1 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:05,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Ravens Press Past podcast. Today, Ravens gentleal 2 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:09,040 Speaker 1: manager Eric Tacassa met with local reporters to talk about 3 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: the start of free agency. 4 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:16,080 Speaker 2: Good afternoon, everybody, Thanks for coming out on short notice. 5 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 2: I know you have a lot of questions about free 6 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,920 Speaker 2: agency and what's transpired over the last four days. I'm 7 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 2: going to do my best to be as transparent as possible. 8 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 2: There will be some things that I probably can't talk 9 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 2: about for different reasons regarding the process and to help 10 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:35,480 Speaker 2: you understand that. So questions, what can you tell us about. 11 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 3: Why the Mexico Crosby. 12 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 4: Trade did not good for them? 13 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:43,200 Speaker 2: So the first thing I would say, Jamison is we 14 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 2: were down in Florida last week, had the chance to 15 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 2: meet with Steve for about now thirty six hours maybe 16 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 2: and spent a lot of time talking about different ways 17 00:00:53,640 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 2: to improve our team, free agency, resigning guys, trade aids, 18 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 2: all kinds of the draft, all kinds of stuff. 19 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 4: We were really excited about. 20 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 2: Adding Max, potentially adding Max to our team. I had 21 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:19,199 Speaker 2: already begun discussions with John spy Tech. Those discussions continued. 22 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 2: We were really thinking that we were getting some traction. 23 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 4: We did. 24 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 2: I would say, as part of the normal sort of 25 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 2: trade process. I mean it's there's a lot of different 26 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 2: parts involved with the trade process. We've done a lot 27 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 2: of different trades, and one of the key things is that, 28 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 2: you know, you bring the player in, you try to 29 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 2: get as much information as you can. We did that, 30 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 2: and we were not able to complete the process of 31 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 2: acquiring the player based on you know, our assessment of 32 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 2: the situation very very I think disappointing to me. Nobody 33 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 2: more disappointed than me. Player I greatly admire, I think 34 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 2: one of the one of my favorite players in the 35 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 2: entire NFL. I know our fans are upset, devastated. I 36 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 2: understand that tough, tough situation, but I think for the Ravens, 37 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 2: the right situation and my role as GM, in Jesse's 38 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 2: role as head coach, and Sashi's role as president stewards 39 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 2: over the organization, and we have to make tough calls, 40 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 2: and this was certainly a tough call to make. 41 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 5: Eric, how much of sort of making that tough call 42 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 5: was aided by the fact that you knew Trey Hendrickson 43 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 5: was still available and then you had talked to him 44 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 5: as well. Was that a big part of. 45 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 2: The calculation, It really wasn't, so I think the two 46 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:45,239 Speaker 2: are kind of mutually exclusive. We were very focused on Max. 47 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,920 Speaker 2: A lot of attention given to that particular acquisition, As 48 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,119 Speaker 2: I said, a player that I think really fits us 49 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:53,920 Speaker 2: and his skill set. We've played against him, really admire 50 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 2: him in many different ways. 51 00:02:58,200 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 4: You know, I think for. 52 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 2: Us it was gonna be probably our biggest foundational acquisition 53 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 2: this year. So I didn't I didn't really look at 54 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 2: him as like, oh, you know, we'll do this because 55 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 2: of that. It was really more how do we get 56 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 2: better as a football team. In terms of Trey, I 57 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 2: think we came to a point probably after we lost Tyler, 58 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 2: where as we're trying to find the best way for 59 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 2: us to get better as a football team, Trey kind 60 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 2: of made a lot of sense as a possible guy 61 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 2: to look at. So we started some discussions with with 62 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 2: he and his agent, thinking that, you know, potentially we 63 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 2: have two pass rushers on the defensive line on both 64 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 2: sides of the line. Again, I think it was disappointing, 65 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 2: you know, to us, and probably in a way, you know, 66 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 2: potentially disappointing. 