“Slim” chance Jared Gaither re-signs with Ravens

[malachi47000]

Posted by Josh Alper on February 1, 2011, 11:00 AM EST
Jared Gaither

The one thing that the Ravens would need to know from Jared Gaither is something that he can’t possible tell them when they sit down to talk on Wednesday.

The Ravens need to know if they can count on Gaither to both practice and play in games for them during the 2011 season if they are going to re-sign him. That’s impossible to know in February when Gaither is coming off a year lost to a foot injury that may have resulted from his showing up at camp in poor shape as a result of back problems and unhappiness with the lack of a contract extension.

The injury problems are bad enough, but the questions about his work ethic raised by last summer’s issues have made it hard for the Ravens to put a full level of trust into Gaither. That explains why a Ravens official told Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun that the chances of Gaither returning for another season were “slim.”

If Gaither does leave, the Ravens will have a big hole on the offensive line. Michael Oher was less effective as a left tackle this season than he was as a rookie on the right side, although that move was planned before Gaither’s injury. Marshal Yanda took over on the right and did okay while simultaneously making it clear he was a better fit at guard. The struggles of the offensive line were fingered as a big reason for Baltimore’s offensive slowdown down the stretch of the regular season, which means the team needs to be sure about the direction they take heading into next year.

The labor uncertainty might actually wind up helping the two sides find a common ground as a short offseason would hamper the Ravens’ ability to replace Gaither with a rookie or a free agent from outside the organization. A lack of trust is a lot to overcome, however, and it would be a major stumbling block to any discussion of a long-term contract with the Ravens.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...s-with-ravens/

[Hammock Parties]

Best reason to bring in Gaither - 0 depth at either tackle spot.

But I wouldn't want to give him a big contract...and I think some team will do that because of his experience at LT, and the fact it's hard to find good tackles in FA.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by ClayWhit

Best reason to bring in Gaither - 0 depth at either tackle spot.

But I wouldn't want to give him a big contract...and I think some team will do that because of his experience at LT, and the fact it's hard to find good tackles in FA.

If you're worried about depth, take a right tackle in the draft that can beat out Richardson, and move Richardson to "swing" tackle.

Don't bring in a overpaid, cancerous piece of shit.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Per the CBA, if this team is not active in FA, going after legit players and not left-over trash, I'm going to be annoyed.

There's no excuse. Enough of a foundation is in place to try to accumulate strategic pieces.

you will be annoyed at Pioli?

surely not

[Micjones]

Not ready to give up on Richardson just yet.
We do need depth along the line, but I'd rather see us draft those linemen.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

Because I believe in the draft, works much better & for long term success. We've gone down this road with FA and so far look at how it's gotten us with play offs. They do ok for short term but they also take away from players that need to get on the field to play to get better. I want guys with upcomming skills and become something special for us. I just don't care for FA that much at all. Takes away the growth & development of the guys we draft. JMO. It's what the draft is all about, to build a championship around.

The problem with our free agent signings in the past is that we've always gone after guys at the end of their careers, or that have had injury issues that allowed us to sign them on teh cheap.

Free agency is another tool, along with the draft, that can be used to build a team.

I wouldn't want Gaither because of his injury history and work ethic, but if the Falcons let Tyson Clabo hit the free agent market, I'd use the resourses at my disposal to make him a Chief.

[doomy3]

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

Because I believe in the draft, works much better & for long term success. We've gone down this road with FA and so far look at how it's gotten us with play offs. They do ok for short term but they also take away from players that need to get on the field to play to get better. I want guys with upcomming skills and become something special for us. I just don't care for FA that much at all. Takes away the growth & development of the guys we draft. JMO. It's what the draft is all about, to build a championship around.

Jared Gaither is 24 years old. He has a world of upside and is extremely young, and has competed at a high level in the NFL. I'm not sure what more you could ask for.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by doomy3

Jared Gaither is 24 years old. He has a world of upside and is extremely young, and has competed at a high level in the NFL. I'm not sure what more you could ask for.

1. Dedication
2. Love of the game
3. Great locker room presence

[bowener]

Originally Posted by haydenchiefs101

I live out in MD this dude is a cancer he wants LT money and when the ravens said no you are playing RT .This dude went out and lost 50 pounds to like 260 and you want this cancer here really?

Question:

Is it more likely that he lost 50 pounds because of a foot injury, which kept him from being able to fully work out?

It seems more logical to me that a really bad foot injury is why a large man, 6'9", dropped so much weight, and far less logical that it was an act of defiance against the team that he is trying to get a lot of money from.

[CupidStunt]

Good player but too rich for the Cheaps. As with every other good FA this year.

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Originally Posted by bowener

Question:

Is it more likely that he lost 50 pounds because of a foot injury, which kept him from being able to fully work out?

It seems more logical to me that a really bad foot injury is why a large man, 6'9", dropped so much weight, and far less logical that it was an act of defiance against the team that he is trying to get a lot of money from.

He lost the pounds before camp then he got hurt in camp cause of it.

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Gaither's weight loss may influence starting lineup


While reading through and eventually posting Aaron Wilson’s new pieces here on Ravens24x7.com today, two things jump off the page at me: 1) Aaron’s commentary on Jared Gaither’s weight and; 2) An interesting little blurb about newly acquired CB Doug Dutch.

Gaither is like a walking reality show. He’s dropped down to 311 pounds, 29 below his ’09 playing weight of 340 pounds. That is substantial and not to have consulted with the team before taking the Medifast approach is just flat out irresponsible and/or selfish.

The team has strength and conditioning specialists on staff. If Gaither was genuinely trying to improve his play by re-sculpting his body, why not consult with them if in fact he has the best interests of the team in mind?

Gaither chose not to work out with the team during the offseason. But despite his poor attendance during OTA’s, the team did see him on occasion. Twenty-nine pounds just doesn’t go away between mid June and mid July, does it? Were the Ravens not paying attention?

Aaron’s take on the weight loss is thoughtful. Could Gaither have intentionally dropped the weight so that the Ravens would be forced to play him at left tackle? Left tackles in the NFL are usually more nimble than their counterparts to the right. They are generally asked to control speed rushers while right tackles usually are tasked with battling larger and more physical defensive ends.

Left tackles are paid substantially more money than right tackles – significantly more money (unless of course a club is protecting a left-handed quarterback).

Might Gaither’s agent Drew Rosenhaus have steered his client down Jenny Craig Lane in order to get the bigger pay day next season?

Some might say that conspiracy theorist rhetoric. But given Rosenhaus’ track record of gamesmanship at the bargaining table, the notion can hardly be summarily dismissed.

Speaking of thought, it seems to me that the Ravens didn’t give much of it to the trade of John Beck to the Redskins for CB Doug Dutch. This shakes out for me as trading one warm practice body for another. Dutch arrives today to take away some of the CB reps from the injury depleted secondary and that’s ok I suppose.

But if you are expecting another Ozzie Newsome diamond in the rough with Dutch, don’t hold your breath. You see the Maryland native couldn’t even make the final cut for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League.
Posted by Tony Lombardi at 7:16 AM | ShareThis

[The Franchise]

So did he way 260 or 311?

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

So did he way 260 or 311?

he went down to 260 during the season cause he didn't play

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

O yea i forgot to say he was a head case at MARYLAND long list of stuff


Sources: Terps OT Gaither declared academically ineligibleEmail Print Comments2 By Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com
Archive
Once-promising Maryland offensive tackle Jared Gaither has been declared academically ineligible for the 2007 season, sources close to the situation said Wednesday.

Gaither, a rising junior from White Plains, Md., was held out of spring drills to concentrate on academics, but didn't meet requirements to play this coming season. He met with Terrapins coach Ralph Friedgen on Tuesday to decide his future and is scheduled to meet with him again later this week.

Gaither has two options: enter the NFL's supplemental draft (he attended Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia in 2004 and two years with the Terps, making him eligible to turn professional) or return to Maryland this fall and attempt to become eligible for the 2008 season.

Sources said they believed Gaither was leaning toward returning to school this fall.

An NFL scout, who was attending former Georgia cornerback Paul Oliver's workout in Athens, Ga., on Wednesday, said Gaither would be the most desirable player available if he enters the supplemental draft. Gaither didn't allow a sack in 11 games as a freshman at Maryland in 2005.

Gaither, who started nine of 13 games in 2006, has tremendous size and athleticism. But the 6-foot-9, 350-pound tackle has been in and out of Friedgen's dog house during his two-plus seasons at Maryland. He quickly fell into academic trouble at Maryland and was suspended by Friedgen for last season's opener against Division I-AA William & Mary.

The Terrapins will have two new starting tackles this coming season. They also lost starting left tackle Stephon Heyer, who struggled during the 2006 season after recovering from a torn ACL that caused him to miss his entire junior season. Senior Scott Burley and junior Dane Randolph were the No. 1 tackles coming out of spring drills.

Randolph, a converted defensive lineman, started four games after unseating Gaither at right tackle late last season. Senior Scott Burley, who started in Gaither's absence against William & Mary in 2006 and has played in 13 games the last three seasons combined, is expected to replace Heyer at left tackle.

[Marcellus]

Sounds safe to say we don't want him other than maybe a 1 year cheap get your shit together deal.