Reid could start over Gaither

**darb72** · 05-02-2011, 02:01 AM

Originally Posted by TL24x7

I think you need to wake up T and get off your know-it-all-high-horse.

The source is towards the top of the Ravens' food chain.

Deal with it!

Are you suggesting that the Raven's front office smokes a lot of dope?

Now on to Gaither.

I want Gaither to be our LT for the next 10 years. I love home grown talent and most of our team is.

Gaither could be a huge benefit to the Ravens if he's healthy and motivated.
I could be a huge benefit to the Ravens if I were talented and non-lazy.

**Carey** · 05-02-2011, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by psuasskicker

I don't really disagree with any of that except that I don't know that the coaches will put Gaither in without an injury or complete failure by one of the other two. Not saying they won't, just saying I'm not at all convinced they will, and I actually don't think they'll have Gaither at LT unless Oher is hurt.

- C -

Agreed

**jonboy79** · 05-02-2011, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by psuasskicker

What is it that makes anyone here think the coaching staff would simply stick Gaither back at LT over Oher?
-

I have absolutely no faith they will do so, they clearly play favorites despite on field results. Oher was Abyssmal at the end of the year and proved inmy eyes he's a RT only, or perhaps a swing tackle. They go and draft another RT only... leaving us with no other options, behind the potentially injury and guaranteed POd Gaither...

**TL24x7** · 05-02-2011, 09:07 AM

I have absolutely no faith they will do so, they clearly play favorites despite on field results. Oher was Abyssmal at the end of the year and proved inmy eyes he's a RT only, or perhaps a swing tackle. They go and draft another RT only... leaving us with no other options, behind the potentially injury and guaranteed POd Gaither...

One thing that is often overlooked is that Oher sprained his knee and ankle (I think in the Tampa game) and was taped from ankle to thigh for the rest of the season. The team kept this injury under wraps (no pun intended) much like they did with Flacco's injury the season before.

**festivus** · 05-02-2011, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by darb72

I could be a huge benefit to the Ravens if I were talented and non-lazy.

There's the Darb I remember from when he was new and obnoxious. Excellent. :D

**Jeremiah W** · 05-02-2011, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by TL24x7

One thing that is often overlooked is that Oher sprained his knee and ankle (I think in the Tampa game) and was taped from ankle to thigh for the rest of the season. The team kept this injury under wraps (no pun intended) much like they did with Flacco's injury the season before.

Yet another reason why we can not just take the team's word when it comes to injury news of any kind, and why every player should get a second opinion from a real doctor not on the Raven payroll. Team doctors have always been more likely to give you a shot, tape you up and send you back out there to play than treat an injury the way another doctor would for a regular person.

The team says a lot of stuff, on and off the record that has to be taken with a big box of sea salt. "Kyle Boller is our QB"

They say things for reasons that do not start with just keeping the fans informed. So while I believe someone in the FO did tell Tony Reid may start at RT over Gaither, I still think it is about as likely as the cow jumping over the moon, if Gaither is healthy enough to sign his contract.

In order to sign his contract, Gaither will have to be cleared by his doctor and pass a team physical.

I also find it rediculous at this point that people still doubt that he had a real injury even though a real spine specialist confirmed it. What did either Gaither or his doctor have to gain by faking it vs what they had to lose?

**jonboy79** · 05-02-2011, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by TL24x7

One thing that is often overlooked is that Oher sprained his knee and ankle (I think in the Tampa game) and was taped from ankle to thigh for the rest of the season. The team kept this injury under wraps (no pun intended) much like they did with Flacco's injury the season before.

And Similarly Gaither played a string of games with one arm, and outperformed Oher's healthy games.

**TL24x7** · 05-02-2011, 11:05 AM

And Similarly Gaither played a string of games with one arm, and outperformed Oher's healthy games.

The Ravens would love to have a motivated Gaither but I don't think they see him as trustworthy. They can't count on him and consequently they don't want to invest a big chunk of change and cap space on him.

**festivus** · 05-02-2011, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by jonboy79

And Similarly Gaither played a string of games with one arm, and outperformed Oher's healthy games.

No doubt.

If only that Gaither would show up healthy and eager this year, I look forward to him getting his Super Bowl ring as we ride our dominant OL to the league championship.

Recent history does not suggest to me that we will see that Gaither again, though.

**Jeremiah W** · 05-02-2011, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by TL24x7

The Ravens would love to have a motivated Gaither but I don't think they see him as trustworthy. They can't count on him and consequently they don't want to invest a big chunk of change and cap space on him.

Is anyone willing to invest a big chunk of upfront money in him though? It is at least 50/50 that he will be a RFA again anyway, but even if he is a UFA I can see him signing a short term incentive laden deal.

Also there is no salary cap.

**TL24x7** · 05-02-2011, 11:37 AM

Also there is no salary cap.

JW, you don't think the cap will return? And when it does don't you think a fat contract for Gaither will impact it? And do you think Drew Rosenhaus will settle for such an incentive laden contract and if your answer is yes, don't you think the Ravens would have offered something like that by now?

As you say he is likely to be a RFA hence part of my original post:

One source believes that the team will control Gaither because they anticipate that he will be a restricted free agent .

**Jeremiah W** · 05-02-2011, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by TL24x7

JW, you don't think the cap will return? And when it does don't you think a fat contract for Gaither will impact it? And do you think Drew Rosenhaus will settle for such an incentive laden contract and if your answer is yes, don't you think the Ravens would have offered something like that by now?

As you say he is likely to be a RFA hence part of my original post:

Cap or no cap the Ravens are not near the top payroll teams anyway.

However;
Upshaw said if it ever goes away it will never come back. The way things are going in court it seems like the players would rather operate without a union and CBA so there can be no cap.

Why should the players work under a CBA if they can work without one? The owners want all those anti trust protections and cost containing rules, but why would the players agree to them and a pay cut? The only way I see a CBA and cap coming back is under the same system the owners opted out of where the players get roughly a 50/50 split.

The Ravens have not been able to negotiate during the lockout and they did place a RFA tag on him, but what about my question to you?

Who would be willing to give him a huge contract coming off an injury like that? I can not see another team offering him better terms than the Ravens would be willing to pay.