I am not going to pretend to know how the talks went between Ben Watson and the New Orleans Saints, nor am I going to assume that they were anywhere close on the terms of a contract. What I will say is their relationship seemed to be just about as mutually beneficial as a relationship could possibly be. That's why I am pretty shocked to hear that he is signing in Baltimore. It's very possible that the Ravens overpaid for an impressive stat line that was just as much a product of having a quality quarterback that's one of the best in the league at utilizing his tight ends as much as it was a product of Ben Watson's veteran savvy and impeccable physical conditioning. That's not to take anything away from the 35 year old that's coming off a year in which he attained his career high in every receiving category, but to say that his role in a Drew Brees led offense wasn't at least partially responsible for his success would be disingenuous.
Do I think he can help a Ravens team that was lacking in offensive threats last year? Absolutely. Do I think he's coming at all close to duplicating what he did in New Orleans? Not a goddamn chance. Joe Flacco is "elite" merely in jest, and that doesn't lend itself towards allowing an aging player to stay near the top of his position statistically. I don't blame him for deciding to take the last relatively significant payday he will receive in the NFL. Especially considering it's a payday he probably wasn't going to get from a team whose system was able to aide in getting Jimmy Graham-esque production from someone in the twilight of their career. Let's just say I doubt that the Saints were about to back up the Brinks truck out of fear of not being able to replace Ben Watson's numbers. That doesn't mean this isn't a big loss. As nice as the yardage and touchdowns were, Ben Watson's true value was reflected in the locker room. A locker room that's certainly had it's issues over the last few years, and a locker room that will almost definitely miss the veteran leadership of one of genuinely good guys in the NFL. This is just another reminder that professional sports will always be a business, because on the field the Saints and Ben Watson were a match made in football heaven.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Categories
All
Archives
January 2020
|