Does anyone think Ray Rice could hold out?

[pslholder96]

For what its worth I don't see Rice holding out this summer. However if he and the ravens still have not reached an agreement then I don't see why he wouldn't hold out next summer. I would be dissappointed if he still wants an AP type contract next summer. I'm going to give Ray the benefit of the doubt and say he and his agent's demands will come down some in the next 4 months.

[Boulderraven]

Next year, rice if he plays under the tag will cost the team a fortune. He is costing a fortune this year, no RB in this day and age is worth 7.7 million. If I were the Ravens I would at the very least go to some top RB prospect pro days, that should send a message quick. I wouldn't mind drafting a RB in round 2 or even 1, thus saving you 7-10 million NEXT year and for the next 3-4 years against the cap. You can really add to your team with those savings, plus Rice in a few years will be suffering from the law of averages of diminishing returns. From Holmes, Lewis, Mcgahee, mCClain and Rice the Ravens always ran the ball pretty well. Remember, after a few good years with MCGahee, and still having him under contract for 4 years they STILL drafted a RB in the 2nd round.

[JustaslowZ06]

It's a business and I bet he'll do what his knuckleheaded agent tell's him too. If it wasn't like that already than he would've taken the deal they offered him. The Ravens aren't going to go any higher, and nor should they. If he holds out I'm not sure what they'll do. Personally I'd let him walk pending what kind of effect on the cap it would be.

[TheJoeFlaccoShow]

First off what is the definition of "holding out"?? To me it is being under contract, and not showing up to camp because you want more money than you agreed to on that deal. Obviously that is not the case with Rice. He won't sign that tender until he has to, and therefore is not under contract.

If Rice does not get a deal before training camp he shouldn't and won't be on the field, but I would not consider it "holding out", I would consider it a smart business decision. Ray Rice has zero to gain from training camp and everything to lose if he gets a freak injury. Only a fool would be out there in July for no reason under the tag, especially a player the caliber of Rice.

It has nothing to do with his character which we all know is second to none, it is about protecting yourself and your future when you are in his spot. His agent will tell him there is no way you are setting foot on the field and rightly so, happens all the time.

It won't come to that though, because after all this posturing by the agent and his camp trying to squeeze out a few more dollars I firmly believe a deal will be in place before camp. There isn't one now because what is the rush form their perspective? There is none. Camp is 4 months away there is no urgency to get anything done right now. They are just going to keep playing the "who is going to blink first" game for a while.

[Jsmoove]

He has to, you can't risk getting injured especially something real serious to where it end may cause this young man his career, you just can't risk that.

[bmorecareful]

I think Rice does hold out, which simply means refusing to report to a mandatory team event without approval, whether that be minicamp, training camp, in-season practice, or an actual game. Technically he is under team control as the Ravens have control of his contract rights. He is obligated in the same manner as if he would have signed the franchise tag in terms of attendance at team functions. If he were to hold out of actual games, like Revis and Vincent Jackson in past year, he would lose the game checks and potentially lose the season accrual as well.

I don't think Rice holds out of the season itself, that's a very dangerous (and desperate) tactic. If he does, the team should unconditionally withdraw any long-term offer on the table. IMO, that's a non-negotiable deal-breaker.

[Tyrian]

I also don't see Rice doing it. He said he's okay with the tag before, so unless he suddenly changes his mind, should be fine. Negotiating tactics like this always goes on, just business. He seems the kinda guy that loves the game too much and his teammates too much to hold out into the season. If he gets tagged a second year, I could sympathise with holding out.

If he does, I'd think it would be better for both parties in the long run to try and shop him for a trade even in the summer if they had to. At first, I was reluctant to the idea of letting Rice go as depriving yourself of weapons would be counter-productive, but the more I think about it, the more it makes long term sense. I certainly wouldn't blame him if he tries to go for the top dollar, it's his right to do so.

It only works if a fair deal is achieved. If he can stay, great - perfect. Failing this, hopefully, Rice will be okay with the franchise tag this year, has a great year (and uninjured for his sake) and then the Ravens decline to sign him next year. Already likely to be a big change next year anyway, so get it all out of the way in one offseason should it end up like that.

[The Excellector]

Can we please stop talking as if Ray Rice is just a puppet for his agent? The agent works for the player and Rice seems heady enough to understand that. He is also around enough veterans in the locker to understand that. If his agent is saying it, it's not far from what Rice is feeling. It might not be anything personal toward the Ravens, just a business decision. When he fires his agent or signs this alleged offer, then I believe otherwise.

[GOTA]

Can we please stop talking as if Ray Rice is just a puppet for his agent? The agent works for the player and Rice seems heady enough to understand that. He is also around enough veterans in the locker to understand that. If his agent is saying it, it's not far from what Rice is feeling. It might not be anything personal toward the Ravens, just a business decision. When he fires his agent or signs this alleged offer, then I believe otherwise.

