Trey Hendrickson
Getty
New Ravens pass rusher Trey Hendrickson looks at the sideline during his time as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals.
When the Baltimore Ravens backed out of the deal for Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby, they regained control of their next two first-round picks. However, the media reaction to the situation and the alleged league reaction appear firmly against the Ravens. Baltimore Banner writer Kyle Goon draws the line between on-field and off-field progress.
“Maybe the Ravens can ‘recover’ if they can get another pass rusher. Finding a way to sign Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, for example, might salve some of the on-field wounds. But they’ve lost a chunk of their credibility as one of the NFL’s most competent organizations — something not so easily recovered.”
In fact, the team did sign Hendrickson to a four-year contract. Granted, that did solve the team’s most pressing defensive need: an edge rusher. Baltimore, from a signed-talent standpoint, appears to be a better team than they were yesterday. However, as Goon asserts, what price did the team pay in terms of image?
The Ravens, by many accounts, pulled away from the table when Crosby did not pass a team-administered physical. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter discusses the timing of the physical.
“The problem is the timing of the schedule. The timing of the physical is not in two or three months, when Maxx Crosby would be further ahead. It was yesterday, when the Ravens have to make a decision whether to surrender as much compensation and salary as they would have. ”
Baltimore’s Change of Heart Resonates Through NFL
General manager Eric DeCosta probably didn’t make the decision without Steve Bisciotti’s backing. As a result, the two seem in lockstep regarding the matter. At the same time, what does the rest of the league feel about the issue? The Athletic’s Dianna Russini tweeted this.
“It’s been made clear by multiple people around the NFL at all levels that Baltimore had all the information and understood where Maxx Crosby’s knee was in terms of his recovery timeline. Many in the league believe GM Eric DeCosta and the Ravens ultimately just got cold feet.”
As mentioned, individual teams control physicals. Basically, one team can pass a player, and another could fail him on the exact same day. With the strictest interpretation of policy, the Ravens did nothing wrong.
Nothing they did was illegal. If they backed off because of Crosby’s knee and how it would affect him, nothing was signed, and nothing became official. Under those circumstances, how does acting in what you perceive as the best interest of your team transform into a negative?
Maxx Crosby
GettyFormer Ravens trade target, Las Vegas edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
Crosby’s Scenario Jogs the Memories of Previous Ravens Physicals
Again, nothing Baltimore did crossed the line into illegality. However, what the Crosby matter did do was refresh the memories of other times when team doctors failed a player. Former NFL linebacker Will Compton details another incident.
In 2018, the Ravens agreed to terms with free agent Ryan Grant, formerly of Washington, on a four-year, $29 million deal. That week, the Oakland Raiders released wideout Michael Crabtree. Evidently, the Ravens liked the Crabtree option more. The team failed Grant’s physical. Before agreeing to terms, Grant never missed a game.
Eric DeCosta
GettyBaltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta surveys the field before a game.
Former NFL Executive Weighs In
Former Green Bay Packers executive Andrew Brandt delivered an opinion based on his years of experience, which differs from his colleagues.
“For all the ‘team sources’ saying they won’t deal with the Ravens again; well, yes, they will.
I remember being p*ssed at a team or an agent, but when they had a player that we wanted, we were all good again.
The Ravens did what they had to do; they’ll deal with any hard feelings.”
While the fallout around the failed trade hovers, the Ravens turned the page and moved on. Now, Hendrickson and Crosby are linked by performance. Whether Baltimore emerges better afterwards remains to be seen.
The Ravens signed their pass rusher and restructured Lamar Jackson’s deal in the last two days. Now,, they will focus on the NFL draft and remainder of free agnecy.