RAVENS FINALLY SETTLED ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST BATTLES…BUT IT STILL MIGHT NOT BE OVER!

So, in breaking news, after months of us wondering, after months of waiting, after the competition got to an all-time high, Jesse Minton finally, you know what? I'mma let him tell it for you. One thing I'll say just to kind of get it out of the way, Javon Gwyn will start at center for us. Um, got a lot of confidence in him. This is a guy that I think like when opportunity knocks, are you ready to take advantage? And, uh, he's done a really good job. He's obviously repped a lot with our starters over the last couple weeks. Um, and I would say that's a week one decision, you know, not necessarily a permanent decision. Obviously, we know what Ethan's capable of. He's still coming back, um, you know, from the injury, but we got a lot of confidence as a staff and Javon as a team and, uh, excited to see him get this first opportunity. >> So, there it is. Officially, we know who our starting center is going to be, and that is Javon Gwyn. And this has been a very interesting, different kind of competition at that position. Uh, first Tyler Lindbomb, he of course left, got his money from the Raiders. Uh, we brought in Javon Gwyn, we brought in Danny Pinter. And the thing about those two, along with Cory Bulock, who was already on the roster, they just did not have much starting experience at all. So, I know for a long part of the offseason, a lot of us wondered, is our starting center even really on the roster? Because we felt like the Ravens could still go elsewhere and look for somebody else who had been there, done that. But for a while, they didn't. But behind the scenes they were working with Ethan Pixk and then they eventually signed him, brought him in. So a lot of us felt like oh that's going to be the guy because he has a lot of starting experience and with what Jesse Mentor said because while he did name Javon Gwyn the starter, he just named him the starter for week one and he clearly like let it be known like look this is just a week one decision. I'm not committing to Javon Gwyn longterm at the center position. So, while we have our starting center, his position seems like it's not set in stone at all. And that really reminded me of how Jesse Mentor did with Tyler Loop because it was the same exact thing. Hey, we expect Tyler Loop to be our kicker for week one, but he did not commit to him beyond that. So, with that, it seems like, all right, this is the best man for the job right now, but it's a pending long-term decision. And with that, he does put some pressure on both of those players. He puts pressure on Javon Gwyn. He puts pressure on Tyler Loop. And basically, to me, what is saying is, "Hey, you better be on point. You better get this thing right because we have somebody willing and able to replace you on the roster if things go south." So, hopefully they don't with either of the two. Hopefully everything is squeaky clean with our offensive line and obviously squeaky clean with our kicking situation. Uh, but Jesse Mentor is really he putting these boys through the fire, man. He he really is. So, shout out to Javon Gwyn. This will be his first time starting and woo he going against what? Deorest Buckler. He he he got a tough task in front of him. But with Dwayne Leadford, um, we confident that he going to get our offensive line right. I know that is so many people's biggest worry. Uh, minus the kicking situation. And so many people are worried about the offensive line and I get it. But at the same time, I don't yet because we haven't seen the offensive line yet. We haven't seen them play together. We haven't seen them in action. I know we got some bits and pieces from training camp and whatnot, but we haven't seen them in the actual game. So, I ain't tripping off of it yet. And hopefully, they don't give us any reason to. But, how are you feeling about the way that Jesse Mentor made this decision? And do you think that Javon Gwyn is going to stick as the Ravens center for the remainder of the season, or do you think they're gonna end up turning it over to Ethan Posik? Let me know in the comments section. This will be Derek Henry's third year with the Baltimore Ravens. And if y'all remember, it actually should have been his fourth because they had a deal in place with the Titans years ago, but at the last second, Titans said, "Nope, we ain't doing it. Ain't happening." But then the offseason happened and we ended up signing him anyway. Uh but we haven't reached the ultimate goal. Even with having one of the best quarterbacks in the game, even with having one of the best running backs in the league, we have not made it and won the Super Bowl yet. But let's listen to a clip of how Derrick Henry feels about that. >> I want to win the Super Bowl. So that's that's a big motivation. I just want to be able to feel that feeling. I'm tired of watching >> every year. I'm tired of being at home on the couch watching. I want to be a part of it. So, I want the ring. Like, I want the Super Bowl. I'm I don't want to be a dead horse, but I'm being dead