vs Ravens

Lose – 9-3

at Bears

Lose – 9-4

at Steelers

Lose – 9-5

vs Seahawks

Win – 10-5

at Cardinals

Win – 11-5

The Packers get off to a good start by only losing to the Vikings and Buccaneers in the first half. They beat the Cowboys at home, but go on a three-game losing streak by losing a close game to the Ravens and Bears, but losing by a considerably amount to the Steelers. The Cardinals already locked the playoffs, but still play with their starters against the Packers. The Packers still mange to win though. 11-5.

Chicago Bears

at Packers

Lose – 0-1

vs Steelers

Lose – 0-2

at Seahawks

Win – 1-2

vs Lions

Win – 2-2

BYE

at Falcons

Lose – 2-3

at Bengals

Win – 3-3

vs Browns

Win – 4-3

vs Cardinals

Lose – 4-4

at 49ers

Win – 5-4

vs Eagles

Lose – 5-5

at Vikings

Lose – 5-6

vs Rams

Win – 6-6

vs Packers

Win – 7-6

at Ravens

Lose – 7-7

vs Vikings

Lose – 7-8

at Lions

Win – 8-8

The Bears almost split everything evenly. 4-4 after eight games, 3-3 division record, their highest win-streak was 2, and so was their highest loss-streak. They couldn’t seem to get hot, losing to every team that stood a challenge. 8-8.

Minnesota Vikings

at Browns

Win – 1-0

at Lions

Win – 2-0

vs 49ers

Win – 3-0

vs Packers

Win – 4-0

at Rams

Win – 5-0

vs Ravens

Lose – 5-1

at Steelers

Lose – 5-2

at Packers

Lose – 5-3

BYE

vs Lions

Win – 6-3

vs Seahawks

Win – 7-3

vs Bears

Win – 8-3

at Cardinals

Lose – 8-4

vs Bengals

Win – 9-4

at Panthers

Lose – 9-5

at Bears

Win – 10-5

vs Giants

Lose – 10-6

The Vikings got hot in the beginning of each half of the season, but losing games in a row and late made and broke the season for the Vikings. They still finished with a respectable record, but the Packers are still ahead at 11-5. They were 5-0, then 5-3, and they were 8-3, then went 2-3 to end 10-6. This time with the Giants, they aren’t so lucky. 10-6.

Detroit Lions

at Saints

Lose – 0-1

vs Vikings

Lose – 0-2

vs Redskins

Lose – 0-3

at Bears

Lose – 0-4

vs Steelers

Lose – 0-5

at Packers

Lose – 0-6

BYE

vs Rams

Win – 1-6

at Seahawks

Win – 2-6

at Vikings

Lose – 2-7

vs Browns

Lose – 2-8

vs Packers

Lose – 2-9

at Bengals

Win – 3-9

at Ravens

Lose – 3-10

vs Cardinals

Lose – 3-11

at 49ers

Win – 4-11

vs Bears

Lose – 4-12

The Lions are slightly better than last year, but still they aren’t looking too good. They start 0-6, but after the BYE week and two slightly less challenging teams, they finally win some games and advance to 2-6. They also beat the Bengals and 49ers, but can’t muster any more wins. 4-12.

NFC North Standings

Green Bay Packers – 11-5

Minnesota Vikings – 10-6

Chicago Bears – 8-8

Detroit Lions – 4-12

Well, that’s done. Feel free to comment on my picks, because I’m certain most of my picks are ridiculous, I’m just curious which ones!

Ending the Quarterback Crapshoot: A Formula for Success!

Defense makes quarterbacks. Quarterbacks who practice against good defenses succeed.

Tom Brady practices against the Patriots’ defense in real games, against a  lesser defense, it gets easier for him. 

Most highly drafted quarterbacks end up on bad teams practicing against bad defenses. Their success in practice does not translate into success on Sunday. They lose confidence in the system, the coach, and themselves.

