What if Ray Ray was a Lion? (1 Viewer)

[bonesman]

Came across this interview w/ Ray Rice that was posted on the Ravens' site the other day

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articl..._Other_Ray.aspx

The first question was:

BR.com: Ray, welcome to the Ravens. What was going on leading up to the time you were drafted 55th overall?

Rice: ”I was just sitting around my house and was actually called by the Detroit Lions’ general manager. He told me that I would be going 45th if I was available, so I got pretty excited that I was finally making it to the NFL. Of course, I didn’t go 45th. After that, I was going crazy. I felt like, ‘Man, I’ve just been lied to.’ It was disappointing, but in the end it was fine. I got that big call from the Ravens a few spots later.”

I see all the love K. Smith is getting while Rice slides down the rankings. I wonder what the hype on Rice would have been if the Lions would have selected him.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

The hype would have been astronomical as people like myself like him almost the best in this class. But as I talk about all the time, the "situation" is as important as anything and the fact is he will be sitting behind McGahee who is not a 2 Back System guy and will have to wait awhile before he(Rice) is going to see significant carries/catches/opps.

 

[EBF]

The hype would have been astronomical as people like myself like him almost the best in this class. But as I talk about all the time, the "situation" is as important as anything and the fact is he will be sitting behind McGahee who is not a 2 Back System guy and will have to wait awhile before he(Rice) is going to see significant carries/catches/opps.

Talent wins out in the long run though.Ray > Smith or Forte

 

[Addicted2Football]

If Rice had gone to Detroit I would probably have taken him over Forte. I just think that anything can happen while he waits 2 or 3 years to start in Baltimore.

 

[gheemony]

The hype would have been astronomical as people like myself like him almost the best in this class. But as I talk about all the time, the "situation" is as important as anything and the fact is he will be sitting behind McGahee who is not a 2 Back System guy and will have to wait awhile before he(Rice) is going to see significant carries/catches/opps.

Talent wins out in the long run though.Ray > Smith or Forte

Depends on your league rules. My league only allows you to keep rookies taken in our draft for 3-4 years. Typically not worth it to use the roster spot and cap space on someone that may be productive for only 1-2 of the 3-4 years. So there is no time for the "long run". Forte and Smith are better choices. But in a year or two, or if McGahee gets hurt, I'll be all over Rice. I think he may be the best in the class as well.

 

[Raider Nation]

Rice: "I was just sitting around my house and was actually called by the Detroit Lions' general manager. He told me that I would be going 45th if I was available, so I got pretty excited that I was finally making it to the NFL. Of course, I didn't go 45th. After that, I was going crazy. I felt like, 'Man, I've just been lied to.' It was disappointing, but in the end it was fine. I got that big call from the Ravens a few spots later."

This part of the story is Promises happen every year to lots of guys. Penn St. linebacker Dan Connor was on Sirius NFL Radio with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwin one week before the draft. He told the guys that two teams told him if he was still on the board when they picked in the bottom half of the first round, they would take him. Connor is a really humble kid. Kirwin is a friend of Dan's father, so I don't think he'd lie to him. You could tell he wasn't doing it to get any kind of leverage (in case other teams were listening)... he was just really excited to "know" he was going in the 1st round. Long story short, he lasted until the 3rd round -- # 74 overall.

Dan Connor Q&A from Panthers.com:

On being selected in the third round after being projected to be drafted in the first or second round:

I didn't expect it. But I'm still excited to be on the team right now and have mini-camp coming up.

 

[SSOG]

Since when does a freshly drafted kid who has yet to play a single down of football steal the nickname of a future first-ballot HoFer on his own team?

Overrated as he is today, there's only one "Ray Ray" in Baltimore, and it ain't Ray Rice.

 

[SayWhat?]

Since when does a freshly drafted kid who has yet to play a single down of football steal the nickname of a future first-ballot HoFer on his own team?Overrated as he is today, there's only one "Ray Ray" in Baltimore, and it ain't Ray Rice.

Did Ray Rice call himself Ray Ray? I must have missed that.

 

[Warhogs]

Any player passed up by the Lions who ends up on another team should consider himself fortunate.

 

[Foosball God]

Any player passed up by the Lions who ends up on another team should consider himself fortunate.

