Last week, the NFL saw the 2009 trade deadline come and go with very little activity. Each year, rumors gain the momentum of a truck, building for days, putting thoughts of sugarplums and Terrell Owens dancing through our heads, until trade deadline-eve arrives and we wait for Roger Goodell to come down our chimney.

Actually, on second thought, this is beginning to sound like a nightmare.

However, we have also learned over the years that most of us are left disappointed when the clock hits the zero hour, and most, if not all of the names that had been tossed around have not changed teams. After all, this is not major league baseball. The owners fingers don’t itch with anxiety. Their guts don’t ache with a feeling that trading tons of talent for a single, overpaid name will actually make the gigantic difference they need to turn their team from a pretender to a contender. Instead, they sit back and think how they’ll use those draft picks they saved in order to make the team better for years to come. They’ll bask in their intelligence, recognizing that a 16 game season doesn’t call for drastic, deadline-forced moves, usually because football players, despite their depth position, are on a roster because they are good enough to play.

The Ravens’ trade deadline rumors were not much different from the rest of the league. In fact, Baltimore saw their name rise more often than most as restlessness became part of the routine due to a lack of defensive dominance that has led to a .500 record. While the inactivity of the team may have given some the impression that the team is not looking to make any improvements to further help their chances of remaining a contender, an understanding of the brain in Ozzie Newsome’s head can explain that the Ravens are not only unwilling to change their roster, but they have high expectations for the players that they already have.

Lets’ review some of the trade rumors that swept through Charm City over the past month. Leave comments in the section below to express what you think the Ravens should have done at the trade deadline.

1. Dwayne Bowe for a 2nd and 5th round draft pick.

Bowe was one of many wide receivers whose name was circulating in trade rumors with the Ravens. Wherever this rumor began, it seemed to be the most viable and reasonable. The young WR in Kansas City has not lived up to his full potential since being drafted in 2007, and his relationship with coach Todd Hailey has been questioned. The possible trade had the Ravens sending a 2nd and 5th round draft pick to the Chiefs, which is pretty steep if you think about it considering the Ravens’ draft history. Comparably, the Ravens have had some stand-out players picked with their 2nd round draft pick over the years, including Ray Rice, Mark Clayton, and Paul Kruger. John Beck, who was not drafted by Baltimore, but was still a 2nd round pick, also signifies how much of an impact a draft pick in that round can be.

Dwayne Bowe does have talent that the Ravens could have used. He could have definitely provided another deep threat for Joe Flacco, opposite Derrick Mason. He has shown an ability to make the corner catches in the end zone, as well as overpower would-be tacklers to gain yardage after the game. Here are some highlights of his career (remember, he does play for the lowly Kansas City Chiefs).

Needless to say, Bowe will not be in a Baltimore uniform this season. Instead, he will watch another year of his career slip away as a Chief. I wouldn’t rule out the Ravens pursuing Bowe after the end of the season, seeing as how Mason will probably not continue to defy retirement.

2. Terrell Owens for a mid round draft pick.

When the Ravens made a trade for Owens several years ago, the stubborn, outspoken, piece of sh*t wide receiver demanded a recount, and eventually found himself on the Philadelphia Eagles roster. While Baltimore should be happy that things worked out the way they did, as T.O. went on to create enough tension to cause the Eagles to release him, the past provides enough evidence that, if this trade had happened again, fans would have been in an outrage. Not only did Owens have some nasty words for Newsome when the trade to Baltimore initially occurred, but his work ethic, attitude, and overall take on life has not matured one bit since his move to Philly.

A player of Terrell’s caliber could provide a huge asset to any team. At least, it seemed that way before this season. Owen’s move to Buffalo has not done wonders for that organization at all, other than allowing his fellow followers to watch his career drop dramatically off the radar. Whether it’s a team off the beaten path, or Owens waning skills, it is difficult to tell. However, one could assume that acquiring a troubled wide receiver who is in the 2nd half of his 30’s is not worth any draft pick the Ravens would be asked to give up. A problematic player is one thing; Baltimore flirted with the acquisition of Brandon Marshall before the season started, which I was all for. But Terrell Owens has a poor history with the Ravens, he is getting old, and his skills don’t seem to be good enough to help any team become better than what they would be without him.

3. Chris Chambers for a mid round draft pick.

Would Chris Chambers have helped the Ravens' playoff chances?

This is a trade that could have been interesting if it had actually gone through. Chambers, who has seen his career numbers drop significantly since being traded to San Diego from Miami a couple of years ago at the trade deadline, would have the chance to reinvent himself under his former coach, Cam Cameron. Cameron, who Chambers played for as a Dolphin, saw his best years Miami, gaining a reputation as a number one receiver. Now that he’s in San Diego, the shadow of Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson, and LaDanian Tomlinson has darkened his impact.

Personally, I don’t think Chambers would have been a great move for Baltimore to make. Just like T.O., Chambers is getting up their in age, and whether or not his acquisition would make a huge impact would be season changing would take the back burner to the fact that he would not provide a long term future option. Remember those moves the team made in order to acquire players like Marcus Robinson and Kevin Johnson? A trade for Chris Chambers strikes complete similarities, mainly because it would give the Ravens an old wide receiver who would misuse the chance to revive his career at the expense of the success of the team.

There were a few other rumors that were circulating around town, providing reading material for those who were intrigued by the idea that a trade might actually occur at the NFL trade deadline. The fact is, the best move the Ravens could have made was to stay put as the clock ticked to 4pm est. last Tuesday. If any move was to have been made, the team should have possibly looked in to acquiring a veteran cornerback. However, finding a player to fit a defensive scheme halfway through the season is an entire process in itself, and leaving the improvement to younger players already on the roster is the best way to go. The Ravens saved the draft picks that teams wanted in order to use them next April in order to improve the cornerback position via the college draft. Fans should be okay with the inactivity of the team, not only because they saved us from disappointment when the draft rolls around in a few months, but also because the players that are on the roster now have the best chance of getting the job done.

Other rumored Baltimore Ravens trades. These trades were strictly rumor, possibly started by some snot-nosed punk kid who plays World of Warcraft and eats his own boogers.

*Ted Ginn, Jr. for draft pick(s)

*Adalius Thomas for Antwan Barnes, draft pick(s)

Steve Smith (Panthers) for draft pick(s)