serious. That's That's what I want. That's why I came here. So, it'll be crazy for me to say I play with Lamar Jackson and we ain't win no championship. Like, I cannot have that. I do not want that to be a thing. Like, we got to we got to do it. >> Now, everything Derk Henry said was 1 million% right. Except with with the couch part. We on the couch regardless. If Ravens winning, we on the couch. If Ravens in the Super Bowl, we on the couch. If Ravens losing, we still on the couch. But he was more so referring to the players and their exit from the playoffs and whatnot. He wants to be in the Super Bowl and winning. I get it. We get it. And we with you 1 million%. Because what stood out to me about that clip, and you can catch the whole interview on on the lounge on Baltimore Ravens.com, but he said that it would be basically saying it'd be a waste. Like, how crazy would that sound for him to say he played with Lamar Jack? He said that was the biggest reason that he even came to the Ravens in the first place to have the opportunity to play with Lamar Jackson. But it would be such a waste if these two, two of the greatest, not only playing right now, but two of the greatest to ever play the game. if they had the opportunity to play together, to wear the same jersey, but they never got it done. Jesse Mentor, please save us. Now, we made it to my favorite part of the videos where we get to hear from you. Subscribe to the channel, click that thumbs up button, leave a like on the video, and let's get straight to it. First question came from my guy Terry. He said, "What if? What if, Terry?" He said, "What's up, Engraving? It's been a minute. Hope all is well and I pray that you and your family continue to be blessed and thrive within everything y'all do. Hey, appreciate you, Terry. Thank you, man. He said, "I got a what if question. What if we paid Orlando Brown Jr. instead of Ronnie Stanley?" Oo, wow. That's something. I had really wanted us to keep Orlando Brown Jr. back then. Man, that seems like that was so long ago, man. That's crazy how time fly. It really does. So much has changed just in life since back then. But anyway, um I really wanted us to keep him. Knew that it wasn't likely, especially when we played Ronnie St. But man, I really wanted us to. And that boy said, "Oh yeah, he filled in for Ronnie Stanley." That's what it was. And he knew about the money. He knew he was going to get the bread cuz that boy said, "I'm a left tackle." Y'all remember that? He said, "I'm a left tackle." So he was letting me know like, "Look, that's the position I play. I'm trying to get paid as a left tackle. But yeah, Ronnie Stanley was hurt and Orlando Brown Jr. stepped in and stepped up. But continuing, he said, [snorts] uh, would he be more consistent and available for us rather than rather than Ronnie Stanley who has been uh or rather than Ronnie Stanley has been since the 2020 ankle injury? I I I think so. I I do think so. Um because yeah, Ronnie Stanley missed a lot of time throughout the years. A whole lot of time throughout the years. That's why I know a lot of Ravens fans were very hesitant on the Ravens giving him another deal. Uh even after what was it? Was it last year? No, no, it was the year before last where they had his contract set up to where he had to play every game. Like it look in order for him to really get paid the max amount of money he had to play in every game. And that man ain't missed nothing. Like he ain't missed a snap. He ain't miss nothing. It's like oh okay. So you can stay healthy. But I think another big part of Ronnie Stanley, the whole thing with him was the recovery process cuz and it sucked. The timing was just terrible, too. Um because he had just signed a brand new deal. Just signed a brand new deal. I forgot what year it was, but Ronnie Stanley was a 2016 first round pick. Um so anyway, I forgot what year he signed his initial deal, but he had just signed it. And then not even a week later, that's when TJ Watt like broke his ankle or something like that. I forgot what the exactly what the injury was, but just timing and I know a lot of people like, "Oh man, we should have never paid him." Now, he did have injury issues prior, but after it certainly got worse, but the recovery, Ravens didn't handle the recovery properly or cuz and we see their track record with injury. So, I don't know how much of it was on Ronnie Stanley's side, too, but they certainly didn't handle it the right way. And there was one year, I think it was 2021 maybe or 22, I forget what year, but it was one year where Ronnie Stanley actually came back early and too early. He came back and then he ended up missing some time. Then I think he might have tried to come back again that year, then he ended up missing a chunk more time. But it seemed like he was getting rushed back. He he wasn't fully ready yet and they had him out there on the field and it just it was a mess. So, but yes, I do think had it been Orlando Brown Jr. instead of Ronnie Stanley, then things could have been different, but yeah, that this is a what if question, he said. [snorts] Now, I I know it kind of doesn't