 

[Bob Henry]

The hype would have been astronomical as people like myself like him almost the best in this class. But as I talk about all the time, the "situation" is as important as anything and the fact is he will be sitting behind McGahee who is not a 2 Back System guy and will have to wait awhile before he(Rice) is going to see significant carries/catches/opps.

Talent wins out in the long run though.Ray > Smith or Forte

Can't agree more. I was waiting/hoping myself that Rice would get his name called by the Lions. Par for the course in Allen Park though.

 

[super sleeper]

Rice: "I was just sitting around my house and was actually called by the Detroit Lions' general manager. He told me that I would be going 45th if I was available, so I got pretty excited that I was finally making it to the NFL. Of course, I didn't go 45th. After that, I was going crazy. I felt like, 'Man, I've just been lied to.' It was disappointing, but in the end it was fine. I got that big call from the Ravens a few spots later."

This part of the story is Promises happen every year to lots of guys. Penn St. linebacker Dan Connor was on Sirius NFL Radio with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwin one week before the draft. He told the guys that two teams told him if he was still on the board when they picked in the bottom half of the first round, they would take him. Connor is a really humble kid. Kirwin is a friend of Dan's father, so I don't think he'd lie to him. You could tell he wasn't doing it to get any kind of leverage (in case other teams were listening)... he was just really excited to "know" he was going in the 1st round. Long story short, he lasted until the 3rd round -- # 74 overall.

Dan Connor Q&A from Panthers.com:

On being selected in the third round after being projected to be drafted in the first or second round:

I didn't expect it. But I'm still excited to be on the team right now and have mini-camp coming up.

Being told more than a week before the draft that teams were looking at you in the first round and being called during the draft to be told you were going to be picked is not really comparable.Not that it's really a big deal, because, as already mentioned, Baltimore is a better organization to play for than Detroit. Unlike most, I think Rice gets significant playing time this year. All you have to do is look at how McGahee faltered late in games throughout the year, and contrast that with Rice, who played stronger as games wore on, and I see close to a RBBC in Baltimore by the second half of the season.

 

[noneother]

i've posted this before

DirectTV owes my NFL ticket subscription to the Lions.... at somepoint the owners should take the franchise away from the fords, I'd like it to stay in Michigan... maybe Illitch can own another, maybe Dan Gilbert finds the $$$.

 

[LarryAllen'sJockstrap]

Any player passed up by the Lions who ends up on another team should consider himself fortunate.

Most of the time I would agree; in this case probably not.In Baltimore, Rice will have to back up a 26 year old McGahee who is a 3 time 1,000 yard rusher (990 yards in his other season). Rice will be lucky to see 100 carries a season as long as McGahee is still there and healthy.In Detriot, Rice would have had the chance to come in and fairly quickly establish himself as the #1 RB.1000+ yards a season gets you a lot better paycheck in a couple years than does 400-500 yards.

 

[brock]

The hype would have been astronomical as people like myself like him almost the best in this class. But as I talk about all the time, the "situation" is as important as anything and the fact is he will be sitting behind McGahee who is not a 2 Back System guy and will have to wait awhile before he(Rice) is going to see significant carries/catches/opps.

Talent wins out in the long run though.Ray > Smith or Forte

yes talent does. right now most would say rice, but quite often people get it wrong on who the more talented player ends up being. 2 years ago MJD was the 13th pick in rookie drafts. i bet in a redo he would be top 3 right now and who would claim lenwhale or dwill is more talented now?

 

[EBF]

The hype would have been astronomical as people like myself like him almost the best in this class. But as I talk about all the time, the "situation" is as important as anything and the fact is he will be sitting behind McGahee who is not a 2 Back System guy and will have to wait awhile before he(Rice) is going to see significant carries/catches/opps.

Talent wins out in the long run though.Ray > Smith or Forte

yes talent does. right now most would say rice, but quite often people get it wrong on who the more talented player ends up being. 2 years ago MJD was the 13th pick in rookie drafts. i bet in a redo he would be top 3 right now and who would claim lenwhale or dwill is more talented now?

