RAVENS SCREW MULITALO Okay, so let's get this straight. The Ravens are afraid to use the franchise tag on a player like Adalius Thomas because it's a sign of disrespect to pay a guy a one-year, multi-million-dollar salary, or to try to get value for his rights via a trade. But it's fine to cut a guy nearly a week into free agency, after the big money has begun to dry up? It's precisely what the Ravens have done to long-time starting guard Edwin Mulitalo. "When you release a player like Edwin, it gives you pause," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "This is the cold side of the business. All he did was everything we asked him to do and more. He gave us stability at left guard. He was always an example to his teammates as to how a professional should conduct himself." So why not show your gratitude by putting him on the market as of March 2? It makes no sense, and it causes us to regard Billick's statements as hollow. Link to a scouting report: http://www2.sportsnet.ca/football/nfl/players/Edwin_Mulitalo/
He's a big mauler, good average interior lineman would be a solid short term pick up while we develop some draft picks.
From Scouts, Inc. (on ESPN Insider) Full Name: Edwin Moliki Mulitalo Born: September 1, 1974 Daly City, CA Height: 6-3 Weight: 350 lbs. Pronounced: moo-lee-TAHL-oh Age: 32 Pos: OG Experience: 8 years College: Arizona 2006 Scouting Report - Scouts Inc. Grade: 78 | Key Alert: None Comment: Mulitalo has a good combination of size, play strength and athleticism. He is tough, competitive and experienced. He has been pretty durable. He is a road grader type who is at his best working in a confined area. He can use his size to engulf defenders. He is quick off the ball and into run-blocking patterns. He has good functional strength and works hard to maintain position and generate a push at the line. He has above-average balance and control when sustaining blocks. He can be effective on reach and cutoff blocks. He can adjust and stay in control off combination patterns. He can pull short and block in space. He has good feet and balance in pass protection. He can bend, slide and change directions pretty well. He can anchor against power and maintain pocket depth. He has active hands. But Mulitalo has short arms and lacks consistency in pass protection. He has an inconsistent punch and will give up the outside edges. He tends to lunge, overextend and bend at the waist. He struggles to reset his hands on moving targets and doesn't recover well. He has limitations on long pulls.
Two injuries to the same arm, and his backup played really well in his absence. I guess at the age of 32 the Ravens figured it was time to move on. A nice article on him below.... http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/...b17,0,5285701.column?coll=bal-sports-football Mulitalo raring to return to Ravens' line Mike Preston Originally published Feb 17, 2007 Mike Preston Mike Preston Guard Edwin Mulitalo didn't get much of a chance to enjoy the Ravens' success in 2006. His season was cut short after four games because of an arm injury. Like most of the veterans, he wants at least one more shot at a title run with the Ravens. Unlike previous years, though, Mulitalo isn't guaranteed starting, even though he has three years remaining on his contract. Second-year guard Jason Brown played well after replacing Mulitalo, and there is speculation Mulitalo might be released or be asked to take a pay cut as a backup. So far, the eight-year veteran hasn't heard from management. As far as Mulitalo is concerned, he has about 80 percent of the strength back in his upper body, and he can't wait to step back onto the field. "Watching the season hurt more than the injury," said Mulitalo, who tore the triceps muscle in his right arm against the San Diego Chargers on Oct. 1. "Everyone knows that you're going to get hurt at some time. Few players leave this game without getting cut on. But to see your team playing so well, and they're doing it without you, is really hard." Mulitalo expects to be 100 percent in a couple of weeks, which would give him more than enough time to get ready for the 2007 season. He has been through this before, suffering the same injury to his left arm in the 2004 regular-season finale. "It's like someone kicks you in your arm, followed by excruciating pain," Mulitalo said. "Then later, the muscle starts curling up. The last time, I knew what was wrong. I knew I was done. Within 20 seconds, I told Bill T [trainer Bill Tessendorf] that I was following him to the locker room." After the second torn triceps, Mulitalo spent about a month in a makeshift cast. Two weeks later, he started motion exercises using light dumbbells. While in rehabilitation, he watched every game and tried to serve as a consultant during home games. When training camp opened, he spent a lot of time with younger players, such as Brown and rookie center-guard Chris Chester. Brown, though, had to get on-the-job training. Mulitalo says he was impressed. "I tried to give him as much help as I could once the season started, but then I was done," Mulitalo said. "After that, there wasn't much I could do except be there for my team. He stepped in and played well. Overall, I thought the offensive line did a nice job." What did Brown give the Ravens that Mulitalo couldn't? Brown, out of North Carolina, has more athleticism and quicker feet. He could make blocks at the second level that Mulitalo couldn't. Brown also is a better pass blocker and certainly more versatile because he can play center and guard. But as far as sheer power and initial burst, it's no contest. At 6 feet 3 and 350 pounds, Mulitalo can move even the biggest defensive tackles. Mulitalo also is a team guy. Teammates like his attitude, and they know he plays hard all the time. "The team hasn't told me anything, so I just continue to prepare," Mulitalo said. "Until they tell me something, I expect to come to training camp and compete." Actually, he can't wait to get to training camp. Mulitalo rededicated himself during the past offseason, shedding about 25 pounds. No player spent more time in the weight room, and Mulitalo often worked out twice a day. He reported in great shape, as did the two other veterans on the offensive line, center Mike Flynn and left tackle Jonathan Ogden. Mulitalo said he hasn't spoken with Ogden about possible retirement plans, but assumes his longtime offensive line partner will inform him when the time comes. "I think J.O. has a couple of years left," Mulitalo said of Ogden. "He can play as long as he wants to play because he is still better than most tackles out there. I assume he is coming back. I told him to put me near the top of his text-message list if he doesn't. It would be strange being out there without him. I've played with other tackles like Adam Terry, but not for an extended time. It would be a learning curve without him. But with the season ending the way it did, he'll come back." That seems to be the rallying cry for 2007. Mulitalo said he plans on honoring his contract, and he wants another playoff run with his veteran buddies. Even though he didn't play much last season, Mulitalo liked what he saw from the sideline. "As a team, we graded out to a B-plus, and it would have been an A except for that playoff loss," Mulitalo said. "But Steve McNair made a huge difference on this team. We had weapons, and as long as the offense holds up its end of the bargain, we're going to be tough to beat. The thought of retirement has gone though my mind because I'm not getting any younger, but I think I can still contribute to this team. As long as I think that way, I want to play." mike.preston@baltsun.com Read Mike Preston's Ravens Central blog at www.baltimoresun.com/ravenscentral.
He's 32, but he's a massive, massive man who might retain some effectiveness. I'd be more interested if he were a 350 pound man on the other side of the ball. -X-