67 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 4: Probably the Tray as well. 68 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 6: Said you were interested in having two pass Rushes on 69 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 6: the side of Lina. You were ferns to both Max 70 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 6: and Trey Henderson. 71 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, so we had started discussions with both players. We'd 72 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 2: already agreed to potentially the trade with the with the Raiders, 73 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 2: but we had, you know, we were trying to sign 74 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 2: Tyler Obviously we weren't able to get that done. Looking 75 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 2: at the best ways for us to improve our football team. 76 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 2: At some point we just said, you know what, this 77 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 2: might be a guy that really fits us. And we've 78 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 2: played against him twice a year for the last whatever 79 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 2: many years, four or five years, and thought, hey, maybe 80 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 2: this is a way for us to get better as 81 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 2: a football team. So that was definitely a possibility for us, 82 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 2: not to say that would have happened, but definitely something 83 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 2: that we had contemplated and discussed with Trey. 84 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,720 Speaker 7: What's that conversation like with the Raiders in a span 85 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:53,039 Speaker 7: of just over seventy two hours after agreeing to certain terms. 86 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 7: Obviously you guys had never addressed that, you know, officially 87 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:58,479 Speaker 7: and then having a conversation with them saying that you 88 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:00,120 Speaker 7: were not going to do with the trade. 89 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 2: So it wasn't just one conversation. I was conversations that 90 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:08,239 Speaker 2: took place probably over a full day span. I should 91 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 2: say that I've got a lot of respect for Mark 92 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 2: Davis the Raiders John Spy Tech. 93 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 4: Shoot Out. 94 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 2: Davis was born and brought to the mass I've always 95 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 2: admired that I'm from Massachusetts, right down the street. 96 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:22,040 Speaker 4: So I love the Raiders. 97 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 2: It'd been one of my favorite teams. And it's tough, 98 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 2: it's challenging. It's devastating for me to have that conversation. 99 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 2: I'm sure challenging for them to hear as well. It's 100 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 2: also very very very very hard for the player to 101 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 2: have that, to hear that as well, and it's probably 102 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:38,920 Speaker 2: hardest for him more than anybody else. 103 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:43,679 Speaker 8: Eric, you know, some people will maybe speculate or question 104 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 8: and say, you know, you guys maybe got cold feet, 105 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,840 Speaker 8: whether it's you so also you didn't like medically or 106 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 8: whatever the reasons. What do you kind of say to that, 107 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 8: to that sort of. 108 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 2: Speculation Again, I mean, I understand it, you know, I 109 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:01,159 Speaker 2: understand it. We live in that age of skepticism and 110 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 2: people question, especially people that don't really know me or 111 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 2: know the Ravens culture and the Ravens organization. So I 112 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 2: understand it. As I said at the beginning. We've got 113 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 2: a responsibility. I've got a responsibility to the Ravens, to 114 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 2: this community, to our fans, and to Steve Bashatti to 115 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 2: do what we think is best for the club. And 116 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 2: that's what we always try to do. Every decision we 117 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,720 Speaker 2: make is based on this idea. Is this the best 118 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:30,839 Speaker 2: thing for the Ravens. Very very challenging. Again, I understand 119 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 2: how people might maybe from Afar, would feel that way, 120 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:39,040 Speaker 2: but nobody is more upset about this than me. Guided 121 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 2: by it actually, and so a regret, a big regret 122 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 2: for me. But we will move on as a football team, 123 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 2: and I think there's many many opportunities for us to 124 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 2: grow as a team, to become a better team, to 125 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 2: build a roster, and to be the team that we 126 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 2: want to be. 127 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 3: Structure of MAMAR is. 128 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 5: To create some casts for this. I think I'm to 129 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 5: discuss the particular Do you feel you're closer now with 130 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 5: an extension or is that just all right? 131 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:04,040 Speaker 2: We'll kick that down the wad to do it again 132 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 2: later something. 