It's just an opinion. In my opinion, Ray Rice is a better RB prospect than Forte or Smith. I couldn't pass on him for one of those two. FWIW, Rice is the guy who's slipping in drafts, so he might actually be the most comparable to MJD.

 

[Jedimaster21]

First of all, Rice is a very talented back with all of the skills to be successful at the NFL level. Secondly, the Ozzie Newsome was specifically asked during the press conference discussing the pick if Ray could carry the load and we was extremely confident that he could hold up for 16 games.

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/media_libra...lection_PC.aspx

Lastly, the Ravens are a solid organization with a very talented coaching staff. Harbaugh may be unproven, but he has surrounded himself with a great OC and DC, and has the charisma to get the job done. McGahee will turn 27 during the season, and I don't think he is the kind of player that will play into his 30s. Ray Rice landing in Baltimore may look like a value hit on the surface, but it will allow a very good player to slip in rookie/dynasty drafts. Within 2 years, he will be worth a lot more than Forte or Smith.

 

[EBF]

First of all, Rice is a very talented back with all of the skills to be successful at the NFL level. Secondly, the Ozzie Newsome was specifically asked during the press conference discussing the pick if Ray could carry the load and we was extremely confident that he could hold up for 16 games.

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/media_libra...lection_PC.aspx

Lastly, the Ravens are a solid organization with a very talented coaching staff. Harbaugh may be unproven, but he has surrounded himself with a great OC and DC, and has the charisma to get the job done. McGahee will turn 27 during the season, and I don't think he is the kind of player that will play into his 30s. Ray Rice landing in Baltimore may look like a value hit on the surface, but it will allow a very good player to slip in rookie/dynasty drafts. Within 2 years, he will be worth a lot more than Forte or Smith.

I'll be doing a new rookie list soon. Rice will be in the 5 spot. I think he's a great value right now.

 

[brock]

The hype would have been astronomical as people like myself like him almost the best in this class. But as I talk about all the time, the "situation" is as important as anything and the fact is he will be sitting behind McGahee who is not a 2 Back System guy and will have to wait awhile before he(Rice) is going to see significant carries/catches/opps.

Talent wins out in the long run though.Ray > Smith or Forte

yes talent does. right now most would say rice, but quite often people get it wrong on who the more talented player ends up being. 2 years ago MJD was the 13th pick in rookie drafts. i bet in a redo he would be top 3 right now and who would claim lenwhale or dwill is more talented now?

It's just an opinion. In my opinion, Ray Rice is a better RB prospect than Forte or Smith. I couldn't pass on him for one of those two. FWIW, Rice is the guy who's slipping in drafts, so he might actually be the most comparable to MJD.

that's a good point.

 

[FTRWRTR]

I see all the love K. Smith is getting while Rice slides down the rankings. I wonder what the hype on Rice would have been if the Lions would have selected him.

Rice was considered the 5th best rb before the draft and after the draft, his "slide down the rankings" has him going 1:7 if not higher in alot of drafts

 

[bonesman]

Since when does a freshly drafted kid who has yet to play a single down of football steal the nickname of a future first-ballot HoFer on his own team?Overrated as he is today, there's only one "Ray Ray" in Baltimore, and it ain't Ray Rice.

Did Ray Rice call himself Ray Ray? I must have missed that.

Rice has been known as "Ray Ray" by his friends and family for a long time.... like since he was a kid.

 

[bonesman]

I see all the love K. Smith is getting while Rice slides down the rankings. I wonder what the hype on Rice would have been if the Lions would have selected him.

Rice was considered the 5th best rb before the draft and after the draft, his "slide down the rankings" has him going 1:7 if not higher in alot of drafts

so you're saying you've never seen him go 12th?http://football41.myfantasyleague.com/2008...=49724&O=17

10th?

http://football22.myfantasyleague.com/2008...=22414&O=17

9th?

http://football29.myfantasyleague.com/2008...=18599&O=17

some people had him as high as 2nd coming out this year... I'd say a ADP "slide down the rankings" to 7/8ish is too significant of a slide not to notice. And who am I seeing go consistently before him? Kevin Smith.... hence this thread. Thanks for participating.

