Internet Reacts To Pitta Going On Injured Reserve
Tight end 
Pitta had the option to override the doctor’s decision, per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, but ultimately decided against the risk of injuring his hip for the third time in as many seasons, per The Sun.
The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec made it clear that Pitta is not retiring.
“The Ravens tight end will continue to rehabilitate his right hip,” Zrebiec wrote. “Ravens officials and the coaching staff wanted him to follow the advice of doctors and didn’t want him to play if at risk of being injured again.”
The news has been out for less than an hour, but the reaction is already pouring in.
Pitta, however, will continue to rehab and trying to strengthen hip area. As I said earlier, he badly wants to play again.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiecsun) November 11, 2015 Unfortunately this was always going to be end result for Dennis Pitta. Not safe for him. Honestly never thought he'd play again. We'll see
— Ken Weinman (@KenWeinmanSport) November 11, 2015
If this is the end, really tough for Pitta, who has worked his tail off on rehab and definitely wants to play again. #RavensTalk
— Bo Smolka (@bsmolka) November 11, 2015 I know Pitta wants to play again badly, but if docs advise against it now, I don't see how that would change for 2016. #RavensTalk
— Bo Smolka (@bsmolka) November 11, 2015
Sad reality of the NFL - Ravens will likely cut Pitta this Feb/March. No way they risk paying him $5M if they feel injury risk is that high.
— Brian McFarland (@RavensSalaryCap) November 11, 2015
Ravens and Pitta could rework deal to change salary to incentives & per game roster bonuses. This would lessen Cap impact of another injury.
— Brian McFarland (@RavensSalaryCap) November 11, 2015
Dennis Pitta's salary was guaranteed in 2015, making it a no-brainer for both sides to explore his return. That's not the case for for 2016.
— Luke Jones (@BaltimoreLuke) November 11, 2015
If Pitta is cut, still have $6.6M in DeadMoney to deal w/. If cut b4 June 1, will save $600K in Cap space w/ all $6.6M on '16 Cap. Or..(1/2)
— Brian McFarland (@RavensSalaryCap) November 11, 2015
(2/2) If Pitta is released post-6/1 (or w/ post-6/1 designation) would save $5M in 2016, but would push $4.4M in dead money onto 2017 Cap.
— Brian McFarland (@RavensSalaryCap) November 11, 2015 Pitta is likely as healthy as he's going to get. The probability of re-injury after 2 hip dislocations is high. That's the issue. #Ravens
— Samuel Njoku (@Ravens_Examiner) November 11, 2015
You're a millionaire. You're a Super Bowl Champion. Go home and enjoy your wife and kids. Football isn't worth it.
— Samuel Njoku (@Ravens_Examiner) November 11, 2015
Ravens Work Out Former Browns DT Phil Taylor
General Manager Ozzie Newsome never rules out a potential signing just because the roster is already stacked at specific position of strength.
That’s what seems to be happening with former Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor.
The Ravens had the gargantuan 2011 first-round pick in for a workout Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. Taylor was not immediately signed.
“The Ravens don’t have an obvious need for a defensive lineman, but that didn’t stop them from taking a look at a player that they’ve long respected,” wrote The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec.
The Ravens know Taylor well after trying to run against the 6-foot-3, 335-pounder twice a year in the AFC North bouts against the Browns. Taylor started 42 games since coming into the league, but he played in just five games last year after having knee surgery. He reached an injury settlement with the Browns and was cut just before the start of the season.
The Steelers also know what Taylor is capable of and had him in for a tryout back in September. They didn’t sign him either, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported at the time that the Steelers believed he needed further surgery to repair his knee.
Two months later, the Ravens got a look-see to determine whether time has helped heal the injury.
Baltimore already has one of the league’s best run-stuffers in
The Ravens also have up-and-coming talent in
“I'm not too sure where Taylor would fit on the active roster given that the Ravens have more depth on their defensive line than they do at any other position grouping, but adding a former first-round pick is never a bad idea,” wrote Baltimore Beatdown’s Matthew Stevens.
