RAVENS AGREE TO TERMS WITH DE SPEARS

The Baltimore Ravens have an agreement in principle on a two-year contract with DE Marcus Spears, vice president and general manager Ozzie Newsome announce Friday evening.

“The base of a good defense is to be good along the defensive line,” Newsome stated. “We didn’t play to our standards last season, partly because of injury. With the expected better health of players like Haloti Ngata and Pernell McPhee and the additions of Marcus Spears and Chris Canty, we have a chance to improve. Spears, like Canty, can play multiple positions along the line. He brings a lot of snaps and big game experience to us. We like the way Marcus plays. He will fit in with the Ravens way of playing.”

Originally a first-round draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys (20th overall in 2005), Spears has played in 119 games, including 89 starts, collecting 185 tackles (85 solo), 8 sacks, 2 FFs, 1 FR and 9 PD in his eight-year career.

Spears is expected to be in Baltimore in the next three days to take a physical and sign his contract.