Jan 20, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) catches a pass ruled out of bounds against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter in the NFC Championship game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

News just broke that San Francisco 49ers wide-receiver 1st round pick in 2009, Michael Crabtree has suffered a torn Achilles tendon during team activities on Tuesday.

Crabtree will soon undergo would could possibly be season-ending surgery, if that is the case, will leave a key hole in this San Francisco 49ers wide-receiver corp. They traded for Anquan Boldin after the Super Bowl loss to the Baltimore Ravens and picking up 2 wide-receivers in this years draft, being Quinton Patton and Chuck Jacobs.

The 25 year old wide-receiver is coming off a break out year, having career highs in receptions with 85, 1,105 yards and 9 touchdowns, helping the San Francisco 49ers reach the Super Bowl. The 3 seasons previous to last seasons, were somewhat of a struggle for Crabtree. A good thing is that he is still young and is strong enough to be ahead of schedule after the surgery, in hopes of possibly returning at some point this season.

Last season Baltimore Ravens Terrell Suggs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Da’Quan Bowers tore their Achilles tendons during the spring, then returned to the field after starting the year on the physically unable to perform list. So if those two could do it, then a young wide-receiver who is hungry for another break out season, knowing what the Seattle Seahawks are looking like, could definitely do it.

“It’s extremely difficult. It’s definitely one of the hardest things I’ve had to endure in my life. But if you’ve got the drive, you’re not accepting what the world’s telling you, you can do it. But it’s definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” - Terrell Suggs after Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles tendon 

So with Crabtree out, who could they bring in to fill in that hole, until he comes back? Well what about Randy Moss, he’s still out there, still looking for work. He tweeted in March saying he wished he could have finished the job, well with this unexpected twist for this team, he very could have another opportunity to do so. Who will fill in now that their #1 receiver is possibly gone for the season?

Michael Crabtree was the only 1,100, 1,000, 900, 800 yard receiver in the NFC West last season.

Wide Receivers on this San Francisco 49ers roster are the following.

Anquan Boldin

Michael Crabtree – Possibly out the rest of the season.

Chad Hall

Joe Hastings

Chuck Jacobs

A.J. Jenkins

Ricardo Lockette

Mario Manningham

Marlon Moore

Quinton Patton

Kyle Williams

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Anquan Boldin was the Baltimore Ravens number one receiver on their Super Bowl run last year. But since he has been traded to their Super Bowl opponent the San Francisco 49ers because he had a large contract and the Ravens needed as much cap space as possible to throw money at Joe Flacco.

But now that Anquan Boldin is gone, that means Torrey Smith is the man at wide receiver for the Ravens.

“It comes with the territory,” Torrey Smith said on WSNT in Baltimore, via Sports Radio Interviews. “I think the biggest misconception is that everyone thinks because Anquan Boldin is gone that I’m the No. 1 receiver. I mean, I don’t even think you considered him the No. 1 receiver because if you want to be technical, we got the ball thrown to almost identical times. It’s just that the passes that I got were different because I was in the slot and there was a lower completion percentage because I was getting the deep ball and fades across the middle and slants and things like that. It doesn’t really change. I’ll still be on the outside more than likely. I know both sides. I played both sides. It’s no different.”

But he had a great mentor in Boldin.

“He’s just a great person. He’s a great father and a great Christian man,” Smith said. “He was a great leader and also a great quarterback on the field. To be able to play with him and get some of his knowledge and soak it up like a sponge. Our playing styles are kind of different, so to watch him — and he was very polished — and to be able to learn from him and changing my fundamentals when I got to the league, it was a blessing for me. I loved him like a brother and it’ll be tough to see him go, but that’s the business and it’s been that way forever and it’ll be that way when the Ravens get ready to cut me.”

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) runs against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers (22) in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

After winning his first career Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens, wide receiver Anquan Boldin pledged his allegiance to the Ravens. He said if they released him he would retire cause he couldn’t imagine playing for another franchise and he didn’t want to. But at the same time he put the Ravens in a bad spot by refusing to restructure his deal.

“You know, for me it was an initial shock because I had no clue that I was going to be traded,” Boldin told ESPN. “So for me, it was shocking at first, but I mean it, for me it is also a good thing. You know, when I look at the organization and what they’re about, and as a football team, the talent that they have, I think it’s a good, good place for me to be.”

But despite his love for the Ravens, the organization with Vince Lombardi Trophy in hand kicked him out the door anyways. But at least to a team that can contend for another title. Boldin isn’t holding any ill will towards the Ravens for their move.

“My time with the Ravens has been great. For me, I’m very thankful for all the support of the fans. I’m very thankful for the organization, the things that they’ve done for me and my family. It’s been a great locker room. You know, I was brought to Baltimore to win a championship and, you know, we were able to do that, so I feel accomplished. I definitely don’t feel like I’ve left anything behind as far as on the football field in Baltimore, but there’s a lot of great people that I am going to miss. You know, for me, it’s a little bittersweet because, you know, I always thought that Baltimore would be my last stop. I gave my all to the city, so I don’t have any regrets from that part. You know, sometimes the business part of this, of football, you don’t let things end the way that you want it to.”

But his pledge to retire is being retracted. A team like San Francisco with Super Bowl potential has him thinking about sticking around for another season.

“You know, it’s cool,” Boldin said. “Like I said, you know, to be where San Francisco is and was, you know, the team that we played in the Super Bowl, a team that’s very close, a team that I feel like is on the cusp and hopefully I can go there and help them achieve the goals they have in mind.”

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) celebrates a play against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin isn’t necessarily holding the keys to his future. The Ravens are set to have cap issues with their current roster as they prepare to try and make a repeat run at a Super Bowl Championship.

