Ravens trade conditional 2014 draft pick for former Steeler Tyrannosaurus Rex center

Ravens trade for A.Q. Shipley
Posted by Josh Alper on May 9, 2013, 10:14 AM EDT

With Matt Birk retiring, the Ravens have a hole to fill at center in 2013.

The assumption has been that 2012 fourth-round pick Gino Gradkowski will be the man snapping the ball to Joe Flacco. That may prove to be the case, but he got a little competition for the job on Thursday.

The Colts and Ravens have announced a trade sending center A.Q. Shipley to Baltimore in exchange for a 2014 conditional draft pick. The conditions for that pick have not been revealed.

Shipley was a seventh-round pick of the Steelers in 2009 and spent time on practice squads in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia before landing on the Colts’ active roster last year. He started five games and graded out fairly well over the course of the 476 snaps he played on offense. The Colts have Samson Satele in their starting lineup and they drafted Khaled Holmes out of USC in the fourth round last month, giving them the freedom to deal Shipley without hurting their depth too much.

The Ravens have already called Shipley a contender for the starting job, but, at worst, he’ll upgrade the depth on the line in Baltimore. The Ravens know how important that is after watching Bryant McKinnie step into the lineup and play well during the playoffs last season.

[URL]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/09/ravens-trade-for-a-q-shipley/[/URL]

[IMG]http://img0.etsystatic.com/004/0/7099748/il_570xN.360707636_an71.jpg[/IMG]

I always liked the kid and never thought we gave him a fair shot while he was here. Now that he's a Raven, I hate him.

There were some on the boards IIRC that said he was worth a third or fourth round pick out of college, apparently the Ravens agree!

[QUOTE=ramblinjim;563008]There were some on the boards IIRC that said he was worth a third or fourth round pick out of college, apparently the Ravens agree![/QUOTE]

Ravens fans are vastly under stating Birk's value to that o-line. Now their down to Gino Gradkowski and A.Q. Shipley.

Mclendon is going to tear both of these guys a new one. They are the type of center he will dominate with his power and athleticism.

If he didn´t stick here that year...

Probably McLendon is celebrating now.

[QUOTE=BigRob;563011]Ravens fans are vastly under stating Birk's value to that o-line. Now their down to Gino Gradkowski and A.Q. Shipley.

Mclendon is going to tear both of these guys a new one. They are the type of center he will dominate with his power and athleticism.[/QUOTE]

Hopefully our new backup QB gives McLendon and Ta'Amu some pointers regarding his younger brother's weaknesses (at first, I typed "little brother" instead of "younger brother" but changed it since Gino outweighs Bruce by 80 lbs.)

[QUOTE=RuthlessBurgher;562998] The Colts have Samson Satele in their starting lineup .....[/QUOTE]

I was a friend of Samson's dad in high School.
Was classmates since elem school and he always had my back when there was trouble in high school.
Dad was about 280 (big back then) and had NFL talent but flunked out of college. Too much ganja :)

Samsons uncle though was a really good college linebacker and played pro ball in Canada.
Samsons siblings and cousins played college ball too.

But Samsons dad was a beast of a player. Dad made sure his son did not make the same mistakes he did.

Samson is not an all star but he has about a decade in the league as a starter, pretty good.

[QUOTE=RuthlessBurgher;562998]Ravens trade for A.Q. Shipley...

[URL]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/09/ravens-trade-for-a-q-shipley/[/URL]

[IMG]http://img0.etsystatic.com/004/0/7099748/il_570xN.360707636_an71.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]

LOL. I remember everyone said he was a good kid, good footwork, good heart, but cursed with alligator arms. I see time has only made them ... shorter.

Surprised they wouldn't look at Legursky. Decent center, not a decent guard.

[QUOTE=Mister Pittsburgh;563122]Surprised they wouldn't look at Legursky. Decent center, not a decent guard.[/QUOTE]

It´s better that way. If any UDFA pan out he is there if the FO wants.