133 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 4: Yeah. 134 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 2: So you know, we kind of ran out of time 135 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 2: and we're able to free up I think just under 136 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 2: forty million this year added a void year to two 137 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 2: thousand and thirty. I believe, certainly hopeful that we'll get 138 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 2: an extension done. I think it's important to both parties, 139 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 2: but we remain to see what's going to take place 140 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 2: in the future. 141 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 8: Does it make it more difficult now to this step 142 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 8: one looks structure, you know, it doesn't. 143 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 2: Really change it anyway. I don't think it really changes 144 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 2: the dynamic very much. 145 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 4: We saw a couple weeks. 146 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 3: Ago a video Nomdi working out. 147 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 4: I'm just curious. One. 148 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 1: I know you're probably tired of us asking about it, 149 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: but any update there and how much does that play 150 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 1: into the calculus of the Max and the tray stuff. 151 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, I saw the video. It was it was cool 152 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 2: to see. Didn't really plan into the calculus at all. 153 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 2: I think that it's a book that hasn't been written yet, 154 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 2: So we'll see what happens with that. 155 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 7: Talk about Tyler Lennerbaum to the Raiders, what does that 156 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 7: look like now going forward? Maybe the rest of free agency, 157 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 7: obviously targeting that sort of position in the draft, looking 158 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 7: at a rookie again like you did with Tyler. 159 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 2: Or maybe starting somewhere new. 160 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 3: Well. 161 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 4: I'm super excited. 162 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 2: I know you guys haven't had a chance to meet 163 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 2: with Dwyne Lefford to get our offensive line coach super 164 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 2: super excited to work with him. Just I would say 165 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 2: if you do interview him, just don't wear a lot 166 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 2: of pads extra padding anywhere, because he's not gonna like that, 167 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 2: because he's really doesn't like a lot of backpads or 168 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 2: like elbow pads and things like that. But he's a 169 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 2: great coach and he's super excited. I think he's done 170 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 2: a masterful job if you look at some of the 171 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 2: guys he's had in Atlanta, how he's developed players. I 172 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:45,560 Speaker 2: think it's one of the things that I probably admire 173 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:47,559 Speaker 2: most about his coaching style is his ability to take 174 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:50,440 Speaker 2: these younger guys and make them really, really good. So 175 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 2: I think we've got a good plan. We've got a 176 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 2: bunch of draft picks this year, eleven draft picks this year. 177 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 2: I think we're going to probably have a whole bunch 178 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 2: of draft picks next year. We will be looking at 179 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:01,440 Speaker 2: some free just as well. We'll probably bring a couple 180 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 2: guys in the next couple of weeks. But I have 181 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 2: a lot of confidence in Coach Ledford and our offensive 182 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 2: staff to develop guys, and I'm confident we've done it before. 183 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 2: I think we have a pretty good history of drafting centers. 184 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:13,679 Speaker 2: I could go back and probably give you four or 185 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 2: five guys that we've drafted over the years that have 186 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 2: ended up being some of the very best centers in 187 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 2: the league. So I'm confident we can do that. 188 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 6: Obviously, with the trade not happening, you get your first 189 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 6: round picks back as the plan to kind of still 190 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,079 Speaker 6: prepare for the draft, as if you have those picks, 191 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 6: are you kind of open to still making other deals? 192 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 2: Well, right now we have those picks, right so you know, 193 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 2: I had kind of taken a sharpie and xed out 194 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 2: about twenty five players on my list that we weren't 195 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 2: going to have a chance to select, and I have 196 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:47,679 Speaker 2: to make a new list and have those players back 197 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:48,199 Speaker 2: on the list. 198 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 4: But we'll be ready for anything. 