You need to tell that to Harbaugh

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/new...sive-line.html

Rice has been assigned a one-year, $7.742 million tender, but has yet to sign it. The Ravens have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal with Rice. Otherwise, he’ll have to play the entire season under the tag.

No deal is close at this time.

“I don’t know what their strategy will be, if they feel like they even need a strategy,” Harbaugh said. “That kind of goes back to the agent more than the player, but Ray Rice is a man. He loves football. He wants to be in there with his teammates.

[wickedsolo]

I'm sure Rice's agent is telling Rice "Just stay the course. We'll get them to pony up as much as they're willing to do and if it's right then we'll sign and if it's not then you're still getting 7.7 mill this season."

[The Excellector]

You need to tell that to Harbaugh

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/new...sive-line.html

Rice has been assigned a one-year, $7.742 million tender, but has yet to sign it. The Ravens have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal with Rice. Otherwise, he’ll have to play the entire season under the tag.

No deal is close at this time.

“I don’t know what their strategy will be, if they feel like they even need a strategy,” Harbaugh said. “That kind of goes back to the agent more than the player, but Ray Rice is a man. He loves football. He wants to be in there with his teammates.

Well, I guess Rice will be firing his agent soon.

For example, I remember when Anquan Boldin was upset that Arizona did not offer him an extension he felt he was worth. It felt like he was the odd man out, even though he was the one working hard in Arizona before Fitzgerald and Warner even got there. However, after a while, Boldin fired his agent and signed with Baltimore for about half the guaranteed money we expected him to get. If I can remember correctly, Kansas City definitely offered him more than Baltimore. So, we got to see what his true motives were.

[skirby1]

I know I'm a little late to the game here, but I wonder how upset RR could possibly be after getting roughly a 6.5 million dollar raise with the Franchise Tag. I think we need not worry about him holding out IMHO.

[vinny600]

He has to, you can't risk getting injured especially something real serious to where it end may cause this young man his career, you just can't risk that.

I think this is the key point people must realize.

As a fan of another team (Steelers) I thought I'd weigh in on the Ray Rice situation. Ray Rice has been a huge part of the Ravens offense for several years. His original contract was only $3.905 million total for 4 years, or about $976,000 a year.

I think he feels that the Ravens have gotten a huge bargain for less than 1 million a year and he's earned a long term deal. 7 mil and change a year is great, but what if he has a major injury in that year? That 7 million would then be his "big" payday because nobody will give him like 20 million guaranteed coming off of a major injury.

Compare that to Flacco's rookie deal, 30 million for 5 years. Flacco has already gotten 4 years of that and without knowing how it was structured just say 24 million for argument sake. 6 times the amount Rice has gotten. Has Flacco been 6 times the player that Rice has been? I'm not saying that Flacco is overpaid or anything about him I'm just comparing the numbers.

Also, where was it reported that the Ravens offered Rice Foster money? I couldn't find any details of the negotiations anywhere. If that is the case and they did offer Rice long term money than my opinion will change, but for now I think Rice is getting screwed over. Especially if there was team speculation that he could be tagged next year as well.

I think Rice may play under the tag this year but not next. All this talk of him being a team player and not wanting to let his teamates down may be completely true, but this goes way beyond that. It's about his livlihood and his family and being financially secure for the rest of his life. Why should he play for 7 million when he can get probably 20 million guaranteed elsewhere?

At the end of the day Rice needs to make as much money as he can for the several years that the window is open for him. After all the Ravens will still have a billion dollar business no matter how much they pay Rice, so why shouldn't they pay him what he is worth based on others at his position?

I am not saying he deserves Peterson money, and if the Ravens really did offer him Foster money than all this is moot because then I would say the Ravens did try to do right by him, but I have not seen that reported other than on this board.

Thanks for the opportunity to weigh in (for those that are still reading as this is very long I know...sorry).

[arnie_uk]

i think it was aaron wilson said we offered similar to foster deal, but a wee bit more than it, and then his agent said something in the media that they are looking more in the lines of AP money

I think this is the key point people must realize.

As a fan of another team (Steelers) I thought I'd weigh in on the Ray Rice situation. Ray Rice has been a huge part of the Ravens offense for several years. His original contract was only $3.905 million total for 4 years, or about $976,000 a year.

I think he feels that the Ravens have gotten a huge bargain for less than 1 million a year and he's earned a long term deal. 7 mil and change a year is great, but what if he has a major injury in that year? That 7 million would then be his "big" payday because nobody will give him like 20 million guaranteed coming off of a major injury.

Compare that to Flacco's rookie deal, 30 million for 5 years. Flacco has already gotten 4 years of that and without knowing how it was structured just say 24 million for argument sake. 6 times the amount Rice has gotten. Has Flacco been 6 times the player that Rice has been? I'm not saying that Flacco is overpaid or anything about him I'm just comparing the numbers.

