With the former Players’ Union and the league locked in a never-ending war of the blame game, the only thing football-related left for fans to focus on is the NFL draft set for late April.  This year’s draft will likely receive more attention, and scrutiny, than any draft in recent memory, because it’s very possible that the draft may be the last out-of-the-courtroom action the NFL sees for a long time. One remaining unknown leading up to the draft is the exact order that the draft will proceed.  The remaining … Continue reading →

Having taken the weekend to digest all of the reports, accusations and “what’s next’s” of the NFLPA’s decision to decertify and the NFL owner’s decision to impose a lockout, the following random thoughts come to mind: .         There is over $9B worth of revenue to be divided, both sides should have been able to find a way to make a deal.  Whether it’s greed or hubris, whatever, there is no way that both sides should not have been able to find a middle ground.  ·         What does 10 years of … Continue reading →

With the NFL offseason presently at a standstill – other than litigation between the parties – the strong possibility exists that the former NFLPA will be able to gain an injunction prohibiting a lockout by the NFL owners.  If this happens, then the offseason will likely commence some time in May. Under such a scenario, the NFL owners will be able to impose the rules under which the league would operate.  Most reports seem to indicate that it is likely that the NFL would re-impose last year’s “Uncapped Year” rules.  … Continue reading →

A CLARIFICATION ON A KEY ISSUE OF THE LABOR DEBATE When the NFLPA and NFL owners resume their negotiations before federal mediator, George H. Cohen, tomorrow morning, the key issue will still remain to be the division of the revenue of the league.  This is really the only issue that matters to both sides.  Other issues, like the 18-games season and a rookie salary cap are issues that will still need to be resolved, but aren’t issues that will be the cause of labor stoppage. This key issue – the … Continue reading →

Over the last several weeks the topic of a long term contract extension for Haloti Ngata has been debated and many have wondered why the Ravens’ Front Office has failed to sign their prized first round pick from the 2006 NFL Draft to a long term contract extension.  Instead of a new deal, the Ravens used their Franchise Tag on Ngata yesterday, thereby ensuring that they will either have Ngata on the team for 2011 or receive two 1st round picks in return for allowing him to leave. What many … Continue reading →

With today’s news that the Ravens have officially used the Franchise Tag on Defensive Tackle Haloti Ngata, there will be continued questions of why the Ravens’ Front Office has simply not just re-signed Ngata to the contract extension that nearly everyone believes he is deserving of. The simple answer is that the same rules that have limited the team’s ability to re-sign Ngata last year still exist and make it pretty much impossible to sign the two-time Pro Bowler to the type of contract that he can demand.  As was … Continue reading →

Now that the Super Bowl is over, the offseason has begun.  In fact, this week has already seen several veteran players released as teams start beginning to shape their rosters for 2011.  Just last night, the Cleveland Browns released 6 veteran players, including former Pro Bowl defensive tackle, Shaun Rogers.  While veterans are often released in advance of the start of a new league year, this February could see a high number of players released and, perhaps, an unusually high number of very highly paid ones. The Ravens’ Willis McGahee … Continue reading →

1.  RAVENS LIKELY TO HAVE 15 UFAs, NOT 6: Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome created some confusion during the team’s annual “State of the Ravens” Press Conference in mid-January when he said the Ravens only had 6 UFAs to re-sign.  This comment is likely just “Ozzie being Ozzie”, as he is often contrary and evasive when it comes to disclosing information publicly. What Ozzie indirectly referenced were the “Uncapped Year” rules that existed last season under which players only became Unrestricted Free Agents (UFAs) after accruing six (6) years of … Continue reading →

With the Ravens season now having come to an end – and the sting starting to wear off – it’s time to take a look at what the 2011 Ravens will look like.  With the league’s labor issues about to take front and center, it’s unclear what next season will look like, but they will – at some point – reach a deal and the Salary Cap will likely return in some fashion similar to what it looked like when it last applied in 2009.    So, with that in mind, … Continue reading →

With news that Ravens’ rookie Linebacker Sergio Kindle has a fractured skull and is unlikely to be reporting to the Ravens any time soon, the team has entered unprecedented waters with regard to how to handle their unsigned 2nd round pick. Owner Steven Bisciotti has indicated that the team will sign Kindle, ending the speculation of some that the team would look to simply cut ties with the talented, but trouble-plagued,  former Texas Longhorn.  However, Head Coach John Harbaugh disclosed that the Ravens’ Front Office has had discussions with the … Continue reading →