Joey Harrington is a prime example.

Joe Flacco, Ben Rothelsberger, Tom Brady, Philip River, Eli Manning , and Tony Romo, all are quarterbacks who developed by practicing against good defenses.

Now practicing against a good defense does not guarantee success Vince Young of the Titans comes to mind.

Yet  many journeyman quarterbacks elevate their game just enough by practicing against a good defense to win Super Bowls, examples include Brad Johnson, Trent Dilfer, and Jeff Hoestetler.

Truly exceptional quarterbacks can develop without the benefit of practicing against  a good defense, such as Dan marino, Bret Favre, and Peyton Manning.

So watch out for Matt Ryan, because Atlanta’s defense wasn’t that good.

This year, Mark Sanchez is the quarterback most likely to succeed the defense he faced in practice, which as at USC, who were almost NFL quality.

So here is a formula for success. Take a quarterback, who has the physical and mental tools, one who has consistently faced or practiced against good defenses in college. Put that quarterback on a team with a good defense, then quarterback will develop.

So Detroit, my advice is to pass on a quarterback. Your defense was the worst in the league. Build a defense first or be prepared to repeat the Joey Harrington debacle

In the end, defense wins championships.

 

 

Will Heath Miller Return?

When drafted, Steelers fans knew that he was something special. Heath Miller has always played with heart. As an all around tight end, Heath Miller has been quietly one of the best tight ends in the NFL.

This may be good for the Steelers, actually, it may be great. If Heath is not known as well as Jason Witten, Antonio Gates, Chris Cooley, or Kellen Winslow, he may realize his best bet is to stick around in Pittsburgh.

Miller can block, he can catch, and he is a leader. Heath Miller seems like the type of player who doesn’t care about a record contract. I believe Heath loves being a Steeler, and may take any contract they offer to him (as long as it’s fair).

With that said, there are so many impending free agents that Pittsburgh should be concentrating on signing three of them over the next few months. If Heath is truly a Pittsburgh Steeler at heart, he will sign easily. The same goes for a player like Hines Ward, he will always be a Steeler at heart, and will probably sign a fair contract.

That still leaves a lot of upcoming free agents left unsigned. If they know what it  means to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, they will also resign. This year looks promising because we only lost a few free agents, next off season could be brutal.

Bills Talk: Sign Running Back Dominic Rhodes To Two-Year-Deal

Watch out defenses, Rhodes could be a scare!

All-Time New York Giants: No. 10, Captain Manning

A while back, an idea came to me: Make a list of the top 10 players in New York Giants football history.

As you can clearly see, my ideas don’t stay bottled up for very long. Kicking things off at number ten is current Giants quarterback Eli Manning.

 

Acquired

Eli Manning was drafted by the San Diego Chargers with the first overall pick in the 2004 Draft, but was soon involved in one of the most influential draft-day trades in Giants history.

After he spoke with Chargers head honchos, it was clear that Manning didn’t want to play for San Diego, and the Giants dealt away Philip Rivers and two picks that would later become Shawne Merriman and Nate Kaeding to acquire the former Ole Miss Rebel.

Many people asked if this was a good move or one that would cost the organization down the road. Five years later, it is clear that it was a bold, risky, yet wise move by the Giants organization.

Rivers, Merriman, and Kaeding have a combined four Pro Bowls, but Rivers has none to Manning’s one. Let’s be honest, though: Do Pro Bowls matter?

No. Do Super Bowl rings matter? Yes.

Super Bowl MVP’s? Not so much, but who doesn’t want a little ice cream with their cake?

 

Through the Years

Manning sat for most of his rookie year before getting the nod in 2005 after Kurt Warner voided the final year of his deal.

Eli showed flashes of brilliance in a 350-yard, two-touchdown game against the team he snubbed on draft day; a four-TD game at home against the Rams; and a touchdown toss to Amani Toomer with only eight seconds left in Week Six’s game.