Also, where was it reported that the Ravens offered Rice Foster money? I couldn't find any details of the negotiations anywhere. If that is the case and they did offer Rice long term money than my opinion will change, but for now I think Rice is getting screwed over. Especially if there was team speculation that he could be tagged next year as well.

I think Rice may play under the tag this year but not next. All this talk of him being a team player and not wanting to let his teamates down may be completely true, but this goes way beyond that. It's about his livlihood and his family and being financially secure for the rest of his life. Why should he play for 7 million when he can get probably 20 million guaranteed elsewhere?

At the end of the day Rice needs to make as much money as he can for the several years that the window is open for him. After all the Ravens will still have a billion dollar business no matter how much they pay Rice, so why shouldn't they pay him what he is worth based on others at his position?

I am not saying he deserves Peterson money, and if the Ravens really did offer him Foster money than all this is moot because then I would say the Ravens did try to do right by him, but I have not seen that reported other than on this board.

Thanks for the opportunity to weigh in (for those that are still reading as this is very long I know...sorry).

[RavNMadMan]

My two cents....Ray Rice just doesn't strike me as the type. That being said, his best interests would be served with a long-term contract with generous up-front money. It sounds by most reports that kind of offer is currently on the table yet Ray has refused to accept it. I still think he won't hold out but I gotta wonder who is driving the bus between Ray and his agent.

[Raven Maniac]

I don't think he holds out and IMHO, I really don't think he expects to get AP money either. But hey... a guy gotta try.

[blacknpurplepain]

First off what is the definition of "holding out"?? To me it is being under contract, and not showing up to camp because you want more money than you agreed to on that deal. Obviously that is not the case with Rice. He won't sign that tender until he has to, and therefore is not under contract.

If Rice does not get a deal before training camp he shouldn't and won't be on the field, but I would not consider it "holding out", I would consider it a smart business decision. Ray Rice has zero to gain from training camp and everything to lose if he gets a freak injury. Only a fool would be out there in July for no reason under the tag, especially a player the caliber of Rice.

It has nothing to do with his character which we all know is second to none, it is about protecting yourself and your future when you are in his spot. His agent will tell him there is no way you are setting foot on the field and rightly so, happens all the time.

It won't come to that though, because after all this posturing by the agent and his camp trying to squeeze out a few more dollars I firmly believe a deal will be in place before camp. There isn't one now because what is the rush form their perspective? There is none. Camp is 4 months away there is no urgency to get anything done right now. They are just going to keep playing the "who is going to blink first" game for a while.

Make sense but you know how most Ravens fans are, they think if a deal doesn't get done asap then the player is going to hold out or just leave. Watch how it gets when Webb or Flacco deals get drawn out. Oz is always going to do what's best for the Ravens and that's why Ray lewis is still a Ravens bc Oz knew other teams wasn't going to throw big money @ Ray. I believe flacco and Webb deals get done first. Its unlikely but RR might get tagged again next year but I hope not bc that's like $9,000,000

[Benny8444]

First Lets Define "Hold Out" My take on that is sitting out of mini camp and training camp and not reporting until the 3rd pre season game. Why risk injury when if there is one his next contract will be a lot less. Plus he already said he is speaking to harbs and will work out a plan where if he does not show up to camp and OTAs he is still up to speed with the rest of the team. He knows he is not worth AP money and AP knows he is not worth what he got. Look what happened to him after he signed that deal.... July 15 is a long time away and there is no need to do a deal now. If there is any deal to do now it is Flacco then Webb, then when July 10 comes around start working with rice.

Another option... After this year, if he plays under the tag, why not tag him again and trade him for a 2 #1s or a 1st and 2nd. We will have a shit load of comp picks next year also anyway so that may be a good year to get young again at certian positions

[Raven Maniac]

Make sense but you know how most Ravens fans are, they think if a deal doesn't get done asap then the player is going to hold out or just leave. Watch how it gets when Webb or Flacco deals get drawn out. Oz is always going to do what's best for the Ravens and that's why Ray lewis is still a Ravens bc Oz knew other teams wasn't going to throw big money @ Ray. I believe flacco and Webb deals get done first. Its unlikely but RR might get tagged again next year but I hope not bc that's like $9,000,000

I think most fans of any team become inpatient this time of year when the key players on their respective teams haven't been signed new contracts, it's not unique to Raven fans only. I agree that Ozzie will do what is best for the team, including not over paying a player. So Rice may very well be allowed to test the market next year should he continue to push for AP money. IMO, don't see that happening because I think he and his agent both realize that his ceiling is going to be somewhere near what the Foster deal was.

[nickh0801]

The chances of Rice holding out are greater than the chances of this