They have 10 players taking up $69 million of cap space and this list is as follows:

• LB Terrell Suggs $13.02 million
• DT Haloti Ngata $11.5 million
• WR Anquan Boldin $7.53 million
• OL Marshal Yanada $7.45 million
• RB Ray Rice $5.75 million
• CB Lardarius Webb $5.385 million
• OT Michael Oher $4.955 million
• WR Jacoby Jones $4.9 million
• FB Vonta Leach $4.34 million
• LB Jameel McClain $4.2 million

Anquan Boldin just told me he will RETIRE if he is cut by the Ravens. They will be his last team. #NFL #Profootballtalk

— Erik Kuselias Sr. (@eknbc) February 8, 2013

He still could renegotiate his deal or take other measures to stay with the Ravens, but the man has his hardware finally and that’s all he needed.

Jan 6, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens receiver Anquan Boldin (81) is defended by Indiapolis cornerback Cassius Vaughn (32) on a 45-yard reception in the third quarter in the AFC Wild Card playoff game at M

This is the return of You Heard It Here First where bold predictions are the norm and crazy theories are allowed to run wild.

It may be Super Bowl Sunday but I’m already looking ahead to the offseason and in this addition of You Heard It Here First I thought I’d tackle one of the major pieces of Joe Flacco’s offense – his troublesome receiving corps.

Now I hear what you’re saying – you didn’t think there was much wrong with the receivers Baltimore has right? Well I’d disagree. There are three main points to consider here. First of all, Torrey Smith isn’t a truly legitimate deep threat – yet. He’s coming along nicely but to date he’s covered a little too easily and when isolated can disappear. So, in my opinion, the Ravens could use a second genuine deep ball receiver.

Second, there is the team’s cap situation. They have plenty of room – currently it is estimated the team is under the cap for 2013 by some $16M – but with Joe Flacco due to get the big payoff in the coming months and Ed Reed, Dannell Ellerbe and Paul Kruger all being free agents there is some belt tightening needed. As such, Boldin will at least be required to reduce his contract and if he refuses there’s a decent chance the Ravens choose to cut him.

Lastly, there is the fact that Boldin’s role can be filled relatively easily. Jacoby Jones has played well this season and could be a cheap replacement as the team’s primary possession receiver. There’s also tight ends Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson to fill that role as well as the dynamic Ray Rice out of the backfield. All this makes Boldin expendable.

Ok, so Boldin could be gone. So, I hear you say, why the heck should Baltimore go and pay for Greg Jennings?

First off, let’s address the cap situation. The Ravens do have some depth at linebacker despite Ray Lewis’ retirement. Courtney Upshaw was a genius pick in the 2012 draft and is the future at the outside and is worthy of some trust. This makes either Kruger or Ellerbe easier to let go.

As for Ed Reed, the team should send strong hints to his agent that they don’t intend to re-sign him so he can retire gracefully as a Raven. To put it frankly he is going to be too much of a cap problem and not worth the price tag. This team needs to transition to the future anyway and now is the perfect time to say goodbye to the veteran safety – which, for the record, really hurts me to say as I consider Ed Reed one of my five favorite players in the NFL.

These moves plus the removal of Boldin would give the team the ability to pursue Jennings. While he’s had his issues over the past year or two, all the talent is still there for the Packers WR as evidenced by some terrific performances in 2012. He would provide an esperienced threat both downfield and in the shorter passing game and instantly forces opposing defenses to make sure he’s covered which would help open up space for Ray Rice and the tight ends up the middle or Torrey Smith further downfield.

All year there’s been this suggestion that Baltimore’s offense is missing something. I believe we’re going to see this in today’s Super Bowl and that something has to be done about it in the offseason. Should the Baltimore Ravens cut Anquan Boldin to sign Greg Jennings? If it happens, I certainly won’t be surprised and now neither will you because You Heard It Here First.

Terrelle Pryor would make a good fit in Baltimore, if he's willing to make a position change.

The closer we get to a new collective bargaining agreement, the closer we get to the NFL supplemental draft. This year’s supplemental draft is getting a lot of extra attention because it will determine the NFL home for former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

There is a lot of doubt that Pryor will be able to successfully make the transition from a college to NFL quarterback, which is the reason teams are searching for a way to use his rare talent.

One team that could be a good fit for Pryor is the Baltimore Ravens. Why Baltimore? Well, ESPN’s John Clayton believes that because of Anquan Boldin’s prior experience he could be a perfect mentor to help the former Buckeye make a transition into the NFL… as a wide receiver.

“If you can talk him into being a wide receiver, there is no better guy to be around than Anquan Boldin,” said Clayton. “Having Boldin coach him up – and I know this from talking with [Arizona Cardinals receivers] Early Doucet and Steve Breaston – his influence on wide receivers is as good as anybody in football. Maybe the best in the last several years.”

So while the troubled signal-caller could have a rough going as the man behind center at the next level, he could have a perfect home in Baltimore with the right leadership and a position change. Wherever Pryor does wind up, he will need solid veteran leadership so a potential relationship with Boldin would make perfect sense.

Pryor projects as a mid-to-late round pick in the supplemental draft.

Dennis Green sure knows a thing or two about overreacting.

It happens every year. Week One of the NFL season rolls around, and seven months of waiting through the off-season finally come to a halt, and the patience pays off.

However, after a short time of roughly three hours, many teams complete their first hard-fought game, only to have their fate signed, sealed and delivered.

The season is over. Should you be on the winning side, you’re catapulted to the top and are amongst the Super Bowl picks. Lose, and you’re forgotten, but not after you’re berated by the fans and media alike.

Single game performances are enough to warrant you getting cut, traded, or banished from the face of the earth. Or, you could become a MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and Hall of Fame candidate all in one day’s work.

Without further adieu, let’s take a look at the top five overreactions of this first week of NFL Action.
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