Earlier this year, Steve Bisciotti and the Ravens front office tried to come to terms with Ray Lewis on an extension that would have guaranteed the perennial Pro Bowler’s status as a life-long Raven. But the two sides were so far apart that they agreed to table the discussions until after the season and let Ray hit the market with the hope that the market might help close the financial gap of Grand Canyon-like proportions.
Now that Ray will soon hit the market (unless the Ravens choose to franchise him) potential suitors will surface – some will be real and some will simply be there to try and drive up Ray’s price in an attempt to place a more substantive dent in the Ravens ’09 salary cap structure.
Already there are numbers floating about a $30 million, 3 year deal for Ray with $25 million guaranteed. The alleged author of that offer is Jerry Jones. Of course there’s no real offer out there. After all the free agent hunting season hasn’t begun and such proposals would be considered tampering and we all know Jerry Jones would never do that right?
Yet Dallas would appear to be a suitor for Ray. They have the money, they are lacking in leadership and they are a ’09 post season candidate. Miami is a possibility given Ray’s South Florida roots and then of course there are the New York Jets. Wouldn’t the Big Apple be an inviting new home for Lewis? He would be back in the saddle with Rex Ryan accompanied by off the field endorsement opportunities that could dwarf those available to him in Baltimore.
Today we wish Rex well. Tomorrow if he takes a handful of coaches and players with him, how might we feel then? Is Phil Savage Part II coming to an offseason near you?
Ray’s presence in the Ravens’ defense helps keep at least a large portion of the defensive brain trust on the field. Without him, the continuity of defensive excellence dating back to Marvin Lewis’ 1999 defense could be threatened. Without Rex and Ray, the odds increase.
Steve Bisciotti wanted to use the market to determine Ray’s value and come up with an agreement acceptable to both sides. It’s business. Now Bisciotti’s patience and his trust in Ray and Ray’s handlers will be challenged immensely. He will have to weather the storm of rumor and innuendo and so-called “insider reports” and let this play out. He invited the game and now we’ll see if he has game in this stare off with the face of the franchise.
If Ray exits for the green and white of the Jets might that lure the fickle Brett Favre back? Will Rex allow it or are his hands tied?
And even if Ray opts not to go or he can’t go to New York if he’s tagged, what about some of the other Ravens like Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard? They are both huge supporters of Rex and understand the “Mad Scientist’s” defensive formulas. Scott might be considered expendable, but is Leonhard?
(Why not just give Leonhard Yamon Figurs’ money too?)
The former Bill has provided the best return on investment of all of the Ravens’ 2008 free agent acquisitions and he really stepped up late in the season. And let’s not forget that Leonhard called the signals on defense this season, in part because neither Ray nor Ed Reed wanted to.
Many have wondered if he should start over incumbent Dawan Landry who will return from a spinal concussion that forced him on to the injured reserve list. Landry is a better tackler and more of an enforcer, but Leonhard has a playmaking knack that is absent from Landry’s game.
Could the Ravens move Landry to linebacker given his frame and inside the box proficiencies? After all he isn’t that far removed from Scott’s physical stature and let’s not forget that a relatively spindly linebacker from Dunbar High School in Baltimore named Tommy Polley performed decently in the Ravens’ defensive scheme.
But back to Rex…
At what point do you cross the line of professional etiquette in the NFL? How many coaches and players can he take from a former employer and friends who took very good care of Rex and his family? Or might Rex harbor some dormant animosity for being passed over as the Ravens head coach. Let’s not forget that Rex parked in the parking spot labeled “HC” for head coach in Owings Mills as he pulled into the facility for this head coaching interview with Bisciotti’s hiring panel one year ago.
Yes, it will be an interesting off season for Ozzie & Company…
We’ve heard the Ravens’ brass talk about protecting their investment in Joe Flacco and that includes giving him skill position weapons and improving the offensive line. If the Ravens lose Jason Brown to free agency, that would represent a major step backwards. Brown is the leader and signal caller of that developing line and his personality and moxie are perfect for the role. If he seeks to become the league’s highest paid center as has been rumored, Ozzie may have no choice but to concede. Chris Chester is the back up and he performed admirably in place of injured right guard Marshal Yanda. But Chester lacks the leadership skills and the moxie to be a leader at center.
If Brown walks because Ozzie labels him “right player, wrong price”, Newsome would have only himself to blame. The Ravens knew a long time ago that Brown would attract attention and they should have inked Brown well before this season started. Now they’ll have to pay much more given Brown’s developing importance in the offense and now that he has emerged from a productive season injury free and free to negotiate with any team he wants.
There are certain young players on every NFL roster who have long careers ahead and if you catch them early enough in their contracts, you can extend them and create value and protect your cap structure. Ozzie didn’t learn with Ed Reed. He didn’t learn with Terrell Suggs. He didn’t learn with Jason Brown.
Ozzie has done some great things for the Ravens but if he has an Achilles’ Heel, it’s his inability to get extensions done with key players who either end up costing more or they leave.
Who’s next, Haloti Ngata?
