When big name receivers are available, fans in Baltimore salivate over the possibilities of adding them to the "Purple and Black." From Brandon Marshall to, now, Terrell Owens, Ravens fans are always hopeful that their offense can be fixed by just adding catches.

 

There's a problem with this thinking. Many of the receivers that are being considered are receivers who could not help their own teams win. For example, T.O. was released by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2008 season. The Cowboys were just coming off of a 9-7, tumultuous season. The team had to make some changes, and they needed to do it desperately.

 

Jerry Jones decided that the best thing to do, to save his promising quarterback, was to push his leading receiver out the door. Once he did that, the Cowboys grew into being a better team, and Tony Romo became a better quarterback.

 

Brandon Marshall does not have one meaningful, late season catch, in all of the meaningful, late season, games he's been involved in. He's been on a Denver Broncos team that has had two historic meltdowns in two consecutive seasons. If you're thinking it's too much to expect him to put a team on his shoulders, then why deal with the headache that comes with Marshall? This team is not just a wide receiver away from winning the Super Bowl.

 

This offense, Joe Flacco, needs a solid, young receiver who knows his role on this team. Two teams have recently thought the best thing for them to two was to let T.O. go, and they had T.O. Why would you sign someone who teams that want to win championships said goodbye to without getting anything in return? How valuable is that guy? Where's the logic in that? That sounds like desperation.

 

I say, "Say No To T.O." You all already know what I say regarding Marshall. This organization knows how to build through the draft when they commit to making it happen. I question how committed they've been to the wide receiver position in the past, but I know they can make it work when they believe in building a real air assault.

 

Let's not act in desperation. T.O. and Brandon Marshall are players we would have passed up in the past. Haven't we learned from Owens in the past? Don't become the Cowboys by signing someone who dumped on your organization. He's already displayed a lack of respect for this city and this team. People like that don't change.

 

Rob Long