Added Zrebiec: “The Ravens work out players regularly and maintain a list of available players at each position in case of injuries on their 53-man roster.”
Crazy To Think How West Landed Back In Baltimore
It’s seems like yesterday when fans were clamoring for the Ravens to draft Baltimore native and Towson star Terrence West.
Maybe that’s because, in actuality, it wasn’t all that long ago. That’s what makes West’s quick fall so crazy.
He went from being a 2014 third-round draft selection to playing for his third team in a little over a season. The Browns wanted West badly enough that they traded fourth- and sixth-round draft picks to move ahead of the Ravens and select him. But now the Ravens have him, and they didn’t have to give up any major assets.
It begs the question of how and why West has found himself in this situation. He went from astoundingly rushing for nearly 5,000 yards at Towson with 84 touchdowns and a solid rookie campaign with the Browns, to the Ravens practice squad so quickly.
It sounds like the issue has less to do with on-field performance, and more to do with West’s approach. NFL Media’s Kevin Patra wrote that West was in Browns Head Coach Mike Pettine's doghouse prior to being traded.
“It's been a precipitous fall for a player who led the Browns with 171 carries and 673 yards a rookie,” wrote The Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kate Cabot. “But the Browns grew weary of West's immaturity, and shipped him south for the late-round pick.”
A change of scenery didn’t help much. West was cut by the Tennessee Titans Saturday after rushing for just 51 yards on 16 carries.
Can a return home help the young man turn around his professional career?
“No one doubts that West is talented, but he will need to prove himself after two running back-needy teams disposed of him in the last two months,” wrote WNST’s Luke Jones. “If West can’t get his career back on track in his hometown, it’s fair to wonder if it will ever happen for the 5-foot-10, 225-pound back.”
Second-year linebacker C.J. Mosley hasn’t been standing out as much as he did during his rookie year when he earned a Pro Bowl bid after he burst onto the NFL scene.
It’s not that he’s had a bad year, but there’s been chatter about a potential step back from last year. But is that just because of his own prior success?
“[Mosley] is a victim of his own high expectations this season,” wrote The Baltimore Sun’s Jon Meoli. “He’s been largely solid, and scored his first career touchdown on a fumble return, but has been exploited in pass coverage much like the rest of the Ravens defense and has had some uncharacteristically poor games.
“He and the next person, with whom he’ll always be linked, are dealing with the same thing: expectations may have just been too high.”
Another Super Bowl Ring Up For Sale
Here we go again.
Another Ravens Super Bowl XLVII ring is up for sale. This time it is former Ravens safety Omar Brown, who earned the nickname of “Little Ed” after Ed Reed, putting the ring up for auction at Goldin Auctions.
As of Monday morning, the bids were up to $36,000.
Brown always got a lot of attention from fans during the preseason because of his knack for finding the ball, but he only played in four regular-season games. The former undrafted rookie has not played for another team.
Other players who sold Super Bowl rings at Goldin Auctions include running back Damien Berry (sold for about $43,000) and running back Jamal Lewis ($50,820). Team receptionist Toni Lekas’ ring, which was lost and eventually found in the Chesapeake Bay, also sold ($26,000).
Quick Hits
- “Upshaw had two quarterback hits against the San Diego Chargers, continuing his trend of being close without actually getting a sack,” wrote Meoli. “He only has one sack (in the postseason) since December 2013, and is halfway through a 16-game chance to establish himself as a pass-rush threat in addition to a respected run defender. Perhaps it was asking too much for him to be both, but Upshaw’s prospects in free agency and the Ravens’ prospects in 2015 relied on that happening quite a bit, and it simply hasn’t.”
#Ravens DT Brandon Williams is an #amazing #hunger advocate! #ThankYou @BrandonW_66 https://t.co/oZIwsgOP7Z pic.twitter.com/S8qHYsKEi4
— Maryland Food Bank (@MDFoodBank) November 9, 2015 Boycotting Starbucks for at least 9 hrs for not giving me enough whipped cream. They did have cool red cups and holiday music playing tho ☕️
— Justin Tucker (@jtuck9) November 10, 2015 