199 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 2: Obviously, if there's a player that we think we can 200 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:54,320 Speaker 2: acquire that's worth a first round pick, then we'll do it. 201 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,839 Speaker 2: But I think the reality is there's many many different 202 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:01,439 Speaker 2: ways for us to get better as a football team. 203 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 2: But it's free agency, the draft, undrafted, free agency, trades, 204 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:06,679 Speaker 2: there's a lot of things we can do. I think 205 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 2: we're headed in the right direction. I think we probably 206 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 2: maybe signed today alone, maybe four or five guys, and 207 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:18,680 Speaker 2: it's fun, you know. I think our scouts and coaches 208 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 2: have done a great job adding players, and it's gonna 209 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 2: be a whole bunch of different guys. You have some 210 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 2: expensive guys, you'll have some cheap guys, right, but they 211 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 2: all end up working together as a team. And some 212 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 2: of our best signings I think every single year, the 213 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 2: guys that you get for the minimum salary, right, last 214 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 2: year we were able to get cheetoh uzie really cheap. 215 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 2: We just signed back again today, excited about that to 216 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 2: the hell of a job for us last year, fired 217 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:48,199 Speaker 2: up to get them back. And so I think the 218 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 2: hunt goes on and we are super excited about this 219 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:54,439 Speaker 2: team where we're headed. A lot of opportunities today, tomorrow, 220 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:58,199 Speaker 2: this coming weekend. Promise not to do too many signings 221 00:10:58,200 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 2: this weekend, so you guys don't have to write too 222 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 2: many article. I'm probably not gonna be here this weekend, 223 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 2: so there's a good chance we won't be signing anybody. 224 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 2: But don't quote me on that. 225 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 5: I know you tell you things in house with Lamar, 226 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:14,320 Speaker 5: but can you at least indicate whether there was before 227 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 5: the restructuring. 228 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 4: Was there any progress made. 229 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 9: At the time before that? 230 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 2: I mean, Jamison, you know, you know I've said this 231 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 2: a million times. Tomorrow and I we're not going to 232 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 2: talk about like the negotiation aspect of our relationship. So uh, 233 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 2: I'm gonna stand by that. 234 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 8: You're going back to the way things kind of uncolded. 235 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 8: You know, it looks like you're getting maxed, then it 236 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:38,640 Speaker 8: and then it doesn't happen, and and so forth, and 237 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 8: then again the speculation and is there do you have 238 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 8: any concern or how do you view that that any 239 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 8: concerned it may be impacting doing business with other teams, 240 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 8: other players, other relationships with whatever kind of impact it 241 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 8: might have, and and stuffing like that on folds. Obviously 242 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 8: guys fail physical. 243 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:01,199 Speaker 2: Well that's I stop my phone from ring. I'll tell 244 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 2: you that I think our relationship with agents and with 245 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:08,320 Speaker 2: other teams is really, really good. I understand the question. 246 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 2: I think that gms understand the importance of getting as 247 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 2: much information as possible before making decisions. And I would 248 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:21,720 Speaker 2: say that most agents would say that, myself, George, Nick, 249 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 2: marc As Servedo, Ozzy Sashi, everybody that works with agents 250 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 2: would say that we're a class organization that does business 251 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:32,319 Speaker 2: the right way, respectful and willing to get deals done. 252 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:35,320 Speaker 8: Eric, I knew you've had some have to have make 253 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 8: some tough conversations with players over the years. 254 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,199 Speaker 4: What was it like with with Max when you had 255 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 4: to inform him that you guys wouldn't have to move on? Yeah? 256 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 2: You know, like you said, in this business, you have 257 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:57,079 Speaker 2: a lot of tough conversations, right, it was tough. It's 258 00:12:57,120 --> 00:12:58,960 Speaker 2: a guy that I really admire as a player. I mean, 259 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:00,719 Speaker 2: you've all watched him play. You all know what he's 260 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 2: like as a player, right, this is the guy that 261 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 2: plays like a raven, you know. So, yeah, it's it's challenging. 262 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 2: You get emotionally attached, That's what I would say. 263 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:20,199 Speaker 3: Eric, You you said you regarded by this. Is there 264 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 3: anything you regret that you did or did not do 265 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:27,479 Speaker 3: as part of this process that could have changed the results? 