Derrick mason no longer a priority for the ravens.

**CR_Dingley** · 03-06-2010, 02:20 PM

From pro football talk

Derrick Mason may have overplayed his hand.

Apparently looking for more upfront money than the Ravens were prepared to give, re-signing Mason is no longer a priority for Baltimore, according to the Baltimore Sun.

The Ravens offered a two-year deal for Mason before free agency started, and he didn't accept. Baltimore has since acquired Anquan Boldin, who is also a possession receiver. Mason may have to look elsewhere for the contract he wants.

Mason hasn't set up any visits in free agency, although the Patriots and Dolphins reportedly have some interest. New England tried to sign Mason a few years back, but his wife wasn't wild about moving to Foxborough.

We wonder what she thinks about South Beach.

**CoverD** · 03-06-2010, 02:23 PM

I hope eventually Mason comes around and actually signs.

**xmradiodave** · 03-06-2010, 02:27 PM

I am not sure it is in the best interest of PFT to use a Preston article as a credible source. And this is the first i have heard about Mason turning down a two year contract. It could have happened, and I missed it.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/spor..._to_mason.html

**Jeremiah W** · 03-06-2010, 02:28 PM

If they let Ray test the market to set the price Mason was not going to get more than market value either.

The Ravens are not afraid to spend money, but they drive a very hard bargain.

I am sure the original offer is still on the table and if Mason gets a lot more than that they will wish him well, but in the end he signs for close to if not exactly what he was offered in the first place without penalty for flirting with the market.

**Losac** · 03-06-2010, 02:36 PM

I would hope Mason gives the Ravens a chance to match whatever offer he might get elsewhere. I still think Mason as a #2 with Boldin drawing most of the coverage he got last year will make him a much better receiver than he already was.

**Dade** · 03-06-2010, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by Jeremiah W

If they let Ray test the market to set the price Mason was not going to get more than market value either.

The Ravens are not afraid to spend money, but they drive a very hard bargain.

I am sure the original offer is still on the table and if Mason gets a lot more than that they will wish him well, but in the end he signs for close to if not exactly what he was offered in the first place without penalty for flirting with the market.

Couldn't agree more. Oz places a value on every player and won't go above that. Sometimes that means letting a player walk. But Oz has had more success with this formula than failures.

**CR_Dingley** · 03-06-2010, 02:41 PM

My whole thought is whats the point of having Boldin, Clayton, Stallworth, (insert). I thought the point of us all yelling for a number one receiver was to have Bolding, Mason as 2, Clayton competing with stallworth. So we go From having a number 2 receiver act like a number 1 with Clayton really being a 3, To having a true number one, with no 2 to back him up.

**ravenjoe** · 03-06-2010, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by CR_Dingley

My whole thought is whats the point of having Boldin, Clayton, Stallworth, (insert). I thought the point of us all yelling for a number one receiver was to have Bolding, Mason as 2, Clayton competing with stallworth. So we go From having a number 2 receiver act like a number 1 with Clayton really being a 3, To having a true number one, with no 2 to back him up.

I agree. We need Mason out there, if nothing more than to provide a certain comfort level for Flacco, while he grows accustomed to the other receivers. Clayton is CERTAINLY No substitute for Mason, so let's not delude ourselves here OZZIE!

**Jeremiah W** · 03-06-2010, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by CR_Dingley

My whole thought is whats the point of having Boldin, Clayton, Stallworth, (insert). I thought the point of us all yelling for a number one receiver was to have Bolding, Mason as 2, Clayton competing with stallworth. So we go From having a number 2 receiver act like a number 1 with Clayton really being a 3, To having a true number one, with no 2 to back him up.

We still have the draft and dudes like T.O. out there as fall backs if Mason does not return. If we take a Wr#1 they may not want want to pay him as much as they are willing to now to be a #3 or 4 if.

If Stallworth really is in as good of shape as they say, our Wr troubes should be over already. He may not have the same savvy and skill set of a guy like Mason, but Boldin can take that role and Stallworth can play the Clayton role. Unlike Clayton, Stallworth should have both the size/ strength to get off the line vs press coverage, and speed to sperate so the pass does not need to be perfect. 4.3-4.4 speed down the sideline with decent hands should be enough to at least keep both safties out of the box, and maybe 20 yards off the ball to really open up the under routes. We still have guys like Marcus Smith, Justin Harper and Eron Riley under contract. Any one of those guys could emerge this year as a legit 2-4 and all of them may turn out to be worth keeping on the final 53.

I am more concerned about Reed right now than Mason. I think Mason is more likley to retire than sign somewhere else for much more than the Ravens offered him and he seems much more likely to play than he did last year coming off shoulder surgury.

**Rxdoxx** · 03-06-2010, 03:21 PM

Mason is no longer a priority is flat out sensationalism and p*ss poor reporting.

Truth may be that Mason is no longer one of the HIGH priorities, but to say he is not a priority is a lie fatter than the crap that wrote it, and stinks just as bad. But Preshit gets his name mentioned.

**TTRaven** · 03-06-2010, 03:38 PM

Jamison Hensley was the first one to report this.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/spor..._priority.html

**j_mar0416** · 03-06-2010, 03:43 PM

I dont think we can expect stallworth to be much. The guys been out of the league for a whole year. We gota have somebody to be the 2. And we know Clayton isnt the man for the job!

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 03-06-2010, 03:44 PM

I think the team is outright tired of Mason's "retirement" games.

However, I think we still need to add another 2 WR's...one in the draft and one more UFA.

**4G63** · 03-06-2010, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by Losac

I would hope Mason gives the Ravens a chance to match whatever offer he might get elsewhere. I still think Mason as a #2 with Boldin drawing most of the coverage he got last year will make him a much better receiver than he already was.

I agree 100%. If anything, he'll get less wear and tear on his body and get another year or two out of his body!

**CR_Dingley** · 03-06-2010, 04:16 PM

Could we have had Walter also? He signed signed for 5 years 21 mil. we could have come up with some sorta deal or is it too expensive as well? If it is too expensive who would be in our price range to be a good Number 2. I fell like signing Walter and forgetting about mason would have been more cost effective and long term.

**Everything_Ravens** · 03-06-2010, 04:36 PM

far as im concerned the Boldin acquisition without Mason means much less!

**TTRaven** · 03-06-2010, 05:39 PM

Mason will be back IMO. He knows that his best shot at a ring is with Baltimore.

**Mista T** · 03-06-2010, 05:51 PM

I'd rather see Mason return, and I'm certain that the media leaks are mind-games being played between the Ravens and Mason's agent. Nonetheless, a trio of Boldin, Clayton, and Stallworth should do just fine.

**ravenjoe** · 03-06-2010, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by Mista T

Nonetheless, a trio of Boldin, Clayton, and Stallworth should do just fine.

Clayton is not the big-play player that Mason is - this team needs big-play people in order to win it all. Settling for Clayton (vice Mason) is not "just fine" in my book.

**Stealthbirds80** · 03-06-2010, 08:14 PM

Hey I dig Mason like the next guy, but who's to say either one of the young guys already on the team or a rookie doesn't come into this season and light it up (Demaryius Thomas/Benn?). I know that it is rare, but it happens in the NFL all the time. Who was Walker-Sims around this time last year? Having Boldin on the team just made that #2 spot that much harder to defend and. Mason or not, we will have some really good production from the WR corp this year. In the end though I would like for Mason to return.