Ravens HC John Harbaugh On Hot Seat
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is under “mounting pressure” to turn his team’s season around, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The Ravens started out the 2018 campaign strong, but since a primetime victory over the Steelers in Pittsburgh staked Baltimore to a 3-1 record, Harbaugh’s club has dropped three of its last four to fall to third place in the AFC North. And, while a midseason firing is not expected, an ugly loss against the Steelers today would give team brass a lot to think about in that regard.
Harbaugh has generally achieved excellent results since he was hired in 2008, leading the Ravens to two division titles, three AFC Championship Game appearances (including one win), and a Super Bowl win. But Baltimore has not qualified for the playoffs since 2014 — though the club had several near misses during that time — and while injuries and mediocre rosters certainly played a big part in that, the three-year drought is tough to take in light of Harbaugh’s earlier success.
Indeed, owner Steve Bisciotti said earlier this year that he considered firing Harbaugh at the end of the 2017 season, which culminated in a Week 17 last-minute loss that knocked the Ravens out of a playoff spot. Ultimately, Harbaugh kept his job, the front office finally added a number of legitimate weapons for embattled quarterback Joe Flacco, and the Ravens have thus far managed to avoid the spate of calamitous injuries they have suffered in recent years.
But the team is now 4-4 and is at a crossroads. As Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com points out, if the Ravens win their next two games (home divisional contests against Pittsburgh and Cincinnati), Baltimore will have an 85.6% chance of making the playoffs. If they lose both, the odds drop to 10.4%.
Further complicating matters is the fact that this will be GM Ozzie Newsome‘s last season at the helm, and assistant GM Eric DeCosta, who will take over for Newsome, does not have as strong of an attachment to Harbaugh. Plus, rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson is reportedly not progressing as well as the team had hoped, which also reflects poorly on the head coach.
Harbaugh is under contract through 2019, and he has compiled a 105-71 record (including playoffs) as the Ravens’ sideline general. If he does get the ax either during the season or after it, he will surely make the short list for other clubs in search of a new head coach.
Four Teams Tried To Claim Jamon Brown
New Giants guard Jamon Brown was a popular target on the NFL waiver wire, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The Bears, Packers, Ravens, and Titans all tried to put in a claim for him, Yates hears. Those clubs were unable to land him, however, as the Giants had top priority. 
Brown served as the Rams’ starting right guard in 2017 slate and the former third-round pick started 30 games for the team dating back to the 2015 season. However, a suspension sidetracked his run in Los Angeles. With this kind of interest from at least five different clubs, it’s a bit surprising that the Rams were unable to find a suitable trade for Brown and recoup a future seventh-round pick, at minimum.
The Ravens, in particular, could use the offensive line help. Currently, they list four offensive linemen on their injury report, as Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic tweets: left tackle Ronnie Stanley (foot/ankle), right tackle James Hurst (back), left guard Alex Lewis (neck), and reserve guard/center Bradley Bozeman (calf).
The guard has a reasonable cap number of $1.871MM on his expiring contract, so the Giants are on the hook for less than $1MM for the rest of the year. Of course, the 1-7 Giants aren’t playing for much at this point, but Brown could help in run protection for sensational rookie Saquon Barkley and audition his way on to the 2019 roster.
Now that the trade deadline has passed, all players who are released will be subject to waivers for the rest of the season, even if they are vested veterans with more than four years of experience.
Reactions To Ty Montgomery Trade
- The Ravens traditionally don’t trade draft picks for players, especially during the season. As Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic writes, prior to today, the team had only made one significant pre-deadline deal (for left tackle Eugene Monroe in 2013). However, today’s trade for Ty Montgomery followed general manager Ozzie Newsome‘s “right player, right price” attitude. Baltimore ended up sending the Packers a seventh-rounder for a versatile offensive weapon who had more than 800 all-purpose yards only two seasons ago. While the 25-year-old may not be as flashy of a name as LeSean McCoy or Jordan Howard, Zrebiec believes the Ravens gave up minor draft capital for a player who could end up helping them down the stretch.
[SOURCE LINK]
NFL Workout Updates: 10/30/18
Here’s the latest from the workout circuit. All links to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account, unless otherwise specified.
