OTL: Ravens Make a Signing, Bengals Fans Keep Whining

Happy Wild Card Hump Day, #RavensFlock!

As we get ready for a playoff game against a division opponent, the Ravens gave us something else exciting to pass the time.

Per Saint Omni, The #Ravens agree in principle with All-Pro LB Roquan Smith — now the highest paid at his position in NFL history with a 5-yr, $100M deal. $45M fully guaranteed & $60M in total guarantees. Huge. The 1st off-ball LB to get $20M per year. Roquan represented himself. pic.twitter.com/KCy7t26SpZ

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 10, 2023

It was no secret that the Ravens were going to do all they could to sign Smith to an extension. You don’t give up what they did to get him without that being the plan. That said, $60 Million guaranteed isn’t cheap, but they had little choice.

Let’s get one thing out of the way: Roquan was going to get paid, basically, whatever he wanted by the Ravens. The organization has had a love affair with this style of player since its inception.

If you are going to complain about paying an “devalued position,” I’d offer a counter:

Ravens defense in 2022 with and without Roquan Smith (via @TruMediaSports):

Success Rate
Without: 55.4% (27th)
With: 61.1% (T-5th)

Opponent Explosive Play %
Without: 10.4% (T-10th)
With: 8.3% (2nd)

EPA/Play
Without: -.06 (30th)
With: .11 (T-1st)

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) January 10, 2023

A few thoughts on Roquan Smith (a mini-thread): his contribution to the Ravens defense is borne out in the numbers that many have posted, on the significantly improved efficiency of the unit since he joined, but it also passes the eye test… 1/6

— James Ogden (@NflOgden) January 10, 2023

Roquan adds so much more to this team than just being a start at a “devalued position.” He makes this defense into an elite unit and the turnaround doesn’t happen without him. Smith had to get paid big by the Ravens and if they didn’t the people complaining would probably flip it around and complain about not signing him.

Of course, fans had to bring the other potential extension candidate, Lamar Jackson, into this as well but here is the thing: signing Roquan does nothing to impact Lamar!

If you are mad about Roquan being signed before Jackson, then you haven’t been paying attention:

*whispers* Lamar jackson said he wouldn’t negotiate till after the 2022 season.

*yells* ITS NOT THE END OF THE 2022 SEASON.#RavensFlock

— Cole Jackson (@ColeJacksonFB) January 10, 2023

Lamar cut off communications for his extension before the season even started. That was his choice, not the team’s. Jackson is well within his rights to set deadlines, but let’s get the facts straight before spouting off, eh?

Moving onto the next talking point I’ve seen thrown around: that Roquan’s contract is going to take up too much of the salary cap space.

Also, wrong.

OK, trying to catch up here – so, a $22.5M SB w/ a (very) likely minimum base salary of $1.08M would mean Smith’s 2023 Cap number would be $5.58M. Plenty low enough to get something done – franchise or deal – w/ Lamar. https://t.co/3tQCApqTHT

— Brian McFarland (@RavensSalaryCap) January 10, 2023

Ok, I am done complaining about my fellow Ravens fans. This deal had to get done and no conversations about the positional value or somehow making it about Lamar is going to change my mind on that.

Let’s focus on the game ahead of us.

One of the biggest talking points this week from Bengals players and fans was the Ravens playing “dirty” the other day.

We’re guessing that these are some of the plays in which the #Bengals are taking umbrage. We’ll talk about it on the #podcast tonight @ 630 et to kick off our #wildcardweekend coverage! pic.twitter.com/t4CIBQQrfP

— Orange&Black Insider (@BengalsOBI) January 9, 2023

If these are the plays they are talking about, then I am sorry…but give me a break. One of them is a missed face mask, which happens by complete accident (or is JPP hoping to get a 15-yarder to move the Bengals out of the shadow of their own end zone?)

One of them is Chuck Clark making a clean hit out of bounds, another one is Roquan trying to stop a player short of the line to gain, and the other one with Roquan is making sure the runner was down.

What is the issue here? Do the Bengals just expect opponents to not play hard? How is any of this remotely “dirty?”

I know people will bring up the Chase push, but honestly, if that is what is going to get you all fired up and make it seem like Roquan is “dirty” then please grow up. The Daryl Worley hit on Tee Higgins was also clean. There were no hits that I saw that could be counted as “dirty.” Hard hits yes, but clean and legal.

It just seems like from an outsider’s perspective that the Bengals expected to walk into this and dominate and were already ticked off that the league made it a little harder for them in the playoffs.  Of course, when the hits started to come and the Ravens dictated that they wouldn’t simply lie down they got mad and started making the dirty accusations.

What is ironic about this whole situation is this:

The Bengals alleged the Ravens had some dirty, late plays Sunday. John Harbaugh refuted that. But would love the Bengals explanation for Eli Apple grabbing Ben Powers’ leg here

pic.twitter.com/rLskWglX77

— Bo Smolka (@bsmolka) January 10, 2023

Look at that, an actual dirty play by a Bengals player.

Last Sunday’s game was in actuality a physical AFC North matchup that the Bengals didn’t want any part of.

They’d better put on their big boy pants, because the physicality is just going to be stepped up on Sunday night.

The post OTL: Ravens Make a Signing, Bengals Fans Keep Whining appeared first on Russell Street Report.