Little Boy Has Meltdown After Steve Smith Cut
Who is little Gavin supposed to cheer for on Sundays?
"NOOOOOOOBOOOOODYYYYYYY!" the young (ex-)Panthers fan screamed at his dad after hearing news that wide receiver Steve Smith was cut from the Carolina roster. Gavin slapped at the camera twice after dad told him that General Manager Dave Gettleman fired Smith because he is "too old."
"I HATE the Panthers," Gavin cried.
We feel you, little man. Smith has been the face of the Panthers organization for years, holding more than 30 franchise records on offense and special teams. That's a tough loss.
But hey, there's an upside.
Smith saw Gavin's meltdown, and immediately took to social media to find him. Twitter helped locate the family.
"I found Gavin," Smith declared yesterday afternoon. "His dad and I got in contact. Once I'm back in town will hook up the Lil guy...... everyone thank u for ur help."
We'll be waiting for another YouTube post from dad of that meeting.
And perhaps by the end of it, Baltimore will have one more (awesome) Ravens fan to claim.
As a mother of three, I found this video simultaneously sad and absolutely hilarious. I feel for Gavin, but any parent with young children witnesses a couple tantrums a day, and sometimes you just can't help but laugh a little.
Check it out (mobile users tap "View in Browser" at the top of the page to watch).
Smith To Make $9.5 Million Between Ravens & Panthers
Here's another upside to Smith getting cut, although Gavin won't care.
Smith is still due $5 million from the Panthers in 2014, according to The Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson. Add that to the reported $4.5 million he gets from the Ravens this season, and Smith gets a cool $9.5 million. That's $2.5 million more than he would have earned if he hadn't been released.
Not a bad year at the office.
ESPN's Jamison Hensley pointed out that if the 35-year-old receiver doesn't have much juice left in his legs, the Ravens structured the deal in a way that could make his contract a one-year deal.
"The Ravens would be happy if he was able to play a couple of years, but they realize this could be a one-year rental," the blogger wrote. "The way his contract is set up, they would only have $2.3 million in dead money if they cut him after one season and they would only have to pay him $3 million each season (a relative bargain) if he plays in 2015 and 2016.
"So, the Ravens can let Smith's play dictate how long he'll be with the Ravens. That said, the signing of Smith won't stop the Ravens from drafting a wide receiver in May. It's a deep draft at that position, and the Ravens want to add as many targets for Flacco as possible. The Ravens are hoping an experienced leader like Smith will mentor a young group of wide receivers. They're paying Smith for what he can do for this team on and off the field."
Ravens Interested In DT Letroy Guion
The Ravens lost defensive tackle Art Jones to the Indianapolis Colts, and are looking for his replacement.
They are "interested in" former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Letroy Guion, according to Wilson.
However, no visit to Baltimore is scheduled for Guion, who has already met with New England and is set to visit the Packers.
Guion recorded 21 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in 13 games for the Vikings last season.
"The Ravens are expected to monitor him in free agency," wrote Wilson. "Guion, 26, could fit into the Ravens' defensive line rotation."
Rice Lost 15 Pounds, 'Turned It Around Completely'
Jacoby Jones noticed it when he bumped into Ray Rice at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills.
Rice was looking “fit” and like he had lost a lot of weight.
But just how much weight has melted off the Pro Bowl running back since the season ended a little over two months ago?
He's lost a solid 15 pounds, according to Rice's trainer Kyle Jakobe.
"People are saying that he's lost a step or that, 'He doesn't have this anymore,' so he's really fired up about going back out this year," Jakobe told Matt Zenitz of The Carroll County Times.
Jakobe says Rice hasn't lost a step. Instead he attributes one of the worst seasons of Rice's career to his hip injury and weight. Jakobe said Rice reached as high as 225 pounds by the end of the season.
"He was definitely too heavy last year," Jakobe said. "He definitely came back this year and said, 'I feel heavy. I feel bloated. I don't feel like I'm moving as well. I could feel it in my body. I felt like my body was working too hard to make the same movements it made in previous years.' And I could see it, and I think a lot of other people could see it as well."
Rice has trimmed down to 210, and his goal is to get to 205, per Jakobe.
After rushing for just 660 yards last season, the lowest total since he became a starter, Rice is motivated to prove to people that at age 27, he still has plenty of football left in him. Not only is he working out, Jakobe helped Rice find a personal chef to make sure he is eating healthy, per Wilson.
"When I hear the things about him, that he's lost a step, it's hilarious to me, because I see him on a day-to-day basis," Jakobe told Wilson. "People see him now and they are like, 'Holy crap.' He's turned it around completely.
"You can see the difference in his face and his body. He has cut down his weight and you can see it in how he moves. He's added lean muscle. Outside of the eyeball test, Ray has looked explosive and is cutting on a dime. We haven't seen that since the third week of last season."
