12 replies to this topic

[Nuclear Dish]

I know everyone is panicked about the losses we've taken from last year's roster. I'm nervous about it too.

But there's a much greater threat to the team's future that is looming right around the corner. And yesterday, it took a turn for the worse for us.

The worst thing that could happen to the Ravens is for Ozzie Newsome to leave. And the only way that will ever happen is if he's offered the chance to go home and become the Athletic Director at his alma mater, the University of Alabama.

Mal Moore has been a fixture at Alabama for over 50 years, starting as a backup QB in 1958, becoming an assistant coach under Bear Bryant in 1965, and moving to the Athletic Department in 1994. He's been the AD since 1999. He's been affiliated with the program for 10 national championships in football.

It's been rumored for many years that Ozzie is next-in-line for the throne at U of A, but there was no real talk of when Moore would finally retire. He was briefly hospitalized with an irregular heartbeat this past August, but after 2 days was cleared to return to work.

Now Moore has been hospitalized again, and at 73-years of age, he might be ready to step into retirement. If so, don't be surprised to hear Ozzie's name mentioned as the man to take over the reins.

In fact, it's widely thought that the reason Eric DeCosta hasn't accepted another offer to be an NFL GM has been that he's been promised Ozzie's job once Ozzie makes the move to Alabama. As much as I like DeCosta and think the world of him, I prefer we keep Ozzie for as long as possible. Other Newsome prodigies, such as Phil Savage, have struggled to reach their potential, let alone match their mentor.

So I will continue to maintain In Oz We Trust (Hartwell, A. Thomas, Sharper - we've been through all of this before), but my bigger concern is that we might not have Oz to trust in for much longer.

http://msn.foxsports... ... ems-031313

[You Play to Win the Game]

I agree, very well said. I like DeCosta as well... but Phil Savage and others were highly thought of too. Great post.

[bnickle]

DeCosta is Ozzie's hand picked guy and has been for a long time. Of course there is an unknown factor, but I'm not sweating Ozzie's departure that much. Thats not to say I want Ozzie to leave ,but I believe Decosta will be good when his time comes.

[Mackus]

Hah, could you imagine the reaction around town if that Alabama job becomes available and Ozzie leaves in the very short future here? It would be awesome. Everybody on sports talk radio accusing him of sabotaging the team and trading away / cutting / not resigning the core of our Super Bowl champ just before ditching us and leaving for Alabama. Setting the team up for failure over the next several years so it looks like he was the real genius of everything and it all fell to crap when he left.

I absolutely do not want Ozzie to leave (and think while DeCosta should be plenty good, it'll be nearly impossible to be as good as Ozzie), but that would sure be one entertaining silver lining listening to conspiracy theories from some of these people.

[NewMarketSean]

Yeah, it sucks that mostly insane, crazy people call talk radio and post comments on internet articles. Gives humanity a bad name.

[Chris B]

Baltimore will burn if this happens during this offseason.

[NewMarketSean]

Baltimore will burn if this happens during this offseason.

I doubt Ozzie would leave in the middle of all this.

There will come a day when Ozzie isn't GM of the Ravens. I am sure everyone down at the Castle is well aware of this and have started to plan for when that day arrives.

Relax people. Sheesh.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Hah, could you imagine the reaction around town if that Alabama job becomes available and Ozzie leaves in the very short future here? It would be awesome. Everybody on sports talk radio accusing him of sabotaging the team and trading away / cutting / not resigning the core of our Super Bowl champ just before ditching us and leaving for Alabama. Setting the team up for failure over the next several years so it looks like he was the real genius of everything and it all fell to crap when he left.

I absolutely do not want Ozzie to leave (and think while DeCosta should be plenty good, it'll be nearly impossible to be as good as Ozzie), but that would sure be one entertaining silver lining listening to conspiracy theories from some of these people.

Haha, you have an interesting sense of humor!

[Chris B]

I doubt Ozzie would leave in the middle of all this.

There will come a day when Ozzie isn't GM of the Ravens. I am sure everyone down at the Castle is well aware of this and have started to plan for when that day arrives.

Relax people. Sheesh.

Actually I'm not too worried. I trust Decosta.

[SportsGuy]

@JasonLaCanfora: With Alabama's AD stepping down, some wonder if RavensGM Ozzie Newsome would head there. He may end up there 1day but sense I get is not now

@JasonLaCanfora: Newsome is an Alabama product, loves the school, maintains strong ties there and has talked about returning after retiring from NFL career

@RavensInsider: Despite Ozzie Newsome being mentioned for Alabama AD vacancy, no one I've spoken with thinks he's leaving the Ravens. He loves his job.

[SportsGuy]

@RavensInsider: Asked by The Baltimore Sun if interested in Alabama job, Ozzie Newsome responded: "I already have a great job."

[fishteacher]

@RavensInsider: Asked by The Baltimore Sun if interested in Alabama job, Ozzie Newsome responded: "I already have a great job."

Went from pooping my pants to half a chubby...

[Nuclear Dish]

From Ivan Maisel at ESPN: "The university might not be in a hurry to hire anyone beyond an interim replacement out of respect to Moore. The people's choice to replace him, former Alabama All-American Ozzie Newsome, isn't about to leave his perch as general manager of the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens."