Dennis Pitta Coming Back Makes Crowd At TE

It seemed like the Ravens had all but moved on at the tight end position. With Ben Watson, Crockett Gillmore, Maxx Williams and Nick Boyle on the roster, there were already enough options at this position. Then the Ravens moved Darren Waller to tight end, because apparently we needed another one. Now Dennis Pitta, who has had two season ending hip injuries, is attempting to make a comeback.

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It was reported by the Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zerbiec that the Ravens are restructuring Pitta’s contract. As Zerbiec points out, all signs lead to Pitta staying as long as the team doctors are okay with it. The Ravens now have six players competing at the tight end position. Most teams keep six or seven receivers, not tight ends.

Pitta’s return is bad news for Darren Waller and Nick Boyle. If the Ravens truly believe that Waller is a tight end and not a receiver, he may be the odd man out. Nick Boyle was suspended for 10 games and surely is in the infamous John Harbaugh dog house. If somebody has to go at the position, these are the first two names that would be cut.

I think the Ravens are thinking emotionally here. Everybody loves Pitta. He’s tight with Joe Flacco. He is a great guy to have in the locker room. The fans love everything about him.  I have a signed picture of Pitta hanging up in my man cave basement. Every time he makes a catch I celebrate and yell “Pitta Pockets!” While my heart has broken twice for our favorite tight end, it may have been time to say goodbye to Pitta. He hasn’t been able to play, we don’t know if he will be able to play in the future.

You have to give Pitta credit. He wasn’t staying for the guaranteed money. Pitta loves football and he doesn’t want to give it up. In a day where players are retiring early because of health concerns, that’s a big deal. Anybody who says players used to play for the love of the game, need to check their use of past tense. Here is proof that Pitta does it for the love of the game.

If Pitta does play, he’s probably the best player the Ravens have at the position. You’d get a healthy dose of Pitta and Watson. It would be interesting to see how Crockett Gillmore and Maxx Williams figure into the equation. It is worth noting that Gillmore is injury prone as well.

Maybe the more the merrier approach to the tight end position has to do with the Ravens confidence in each tight end. Watson is coming off his best season but he is 35 years old. Gillmore got hurt last season. Maxx Williams is young. Darren Waller is a project and Nick Boyle is suspended.

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It will be interesting to see how this plays out as we get to the preseason. Its impossible not to root for Mr. Pitta. Hopefully he makes it and shines once again, catching passes from his best friend. It would be great to see, but remember the Ravens have many options at his position.