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Post by FLCardinalFan on Apr 15, 2021 16:35:02 GMT -7
In the 2021 Arizona Cardinals Forum Mock Draft #27th pick
The Baltimore Ravens are on the clock
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Post by devongent on Apr 16, 2021 1:00:48 GMT -7
The young reporter, Mike, had been initially be a little miffed about the situation. He would never show it, especially to his boss at the Maryland Herald, but the editor of the paper had recently taken Mike into his office and told him "Mike, I'm sending you to Baltimore to cover the Ravens". This happened about six weeks prior to the draft and was sprung upon our young reporter with no pre-warning or any other comment. That was it and Mike could only muster a faint smile in response and he recalls uttering the words back "Yes sir!. It will be a pleasure to serve the paper this way".
A brief background explanation is required at this point to give some context to the situation. Mike Duxbury was a 'born and breed' Columbian and he had lived his whole life not far from Washington DC. From an early age he liked all sports, particularly loved football and his great passion in life was the Washington Football Club (as now termed). Many folks talk about 'their dream job', but for Mike there was no truer description. Upon leaving college he had been taken on by that most respected publication in the state of Maryland (which, of course, also covered happenings in the USA capital city) and after a couple of years reporting on ad hoc sporting events (somehow he had ended up covering equestrian and badminton in particular) he was called in by the boss and told that he was now to become chief correspondent for the Redskins (* as was. Mike later reported the subsequent name change to the plain 'Football Club' with his usual zeal). To put it simply, Mike couldn't believe his lucky stars and since that appointment, five years ago now, Duxbury had built up a reputation amongst the sporting community as being the fairest and most knowledgeable journalist covering Washington football. The Herald were very happy with his output as it was said by the ownership of the publication (but never to Mike) that Duxbury had revived the circulation figures, hence the long term financial stability of the paper.
The Washington Football Club liked and respected Mike in equal measure. He was an affable person by nature and Mike was always willing to 'put on a positive spin' to his stories even when the team was losing consistently and the club itself was generally considered to be 'in its darkest hour'. Many persons and professional commentators had abandoned their support for the team, always being apt to hark back to 'the glory days'. Never Mike, he was rooted in the present and looked forward with unquenchable optimism and enthusiasm. - Mike Duxbury will be sorely missed by Washington Football Club as the Maryland Herald's chief full-time reporter on their affairs.
Over in Baltimore Mike's personal qualities and skills at written journalism soon became apparent. Much could be stated in print already about Mike's new position covering the Ravens, but this is draft season and we now need to get to the point... Suffice to say that Mike was able to 'gauge the temperature' over in Baltimore and he quickly latched on to the understanding that the FO had settled on taking a Wide Receiver in Round 1. The thought pattern of the Front Office was that with another premier receiver to throw to then the Ravens would, once again, be unstoppable. Mike had hinted about this likely course of action in his twice-weekly press column leading up to the draft, but to keep a certain amount of mystic (and also to protect the identity of his sources within the organization) he routinely spun a story that a Left Tackle and a Cornerback was still in play.
To be continued.
Well, now to get on with it and conclude matters for the reader.
The Ravens FO identified at an early stage their two most sort after targets. The general consensus was that either Rashod Bateman or Terrace Marshall Jr would fit the brief of 'a larger target' receiver who had the ability to get separation and to compete hard in contested cover situations. During the resultant assessment process there had been a certain amount of 'toing and throwing' between the two players, but ultimately it was determined that Bateman would be the prime candidate (and Marshall would be the 'fall back' option). The GM, in particular, liked Bateman for two principle reasons. Firstly, he was considered superior over Marshall at competing for catches and secondary, taking the American euphemism, he was deemed 'a true alpha male'. (Mike himself hated this terminology and in his press bulletins referred instead as 'having great leadership qualities').
Mike wrote and re-worked the script for his piece to be published immediately after the first round of the draft. He had within enthused about the quality of Bateman and had (although not said in straight words) recommended for the Ravens faithful to prepare for the Super Bowl. He toyed with the 'leader' under various headlines such as 'Ravens are Top of the Birds', 'Bateman to ignite Baltimore' and the simply stated 'Ravens off to the Super Bowl after signing?'. Mike was pleased and he reflected coming east to Baltimore was turning into a stroke of good fortune and a chance for more recognition within the sports journalism industry and thus a real opportunity to progress his own career. Yes, Washington Football Club was still his love, but sometimes you have to move on. 'Every cloud has a silver lining' he thought wistfully to himself...