make sense due to Orlando playing right tackle at the time and paying him left tackle money when we already had Ronnie. It isn't realistic, but I just wonder about that sometimes. Oh, it's all good. We all get like that sometimes. I feel you. We always wonder about how things could have been if this would have happened. If that would have happened. So, I get what you're saying. He said, "But what you think?" Once again, hope you and your family is having a blessed day. And just like Jesse Mentor has with Lamar Jackson, unlike her ball, big trust. Oh, shout out to you, Terry. I appreciate you, man. Next question came from my guy Beey. He said, "Dear engraven, it's Beey Raven Nation, stand up." Stand up. Stand up. Oh, let me sit down though. We got a video to still make. He said, "Over the years, oh, excuse me." He said, "Love what you're doing on the channel, my guy." Hey, I I appreciate you, Beey. Thank you. He said, "Over the years, we've had to transition. 2000 defense was historic and won. Uh then much needed change to draft a quarterback in 2008. We picked Flaco eventually won. A new transition with Lamar getting close with mild success. Now Harves is out, mentors in new uniforms, new staff, and with the hopes of new results. The road to LA. Let's make it happen, baby. I mean, it ain't no time like the present, right? So, Ravens been knocking on the door for a while. Sometimes they knocked on the door a little closer. Sometimes they had to scream at the door from the ring camera. So they wasn't quite close to it, but they was a little distance away. But might as well not only knock on the door, just break break it down, man. Break it down. Walk in the house, look for that Lombardi, and say, "Oh, you know what? This is mine. We'll take this now." Elijah Chapman. Next question came from my guy Dion. He said, "What's up? The most underrated goat himself. Just wanted to send an abundance of love to not only you and your family, but the family you built here with team keep it clean." say, "Love you guys." Hey, we appreciate that. So, shout out to you, Dion. Appreciate that. Appreciate you sending love to people cuz people nowadays people need it need it more than ever, man. You know that, man. Cuz it's it's crazy out here. It's ugly out here. It's stressful like crazy out here. It's a lot going on in people's lives who you you will never even realize. You'll never even realize. So, I appreciate y um now for my question or thought. I've sent you some tape on Elijah Chapman. I know the defense is loaded, but tell me we can't use that on a Dline. Plus, he can play both sides of the ball. And you know how the Ravens all about players that can play multiple positions, [gasps] are they now? Because that was the John Harball Ravens. We don't know about the Jesse Mentor Ravens yet. So, that's could be a little different. We'll see. He said, uh, and I know that the roster is already set, but let's just say this was mad and the salary cap was off. Not that it matters because we've seen plenty of teams go for players to help their teams from KC to the Eagles to the Bengals. Wow. How you say something like that and you forgot the Rams. The Ram like that's the team right the I'm glad you did put Eagles too and Casey a lot of times too before but definitely the Rams and the Eagles for sure. I man I love it. Anyway said but my question is would you pull the trigger and get him? And like anything negative that's going on in anyone's life, I'm out. Oh, I like that. He said like anything negative that's going on in anyone's life, I'm out. And he said, "Peace, love, and light, my brother." Hey, appreciate you, Dion. Thank you, man. Um, yeah, because that would give us more insurance. You did say salary cap was off. Um, because Beak Beaks is obviously making a lot of money, but that would give us more insurance with him. That will give us more flexibility on the defensive line. uh that will give us more just just juice on that defensive line too. And that's where everything starts for to have an amazing defense. It starts up front. Starts with the defensive line. They getting pressure. They stopping a run. Uh [snorts] they got a nice pass rush. It just makes everybody's job 20 million times easier. Lamar EDC, hold up. This sound like we got a little controversial question on the way. Next one came from my guy Caesar. He said, "What's up, baby? I just finished seeing the most recent video you uploaded, and you were talking about how you are nervous about Lamar playing for another team like Pton Manning and Brady did." Okay. Okay. He said, "Uh, I don't think Lamar would play for another team because he has said before that Ravens gave him a chance with drafting him. If Ravens never gave him that chance, he probably would have never even been able to be in contract talks that he is in now because who knows what team uh would he be on and if they would have success like he has on the Ravens with a winning record. That is another what if it it that's true. We'll we'll never know. I don't think that would have been the case because him his camp he he was adamant about playing quarterback. So he