Shocking news today as ESPN reports that longtime Titans and Ravens Wide Receiver Derrick Mason has decided to hang up his cleats and retire.

I always liked Derrick Mason as a player. Thought he was always very classy, very fun and very hardworking.

This is obviously good news for the Steelers upcoming season, as I will admit, Flacco and Mason really hit it off in their first year together, and I was not looking forward to the encore season.

This is a huge blow for the Ravens, who were already thin at Wide Receiver, the timing now after the draft is disastrous, as they are forced to either stick with their inexperienced WR corps, with underachieving first round pick Mark Clayton now receiving #1 WR duties

Imagine if this had happened before the draft, would the Ravens still have taken Oher? Or would they have turned to desperation and drafted Britt or Nicks?

I feel for the Ravens fans as they lost a great player....however this all bodes well for the Steelers this season.

I cant help thinking this almost ensures us of a run at the Playoffs. I dont want to eat my own words, but Mason has been an 80 catch, 1000 yard receiver for years, and was clutch on 3rd downs. Not only that, he was an incredible leader to everyone on the team, not just the offense. Flacco is now going to be minus his best target, and other players such as Clayton or Williams are going to have to step up big time.

I cant help getting the thought or Marvin Harrison or Amani Toomer wearing Purple and Black out of my head....