Well the next bit of the story is already known to the attentive reader. At the last moment (at #26 pick to be precise) the unforeseen happened. Cleveland played a shocker and decided upon Rashod Bateman with their selection. No-one at the Raven's HQ contemplated this occurrence, believing instead that the Browns were certain to take a premier player on Defense. Mike thought about the GM at the Ravens being particularly upset and Mike was grateful that he was not present within 'The Rookery' (as the FO Team affectionately called their Draft Room). He visualized flying crockery around the place and at least he was himself not in the line of fire!
"Darn it, Darn it, Darn it....." Mike muttered to himself. "what to do with the bulletin for tomorrow?....." - After a few moments contemplation and a quick sip of coffee he decided. Scrub out 'Bateman' and insert 'Marshall' into the text and with a few more minor factual changes all should still read good. "Title, title, what about the headline?".... Got it! - Mike eased back into his chair and sung it out loud... "Air Marshall gives Ravens lift off to the Super Bowl"....
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Post by End Zone on Apr 16, 2021 2:39:49 GMT -7
The young reporter, Mike, had been initially be a little miffed about the situation. He would never show it, especially to his boss at the Maryland Herald, but the editor of the paper had recently taken Mike into his office and told him "Mike, I'm sending you to Baltimore to cover the Ravens". This happened about six weeks prior to the draft and was sprung upon our young reporter with no pre-warning or any other comment. That was it and Mike could only muster a faint smile in response and he recalls uttering the words back "Yes sir!. It will be a pleasure to serve the paper this way". A brief background explanation is required at this point to give some context to the situation. Mike Duxbury was a 'born and breed' Columbian and he had lived his whole life not far from Washington DC. From an early age he liked all sports, particularly loved football and his great passion in life was the Washington Football Club (as now termed). Many folks talk about 'their dream job', but for Mike there was no truer description. Upon leaving college he had been taken on by that most respected publication in the state of Maryland (which, of course, also covered happenings in the USA capital city) and after a couple of years reporting on ad hoc sporting events (somehow he had ended up covering equestrian and badminton in particular) he was called in by the boss and told that he was now to become chief correspondent for the Redskins (* as was. Mike later reported the subsequent name change to the plain 'Football Club' with his usual zeal). To put it simply, Mike couldn't believe his lucky stars and since that appointment, five years ago now, Duxbury had built up a reputation amongst the sporting community as being the fairest and most knowledgeable journalist covering Washington football. The Herald were very happy with his output as it was said by the ownership of the publication (but never to Mike) that Duxbury had revived the circulation figures, hence the long term financial stability of the paper. The Washington Football Club liked and respected Mike in equal measure. He was an affable person by nature and Mike was always willing to 'put on a positive spin' to his stories even when the team was losing consistently and the club itself was generally considered to be 'in its darkest hour'. Many persons and professional commentators had abandoned their support for the team, always being apt to hark back to 'the glory days'. Never Mike, he was rooted in the present and looked forward with unquenchable optimism and enthusiasm. - Mike Duxbury will be sorely missed by Washington Football Club as the Maryland Herald's chief full-time reporter on their affairs. Over in Baltimore Mike's personal qualities and skills at written journalism soon became apparent. Much could be stated in print already about Mike's new position covering the Ravens, but this is draft season and we now need to get to the point... Suffice to say that Mike was able to 'gauge the temperature' over in Baltimore and he quickly latched on to the understanding that the FO had settled on taking a Wide Receiver in Round 1. The thought pattern of the Front Office was that with another premier receiver to throw to then the Ravens would, once again, be unstoppable. Mike had hinted about this likely course of action in his twice-weekly press column leading up to the draft, but to keep a certain amount of mystic (and also to protect the identity of his sources with the organization) he routinely spun a story that a Left Tackle and a Cornerback was still in play. To be continued. Smoke and Mirrors...this is good stuff, Devongent! Thanks for the early Friday morning excitement.
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Post by devongent on Apr 16, 2021 7:05:53 GMT -7
The vote is now in... Terrace Marshall Jr. (above article completed in explanation of this choice decision/ outcome).
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