didn't like for the combine. Nah, I ain't running. Nope. I'm only throwing. I'm a quarterback. That's it. They tried then to get him to change position. He said, "Nope. Uh-uh. I ain't doing it. Get somebody else." He said, "I ain't doing it." So, I think he he would have definitely been a quarterback for sure. Uh, but had the Ravens not came calling, not came trade him back into the first round for him, then yeah, we we'll never know, but he definitely would have been somewhere else. And I think he would have eventually got an opportunity to do his thing. How it would have went, we'll never know. We'll never know because, hey, he could have gone to a team and they might have really not been all in on him. They might have been like, um, he he cool, but it is what it is. And things might not have worked out. I find that hard to believe about things not working. But he also could have went to another team that did a lot more for him than the Baltimore Ravens did, too. And that's something to think about. Ravens did give him his first chance. They drafted him. We get that and love it for us for sure. Like, shout out to them because it's been fun. It's been great. But the Ravens have not handled his situation the best as they could have. They haven't. whether it's come to the contract, whether it's come to the personnel around him, building the team around him, really really being all in on him, they haven't been a big issue. So with Lamar again, it's business. I don't want Lamar to play nowhere else. Like I want Lamar to stay here forever, man. I want Lamar to be a rookie with the Ravens all the way till whenever he feel like retiring. But I also know that it's business. And with business, again, with with Lamar Stan, it's a 50/50 chance. It's a yes or no. And it's no in between. It ain't like, "Oh, well, maybe." No. It's either yes or no. It's either yes or no. Either signs an extension with the team or does not sign an extension with the team and plays elsewhere. And it's a harsh reality, but it is a reality. And we know also with with business, it could be a beautiful thing. Oh, yeah. Everybody's smiling, everybody shaking hands, everybody signing contracts, everybody getting money. Business can also be ugly. Things can turn fast. So, we'll see what happens. Time will tell. That's why I say EDC like, "Hey, you got to add some more meals to it. Whatever you got to do, please do it and get it done. Please, we we need our guy. Please." Anyway, continuing. He said, "Another reason why I don't think Lamar would get traded or signed for another team is Steve Bashotti won't let that happen. He would fire EDC before he lets go of Lamar. And I think this off season, Steve gave a few hints to EDC that his seat is warming up." Oh, he he certainly did. He certainly did. He let it be known. Like, EDC, I just fired your boy. You ain't even want to fire your boy cuz that's your best friend. And yeah, they they just said that his house just sold I think last week. So, Harball like really officially moved out now. Um, but Steotti went against everybody. Nobody thought Har was getting fired. Nobody did. Steve Bashotti said, "You know what? I've been thinking on it." Yeah. Hobbs, "No, you you out. You're out." That boy Bashotti. But yeah, he did put that pressure. He told Eric Dasa in that presser, hey, that that man ain't safe. He said, "Y'all don't don't get it twisted." He said, "Eric, my guy, but that man is not safe." But anyway, he said, "I overall like EDC as a GM, but some of his past drafts, especially in the top four rounds, have been headcratching. The one that got me upset the most at the time was when we drafted Hollywood Brown over AJ Brown. Ravens have been needing a legit big body receiver since then, and hopefully he finally struggled with the Jacobe Lane pick. Now, I'll say this to for what you said earlier. Well, where you talked about how with um with Lamar, maybe if he went to another team, maybe it would not have worked out. Again, a possibility, a chance, but with it being Lamar, [clears throat] I just I feel like it it would have worked out like he still would have looked good wherever he went. But we'll never know. So with Hollywood and with us getting him over AJ Brown and over some other guys too, we AJ Brown might not have even worked here because the Ravens at that point when it came to the development of wide receivers, they were still struggling. They were still struggling. Like Zay Flowers has been their best developed wide receiver ever that they drafted and developed. It's been Zay Flowers. He's been the best one that they've drafted and developed in my opinion. Maybe somebody may see some things differently, but to me it's been Z Flowers. I love Hollywood. Y'all know I love me some Hollywood, man. Love Hollywood, but as far as drafting and developing all like it's it's been Z Flowers for sure. Um because there was that and Hollywood was involved a lot too. So Hollywood he he got some things kickstarted with the Ravens. He he certainly came in did his thing. Um, but I I feel like with with Z and they are different players. They certainly different, but