shayne Graham a Raven.

[Wraith]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/06/01/ravens-close-to-deal-with-shayne-graham/

Look like Graham may end up being a Raven.

[skyline]

Oh man. If he beats us on a last second FG, it will be the definition of irony.

[agreen_112]

Oh man. If he beats us on a last second FG, it will be the definition of irony.

Doubt that will happen, he's a choke artist in big games... See ya Opie!

[Trevor]

They better hope their punter is a good kickoff guy lol

[ArmyBengal]

I thought that's where he might end up. With that being said, I have nothing bad to say at all. Chapter closed and time to move on. Hopefully things will work out for the best for both us and Shayne. He was nothing less than a class act of a person here in Cincinnati and minus a handful of kicks, was always one of my favorite players. I wish him nothing but the best unless he's kicking against us...

[BengalPimp]

BengalSis = RavenSis now.

I'm not going to bash him (anymore), all I have to say is, I'm glad that we didn't re-sign him.

[combatbengal]

I supported Graham until last season. His kick offs were horrible, couldn't put the ball in the end zone and those missed FG's in the playoffs. Granted making them wouldn't have made a difference in the game results but when your number is called, you need to come through! So chapter closed and we move on. I am so pumped for this season and can't wait for it to start.

[bwillycuse]

Its inevitable that Graham will have an opportunity against the Bengals to make a huge kick if he win that job.

It'll be good drama. I just hope we get a kicker that is competent. Dont want to regress. Ill be nervous on FGs for quite a while I think.

[GoBengals!]

ALELULIA!!!! The Bengals didn't resign this bum. Though I liked Graham's community involvement, I didn't like him as a kicker. Kickers have to be clutch and Graham was far from that. Do you remember what happened to Mike Vanderjagt when he choked mutliple times for the Colts. We need a clutch kicker (period) and Graham blew too many clutch games.

[jonahdsage]

I know everyone is pissed at Graham's missed field goals -- I was at the playoff game this year and was totally disgusted. I just think we are all a little naive to be so thrilled that he's leaving. Frustrated with him or not, he's still one of the most accurate kickers ALL TIME in the NFL. I have a hard time believing we're not going to regress at the kicker position. Maybe the new guy's inconsistency will be more consistent and not just focused on big games, but overall I imagine this new guy is going to have a lower percentage of made field goals. Not excited that Graham is a Raven now.

[derekshank]

I know everyone is pissed at Graham's missed field goals -- I was at the playoff game this year and was totally disgusted. I just think we are all a little naive to be so thrilled that he's leaving. Frustrated with him or not, he's still one of the most accurate kickers ALL TIME in the NFL. I have a hard time believing we're not going to regress at the kicker position. Maybe the new guy's inconsistency will be more consistent and not just focused on big games, but overall I imagine this new guy is going to have a lower percentage of made field goals. Not excited that Graham is a Raven now.

That percentage is from a career standpoint.

Last year he only made 82% of his FGs. That percentage ranked him 20th in the NFL. That 82% is a far cry from the 91% that he had been making in years prior.

He's been regressing the past couple of seasons. He's not yet awful in most situations... but he isn't getting better. At least not in Cincy. I think it was in his head - and it's best for both parties to move on.

[BengalByTheBay]

I know everyone is pissed at Graham's missed field goals -- I was at the playoff game this year and was totally disgusted. I just think we are all a little naive to be so thrilled that he's leaving. Frustrated with him or not, he's still one of the most accurate kickers ALL TIME in the NFL. I have a hard time believing we're not going to regress at the kicker position. Maybe the new guy's inconsistency will be more consistent and not just focused on big games, but overall I imagine this new guy is going to have a lower percentage of made field goals. Not excited that Graham is a Raven now.

That percentage is from a career standpoint.

Last year he only made 82% of his FGs. That percentage ranked him 20th in the NFL. That 82% is a far cry from the 91% that he had been making in years prior.

He's been regressing the past couple of seasons. He's not yet awful in most situations... but he isn't getting better. At least not in Cincy. I think it was in his head - and it's best for both parties to move on.

....buuuttt... and this is where I agree with Jon, if the change of scenery in Baltimore boosts him back to an above-average kicker, that's not good for the Bengals. And, isn't it just the way these things happen in sports, aren't the odds that he'll have to line up a kick to beat the Bengals this season?? I, for one, won't feel good unless/until he misses that kick.

[ArmyBengal]

It's like worrying that TJ is going to catch a TD pass against us, if and when we play the Seahawks. Who cares if it's him or someone else ??

Shayne will have his chances against us this year, but I won't be second guessing the decision to let him go. As much as I loved Shayne over the years and think he's a class act person, it's simply time. I actually think he will improve Baltimore's kicking game, not that it's hard to do, but still. Him having a shot to make those playoff kicks remains to be seen.

If he does or doesn't, nothing has changed for us. For the record, I think our kicking game may very well take a step back. Such is life...

