Overrated Ravens - cnnsi.com Ravens fans are busy looking into cheap flights to Miami for Super Bowl XLI when they should be purchasing Amtrak tickets to New York for next year's draft. The arrival of Steve McNair has Baltimore buzzing, but there are too many potential problems to even pencil the Ravens into the playoffs, let alone the Super Bowl.Here are five reasons Baltimore won't have a winning season:1. Injuries: This is the only team on which the perennially banged-up McNair is healthier than his teammates. Stars Jamal Lewis, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed have all battled injuries, and there's no guarantee they'll return to 100 percent. 2. Age: McNair is 33. Ray Lewis, 31. Derrick Mason, 32. Jonathan Ogden will turn 32 this offseason, as will Mike Flynn. Trevor Pryce will turn 31 in August. Every one of those guys is on the downside of his career.3. AFC North: The Super Bowl champion Steelers kept their nucleus in tact, the division-winning Bengals are young and hungry, and the recent news has been positive for QB Carson Palmer. And the Browns spent a ton in free agency, making them more competitive.4. Road Woes: They haven't won away from home since Nov. 14, 2004, at the Jets. And they have some killer out-of-division trips planned for this year -- at Denver, at Kansas City, at Tampa Bay.5. Team Dissension: The love-fest we've seen this week in Baltimore seems forced. Ray Lewis showed his true nature this offseason with bitter comments about everything wrong with the Ravens. And although coach Brian Billick seems happy now, wait until things get tough and owner Steve Bisciotti starts riding him again.The Ravens will be home in January. Take it to the bank. Take it to the M&T Bank Stadium if you want. But that's just my opinion. I want to hear from you on how good the addition of McNair will make Baltimore this season.by Andrew Perloff
I kinda agree with them, I dont think the Ravens are as good on paper as the Bengals, Steelers, ect are.
And you gotta agree McNair needs to learn a new system, gonna take some time. You don't get the system like this *snaps finger* Their defense better hope they can force turnovers...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xpostxscript @ Jun 11 2006, 09:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>And you gotta agree McNair needs to learn a new system, gonna take some time. You don't get the system like this *snaps finger* Their defense better hope they can force turnovers...</div>I think Mcnair will learn/know everything by the time the season starts. He should be able to do better than he did with the Titans.McNair/Mason - Already have chemistry.McNair/Heap - Match made in heaven.McNair/Clayton - Hey, he produced with Wright and Boller. He shouldn't have much trouble with Mcnair.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Uptown @ Jun 11 2006, 07:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xpostxscript @ Jun 11 2006, 09:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>And you gotta agree McNair needs to learn a new system, gonna take some time. You don't get the system like this *snaps finger* Their defense better hope they can force turnovers...</div>I think Mcnair will learn/know everything by the time the season starts. He should be able to do better than he did with the Titans.McNair/Mason - Already have chemistry.McNair/Heap - Match made in heaven.McNair/Clayton - Hey, he produced with Wright and Boller. He shouldn't have much trouble with Mcnair.</div>I totally forgot about the re-united by McNair/Mason -- that's gonna be interesting.
I think the injuries are the biggest key. Last year, it seemed like everyone on the field was 2nd string. If we're not healthy, we're done early.If we suck bad this year, we might get Calvin Johnson, Brady Quinn, or a kickass RB.
Yeah, I'm guessing if one of our stars gets injured like Steve McNair or Ray Lewis and is out for a long time our season will be pretty much down the drain. Then hopfully Adrian Peterson comes out and we can get him or Brady Quinn would be nice.
