Ravens still team to beat in AFC North!

[polamalubeast]

No team has taken more hits than the Ravens since free agency began two weeks ago.

Baltimore watched a Pro Bowl offensive lineman (guard Ben Grubbs), perhaps their grittiest player on defense (linebacker Jarret Johnson), and an underrated role player (defensive end Cory Redding) go elsewhere and has yet to sign anyone to replace them.

There's no question that the Ravens are among the biggest losers after the first wave of free agency. But it's debatable how much ground the AFC North champions have lost to the Steelers, Bengals and Browns.

At this point in the offseason, the Ravens remain the team to beat in the division. I'm not saying that. The Ravens' history is.

read more

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/pos...t-in-afc-north

[fansince'76]

Whoa! Dyed-in-the-wool Ravens homer shilling for the Ravens! Whoda thunk it?

I'm to the point of not even opening these links if I see "ESPN," "afcnorth," and "blog" in the URL anymore, but let me take a guess at the content anyway:

Ray Ray is an ageless wonder and is still far and away the bestest LB in the NFL who wins games for them singlehandedly just by his awesomeness alone, Flacco now owns Roethlisberger, and Reed is a better player than Troy in every conceivable way, right?

[Devilsdancefloor]

of course hensley says teh ratbirds are the ones to beat that guy need be fired. i didnt read it once i seen who wrote it

[fansince'76]

At this point in the offseason, the Ravens remain the team to beat in the division. I'm not saying that. The Ravens' history is.

Uh, the Ravens' "history" thus far suggests this past season was an anomaly and that the Steelers regularly own their asses.

[shutdown]

God this guy is such a tool.

[steelerdude15]

I had a feeling I knew who wrote it by just reading the thread title. Hey homer, get off the Ravens nuts.

[SteelGhost]

Whoa! Dyed-in-the-wool Ravens homer shilling for the Ravens! Whoda thunk it?

I'm to the point of not even opening these links if I see "ESPN," "afcnorth," and "blog" in the URL anymore, but let me take a guess at the content anyway:

Ray Ray is an ageless wonder and is still far and away the bestest LB in the NFL who wins games for them singlehandedly just by his awesomeness alone, Flacco now owns Roethlisberger, and Reed is a better player than Troy in every conceivable way, right?

Exactly what I was thinking, this tool (Hensley) is becoming the Sapp of BSPN

[zulater]

Exactly what I was thinking, this tool (Hensley) is becoming the Sapp of BSPN

Ditto X 2

I can't believe ESPN allows such a Ravens shill to write the North's blog.

[tube517]

Let me repeat this again. Jamsion. Jackhole.

[zulater]

I'll go on record right now and say that the Steelers will again win 10-14 regular season games, and the biggest threat to them in the division will come from the Bengals. The Bengals are more dangerous than the Ravens because they have a genuine top ten quarterback, an elite wide receiver, and a boat load of premium draft choices to address their deficiencies , such as they are. The Steelers and the Bengals will be fighting for division bragging rights for the next 5 years.

[O'Malley]

In all fairness the Rats did win the division so they are the team to beat.... Does that mean they're the best team in the AFC North right now, no.. They do have the AFC North title, which makes them the team to beat... With that said and all the FA woes they have had, I have to agree with Zulater and say the Bengals are a bigger threat to the Steelers then the Ravens... With Bert at Qb I can not say there ever the team to beat.. Last season was an anomaly... Bet the Steelers and Bengals are going to be gunning for the Rats... They both have a score to settle and next season I believe the score will be settled..

[zulater]

Let me repeat this again. Jamsion. Jackhole.

Hmmm may have to poach that for new signature line?

[SteelGhost]

Hensley is the guy to beat ... LOL !

[ALLD]

How long until the Rats turn into the Chargers and fade away?

[TMC]

To me, the team that won the division the previous season is always the team to beat.

[XxKnightxX]

Hensley joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun for 11 years. A graduate of the University of Maryland, he lives in the Baltimore area with his wife.

Yeah sure lets hire him, Im sure he isnt biased and an actual ethical journalist who doesnt see the division from one perspective. Yeah Okay whatever.

To bother his stupid article. They wont be the team to beat, theres gonna be a lout of sour people especially between Ray Rice and Joe Flaccid whether they get the contracts that they want. And that Zone blocking scheme shit will get stopped. They turned a few heads with it, but Wilfork Single handedly shredded their scheme.

[ShutDown24]

Any team that has Joe Flacco as its quarterback will never be the team to beat.

[zulater]

To me, the team that won the division the previous season is always the team to beat.

Of the 8 teams that won their division in 2010 only one repeated in 2011. ( Patriots) Four teams that were second in their division in 2010 went on to win the division in 2011. ( Packers, Giants, Saints, and some shit team I don't care to name)Therefore I would say the Steelers are in a better position for 2012.

[shutdown]

Any team that has Joe Flacco as its quarterback will never be the team to beat.

choked on my water reading that, lol.

[zulater]

"At this point in the offseason, the Ravens remain the team to beat in the division. I'm not saying that. The Ravens' history is. "

Really Hensley? The Ravens history is they've never once repeated as division champions.

Since they've formatted the division in it's current form the only AFC North team who's repeated as division champ is the Steelers, who've done it twice.

[SteelerEmpire]

Yea. They swept the division last season as well as handing the Steelers a complete beat down the 1st game of the season; so as of this day and time, they are the team to beat in the division as of "right now". And it hurt typing that out.

[salamander]

So they win their second division title in like 6 years and they're "still" the team to beat?

[Edman]

The Ravens won the North and swept this division doing it (As well as winning two Super Bowls). Of course they're the team to beat. No big deal or shame. But you see, we don't give a shit what the Rats are doing. We're too busy doing our way to stay competitive. We'll worry about Baltimore when the time comes.

Last year everything bounced their way. It really looked like they were Super Bowl bound but they failed, as usual. They're not getting a golden opportunity like that ever again, or at least not for a while.

I wonder what magical rally cry will get them through 2012? They dedicated their entire season to beating us last year. If they really believe they'll catch that lightning in a bottle next year, they're mistaken. Remember last time Baltimore won the Division (2006)? We all saw how that turned out.

[SteelerFanInStl]

Let them go ahead and give all of the accolades to the Ravens. I don't want them. I'd rather that we be the underdog.

[O'Malley]

Let them go ahead and give all of the accolades to the Ravens. I don't want them. I'd rather that we be the underdog.

True that!!! They play better as underdogs anyways!!!

[86WARD]

They are the team to beat. What's the story?

[GBMelBlount]

They embarrassed us last year...

I hope we are better prepared this year.

[tube517]

F the Ravens. How about that?

Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk

[Austin87]

They embarrassed us last year...

Hopefully we return the favor.

[NJarhead]

Whoa! Dyed-in-the-wool Ravens homer shilling for the Ravens! Whoda thunk it?

I'm to the point of not even opening these links if I see "ESPN," "afcnorth," and "blog" in the URL anymore, but let me take a guess at the content anyway:

Ray Ray is an ageless wonder and is still far and away the bestest LB in the NFL who wins games for them singlehandedly just by his awesomeness alone, Flacco now owns Roethlisberger, and Reed is a better player than Troy in every conceivable way, right?

Well, He DID fly off on a Raven while cloaked in shaving cream.