Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is still very hopeful that wide receiver Derrick Mason will be with the team when training camp begins. Mason recently announced he was retiring from the NFL but Harbaugh believes that Mason will be back. The Baltimore Sun reported that Harbaugh had a phone conversation with Mason and was hopeful after the talk. “I think it’s real honorable what he’s doing in the sense that it would be easy for a guy to just come in and go through the motions. Derrick does not want to go through the motions,” Harbaugh said, “He wants to make sure he’s in the right frame of mind to compete at the level he’s competed at his whole career, which is a warrior-type level. He’s ready physically. He’s in good shape and he’s healthy. He just wants to decide if he’s mentally ready,”
Harbaugh was very comfortable with his conversation with Mason and hopeful about the future. “It’s really open right now. I’m optimistic and hopeful that he’ll be there, but if he’s not there, we’ll be support and respect his decision either way.”
The Ravens would really be hurt in NFL odds if Mason decides to stay retired. He caught 80 passes for 1,037 yards and five touchdowns last season as NFL betting statistics indicate. Online betting information tells us that the Ravens would be looking at starting Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams at wide receiver if Mason does not return. Mason’s importance to the offense really can’t be overstated in NFL betting at the online sportsbook. He is a critical component for the Ravens and their NFL betting results will be affected if he does not return.
Harbaugh of course believes the Ravens will be a very good team without Mason but better with him. “From a coaching standpoint, I think we have a chance to be a really good team, and if Derrick Mason is a part of it, that makes us even stronger,” Harbaugh said. “But if he’s not, we’re still going to be a really good team. It comes down to Derrick and where his mind is at. He’s the only one that can decide that.”
The Ravens are considered solid NFL betting Super Bowl contenders this season in the AFC. They have NFL odds of 20-1 to win the Super Bowl at the online sportsbook.