Overall, his first year as a starter was a success, as Manning finished in the top five for passing yards and touchdowns while leading the No. 3-ranked offense in the NFL.

However, the following year proved to be much harder, as injuries to the offensive line and Eli himself proved difficult to overcome. A second-half collapse pushed him down all the way to 18th in the league in Quarterback Rating for 2006.

 

But then, the 2007 season was something special: It was Michael Strahan’s last season with the Giants and his first Super Bowl ring. And no Giants fan will ever forget Eli leading the G-Men past the Buccaneers in the opening round of the Playoffs, going 20-of-27 on his attempts with two touchdowns, leading the team to a 24-14 victory.

The second round was even better, as Big Blue avenged two regular-season losses to the division rival Dallas Cowboys. The Giants became the first team in history to beat the No. 1 seed in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Now, most people think I’m crazy (other Giants fans included) when I tell them that my favorite Manning performance of all time was against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship.

All I can say about this game is that if you can get your hands on a copy of this game, treasure it. Nothing better than a backyard brawl that went into OT and was won on a field goal.

The rest of course, is history, as the New York Giants went on to beat the New England Patriots in the most-watched event in the history of the United States of America. Manning captured MVP honors and will forever be remembered for his late-game heroics, which included a 30-yard bomb to David Tyree.

 

Outlook for 2009

With Plaxico Burress departing in the offseason, the Giants have been rumored to be seeking a trade with the Cleveland Browns or Arizona Cardinals for Braylon Edwards or last year’s phenom, Anquan Boldin.

Knowing the Giants organization, there will be a great move made that will only further young Manning’s career. And I know we all plan on sticking around and watching him toss the pigskin for years to come.

 

Written and created by Travis Rand, NYG Community Leader

Several Dominoes Must Fall For Boldin To Fly to Baltimore

Originally published at WNST.net

In the months leading to the NFL Draft, talk has persisted over the Ravens’ need to select a receiver in the first round.  But now with the draft only a week away, could Pro Bowl wide receiver Anquan Boldin be heading to Baltimore?

The Arizona Cardinals have officially placed Boldin on the trading block, and the Ravens are interested in the 28-year-old wideout, according to numerous media outlets.

Boldin would certainly be the playmaker the Ravens offense needs, but there are several barriers to overcome before the three-time Pro Bowl selection can begin reining in passes from quarterback Joe Flacco.

The Cardinals are reportedly seeking a first- and third-round pick, a likely sticking point for the Ravens who have only six picks in the draft.  General manager Ozzie Newsome has not traded out of the first round since 2003, when the Ravens traded their 2004 first-round pick to the New England Patriots in order to select quarterback Kyle Boller.

The fact that the Ravens are even discussing the possibility of trading picks for Boldin suggests a lack of enthusiasm for the group of receivers that could be available with the 26th overall pick.  Maryland’s Darrius Heyward-Bey, Rutgers’ Kenny Britt, and North Carolina’s Hakeem Nicks have been mentioned as potential first-round choices but all have weaknesses and would likely struggle to make an impact in their rookie season.

Director of player personnel Eric DeCosta mentioned earlier in the week that more failed picks have come at the wide receiver position than any other between picks 24 through 32.

And despite Newsome’s immense success on draft day, wide receiver is not a position on which the Ravens typically hit a home run.  Past early-round picks include Patrick Johnson, Travis Taylor, Devard Darling, Mark Clayton, and Yamon Figurs—not exactly a group that strikes fear in a secondary’s heart.

If the Ravens are truly serious about getting better at the wide receiver position immediately, Boldin is a far better option than anyone in the draft, including top-rated receiver Michael Crabtree from Texas Tech.  While a young receiver could become a threat in the future, none would transform the Ravens into a legitimate Super Bowl contender like Boldin.