266 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 3: You know, the end results here. 267 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 2: You know, I think I'm hard on myself, and you 268 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:35,640 Speaker 2: think you question everything you do. You know, in this 269 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 2: business you're never perfect. Right with the draft and with 270 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 2: free agency. I think in this particular instance, I'm really 271 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:45,080 Speaker 2: proud of the team and the doctors, and you know, 272 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 2: the guys that work with me and I just this 273 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 2: is a tough thing that we have to deal with 274 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 2: in this business. I don't really know what we could 275 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:59,080 Speaker 2: do differently than what we did, so again, it's a really, really, 276 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:03,680 Speaker 2: really tough call. You know, there were moments yesterday when 277 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 2: honestly I was probably speechless just sitting in my chair 278 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 2: in my office and just thinking about what the next 279 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 2: step would be and trying to get as much information 280 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 2: as possible, and it it wasn't you know, I should 281 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 2: say it wasn't. Just you know, in a situation like this, 282 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 2: you try to get as much information as you can 283 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 2: from as many different sources as you can, and it 284 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 2: just didn't work out. So yeah, tough, very very challenging. 285 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 2: We've dealt with these kinds of things in the past, 286 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 2: but probably never at such a uh a large uh 287 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 2: a large figure, so challenging. 288 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 3: To renegotiate at all of the terms of it. 289 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 2: You know, I think at some point you get to 290 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 2: the point where you know, when you look at the situation, 291 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 2: you just. 292 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 4: You have to make the right decision. You know, it's 293 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 4: not always. 294 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 2: About you know, the value, it's just what is the 295 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:56,560 Speaker 2: right decision for the club at the time. And that's 296 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 2: a hard thing to do. But as I said, when 297 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 2: you're a steward of your organization and you put in 298 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 2: that position, you've got. 299 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 3: To make a tough calls right at the top. Do 300 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 3: you think if you had gotten the full picture by 301 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 3: like let's say Sunday as opposed to when you got 302 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 3: it like without have materially change the kind of results 303 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 3: here the creators. 304 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 2: That you know, we try to value every single player, 305 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 2: you know, And I think, I mean, I understand the question, Jonas. 306 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 4: I think it's just like you. You you spend a 307 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 4: lot of time. 308 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 2: Saying this is what this player is, this is who 309 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 2: he is, this is how he plays, this is what 310 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 2: he's worth. And we try not to deviate from that. 311 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 2: And so I think that would have allowed us to 312 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 2: spend more money on players maybe, but what we have 313 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 2: done it probably not. You know, you have a threshold 314 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 2: that you get to that you want to get to, 315 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 2: and typically we try to be fairly responsible when it 316 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 2: comes to that, and we have to make tough calls, 317 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 2: and so I can't say that it would have that much. 318 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 2: I understand these things do kind of you know, have repercussions, 319 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 2: and I get that it's challenging, you know for these 320 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 2: other teams, maybe there are other teams. 321 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 4: Affected by this as well. 322 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 2: Uh, for us specifically, this was something that we felt 323 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 2: would give us the chance to build a team the 324 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 2: way we wanted to build a team. It just it 325 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 2: just didn't it didn't work out for us. 326 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 5: Going back to going back to Linderbum for a minute, 327 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 5: did you feel like you guys were in competitive in 328 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 5: that situation right up until the end, or did you 329 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 5: sort of feel the market maybe get away from you 330 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 5: a little bit at some point or what was. 331 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 4: Your sense of that. You know, I just I'll just 332 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 4: quickly put it in perspective. 