So Ravens fans, now that we have Boldin locked up, what do you want to complain about?  We still have the refs obviously.  Maybe the corners? Seriously though, wow.  Hats off to Ozzie and Co. for bringing in the player that this organization has desperately needed for so long.  I could gush and gush but I figure I’ll pass along what everyone else is saying about our new stud receiver…

Ozzie on not drafting him the year he took Boller and Suggs:

“When Anquan came out in the draft, he was the subject of a lot of discussion in our war room,” Newsome said. “Not too many times do you get a chance to recover from a mistake. I think I made a mistake in that draft, to worry more about measurables than about the football player. And what Anquan is is a football player.”

Coach Harbaugh:

“This is something we’ve been hoping for.  He fits us just perfectly. We’re excited about what’s in store.”

From the man himself:

“I just feel like I add a piece to this offense.  I wanted to go somewhere where, one, I had an opportunity to win a championship. I feel like I have that here. Two, a place that plays defense, runs the ball well and has a great young quarterback. I think Baltimore fits that to a T.”

“I’m seeking a little revenge on Pittsburgh anyway,” he said. “They beat us in the [2009] Super Bowl. So I’m definitely looking forward to that matchup.”

Is it September yet?

Rumors have been flying that Texans’ receiver Kevin Walter is high on the interest list for the Ravens.  Let me chime in and say I don’t like this for a few reasons .  Walter is a #2 and looked great playing next to super stud Andre Johnson.  Please take note that there is no Andre Johnson playing in a purple and black uniform demanding double teams.

Interest in obtaining Brandon Marshall seems to be declining so in my humble opinion, it’s time to focus on another #1.   While I’m not in the head of Ravens management, I surely hope they don’t want to put the hopes of the passing game on the back of Walter.

I would also like to send a big thank you to the Detroit Lions.  By overpaying Nate Burleson to the tune of $25 million ($11m guaranteed), it will most certainly drive up the price of any receiver being considered.  Please keep your sucking to yourselves and leave the rest of the league out of it!

Tight end Quinn Sypniewski has been released after failing a physical according to the team website.  He tore his ACL during one of the 2008 mini camps and went on to miss the next two seasons.  Chris Chester handled most of his “jumbo” blocking assignments last year.  With Heap getting older and LJ Smith not really contributing last year, tight end is a definite draft need this year.

The Ravens made a key move in adding some much needed depth and expereience at the wide receiver position.  Today, they sign veteran wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth to give Joe Flacco some much needed help for the 2010 season.  Stallworth brings explosive speed and soft hands to the Ravens receiver corp.  He also brings controversy and rust, as well.

Stallworth is coming off a year long suspension, after being convicted of involunatry manslaughter due to hitting a pedestrian in Miami, FL.  He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, two years house arrest, eight years probation, and 1,000 hours of community service.  One thing that the Baltimore Ravens believe in, second chances.

“There was a time I felt the mistake I made was the end of the world for me. I’ve had trouble putting it into words,” said Stallworth “So, when teams started inviting me for workouts and the Ravens called, I was excited. It means a lot that they would be willing to take a chance with me. I have a lot of people I am thankful for, and that now includes the Ravens. I can’t let any of these people down, including my family, Commissioner (Roger) Goodell and the Ravens”.

Through his seven years in the NFL, Stallworth has averaged 625.5 yards and 42 catches.  His best season came in 2005 for the New Orleans Saints, where he totaled 70 catches for 985 yards and seven touchdowns.

This is an interesting pick for the Ravens, but a good one in my opinion. Stallworth will have to apologize for the rest of his life for happened that tragic morning in Miami.  I think that we can all, given the situations surrounding Ray Lewis and Jamal Lewis, say that second chances are good and welcoming here in Baltimore.  Let me be the first to say, that I welcome Stallworth to the Ravens and hopes he does well.

Over the next few weeks I’ll be using Mel Kiper’s mock draft to introduce you to some of the players that could be wearing purple and black next season.  The first choice Mel has listed is a little bit of a head scratcher on the surface but we’ll get to that.  With the #25 pick, Mel lists Oklahoma TE Jermaine Gresham as a great fit to replace Pro Bowler and Ravens legend Todd Heap.  The reason that this might not make sense is because tight end isn’t in the top three requirements for a team in dire need of a wide receiver, outside pass rusher and shutdown corner.  Heap’s tank is quite empty just yet so it would seem that he wouldn’t even see much time unless he could unseat the vet.  On the flip side of that is the plain fact that Gresham is by far the best and most complete tight end in this year’s draft class despite missing his senior season due to injury and that he would give Flacco an explosive option.

Positives :

Huge target at 6′6″ and 260lbs

Great hands and athleticism

Can stretch the field with his speed.  Should have huge YAC numbers

Would give Flacco an option that would be more than a safety valve.  Gresham had 950 yards and 14 touchdowns in his last healthy season

Negatives:

How will he recover from surgery to repair torn cartilage?

Needs to bulk up to become more effective blocker

Bottom Line:

This guy is going to be a star in the NFL.  He is the total package with his size and ability to get open to create huge plays.  I think he would be an exceptional pick for the Ravens for a few reasons, first and foremost is that Heap isn’t getting any younger and there is virtually no depth at the position.  Normally that wouldn’t be enough to justify selecting him but watch the video and you’ll see why.  In an offense that relies on short, quick hits to Ray Rice as a major component of the offense, a player like Gresham could be huge with his ability to sneak into the secondary and run off a play for 40-50 yards.  While it doesn’t provide the explosive, huge play receiver most Raven’s fans want to see, he could add a surefire offensive weapon for a still-developing young quarterback in need of reliable targets.

Saints 31    Irsays 17

Congratulations to the Super Bowl XLIV Champion New Orleans Saints!

Peyton, you’ll always be second best to the late, great Johnny Unitas!

Since the internets are mainly used for porn and nonsensical tomfoolery, here is an aggregation of all the fun stuff all of you may have missed out on while at work.

• Greg Oden made a little splash (actually quite a large splash) in the news this week when a old photo of the cliched athlete mirror wiener shot surfaced on the interwebs. Deadspin tastefully (as tastefully as one could) hung up the year in athlete dong photos…still NSFW-esque. [Deadspin]
• Per Troy Smith’s request for a trade, Smith has left all of the lobbying to be done by his former teammate Donte Whitner via Twitter. Smith can essentially say goodbye to the NFL if he lands in Buffalo, its where players go to die, kind of like releasing a greatest hits album. [Twitter]
• Sit down and try to wrap your head around this one, the Palm Desert HS softball coach, Ashley Nieto, has been fired because her husband, a convicted sex offender, was volunteering with the team. Nieto’s husband was convicted for lewd acts with a child in 1998.  Ronald Nieto was 39 at the time of the conviction, the child was a 14-yr old girl named Ashley, who is now his lovely wife. [KESQTV]
• The Baltimore Ravens official site has thrown out a few names of  players who have caught the eye of Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta at the Senior Bowl. [Baltimore Ravens]

There’s your roundup for the last few days. One final note The City That Reeds turns a year old tonight at midnight. Still teething and has yet to walk.