CSN Baltimore dot com. Not not to make too much out of you know -- I have tremendous respect. For red. You know I've used the -- admiration you know I don't. Don't worry about it being ready to on the planet is going to be here and be ready to go now and though there was going on. Through it knows how to deal with the. His words. Very carefully as relates to approval safety Hendry who. For reasons still unknown has opted to boycott mandatory mini camp I don't think the Ravens. Want to inflame the situation we'll see what John Eisenberg CSN Baltimore thinks about that and other issues. With the Baltimore Ravens John joins us now -- welcome back what what do you what do you think is going on with Ed Reed of Baltimore Ravens. -- It is a very sensitive subject around the cap so you are correct that he is choosing his words carefully. It is. One player on this -- -- Ravens have a pretty good ability to have most of these guys under their compensate they cannot control it three. You know he's got nobody want that -- indicate for awhile. And who is not happy that 65 years ago it kind of big contract. And safeties have of course this is what happens that surpass him. I think it's a -- contract he wants a new deal the and I you know I think he's just sort of -- the Ravens haven't had declined to do that I think he feels under appreciated or something there's something simmering below the surface. And it talked about it sort of talked around it. Many changes might be hard to read that I played at the bottom line that the situation and they're just not showing up to a mandatory camp you know and accepting that behind that line. But not communicating at all that he wasn't going to come -- you know John Harbaugh -- didn't appreciate it he didn't quite get. And you know the Ravens are a little frustrated -- that right now maybe more than a little frustrated. And it contract is up -- this year you know and it is the most prickly situation they are -- Here is one of their all time great player a hall of Famer one of the top five players in history popular. In the locker room and and still still playing well. But he's he's not making anything on unmanned and so it's jut a tricky situation form. -- read on it is John is that I believe Ed Reed. Knows that the Terrel Suggs injury gives him even greater leverage it makes him more important that team than -- otherwise would be so he sees an opportunity. To try to get more money from the -- I think he's frustrated that they are coming to him. Recognizing that they need him more he mused about retirement several weeks ago. Many backed off of it quickly because I think it is -- doesn't wanna be dishonest about his intentions he wants to play football. So we decided. I'll send a message and we'll see if they get the message and we'll see if they understand what they need to do to make me happy and get me to show up this is that. In your view anywhere close to what he may be thinking. Absolutely what would not dispute that at all you know certainly that I've been injury and Ray Lewis is going to be 37 brilliant 37. And so I mean maybe you know that you get. They need it more than ever I think they're gonna have a strong secondary this year you know they -- -- -- -- -- -- You know until well into the corners that are there they're really strong developing strong young quarterback group and got Bernard Pollard. That pretty good about the secondary and the guy there's no question. And you know he -- a lot more of the table than just what he does on the field I mean he isn't true student and he teaches people start generations -- Ravens how to approach the team from -- And that's huge respect and it feels unappreciated. Yeah I think he's field you know. This is that -- -- doubt you know that this is this is sending a message. Yeah I think it's important that stayed dead in the hands I do believe he will play this year. I don't think he's under contract to support you get into the situation we're holding out. You know I think he will play. I think the Ravens believe that that's you know and so it. It just happened -- that -- sort of an annual thing it on the front burner this time of year that goes on the back burner when the season began because he's a pro. But you know once his contract is up at a very much -- the proper. -- guys who love football are gonna show up and play football and it probably was very hard for him. To stay away from the mandatory mini camp even though. He only reasonably looks like football. When now when they're out there in T shirts and shorts -- -- I do. Seem to be very optimistic about his ability to play we mentioned earlier throughout sides -- that Achilles injury. Do you think is that the -- reasonable. Estimate of when he could be back if at all during the 2012 season. Mean that's you know how these medical things -- -- Achilles injury there's a wide range. Well. What the result could be neutral ground very optimistic he like he tell you like to talk that he believes he -- be back by the beginning of November. Yeah man I mean you know he'd like to them Superman back into that stuff so -- so we'll see whether that the case that the early. It's possible. I think. Scenario. And that the the poorer one as dad you know he might be able to practice and just let them but whether he can really -- the B Terrel -- on the field. By December remains to be seen so there's just no telling the first after the year out. Sure I mean the second half of the year to me is it is in question. I don't think there's anyway you can count on a guy coming off an Achilles injury. To be ready to play and ready to play at the grade level -- he played last year so you know next year no problem. This year we'll -- but you know I I mean I just. -- better always better to be sort of skeptical of him in these situations that didn't didn't just. You know they'll be back you know certain. Couple months ago their biggest problem was Ray Rice franchise tag running back who had yet to show any explanation to sign it. Ravens probably feeling the style that for those days that things stand right now. With Ray Rice deadline coming up in a month July 16 to be precise for doing it long term deal otherwise the one year deal only. For Ray Rice where things stand do you think -- long term deal in place by July 16. Optimistic. I'm not sure that they well I think has admitted that the bridge could be as much as ten million dollars in guaranteed money. You know I think it's come in achieving. Yeah. Field you know maybe not quite the contract and Adrian Peterson god. But Chris Johnson perhaps coming you know he he doesn't have as many yards -- touchdowns in four years as Chris Johnson that he had more last year. And -- feel that is. -- reasonable comparison. To the right hander are holding firm I think you know less than. And so you know that feel like in the middle of the guy he's perfect but they. Like a lot of teams are hesitant to put too much money. Into a running back period. I'm not fingers that philosophy and work as well. And so you know I'm not sure that it's gonna get done in time and you know the -- might have to play under the tag this year the Ravens had shown. No hesitation to do that -- -- guy play under the tax. And then