333 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 2: So when I was a young man and I was 334 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 2: living down in fed Hill and I was going to 335 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 2: buy a home on Hamburg Street. So I had all 336 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 2: the money I had, which wasn't a lot of money. 337 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:50,200 Speaker 2: I was a young scout, and I put an offer 338 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 2: on the house. It was everything I had. The guy 339 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 2: called me back and said, hey, we got a cash offer, 340 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 2: so you got to give us a little bit of 341 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,280 Speaker 2: more money. So I did, and then I'm like, man, 342 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:00,880 Speaker 2: I have nothing left. Then he came back again, he said, 343 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 2: I need your final offer, your best offer. And I said, 344 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 2: I already gave it to you, right, and it just 345 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 2: was like I was never going to get that house 346 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:08,920 Speaker 2: because the other people had more money to spend on 347 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 2: the house. That's kind of how I felt. Does that 348 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 2: make sense? 349 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:17,119 Speaker 3: Have you taken anything personally from how the other side 350 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 3: of this deal fell apart handled things? 351 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 2: You know what I tell you, As I said, I 352 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 2: got a lot of respect. I have so much respect 353 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:30,320 Speaker 2: for the Raiders organization, John Spytech. You know, I've known 354 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 2: John a long time and admired the way his career 355 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 2: has gone. The Davis family, I just I just always 356 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:40,120 Speaker 2: loved the Raiders and his you know, Max's agents, Doug 357 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 2: Henderson and Cliff Lard boy CJ. There are two of 358 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 2: the best guys out there, those guys, and this has 359 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 2: affected a lot of people, and it saddens me that 360 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 2: the deal didn't go through. It's just, unfortunately one of 361 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 2: the aspects of this business that is challenging. It's not 362 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 2: there's different ways that things can fall through. And you know, 363 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:05,120 Speaker 2: I feel equally sad that we lost Tyler. I feel 364 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 2: equally sad that Isaiah is not playing here anymore. 365 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:07,880 Speaker 4: Right. 366 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 2: I hate to see Jordan Stout go play for somebody else. 367 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:14,159 Speaker 2: Those are all tough things. I mean, we all kind 368 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 2: of say, oh, we got paid, you got this, he 369 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 2: got that. I love those guys. I love those guys. 370 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:21,359 Speaker 2: I love our team, I love our players. I'm proud 371 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:23,359 Speaker 2: of them. I'm proud of the fact that, you know, 372 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 2: everybody spends money on our players. 373 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 4: But it's tough. 374 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:28,240 Speaker 2: So you kind of lose on both ends, right you 375 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 2: Maybe you lose on on a Max Crosby and that's 376 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:32,199 Speaker 2: gut ranching, but it's hard to lose a guy like 377 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:35,080 Speaker 2: Tyler or Isaiah. And there's you know, a bunch of 378 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:37,040 Speaker 2: other guys that you get attached to and you watch 379 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 2: them grow and become some of the better players in 380 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:41,919 Speaker 2: the league. And I'm proud of that. And you know, 381 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 2: I'll tell those guys there will always be Ravens in 382 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 2: my eyes. They'll always be a part of the culture 383 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 2: and the fabric of his place. But when they leave, 384 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 2: it's tough. So that's what I would say on that. 385 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:53,080 Speaker 9: Football fans know that traditions matter. They're what one inspire 386 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:54,959 Speaker 9: us to make our massa and Tostito's the traditional way, 387 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,879 Speaker 9: starting with whole corn kernels, no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, 388 00:18:57,880 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 9: all to give you that perfect crunch. Discover your next 389 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 9: tradition this football season. Head to the store, grab your 390 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 9: Tostitos team bag and scan the code for a chance 391 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 9: to score an epic experience with the Baltimore Ravens. Tostitos 392 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 9: Tradition matters. 393 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Ravens Press Past podcast, make sure 394 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:14,440 Speaker 1: you subscribe here. Also head over to the Lounge podcast 395 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:16,919 Speaker 1: feed and subscribe there as well. Thank you for listening. 396 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:19,119 Speaker 1: We'll be back with you again later this week.