The Ravens officially said goodbye to three pillars of their organization Wednesday when the new league year began.
The trade of quarterback Joe Flacco (Denver Broncos) and departures of Terrell Suggs (Arizona Cardinals) and C.J. Mosley (New York Jets) in free agency mark a major shift in Baltimore.
Here's what General Manager Eric DeCosta, Head Coach John Harbaugh and Ozzie Newsome had to say:
General Manager Eric DeCosta
On Suggs: "A Raven through and through – he's tenacious, the best of what we want our defenders to be. On the football field, he's a warrior, and he'll fight with everything he has. He overcame injury, dealt with pain and showed toughness like no other. He developed into one of the best team leaders in our history. Terrell is one of our all-time great Ravens."
On Flacco: "Joe is the best quarterback in Ravens history. Not only is he talented, but he was clutch for us in the most difficult games against excellent defenses in the loudest and most raucous stadiums. The game and the moments were never too big for Joe. Honestly, he's one of my favorite draft picks ever."
On Mosley: "He has been the face of our defense for a few years. Like he did in our [2018] season finale against the Browns, C.J. made big plays at the right time. We all saw that he's very smart, hard-nosed and talented. His quiet manner did not shield the leadership he gave us on and off the field. We'll miss him, but many of us will always consider him a Raven."
Head Coach John Harbaugh
On Suggs: "It was an honor to coach Terrell. He's an iconic player who produced for the Ravens for 16 years. And 'Sizz' made it fun. He always brought his big personality, and he always brought a high level of play."
On Flacco: "Like Suggs, Joe will be a Ring of Honor member soon after he retires. The big arm, the consistency, the toughness – Joe had it all. What separated him was his calm demeanor in the storm. He handled the chaos that comes with playing quarterback and was at his best for us in the fourth quarter."
On Mosley: "Four Pro Bowls in five years speaks for itself. C.J. is as reliable of a player as any defender we've had. Plus, his leadership by example helped in other ways.
Ozzie Newsome
On Suggs and Flacco: "We don't like to see outstanding players we drafted in the first round leave the Ravens. It's difficult for us and the rest of the Ravens' community. Joe and 'Sizz' are staples of this franchise, part of our foundation. And, they will both be in our Ring of Honor one day. A lot of us have a Super Bowl ring because of what they did for us. We are grateful to them.
"I'll miss those guys at practice. Joe showing off that big arm; 'Sizz' bringing that energy, and yes, even entertainment. They are the best of what a Raven can be. They were reliable, smart, tough and great competitors. They played like Ravens.
On Mosley: "Even though C.J. was only here five years, he'll go down as one of our best defenders ever. Four Pro Bowls in five years – let's start with that. We wanted to keep him, but there's a business side of football, and these things happen with every team. Historically, we're tough, aggressive and smart on defense. C.J. was all of that."
