Mar 22, 2013

What Happened to the Ravens?

Tyipcally, when you win the Super Bowl it means you've done something right and you've got something special. Most teams in that situation try to keep the team together as much as possible and attempt to repeat the following season. On a 53 man roster there are bound to be some moves and retirees, but you try to keep the core group together. Usually the players also like to stick around as winning championships is an enjoyable experience. Since the Super Bowl the Ravens have lost a Hall of Fame linebacker to retirement (Ray Lewis), traded their leading receiver in catches and yards for a sixth round pick (Anquan Boldin), released their leading tackler (Bernard Pollard), Lost a Hall of Fame safety and both of their interception leaders to free agency (Ed Reed and Cary Williams each had 4), lost their sack leader to free agency (Paul Kruger) and another effective linebacker (Dannell Ellerbe). To replace this production the Ravens have added DL Marcus Spears and DE Chris Canty.

I have never seen a championship team dismantled so quickly. We knew Ray Lewis was gone and there were going to be some salary cap casualties, but I didn't expect this mass exodus so recently after winning a Super Bowl. I can't see how they're going to replace all that talent with what's left of free agency and the draft and be a contender next year. It sounds weird to say it, but with all the talent that Pittsburgh and Baltimore have lost recently I like the Bengals to win the AFC North next season.

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