Terrapin Tables

I guess that is what happens when your owner charges admission to training camp.

And $25 for parking at pre-season games.

don't get too excited Shell...that's purely monetary value, not "value" in terms of wins, rah-rah go-teamism or anything like that (Philly and NE have that market cornered). So, boo this list.

For a long time, WAS has had the most expensive ticket in the game, correct? And like top-ten-percent (which is top 3) in things like beer cost, burger cost, etc.? I somewhat respect Snyder for throwing a ton of money at players in free agency - that's how I run Madden franchises - but before they have a right to be number one in anything, they should win some games...

I guess I might have come off as rude there...since I'm ostensibly on my luch break, I have time to contemplate things like this. Shit, I'm a magazine editor...I have time to contemplate this while reading FARK, scraping the good dark-brown part off the Twinkies card, and clipping my toenails.

Anyway, I bag on a lot of favorite-teans here, so I figured I'd have to put up or shut up. Since I'm not one to shut up, here it is:

Baltimore will win more games than WAS and MIA combined this year. WAS 6-10, MIA 2-14, BAL at least 10-6.

Discuss.

I'll put $1500 cash on that bet right now.

Yeah, well, you were also trying to bet me the Dolphins would win 10...if I take all your bets, I'll be living in your house by November, and that's not fair to Pam. Ha.

Since the Dolphins seem to be such a popular topic, how about an over/under of 7 wins.

Sorry Nate - Under.

I'll take the Fins and Skins over the Ravens though. 6 wins each, which is not impressive at all, and the Ravens would have to win 12? I think the combo is the better bet.

Straight cash homey

I'll jump on the over...how much?

I fail to see why everyone thinks Baltimore is such a special team. Great D, sure, but beyond that what is there?
Shaky QB .. sounds like my fins
RB a lil gimpy..ok but there is a very good backup
WR may or may not work out...there are a lot of questions there.

Also with them doing a lot of 4-6 D, that's pretty suspect to the big play, which their offense just can't recover from...do you think their D will be as good as 2000?

Do I think the D will be one of the 5 best or so all time, like in 2000? No. The over/under for Ravens wins is in the neighborhood of 10. So it could just be Chris & I being homers, but there are people who do this for a living who think the Ravens will be decent. The difference between the Ravens' D and Miami's D? Baltimore has good young players. All the guys anyone can name on the Miami D have at least 8 years in the league. Suggs & Reed don't have 8 years combined.

That's right I forgot the people who 'do this for a living' are never wrong...ahem...
San Diego last year
Patriots their 1st super bowl
Ravens in their superbowl
Rams from worst to first...

Under on the Phins at 7, under on the Ravens at 12 - I think they could pull 12 out of their asses, but in the NFL today, I'm going under-12 on every team. You never know.

The thing with the teams you mentioned, Nate, is they were teams that had the ability to just put things together. The Pats are the perfect example: greater than the sum of their parts. The reason the Ravens are expected to do that better than other teams is because they HAVE in the recent past, they have excellent coaches all around, and they have a lot of players - Reed, Stabby McStabstab, Jamal, Mason, Heap, every other LB, DL, OL, etc. - with the "right" mentality. Everyone in purple has been sacrificing individual stats in the name of wins for a while now.

It's not fair to bag on the Ravens because WRs/RBs are, in your eyes, less than perfect, and the QB hasn't yet blown up. It's unfair because: teams that DO have top-level personnel don't always win (Rams haven't gotten very far in the last few years, Philly wasted four straight NFC-Championship appearnces, look what the Redskins spend). Simply, the Ravens' personnel stacks up with almost every team in the league, lagging only in QB and maybe DL, but in the "intangible" department, history and coaching forces you to give them the benefit of the doubt. And purple camo pants are bitchin'.

And what is shaky about the WRs? Only Boller's throws, and when you figure Heap is healthy, things look good. Jamal is fine, and Chester Taylor would be starting on a few teams.

I don't doubt for a second the ravens will be a strong team...but those same things you talk about (coaching, talent) are what led to Miami's 1st losing season in 15 years...

Dave W. lost his meal ticket in Ricky, their defense has been supremely talented for a long time, but very bland and predictable. When Wanny had to get by on his coaching skills, he failed miserably. And I'm not saying Miami is a playoff team, but there's reason for optimism:
Qb situation: ok that sucks
Rb's: great tandem of R. Brown and Ricky if he doesn't leave
Wr's: Chambers, Boston, Booker...lots of if's..but kind of in the good way...booker is very steady..Chambers actually in a nice offense for once, and Boston hasn't been arrested (yet)
TE: McMichael...Ok I'll admit it...Heap is heads and shoulders above him in all aspects, but McMike is a darn good one
Only 28 players from last years 'fin team remain..a lot of fat got cut...and AJ is where he belongs @ 3rd string..so at least we won't see as many INT's run back for TD's (which was the margin of victory for MIA opponents 5 times last year)

Man, you really love your Phins. A rookie and Ricky Williams cannot yet be called a "great tandem." Not yet, and since it's even money Ricky won't ever take a snap again, maybe not ever. In that same vein, Boston is a train wreck, and until he proves otherwise, he is more harm than good for any football team. Chambers is a talent - not a top ten, but a good starter. Booker? I just met her. McMichael is lucky to be out of jail, and he may end the season there. Doesn't bode well.

Still, though, your complaints about the Ravens offense are even worse when those same points are applied to the Dolphins: the recieving talent is better in BAL, but above all, MIA might have the worst QBs in the league...maybe as bad as CHI. Dude, they start Frerotte. You're losing 14.

And your D is overrated, seriously. They were a round 15 selection in our fantasy leage, where we start 2 Ds...and they were picked by YOU, else they would have gone later. Like it was said, they're old, predictable, and blah blah blah.

Plus, the Ravens won a Super Bowl with Trent Dilfer. The Dolphins couldn't win one with Marino. Zing.

Nigga Please...

Sports writers have been raving about how good Ricky looks andRonnie is an incredible talent...you'll see..

Derrick mason and 5'8" Clayton are better than Miami's receivers? I'm pretty sure if they asked any corner in the league if they'd rather go up against Chambers or Mason they'd tell you Mason...And it's McMichael's wife who's actually in trouble.

Frerotte (I don't like him either) has been to 1 pro-bowl..how many have any Ravens QB's on the roster now been to?

And Miami's starting D allowed the fewest points of any of the NFL's 1st units in preseason. Oh yeah and had more sacks...not that it matters because they're running a totally different D this year.

Oh yeah, and your brilliant coaches decided to ditch the good QB that actually got a ring for Elvis Grbac...and the rest is 1 playoff win history..it's amazing how a supposed offensive mastermind depends so heavily on what probably has been the most talented D in the league the last 6 years, and still can't get back to the show...

And for the record the all time series is Miami 4, Bal 2...and with your playoff lives on the line last year your superb defense allowed 23 points to Sage Rosenfels and was a tipped INT at the goalline away from being eliminated by my woeful Fins...

i believe the value of the redskins is in no small part due to the ownership of the stadium - most nfl teams do not also own the stadium. but i didn't read the criteria that forbes used.

I like tacos