New Perspective On The Ravens Cutting Eugene Monroe

Dec 14, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens tackle Eugene Monroe (60) during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens tackle Eugene Monroe (60) during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports /
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The fact that Eugene Monroe is still an NFL free agent may say volumes about the Ravens choice.

Eugene Monroe was released by the Baltimore Ravens on June 15th. Over a month has passed and Eugene Monroe is still available on the open market. Monroe has his suitors. The New York Giants were the most notable team that tried to sign Monroe.

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According to reports Monroe has stated that he doesn’t feel the need to sign with a team quickly. While it’s easy to say that he is taking his time to make a good decision; the longer he waits the more it legitimizes the Ravens choice to part ways.

There was always frustration between the Ravens and Monroe. Monroe was constantly injured. Half of his Ravens career was spent off the field. There was a suspicion lurking around, that Monroe didn’t want to play. The thought that he was not tough enough crossed all of our minds, whether that is fair or not.

Monroe is still considered to be a talented player. That’s why I was hesitant to do away with him. Monroe has the ability to sign an NFL contract whenever he wants to. It is possible, that he doesn’t want to get back to the grind. It is possible, that Monroe does not want to give up the perks of the NFL life, but he doesn’t want to take the wear and tear on his body. Monroe’s inability to sign is not because of his limitations. It is more likely that Monroe has put himself in an emotional limbo, where free agency is his safe place.

Despite his talent, there are reasons why a team would not be willing to risk much for Monroe. We already hit on the question of his toughness. Monroe’s inability to stay on the field gives an NFL team an inability to invest heavily in him. That’s not the only red flag. Monroe has become an advocate for the use of marijuana as a pain reducer in the NFL. While he has a good cause, don’t expect NFL executives to be helping him with it.

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By writing an article in The Players Tribune, Monroe put the Ravens in an awkward position. The article talked about how the NFL uses addictive pain killers. Monroe argues that the NFL would be practicing a safer method with medical marijuana. This argument is very well presented and frankly correct. However, it basically was an indictment on how the Ravens handle their players medical needs.

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I was never a huge fan of parting with Monroe. Why take on the dead money and lose a starting caliber player, I thought. The longer Monroe is not employed by an NFL team, the more justified the Ravens decision seems. The take home point is that Monroe’s availability legitimizes the Ravens’ decision to cut him.