 

[bonesman]

Not that it's really a big deal, because, as already mentioned, Baltimore is a better organization to play for than Detroit. Unlike most, I think Rice gets significant playing time this year. All you have to do is look at how McGahee faltered late in games throughout the year, and contrast that with Rice, who played stronger as games wore on, and I see close to a RBBC in Baltimore by the second half of the season.

I absolutely agree. Besides the reason you mention (McGahee regularly fatiguing) another reason I thinks Ray makes a contribution early and often is because of Cam Cameron. We've seen how he likes to get the ball into the hands of his RBs through the passing game and that's certainly not Willis' strong suit. And though he's traditionally not a RBBC guy... remember how much love he was giving J. Chatman early last year after a strong preseason? It may start w/ Kick/Punt returns and occasional 3rd downs... but I think Rice will be too valuable for Cam not to work in more often.

 

[SSOG]

Since when does a freshly drafted kid who has yet to play a single down of football steal the nickname of a future first-ballot HoFer on his own team?Overrated as he is today, there's only one "Ray Ray" in Baltimore, and it ain't Ray Rice.

Did Ray Rice call himself Ray Ray? I must have missed that.

Thread title: "What if Ray Ray was a Lion?"Thread subject: Ray RiceSSoG: "Since when do we call any Ravens 'Ray Ray' other than Ray Lewis?"Glad I could help bring you up to speed.

 

[Donnybrook]

Came across this interview w/ Ray Rice that was posted on the Ravens' site the other day

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articl..._Other_Ray.aspx

The first question was:

BR.com: Ray, welcome to the Ravens. What was going on leading up to the time you were drafted 55th overall?

Rice: ”I was just sitting around my house and was actually called by the Detroit Lions’ general manager. He told me that I would be going 45th if I was available, so I got pretty excited that I was finally making it to the NFL. Of course, I didn’t go 45th. After that, I was going crazy. I felt like, ‘Man, I’ve just been lied to.’ It was disappointing, but in the end it was fine. I got that big call from the Ravens a few spots later.”

I see all the love K. Smith is getting while Rice slides down the rankings. I wonder what the hype on Rice would have been if the Lions would have selected him.

I recall that the Lions alledgely did a similar type thing with TJ Duckett in free agency. http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...&hl=Duckett. So I wouldn't doubt it. But it could have been a couple of Jared Allen's friends hiding in the back room.

(Yeah I watch too much NFL network)

 

[Bri]

gotta say Ray Ray not being in regards to Ray Lewis bugs me too

 

[bonesman]

gotta say Ray Ray not being in regards to Ray Lewis bugs me too

Why? Is that a name he earned out on the field by being a bad-###?It's not like he's donning a yellow sports jacket or anything. Ray Ray is a VERY common nickname for people named Ray. Is it because they're on the same team? What if Ray Ray Rice was on the Lions?

 

[Bri]

gotta say Ray Ray not being in regards to Ray Lewis bugs me too

Why?

I don't know.Some guy I used to hangout with called his wife Sweetness and that bugged me due to Walter. Go figure

 

[SayWhat?]

Since when does a freshly drafted kid who has yet to play a single down of football steal the nickname of a future first-ballot HoFer on his own team?Overrated as he is today, there's only one "Ray Ray" in Baltimore, and it ain't Ray Rice.

Did Ray Rice call himself Ray Ray? I must have missed that.

Thread title: "What if Ray Ray was a Lion?"Thread subject: Ray RiceSSoG: "Since when do we call any Ravens 'Ray Ray' other than Ray Lewis?"Glad I could help bring you up to speed.

Wow. Extremely enlightening. Again, when did Ray Rice call himself "Ray Ray?" Typically people don't nickname themselves, so saying thay Ray Rice stole Ray Lewis' "Ray Ray" nickname is about as gaylord as the nickname itself.

 

[SSOG]

gotta say Ray Ray not being in regards to Ray Lewis bugs me too

Why? Is that a name he earned out on the field by being a bad-###?It's not like he's donning a yellow sports jacket or anything. Ray Ray is a VERY common nickname for people named Ray. Is it because they're on the same team? What if Ray Ray Rice was on the Lions?

