The Baltimore Ravens did not necessarily expect inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe to depart during the NFL free-agent frenzy that is taking place.
The former undrafted pick out of Georgia is expected to sign five-year deal with the Miami Dolphins worth $35 million. Ellerbe recorded a career high 89 tackles and 4.5 sacks last season and led the Ravens with nine tackles in the victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl.
I exchanged a few texts this morning with Dannell and it appears that he and the Ravens were never close. According to Dannell the Ravens offered him $4.5 million a year compared to the Dolphins offer of $7 million. The Dolphins and Ravens were very far apart on the guaranteed money and in the end Ellerbe stated, “Yeah and in the end they moved the guarantee up $3 million so it was $17 million to $10 million.”
In my opinion, Baltimore was never going to pay a guy that type of money who has never played more than 13 games in a season during his four-year career. I would have expected the two sides to have been a lot closer, however. The move does create a huge void in the Ravens linebacker corps and I would have thought Ozzie would have wanted someone to anchor the staff.
I personally can never fault a guy who wants to get paid specially on his first major contract.
Dannell did want to thank the fans and stated “Thanks for the support and I will always have love for my genuine fans!!!”
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