both Hey, both Florida Ravens, both Brow Ravens, so shout out to them. But, um, I I feel like with Zay Flowers, they just they did more and they consistently gave him opportunity, consistently like just had him involved. And Hollywood, he was pretty involved too now. So, yeah, I would say Hollywood got it kicked off, but Z Flowers, they like they they they really got it with him. So now we're hoping like you said with with Jacobe Lane um that it continues with Elijah Serat it continues with Leonte Wester even though I know he going to have limited opportunities ever see but still we hoping that it continues with Rashad Baitman. We're hoping that it gets there. So I I I see what you're saying but yeah it could have went either way. But continuing, he said, "One [snorts] last thing I wanted to ask you is, are you in any fantasy drafts this season or do you not participate in any?" Uh, if you do, I was wondering what your squad is looking like. I just won last season, so I'm aiming for that double chin bragging, right? So, my guy Caesar trying to show out. That man trying to win back to back. Hey, Ravens, Ravens, we trying to win our first one in this era, but he already think about back to back. Look at my guy Caesar trying to start a dynasty. But no, I am not um with fantasy. I I used to do a long time ago. long time ago, but once we really like started with this, yeah, I just I I couldn't do it because I would be so focused on the actual game, so focused on what was actually happening that I wouldn't be setting my lineups and whatnot. So, I told my my boys that they still do it like they still do the fantasy stuff and all that. Like, but I told him a long time. I said, "Just take me out cuz I'm I'm a waste of a spot cuz I I would I would have people that was wasn't even playing that week in the lineup and stuff cuz I would not be paying attention to it." So, I I said, "No, I I I can't do it anymore. give it the spot to somebody else now. They don't even ask me no more. They don't even waste the time and and it's it's been years, too. So, but yeah, I do I don't even really miss it. I don't miss it. I don't like for fantasy. I just Yeah, it was like it's one of those things you could do for fun. It's something that's different. But for me, it was like it was like a whatever. Again, especially being so invested into what's actually happening. Um, but yeah. So, no, I I don't I don't do any fantasy. Keep up the hard work. I look forward to seeing daily videos or whenever you can upload. I appreciate that cuz there'll be some times when it's Yeah, whenever we can upload, but no, I appreciate you a lot, Caesar. Thank you, man. Next question came from my guy Scott. He said, "First things first, keep keep it clean. Uh, thank you for reading my email." No, no, no. Thank you for sending it, man. I appreciate you. He said, "I heard that we might trade Joe Faniano or keep him. So the next season Huntley's contract is up, then let Huntley go to free up some cap space. Uh that could happen. That that's a realistic possibility. We'll see. He said, "I really [snorts] hope that Nami Madabk is back for week one, but we are stacked on the defensive line." Yeah, I we'll see. We we'll know something like we should know more later today. Um but then Wednesday and so so on and so forth. But yeah, we we so close, man. We right there. But yeah, about 90 m, we're going to find out real soon. Uh he said, "Now for Baitman's legal situations going on right now, uh we should bring in another wide receiver." Uh I I think with the Ravens they could, but I think that with them they'll they'll just wait to see how it plays out. Could something happen during this season? It could possibly could it wait it out? It could get cleared, too. like it could go a lot of different ways. Um, and I think they'll just wait it out. Now, if if something did happen this season, they'll obviously move accordingly, but I do see what you're saying. He's saying that just try to get ahead of it. Um, but I'm sure they keeping in contact with the league on whatever is going to happen with him. He said, "Okay, now if you had one player that you would be able to bring in from any position, uh, who would you trade for?" Um h [clears throat] probably Jamar Chase or Justin Jefferson. One of those two. Um because they just they're both amazing. They are just amazing. Like they they amazing. He said, "Me and my son are so ready and fired up for the season. Thank you for making good videos and reading other people's emails as well. And let's go Ravens." Hey, appreciate you, Scott. And shout out to you and your son, man. We we going to have a lot of fun this year. [music] >> The flock flies to [singing] the wise. It's a wonderful thing. Look what vision and [music] commitment is and some discipline brings. When eight becomes one, the moon swings and the flock sings [music] for another ring. Man, we tuning in and engraving vids in that scene tonight. team. Keep it clean. Hold it down. The sparks ignite. A name [music] in the lights. A north star. Ain't far when you run that north every year. That's just [music] Oh yeah. [music] Oh yeah.