I'd be MORE okay with it if he was on the Lions, but it would still bug me. I think it's because Ray Lewis is still an active player, and because he's a first-ballot HoFer. If he had been retired for 5 years, I don't know that I would see anything wrong with it. It'd be like a player asking for Ray Lewis's number... while Ray Lewis was still wearing it. If he's retired, and the number is available, and the team didn't retire it, then fine... but as long as Lewis is around, his number is his own. Ditto that for his nickname.I don't have a problem with Tomlinson being "LT", but if a rookie came in and was called "LT", that would be a no-go in my book. Other nicknames that are currently off-limits include, but are not limited to, "TO", "Joe Cool" (I know, he's long retired, but since that's not a common nickname that one never gets thrown back into the active pool), Smiff (okay, that's not Steve Smith's official nickname, but as far as I'm concerned it should be), "Ocho Cinco", "All Day", "Megatron", "The Matrix" (that nickname has been retired and placed in the undeserving nickname hall of shame), etc. Even some cross-sport exclusions apply- no football player can ever be called "The Great One" or "The Great Bambino", for instance.There just has to be some sort of order, here. This is football. If we don't stay vigilant, it might soon become like Basketball, with two different K-Marts running around confusing the media and readers alike. Nobody wants THAT now, do they?

 

[massraider]

Teams "lie" to players like this every year.

 

[SSOG]

Since when does a freshly drafted kid who has yet to play a single down of football steal the nickname of a future first-ballot HoFer on his own team?Overrated as he is today, there's only one "Ray Ray" in Baltimore, and it ain't Ray Rice.

Did Ray Rice call himself Ray Ray? I must have missed that.

Thread title: "What if Ray Ray was a Lion?"Thread subject: Ray RiceSSoG: "Since when do we call any Ravens 'Ray Ray' other than Ray Lewis?"Glad I could help bring you up to speed.

Wow. Extremely enlightening. Again, when did Ray Rice call himself "Ray Ray?" Typically people don't nickname themselves, so saying thay Ray Rice stole Ray Lewis' "Ray Ray" nickname is about as gaylord as the nickname itself.

Where did I ever say that Ray Rice called himself "Ray Ray"? How is that even the least bit relevant. I'm talking to a shark pool poster who called Ray Rice "Ray Ray" about whether we should call Ray Rice "Ray Ray". If I want to discuss whether Joe Montana should be called "Joe Cool" do I have to actually call him up and say "Hey Joe, have you ever actually used the phrase 'Joe Cool' when referring to yourself?"Let me distill this down for you once more.Original Poster: Ray Rice = Ray RaySSoG: No, Ray Lewis = Ray RayYou: Hey guys, what do you think Ray Rice calls himself when he's all alone at night? This is totally relevant to the debate!

 

[SayWhat?]

Since when does a freshly drafted kid who has yet to play a single down of football steal the nickname of a future first-ballot HoFer on his own team?Overrated as he is today, there's only one "Ray Ray" in Baltimore, and it ain't Ray Rice.

Did Ray Rice call himself Ray Ray? I must have missed that.

Thread title: "What if Ray Ray was a Lion?"Thread subject: Ray RiceSSoG: "Since when do we call any Ravens 'Ray Ray' other than Ray Lewis?"Glad I could help bring you up to speed.

Wow. Extremely enlightening. Again, when did Ray Rice call himself "Ray Ray?" Typically people don't nickname themselves, so saying thay Ray Rice stole Ray Lewis' "Ray Ray" nickname is about as gaylord as the nickname itself.

Where did I ever say that Ray Rice called himself "Ray Ray"? How is that even the least bit relevant. I'm talking to a shark pool poster who called Ray Rice "Ray Ray" about whether we should call Ray Rice "Ray Ray". If I want to discuss whether Joe Montana should be called "Joe Cool" do I have to actually call him up and say "Hey Joe, have you ever actually used the phrase 'Joe Cool' when referring to yourself?"Let me distill this down for you once more.Original Poster: Ray Rice = Ray RaySSoG: No, Ray Lewis = Ray RayYou: Hey guys, what do you think Ray Rice calls himself when he's all alone at night? This is totally relevant to the debate!