[BengalPimp]

I know everyone is pissed at Graham's missed field goals -- I was at the playoff game this year and was totally disgusted. I just think we are all a little naive to be so thrilled that he's leaving. Frustrated with him or not, he's still one of the most accurate kickers ALL TIME in the NFL. I have a hard time believing we're not going to regress at the kicker position. Maybe the new guy's inconsistency will be more consistent and not just focused on big games, but overall I imagine this new guy is going to have a lower percentage of made field goals. Not excited that Graham is a Raven now.

That percentage is from a career standpoint.

Last year he only made 82% of his FGs. That percentage ranked him 20th in the NFL. That 82% is a far cry from the 91% that he had been making in years prior.

He's been regressing the past couple of seasons. He's not yet awful in most situations... but he isn't getting better. At least not in Cincy. I think it was in his head - and it's best for both parties to move on.

....buuuttt... and this is where I agree with Jon, if the change of scenery in Baltimore boosts him back to an above-average kicker, that's not good for the Bengals. And, isn't it just the way these things happen in sports, aren't the odds that he'll have to line up a kick to beat the Bengals this season?? I, for one, won't feel good unless/until he misses that kick.

I am of a different mindset. I feel that we are the better team, and hopefully show it on the field to where a FG (or 2) doesn't make a difference in the outcome of the game.

I also see us getting in the End Zone a lot more than last year, reducing our new kickers attempts.......

[BengalByTheBay]

And, isn't it just the way these things happen in sports, aren't the odds that he'll have to line up a kick to beat the Bengals this season?? I, for one, won't feel good unless/until he misses that kick.

I am of a different mindset. I feel that we are the better team, and hopefully show it on the field to where a FG (or 2) doesn't make a difference in the outcome of the game.

I also see us getting in the End Zone a lot more than last year, reducing our new kickers attempts.......

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Anybody catch Marvin's take on Shayne as linked by PFT? Yikes. Just come out and call the guy a weak-kneed choker already! Can't disagree though.

[jjakq27]

Anybody catch Marvin's take on Shayne as linked by PFT? Yikes. Just come out and call the guy a weak-kneed choker already! Can't disagree though.

Is this what you are referring to? This was on a Raven's site.
/>http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2010/06/marvin_lewis_graham_has_demons_of_the_last_kicks.html

Marvin Lewis: Graham has "demons of the last kicks"

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said Shayne Graham has "demons of his last kicks" in Cincinnati.

Graham, who played for the Bengals from 2003 to 2009, missed two field goals in a playoff loss to the New York Jets in January. He signed a one-year deal with the Ravens on Thursday morning.

"He had an opportunity to come back here and regain what he had here," Lewis told Cincinnati reporters. "Unfortunately he has the demons of the last kicks here when he didn’t make them. He’s got to overcome those demons and whether he could come back to this locker room and overcome them. That’s what the fans remember around here is the kicks that he missed. I wish him good luck."

Lewis added, "The guy who got Shayne going was his coach (Darrin Simmons) and he had an opportunity to say 'Hey look coach I want to get this done and be a part of the team here.' and I don’t think that’s what he wanted to do. It worked out the way he wanted it to work out."

The Ravens play at Cincinnati on Sept. 19, the second week of the regular season.

[HairOnFire]

"...he had an opportunity to say 'Hey look coach I want to get this done and be a part of the team here.' and I don’t think that’s what he wanted to do. It worked out the way he wanted it to work out."

There it is.

I must have written a dozen posts over the years wondering aloud if Graham even wanted to be a Bengal, most recently in a thread featuring Bengalsis and I arguing over why there was no long term contract signed despite three years of trying. Now I read where Marvin Lewis echos the very same things I wondered about?

And for whatever it might be worth I don't think this is a fresh start for Graham. By signing with the Ravens Shayne won't have to bother trying to win back the respect of his fellow Bengal players, a difficult task few would relish, but he will have to prove himself to a new roster of players who know his history and his reputation.

You don't leave demons behind like an old couch you no longer want. They go with you.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

You don't leave demons behind like an old couch you no longer want. They go with you.

Especially when you stay in the division. I get the whole "I'll show those Bengals, I'll beat 'em twice a year." But if regular games made him knock-kneed, how about with more drama thrown on? That gonna help calm him down?

[Kazkal]

Cya Ravensis(see what I did there) feel free stop by when its Ravens week and I really do wish your brother the best...

Besides when he plays against the Bengals.

[Passepartout]

Well hate it that he had to end his career on a sour note. Good luck to him. Despite playing for a rival. Guy was a class act on and off the field.

[COB]

That choke artist's sister will be known as "Tuskersis" in about two years.

[gregstephens]

That choke artist's sister will be known as "Tuskersis" in about two years.

Or perhaps even "Jucocoachsis".

[BengalSIS]

That choke artist's sister will be known as "Tuskersis" in about two years.

Or perhaps even "Jucocoachsis".

Sorry. Just BengalSIS...RavenSIS will be left for someone else to take.

The thread is amusing though, so please...continue.

[BengalByTheBay]

That choke artist's sister will be known as "Tuskersis" in about two years.

Or perhaps even "Jucocoachsis".

Sorry. Just BengalSIS...RavenSIS will be left for someone else to take.

The thread is amusing though, so please...continue.

Sad, yes. Amusing, not so much. Stay classy guys.