Arizona Cardinals
- OT Cornelius Lucas, OT Derek Newton, DT Will Sutton, DT Vincent Valentine
Baltimore Ravens
- LB Ejuan Price
Chicago Bears
- C Luke Bowanko, OG Adam Gettis, LB Lorenzo Mauldin, LB Aaron Wallace
Cleveland Browns
- OG David Bright
- DE Alex Barrett, LB Jonathan Freeny, CB Jalen Myrick, LB Kelvin Sheppard
Green Bay Packers
- T Andrew Nelson, LB Anthony Winbush
Jacksonville Jaguars
- TE Troy Niklas
Miami Dolphins
- DT Joey Mbu, DE Kendall Reyes, DT Sylvester Williams
New Orleans Saints
- DE Robert Ayers, DE Tank Carradine, DE Will Clarke, CB Jeremiah McKinnon, S Obi Melifonwu, DE Ifeadi Odenigbo, CB Marcus Williams
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/30/18
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OG Colby Gossett (off Vikings practice squad), TE John Phillips
- Released: OL Blaine Clausell, TE Gabe Holmes
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: DL Michael Bennett
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: DE Albert McClellan
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: CB Dontae Johnson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: MLB Hayes Pullard
- Waived: K Mike Badgley
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: OG Jamon Brown
New York Giants
- Waived: CB Mike Jordan
Oakland Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: DE/OLB James Cowser
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: DT Bruce Hector
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: WR Victor Bolden, CB Greg Mabin
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Javien Elliott
- Released: LB Kevin Minter
Washington Redskins
- Waived: LB Cassanova McKinzy
Packers Trade Ty Montgomery To Ravens
The Ravens have acquired running back Ty Montgomery from the Packers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). In return, the Packers will receive a 2020 seventh-round pick. 
The trade comes days after Montgomery made a puzzling football decision that cost the Packers an opportunity to beat the undefeated Rams. Montgomery was instructed to settle for a touchback off of the Rams’ kickoff, but opted to run with the ball instead. Montgomery fumbled the rock, eliminating any chance the Packers had at a late-game drive. The Rams won 29-27 and Montgomery lost his job in Green Bay as a result.
For what it’s worth, Montgomery denied disobeying his coaches.
“I’ve never been a guy to completely disobey what I’m being told. I think you can ask a lot of guys in our locker room,” Montgomery said on Monday. “That’s not what I do. That’s not the type of man I am. That’s not the kind of person I am.”
In any case, Montgomery will move on to a new team that could feature him as a leading ball-carrier. The athletic Alex Collins has yet to impress and backup Buck Allen hasn’t done a whole lot with his carries either. On the flipside, Montgomery won’t have a ton of time to assert himself. Kenneth Dixon could return in a couple of weeks and the Ravens won’t have any qualms about benching or releasing Montgomery if he is ineffective.
Through seven games, Montgomery has averaged 4.0 yards per carry off of 26 totes. He’s also recorded 15 catches for 170 yards.
Montgomery’s best season came in 2016 when he was converted from wide receiver to running back. He finished out that campaign with 457 yards off of just 77 carries and three rushing touchdowns. He also added 44 grabs for 348 receiving yards.
Ravens Work Out RB Jamaal Charles
The Ravens tried out running back Jamaal Charles, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). He was one of five backs to try out on Friday, along with Charcandrick West, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Akrum Wadley, and Dare Ogunbowale. 
After Charles was quickly add/dropped by the Jaguars earlier this month, he said that he was “probably” done with football. As it turns out, football may not be done with him just yet. Charles will turn 32 in December and hasn’t played a full season as a starter since 2014, but the Ravens are curious to see what he could offer as a reserve.
The Ravens’ offense has been inconsistent this year and running back Alex Collins has not had the breakout campaign that many expected. For now, Collins is backstopped by only Buck Allen and Gus Edwards as Kenneth Dixon works his way back from IR. It’s not clear whether the Ravens are updating their lists in case Dixon’s rehab stalls or if they’re considering one of these five backs as an interim option.
West, a former teammate of Charles, was cut by the Chiefs and failed to stick with the Jets this offseason. The 27-year-old’s most productive campaign came in 2015, when he managed 160 carries for 634 yards and four touchdowns, but his rushing role with Kansas City declined in the last couple of seasons. While he played more than 500 offensive snaps from 2016-17, West handled only 106 total carries, including just 18 last year.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/24/18
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted from practice squad: G Jermaine Eluemunor
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Ray-Ray Armstrong
- Waived: LB Xavier Woodson-Luster
- Waived from injured reserve: LB James Burgess
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Dee Delaney
- Placed on injured reserve: LB Donald Payne
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Chandon Sullivan
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/24/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: G Kofi Amichia
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: G Will House
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Jalen Myrick, OL Adam Bisnowaty
- Released: DL Curtis Cothran
- Placed on PS-IR: DL Jonathan Wynn
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: G Landon Turner
- Cut: QB J.T. Barrett
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Garrett Dickerson
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: LB Cayson Collins
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Javien Elliott
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/23/18
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Rees Odhiambo (from Colts’ practice squad)
- Released: OG Zac Kerin
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OG Oday Aboushi
- Released: DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on IR: DT Willie Henry
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jordan Franks
- Placed on IR: TE Mason Schreck
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Pharaoh Brown
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on IR: DT Jay Bromley
New York Giants
- Released from IR: LB Ray Ray Armstrong
New York Jets
- Placed on IR: S Doug Middleton
Oakland Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Marcell Ateman
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB De’Vante Harris
- Waived: CB Javien Elliott
Tennessee Titans
- Released from IR: WR Michael Campanaro