Wow, you're missing the point entirely. Yes, I get your point that Ray Lewis' nickname is Ray Ray. Lame as it may be, that's what it is. But how, exactly, did Ray Rice "steal" the nickname from Ray Lewis? Ya think he told his buddies, "hey guys, from here on out I'm 'Ray Ray' to you guys"? If you want to argue that nobody should refer to Rice as Ray Ray because that nickname belongs to Ray Lewis (which I think you're doing), then that's one thing. If you want to say that Ray Rice ripped off the Ray Ray nickname from Ray Lewis as you insinuated in the post I quoted, well then I'm not sure what to tell you.

 

[SSOG]

Wow, you're missing the point entirely. Yes, I get your point that Ray Lewis' nickname is Ray Ray. Lame as it may be, that's what it is. But how, exactly, did Ray Rice "steal" the nickname from Ray Lewis? Ya think he told his buddies, "hey guys, from here on out I'm 'Ray Ray' to you guys"?

If you want to argue that nobody should refer to Rice as Ray Ray because that nickname belongs to Ray Lewis (which I think you're doing), then that's one thing. If you want to say that Ray Rice ripped off the Ray Ray nickname from Ray Lewis as you insinuated in the post I quoted, well then I'm not sure what to tell you.

Ray Rice doesn't have to instigate the theft in order for the theft to occur. I would say that the New England Patriots STOLE THE SPOTLIGHT for the overwhelming majority of last season- are you going to now post asking me when the Patriots had a player's-only meeting and said "hey guys, the media is paying too much attention to all those other storylines, what can we do to put a stop to this?"The Patriots stole the media spotlight last year whether the players intended for it to happen or not. If everyone starts calling Rice "Ray Ray", then he will have stolen Ray Lewis's nickname whether he intended for it to happen or not. If you want to get all literal on me, though, how about we bust out good old Dictionary.com here.

Steal:

3. to take, get, or win insidiously, surreptitiously, subtly, or by chance: He stole my girlfriend.

Ray Rice got Ray Lewis's nickname by chance. Can I now say that he stole it without you getting all affronted? Or would you rather I simply say that Ray Rice was accessory to the theft of Ray Lewis's nickname?

 

[bonesman]

gotta say Ray Ray not being in regards to Ray Lewis bugs me too

Why? Is that a name he earned out on the field by being a bad-###?It's not like he's donning a yellow sports jacket or anything. Ray Ray is a VERY common nickname for people named Ray. Is it because they're on the same team? What if Ray Ray Rice was on the Lions?

I'd be MORE okay with it if he was on the Lions, but it would still bug me. I think it's because Ray Lewis is still an active player, and because he's a first-ballot HoFer. If he had been retired for 5 years, I don't know that I would see anything wrong with it. It'd be like a player asking for Ray Lewis's number... while Ray Lewis was still wearing it. If he's retired, and the number is available, and the team didn't retire it, then fine... but as long as Lewis is around, his number is his own. Ditto that for his nickname.I don't have a problem with Tomlinson being "LT", but if a rookie came in and was called "LT", that would be a no-go in my book. Other nicknames that are currently off-limits include, but are not limited to, "TO", "Joe Cool" (I know, he's long retired, but since that's not a common nickname that one never gets thrown back into the active pool), Smiff (okay, that's not Steve Smith's official nickname, but as far as I'm concerned it should be), "Ocho Cinco", "All Day", "Megatron", "The Matrix" (that nickname has been retired and placed in the undeserving nickname hall of shame), etc. Even some cross-sport exclusions apply- no football player can ever be called "The Great One" or "The Great Bambino", for instance.There just has to be some sort of order, here. This is football. If we don't stay vigilant, it might soon become like Basketball, with two different K-Marts running around confusing the media and readers alike. Nobody wants THAT now, do they?

Several of these reserved nicknames "All Day", "The Matrix", "Joe Cool" and any of the "Great" ones arose from the players actions on the field. I understand why they are reserved. But when it's someone's childhood nickname I don't see how you can be peeved. My Grandma used to call me "Bubba"... if it stuck and I became a professional athlete would I feel I was disrespecting Bubba Franks or Bubba Smith by people still calling be Bubba?Perhaps adding a "Lil" in the front would appease the Ray Ray Rice haters? Lil Ray Ray?

 

[massraider]

Frontrunner for 2008 silliest argument of the year.