Baltimore Ravens: Has Max Kellerman Lost His Mind?

Aug 11, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) looks on from the bench during a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 11, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) looks on from the bench during a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Max Kellerman of ESPN has lost his mind if he thinks the Baltimore Ravens are worse than the Cleveland Browns.

ESPN has been known to have a great deal of larger-than-life on-air personalities. Skip Bayless used to be one of those guys and everyone remembers some of the wild things him and Stephen A. Smith argued about. Now, his replacement, Max Kellerman, has said one of the most foolish things that I have ever heard in my life. I am paraphrasing here, but he said that the Baltimore Ravens are a worse team than the Cleveland Browns.

Come on now Max. Have you forgotten who the Ravens have at quarterback? Joe Flacco? Does the name ring a bell? He has a Super Bowl ring and he has outplayed some of the top quarterbacks in the NFL…in the playoffs! I understand that the national media likes to make fun of the “Is Joe Flacco elite” question. However, he has proven that he is serviceable during the regular season, but a pure stud in the postseason. Kellerman also tried to compare Flacco to Nick Foles, citing his QBR (a stat that I’m not too big of a fan of).

Which brings me to my next issue with Max Kellerman’s, in the words of Skip Bayless, “asinine asiten, asieleven” comments. He also has picked the Cincinnati Bengals to win the AFC North and make a good run in the playoffs. The Bengals haven’t won a playoff game in 22 years. Please Max, explain to me how they are going to make a deep playoff run. Do you really believe that Andy Dalton is a better quarterback than Flacco? Maybe in the regular season due to his weapons, but not in the playoffs.

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Yes, I do understand that Tyler Boyd can ball, but he’s a rookie. The Bengals lost Mohamed Sanu (Atlanta Falcons) and Marvin Jones (Detroit Lions) in free agency. That leaves them with A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert. They don’t have as many weapons as they once did. The Ravens have three tight ends who could start almost anywhere else in the NFL. Their names? Ben Watson, Dennis Pitta and Crockett Gillmore. Those guys can ball. This goes without mentioning Maxx Williams and Nick Boyle.

Let me talk about Steve Smith Sr., Kamar Aiken, Mike Wallace, Chris Moore, Keenan Reynolds, Chris Matthews and Michael Campanaro. Those guys have a lot of talent and will be a nightmare for opposing defenses. Aiken and Smith Sr. are the leaders. They are physical, tough and willing to battle for yards. Wallace is a burner. He has the speed and he’s had the track record. Matthews is a big bodied receiver. Campanaro and Reynolds are shifty and are versatile. Moore is another burner. He has absolutely blazing speed.

Kellerman must not know that the Ravens have one of the deepest running back groups in the league. Kenneth Dixon, Justin Forsett, Terrance West and Buck Allen. West looks like a brand new man, shedding weight and he’s having a great camp. Allen made a bunch of plays during the last game. Dixon has the burst and his footwork wows me. Forsett is the wily veteran who still has the talent of one of the better backs in the NFL.

I haven’t even gotten to the defense.

Sep 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Sizzle is coming. Terrell Suggs has finally returned after his Achilles injury. Elvis Dumervil will be back soon. C.J. Mosley, Kamalei Correa and Zachary Orr are ready to feast on running backs running up the middle. You still have Brandon Williams, Timmy Jernigan and Lawrence Guy that tough on the line. Williams should’ve been a Pro Bowler last season and has been a standout at his position.

Lardarius Webb has the ball skills that you want out of a free safety. Eric Weddle is arguably a future Hall of Famer. Plus the Ravens have Jimmy Smith, who’s been good at corner and Shareece Wright, who played very well in the latter half of the season.

To add on to this, the Ravens also have the best kicker/punter duo in the league. Sam Koch and Justin Tucker.

Next: Ravens vs. Colts: 5 Things to Watch

How does Kellerman believe that the Ravens are the worst team in the AFC North, I will never understand. Even Flacco is laughing, if you couldn’t tell by the first picture.