that try to get Simon next year and they even put the tag on twice that it without that it would Chris McKee Chris McAlister quarterback back in the day. And eventually got the deal done. So you know running backs different creature will see what their inclination is in the long term but I think. The -- right now I think it will be attacked for -- and 2012. Yeah and that seven point seven million that he would learn is going to be more than what he had gotten collectively in his first four years. In the NFL it's hard to walk away from that even if you do want more but the problem could arise next year John because. If they use -- tag on rice this year. And they don't have a long term deal in place that you have to choose between. Ray Rice or Joseph Flacco in 2013. Because there's only one franchise tag to be used where things stand. As it relates to Joseph Flacco may be getting a long term deal because it looked like something's gonna happen but it seems like nothing's happening now. Yeah I I'm not sure anything's going on there I think that scenario that come up. That you mention I think Flacco goes had a right to me there's no question your quarterback your most important guy. I'll always your most important guy you know if you have a franchise that you believe to the franchise quarterback and -- on your roster your winning with him. But you know you you can't let that guy walk away but then and the Ravens have been in the situation where -- back to square one you're dealing with -- retread. And draft pick -- you hope pan out that is not the situation the Ravens won the end. You know they feel like Flacco is their guy and you know he had a more than a drop -- the Super Bowl last year and they feel like. Fine okay so I think he he becomes the priority then you know I mean whether or not you have -- Yeah I feel like you can pretty much to -- by the NFL and it two categories the teams that those that are athletic quarterback and those that -- And those that aren't are always searching doing desperate things and it and Ravens to wanna be in that category so I think -- that would become the priority over Ray Rice. And plus I think it tag number would be what sixteen million or something like that so. I don't think they're gonna do that you know I think Flacco become the priority again. For a ride -- -- would -- number two in line. And and that's. The real question. If you don't know long term deal done with either rice or Flacco. You look at it and nine point 24 million dollar franchise -- for rights next year sixteen million plus for Joseph Flacco if they had to choose between one -- -- to attack one and let the other hit the market which when you think it tag which one it's the market. So I think yeah I think Flacco in terms of who didn't tag. Yeah yeah I think they would attack. -- that's seven million dollars last. And that that I mean I think that I think it would really be proactive in getting a deal done with their quarterback to keep from. Lieutenant because that would really sat back. -- the whole organization. You have a quarterback can play it. You should know that you groomed him and he's entering his prime but in the Ravens have gone on and on about this stuff how they feel like Joseph was just entering its fine to let him walk at that point. You know I think conditions serious damage to it any building plans they have so I think -- would get it back. I wanna change gears on you. Very dramatically because recently in the mail I got a book and it was free which is always the best kind of -- to get and no one else can get this right now because it's an advance copy of a book written by guy name John Eisenberg I'm not sure who that is. Called ten down -- available on Amazon.com. On about four chapters and and it's fascinating hit it tells the history of how the AFL came to be from the perspective of the two teams AFL and NFL and ended up in Dallas the Dallas Texans which came to Kansas City Chiefs. And the Dallas Rangers which at some point become the Dallas Cowboys haven't gotten that far in the book yet but John first of all I I love and it's -- great book how it. You get drawn to this project since it really has nothing to do with the Baltimore Ravens they were the Cleveland Browns at the time who had been inherited -- the NFL from the all American football conference. That's my stereo picketed I'm born and raised in Dallas I've been in Baltimore since 1984. Right into the ball more -- and then hit the ball more more recently. -- -- Texans. I grew up down there I grew -- wanted to cowboy these games in the early sixties my grandfather bought a season ticket. From the year they came. And so I went to -- game so that does that history that I knew that I grew up with that that have always been fascinated with. Actually started my horse right there in Dallas to twenty years later so I'm just really pretty steeped in the lower there and know all these people like covered Lamar Hunt. Soccer team the Dallas tornado that didn't I didn't do this story and I thought you know. This is really sort of an untold story I mean everybody sort of believed that it was TP bit. That really took pro football. Two new high in the sixties and that is true. But that you know the whole merger. Between AFL in the NFL which is really did the piece that that got that the NFL. -- set the stage for the great growth. The whole merger. Starts with what happened in Dallas. Then in the early sixties just amazing how so much of what happened trait to that little civil war there between those two teams for three years. And I think it. Yeah it's a real pale -- -- with a little money in big egos trying to knock each other out and netted just went right up my Alley at the Ryder -- -- have really -- Once they got picked up is the NFL was in a position where they consider themselves beating kings of the hill that -- believed they had any real competitors and -- -- competitors came along make it quickly crushed them. They found out they had a worthy adversary in Lamar Hunt who I don't think gets enough credit. For where the game is today everybody knows at least most people know -- came up with the Super Bowl name because he had a kid playing with the old super ball that -- all around the house. But he really pushed and pushed and pushed and I think lit the fire under what has become today the most popular sport country. Absolutely he did his hit and I hope that it looked like this pushes him into the spotlight they get the credit he deserves because. The -- came into existence. These costs. The NFL would not give him a team in Dallas. And that is that is the truth he was -- kid he was 26 years old looking for some of them do have money. And knocking on doors George allies and -- now these guys basically -- the slam. Yes and so it well now and then this is a classic Texans mentality in our out. And start my -- lady. So that pretty much what he did it and but it all came from the fact that. They would let him in their local which is just twelve teams all the way up until through 1959. They would let him in their clubs so he started that is only again. It really that the first. Know that falls towards making the NFL and to what it has become. So yeah. CSN Baltimore dot com.