This weekend, the Ravens visit the Bengals in a rematch of a Week 5 game that Cincy somehow stole in Baltimore.
This one will operate as an elimination game only if the road team fails to settle the score. If Cincy wins, they’ll move to 6-2, giving them a two-game lead over the 4-4 Ravens that would be, as a practical matter, a three-game lead due to the fact that the Cincinnati sweep would give the Bengals the first head-to-head tiebreaker.
A win by Baltimore, however, would make the division a three-team race — especially if the Steelers lose to the Broncos in Denver on Monday night.
It’s proving time for the Bengals. And maybe the Ravens, too.
Cincinnati sits atop the AFC North along with Pittsburgh at 5-2, and the Bengals have beaten the Steelers and Ravens. Next week, they visit the Steel City.
So this is make or break time for a team usually too fragile to handle such pressure. And usually too inept to put themselves in this position.
But these Bengals have impressed with their moxie and their versatility. They’re favored by three points.
“We’re in a good spot right now,” quarterback Carson Palmer said. “Being 5-2 and tied for first in the division — it’s ours to lose, really. We just need to hang on for as long as we can and finish the season with a bunch of wins and see what happens as far as the playoff picture’s concerned.
“But that’s a little far down the road for us right now. It’s about Baltimore, and then it’s about Pittsburgh. I don’t even know who we play after that, honestly.”
Sweep both games and it would take a monumental collapse for Cincinnati to not make the playoffs, no matter who else is on the schedule.
Baltimore got back to winning by handing Denver its first loss. The Ravens were awfully sloppy in their three-game slide, but were close at the end of all three defeats.
They also are carrying a grudge after falling at home to Cincy four weeks ago.
Derrick Mason recently “officially announced” his “retirement” on jocklife.com, which before recently, was a little known web site, which also happens to be owned by Mason’s own agent, Lamont Smith.
Baltimore Sun reporter, Jamison Hensley, posts a response to Smith’s ploy to get more money and proves the correlation between the site and his office.
Lamont Smith, who is the agent for wide receiver Derrick Mason, issued a statement about The Baltimore Sun’s reference that jocklife.com shares an office with him.
“What is the relevance of that anyway?,” Smith said in the statement. “The story is Derrick Mason’s retirement, it smells like sour grapes to me.”
He then added, “For the record, JOCKlife.com does not share an office with Smith’s agency. JOCKlife.com’s address is 36 Steele Street, Suite 220 Denver, CO 80206.”
Well, for the record, The Sun reported that the Web site shares the same address as Mason’s agents. That is true. Both are listed at 36 Steele Street in Denver. They just work in different offices.
As for the relevance, it comes across as a contract ploy when a player announces his retirement through a Web site whose domain name is owned by Smith. Previous Ravens players who retired — Jonathan Ogden and Steve McNair — both announced their retirements through the team.
Also, Smith disputed Mason worked out at team headquarters on Monday.
“He was at the team facility to chat with the team’s PR personnel and left shortly thereafter,” Smith said.
Here’s a few reasons that Derrick Mason will not be retiring any time soon:
1. Mason has not filed his retirement papers with the NFL
2. Mason has stated he is “99% sure” he won’t retire.
3. Mason spoke up earlier in the off-season about getting an extension
4. Mason had surgery to repair his arm in the offseason.
5. Mason hasn’t had a conversation with his team about retirement
6. Mason’s agent could personal benefit from announcing the retirement on his web site.
7. Mason has not said anything in front of a camera regarding his retirement.
We believe that Derrick Mason’s retirement is simply a ploy by his agent to get them both a big payday in the near future. With Brett Farve recently perfecting the “retired” routine, this may become more commonplace in professional sports. Now, Mason and his agent have their back against the wall as pieces of the puzzle have been put together. Hopefully, Mason can rectify the situation and return to the Ravens as their #1 receiver.
Here’s a few of the analysts from NFL Network’s take on the situation:
“As storm clouds gather (again) in Denver between the Broncos and a high profile offensive player, rumors are flying in some circles that Marshall could land in Baltimore.
Though the obvious destination would be Chicago, where Marshall’s former quarterback now resides, the Ravens have at least explored the possibility of adding a high-impact wideout during the offseason. The Bears have yet to do so. (Then again, maybe Cutler gave them a head’s up about Marshall.).
Adam Schefter reported earlier today that Marshall has asked to be traded.
Marshall likely would command at least a first-round and a third-round draft pick, due to the trade that sent Roy Williams from the Lions to the Cowboys last year.
The move also would require a contract worth $9 million or more per year.
So it would be a huge deal for anyone to do a deal for Marshall, especially in light of his past legal troubles.”
Still, Marshall is one of the best receivers in the league and is something that the Ravens need to make a Super Bowl run in 2010.
07. Nov, 2009 
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