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McClatchy-Tribune photo by Doug Kapustin
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5. It looks like the Ravens fully intend to bring back Billy Cundiff, although he may have to compete for his job in training camp. On some level, you have to admire that kind of loyalty. But you can't help but wonder how Cundiff will react when he misses a kick early in the season. Because fans will be brutal.
The Ravens have said a lot of nice things about Cundiff ever since he missed a kick that would have tied the game in the final seconds of the AFC championship. No one has publicly blamed him, Harbaugh has said he believes it will make Cundiff a better kicker, and Bisciotti said Wednesday he wasn't mad. He was heartbroken for Cundiff when the kick happened.
"When you work as hard as you do to put a team together like this, this is like watching your kids in high school play basketball. You don't scream at your neighbor's kid because he's not passing it enough," Bisciotti said. "They become like sons to you, so you feel for them. You can't get mad. This business is about managing your mistakes and managing your failures. Inopportune things like that kill these guys, and I die with them. I don't lash out. It's just different. You end up caring for these guys; you know how much time and effort they put in. It breaks your heart that somebody has got to be the goat, but if we had lost 35-10, then there'd be a lot of goats."
I'm always impressed at the way the Ravens make rational decisions as opposed to emotional ones. Teams like the Redskins tend to make emotional decisions, and as a result, their organization has looked rudderless for years. It makes sense, at least for now, to bring Cundiff back in the summer and see how he responds. Because the other options out there aren't great. Supposedly special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg is a big advocate for Cundiff's return. But we really don't know how Cundiff is going to react the first time he pushes a kick wide right or hooks one wide left. Will the demons of the AFC championship creep into his head? What if a Steelers game comes down to a game-winning kick? What if that kick determines who wins a division title, or grabs home-field advantage?
I've said a couple times, Matt Stover probably spoiled Ravens fans a little bit. Cundiff clearly isn't Matt Stover. What kind of kicker is he? 2012 should give us an interesting answer.
kvanvalkenburg@baltsun.com
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I have always been a big Flacco supporter! His accomplishments have been phenomenal! Of course he's been inconsistent at times - he operates in an inconsistent system! But, with the addition of Jim Caldwell, I look for him to take that next big step! So, wrapping him up long term makes sense. With an offensive line that struggled most of the year, particularly when Grubbs was absent, losing him would leave a huge void where they defintely need improvement. Obviously, I don't understand "cap" constraints, but they can ill afford to lose one of their better offensive lineman in my judgment. Ray Rice is a premier back who has been the MVP of the offense, so no argument with the need to wrap him up, too. I have been highly critical of Cameron, not just because of his archaic system, schemes, play calling, etc., but because his philosophy puts more pressure on our defense to protect leads than on opposing defenses to increase them! That must......change! And, finally, with regard to Cundiff, I feel sorry for a young man who has won more games than he's lost, particularly when he would have benefited from a "time out" instead of having to rush with the clock winding down. Isn't that why teams try to "save" time outs?! However, no one has ever accused Harbaugh of being adept at clock management.........