Midway through the 2009 season, DE Trevor Pryce was removed from the starting line-up and saw his playing time cut.  Now, it appears that Pryce’s salary has been cut too.   NFLPA records indicate that the Ravens and Pryce have recently agreed to a reduction in Pryce’s scheduled base salary of $4.5M.  Pryce is now slated to make only $2M in base salary for 2010.  It is likely that Pryce agreed to the reduced salary in order to remain with the team.   Had there been a Salary Cap in … Continue reading →

1.  RESTRICTED FREE AGENT (RFA) RULES HEADED INTO DRAFT:    As of last Friday, RFAs are no longer allowed to sign Offer Sheets with other teams.  This essentially makes those players the exclusive property of their current team.   Those players are not, at this time, required to sign the Tender they received and can sit out all offseason programs, OTAs and mini-camps if they choose to.    As of this writing, the following six (6) Ravens have yet to sign their RFA Tenders:  OT Jared Gaither, FB Le’Ron McClain, … Continue reading →

With the net loss of one draft pick in the Anquan Boldin trade and the disclosure that the Ravens 7th round pick is headed to Tampa Bay to complete the 2008 trade for Marques Douglas (which was first reported here over 2 weeks ago), many fans are looking for the Ravens to acquire a few more draft picks when the league announces the Compensatory draft picks at the end of the month. In fact, some fans seem to be expecting the team to receive multiple, high Compensatory picks when the … Continue reading →

ANQUAN BOLDIN’S CONRACT DETAILS:  Media reports indicate that WR Anquan Boldin’s new 4-year contract has a total value of $28M, with $25M of that being “new” money.  NFLPA records indicate that Boldin’s base salaries total $24M (2010: $2M; 2011-2013: $6M each year).  Based on those numbers, it would appear that Boldin will receive $8M in bonus money.  Given the relatively modest amount of bonus money, it’s likely that all of that bonus money was paid as a Signing Bonus in 2010.   Year Signing Bonus Base Salary Cap Charge 2010 … Continue reading →

For most of last season, it was assumed that 2009 would be Willis McGahee’s last hoorah in Baltimore.  Even with his newfound “team first” attitude, the Salary Cap implications for 2011 made it seem likely that the team would remove him from their books in 2010 in order to avoid any future Salary Cap implications (assuming the Cap returns).   Since it is almost certain that the team would not be willing to pay his $6M base salary for 2011, the team would have to trade or release McGahee at … Continue reading →

A recent ESPN Insider report indicated that the Denver Broncos may be willing to trade WR Brandon Marshall for as little as a 2nd round draft pick.  This news was met with great interest from many Ravens fans who view Marshall as the answer to the Ravens’ wide receiver woes.   Still, many are under the mistaken impression that the Ravens, as a Final 8 team, are not able to trade for a player of Marshall’s pedigree or sign him to a long term deal that would violate the Final 8 … Continue reading →

It has been suggested that the 2010 NFL draft pool is one of the deepest and best in recent history – perhaps even the best ever.  That is great news for the Ravens, one of the best drafting teams in the league.   However, they will have to use their draft picks wisely because they will have one less draft pick on April 24th.    In the Fall of 2008, reacting to a season ending injury to DE Dwan Edwards, the Ravens acquired DE Marques Douglas from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers … Continue reading →

The Ravens have 18 players who are presently slated to become Restricted Free Agents (RFAs) on March 5th.    RFAs are players whose contracts have expired and who have more than 3 years, but less than 6 years of accrued service time.  In order to retain rights over those players, the Ravens will have to offer those players RFA Tenders.  Once done, another team can sign the RFA to an RFA Offer Sheet, but the Ravens then have 7 days to match that Offer Sheet and retain the player under … Continue reading →

1.  FINAL 8 PLAN LIMITATIONS:  Many still seem to be confused about whether the Ravens can or cannot sign a big-money Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA).  A recent spin around the radio dial showed that many in the media are apparently confused as well.   There is a “you must lose a UFA before you can sign a UFA” provision that applies to the Ravens, however, the Ravens – by virtue of losing in the Divisional Round of the playoffs  - are also allowed to sign one big-money UFA.  The Ravens … Continue reading →

It’s the offseason and until the 2010 season begins the focus will be open augmenting the Ravens’ roster through free agency, trades and the draft. There’s also the huge issue of the collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”) and the upcoming “uncapped season.” With that in mind, I asked 24×7’s capologist Brian McFarland to answer a few questions… TL: To start with Brian, let’s hone in on the CBA. Why in your opinion is the league at this crossroad and why can’t the players and owners get it together and reach a … Continue reading →