Monday 9 January 2017 10:58, UK
The Baltimore Ravens moved to boost their struggling season by bringing in left tackle Eugene Monroe in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Ravens sent a fourth and fifth-round pick in the 2014 Draft to Jacksonville in exchange for the 26-year-old, who has been one of the Jags' best players during his five years on the team.
Veteran Bryant McKinnie has struggled somewhat this season, and Ravens coach John Harbaugh does not want to take any chances with the protection of quarterback Joe Flacco after he signed a whopping new contract.
The Super Bowl champions are 2-2 after a disappointing loss in Buffalo on Sunday, and Harbaugh voiced his disappointment at the play of his offensive line after that game.
Doing the deal on a trade so soon after those comments shows Harbaugh and the team mean business, and it was a wake-up call for defensive tackle Chris Canty.
"It's showing everybody in the locker room that this organization is dedicated to winning now," Canty said.
"We're not going to rest on what this football team did last year. We're trying to win football games now, and I think that this puts everybody on notice that we need to bring our A-games.
"Everybody needs to get on board in the direction that this football team is going, which is to try to be successful, and ultimately, to try to win a championship."
The trade also makes sense for the struggling Jaguars, who will now slot No 2 overall Draft pick Luke Joeckel in at left tackle and give him the chance to cement his place in the team.
General manager David Caldwell also gets a couple more picks in the Draft to help in his rebuilding process, and it would be no surprise if they let another veteran or two leave before the October 29 trade deadline.