Even the asking price of a first- and third-round pick is not a steep one when solely considering the value of the picks.  Using the NFL draft-pick value chart, a point system used by general managers to consider potential trades, the Ravens’ first-round pick (26th overall) is worth 700 points and the third-round pick (88th overall) is worth 150 for a total of 850 points.  This is roughly equivalent to the 20th overall pick.

The chart is only used as a tool for evaluating potential trades, but the surrendered picks would be worth no more than the value of a mid-first-round pick.  In return, the Ravens would receive one of the best receivers in the NFL.  Despite the possibility of only having four remaining picks, the decision is a no-brainer from this standpoint.

And remember, the Cardinals are asking for a first- and third-round pick; that doesn’t mean they will get them.

The bigger issue working against a potential deal is obviously the money.  Boldin wants out of Arizona because he wants a new, lucrative contract to replace the current one with two years remaining.  Any team acquiring the wideout would unquestionably have to sign him to a new deal with a huge signing bonus, a proposition far more costly than signing the draft picks that would be surrendered.

The reality is the Ravens have very little salary-cap room.  Even the possibility of restructuring existing deals and releasing one or two average veterans would not clear enough room to sign Boldin.

The only way the trade happens would be the signing of Terrell Suggs to a long-term deal, something Newsome has been unable to do after designating the linebacker with the franchise tag for the second straight season.  Suggs’ 2009 salary is $10.2 million, eating up a large chunk of cap room.

Signing Suggs to a long-term extension would create several million dollars of cap room, leaving flexibility to complete a Boldin deal.

Suggs discussed the possibility of providing a hometown discount to re-sign linebackers Ray Lewis and Bart Scott earlier in the offseason.  It would be interesting to see if he would be more flexible in signing a deal if it meant the Ravens could add an elite receiver to the offense.

Even if Suggs agrees to an extension, Newsome will have to assess whether Boldin’s production is worth the much larger financial commitment than the modest investments that would go into the draft selections.

Considering any deal for Boldin would involve an expensive contract, Arizona may not find a team willing to trade the draft picks they desire.  It’s possible the Ravens could offer a first-round pick and a conditional 2010 selection, perhaps a third- or fourth-rounder, to get the deal done.

It’s always a risk trading early draft picks for a veteran player, but Boldin is the receiving threat that could push Flacco to become an elite quarterback in the NFL.  The combination of Boldin and Derrick Mason would become one of the best receiving duos in the league.  It would also allow Mark Clayton or Demetrius Williams to compete against the third or fourth defensive back on the field, creating favorable matchups in Cam Cameron’s offense.

But what about critics suggesting Boldin cannot put up the big numbers without fellow receiver Larry Fitzgerald in the same offense?

Boldin caught 101 passes for 1,377 yards and eight touchdowns in his rookie season in 2003 while Fitzgerald was making acrobatic catches—at the University of Pittsburgh.

I’d say he’s an elite receiver.

The need for an improved offense is more apparent when considering the age of the defense.  Mainstays such as Lewis and Trevor Pryce are in the twilight of their careers (both will be 34 at the start of the season) and cannot be expected to play at the same level that they have over the past few seasons.  Even the dynamic Ed Reed will be 31 in September has an impingement in his neck and shoulder that could potentially shorten his career.

The defense can still play at a championship level, but for how long?  The window for the veterans on the team is small, so Boldin could be viewed as the missing piece for a trip to the Super Bowl.  Keep in mind, this team was a fourth-quarter touchdown drive away from advancing to the Super Bowl last January.

Boldin could be the difference in simply being a playoff contender in 2009 versus becoming a legitimate Super Bowl contender right there with Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and New England.

They’re close.  Trading for Boldin is certainly a risk, both financially and to future player development by surrendering draft picks, but it just might be enough to get the Ravens to the Super Bowl.

With great risk, comes great reward.

Trading for Boldin is a chance worth taking to seize the Lombardi Trophy next February.

Please support Luke Jones in his quest to become AM 1570 WNST’s King of Baltimore Sportstalk.  You can read his work, comment, and vote at WNST.net.

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