In addition to Rice, Jakobe also trains Ravens cornerbacks Jimmy Smith, Lardarius Webb and Chykie Brown and offensive guard A.Q. Shipley.
Oher Makes 'Worst' Free Agent Signing List, Monroe Makes 'Best Value' List
Ravens Nation said goodbye to Michael Oher Friday after he signed with the Tennessee Titans.
Oher will return to his home state and live closer to his adopted family, the Tuohys. The Ravens will always remember Oher for his versatility (switching between left and right tackle when needed), his reliability (he never missed a start in his five years in Baltimore) and his team-first mentality.
But NFL.com's Around The League staff put Oher on their "worst free agent signings so far" list because of how much money the Titans doled out.
"Baffling," wrote Marc Sessler.
"We have to trust that Tennessee's coaching staff sees something to like about Oher's game film, but paying him $20 million over four years with $9.5 million in guarantees is jaw-dropping. Especially after this once-promising offensive tackle struggled mightily last season. Oher rated as the worst run blocker in the league, per Pro Football Focus, and his middle-of-the-road pass protection didn't make up for that. To be fair, he wasn't alone on Baltimore's crash-and-burn line, and we expect the change of scenery to help. If it doesn't, the Titans have overpaid something fierce."
On the other end of the spectrum, General Manager Ozzie Newsome made SI.com's list for best-value free agent signings with left tackle Eugene Monroe.
Both Ravens tackles hit the open market last week, and the Ravens focused on Monroe. They got him at great price compared to other top tackles that signed last week: Branden Albert (five years, $46 million, $25 million guaranteed) Zane Beadles (five years, $30 million, $13 million guaranteed), Austin Howard (five years, $30 million, $15 million guaranteed).
Meanwhile, the Ravens locked up Monroe for five years for a reported $37.5 million and $19 million guaranteed.
"The Ravens' offer to Monroe was a major bargain," wrote SI.com's Doug Farrar.
And remember how Ozzie decided against slapping the franchise tag on Monroe?
Check this out …
"Why was Ozzie reluctant to clog Cap w/ tag for Monroe ($11.654M)? Since then - Monroe/Jacoby/DSmith/SSmith/McClellan/Miles = $11.595M," tweeted Brian McFarland of Russell Street Report.
Ozzie 'Strikes Gold' With Comp Picks
We're not done praising Newsome just yet.
It was his birthday yesterday, and you might want to send some well wishes after he got off to a hot free agency start by re-signing five of his own players, extending Terrell Suggs and adding Steve Smith.
Not only that, but CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora notes that the Ravens "strike gold" with compensatory picks again.
The Ravens have lost three free agents – Oher, Corey Graham and Art Jones – and have signed only one free agent from another team in Smith. But Smith won't count against the compensatory pick formula because he was cut.
So, depending on how much the former Ravens play next season (among other factors), the Ravens are expected to be at plus-3 comp picks. The most you can get is four, and James Ihedigbo could be signing with Detroit to boost the Ravens to plus-four.
Quick Hits
- @GerrySandusky: Score it Ravens 1, NE 0. Steve Smith had planned to go to New England on Monday.
- Elvis Dumervil welcomed his new teammate: @EKD92: @89SteveSmith welcome bro! Let's get this championship!
- @A_Mellette3: Can't wait to learn from @89SteveSmith, I met him earlier today and it was a great encounter
- @untouchablejay4: @89SteveSmith WELCOME TO RAVENS NATION BRO!!! LETS GO TO WORK!!!
- @KeithMills1090: You're in the room w/Ozzie. He asks u who would u take now with 17th pick. Mike Evans. M. Lee of USC. Dix of Alabama or Martin of ND. Who? [Twitter]
- The Ravens paid his scheduled $500,000 roster bonus Friday, which likely secures him for the 2014 season. It marks the second year of this three-year contract. [The Baltimore Sun]
- @sportswcoleman: Well Jim Irsay arrested for DUI, is more and more like his dad. Everyday! #Colts. @1057TheFan [Twitter]
- Might have to cross another interior lineman off your list … @JasonLaCanfora: OL Zach Strief is meeting with the Saints today. Would expect them to work out a deal. Sides are getting close [Twitter]
- Jameel McClain on his time in Baltimore: "This community is a part of me and what I became as a man and as a player. My [community] events will last longer than my professional football career. I don't have a problem coming back to give back. That's who I am, and that's who I continue to be. I love Baltimore, and that's going to be my home for a long time." [The Baltimore Sun]
- Ravens 247: And as you celebrate St. Paddy's Day this weekend just remember this wise old Irish saying: "If you're lucky enough to be a Ravens fan, you're lucky enough." [Facebook]
- @PurpleReignShow: The Smiths are coming to Baltimore! Hilarious photo posted by baltimoretom on reddit [Twitter]
