Baltimore Ravens News and Rumors from Pro Football Insider

Baltimore Ravens

Tuesday Sep 7th, 2010

So Kurt Warner belonged in the desert, so Ray Lewis belongs in Baltimore and both finally happened. Ray has agreed to a 3 year deal worth just over $7 million per to stay with the Ravens, but they didn't stop there. They also replaced center Jason Brown who signed with the Rams earlier with former Vikings center Matt Birk. In Birk they get a solid but older center who also got a 3 year deal... The Ravens have lost another... center Jason Brown landed a 5 year $37.5 million deal with the St Louis Rams that included $20 million guaranteed. Remember when his agent said Brown or Bart Scott would likely be back in Baltimore, guess that didn't work out. The Ravens are not looking so hot right now. Between the veterans who got released and free agent losses, they will be a different team next year, and desperately need to re-sign Ray Lewis The Rams made Brown the top priority in free agency to help stabilize their shaky offensive line. More help is likely coming with the second pick in the draft at tackle. It's a lot of money for a center, but they were in bad need of help and that causes you to over spend. Don't thik anyone else was going to pay him $7 mil per year out there but the Rams had to pay to get it done... The Ravens are staying busy... and raiding Rex Ryan's former team. Saturday they will have safety Jim Leonhard in for a visit and they are also working on a trade for Eagles corner Lito Sheppard who has fallen out of favor in Philly but will still cost a 2nd round pick or possibly a 3rd this year with another pick in 2010. This would be a fast improvement for the defense if in one weekend they add Bart Scott to pair with David Harris at inside linebacker. Sheppard to pair with Darrelle Revis at the corner, Corey Ivy as the nickel back and Leonhard to go along with Kerry Rhodes at safety. Now if Ryan can work a miracle with LB Vernon Gholston this could be a huge make over. Looks like the Baltimore plan, not a great quarterback but a potentially dominating defense... After some interesting hours the Jets have landed former Ravens LB Bart Scott, signing hi to a report 6 year $48 million deal. It was first reported as a 5 year deal at $40 million but that wasn't enough and the Ravens stayed in the bidding to the end and got Scott another year and $8 mil from the Jets. Scott is a great addition but at too great a cost. The cost for the Ravens could be worse, losing Scott, and corner Corey Ivy is also visiting the Jets and likely to sign. Ray Lewis is reportedly upset with the team and won't return, or that was a misunderstanding depending on who is doing the reporting. Lewis' real suitor would have been the Jets but they chose Scott over Ray and now with the Cowboys saying they are not interested there doesn't seem to be an immediate market for him. Lewis won't retire instead of returning to the Ravens who want him back and will likely pay more than everyone else. Safe bet is he returns... for the Ravens sake he'd better... Well the Ravens have stopped losing... I think. With their players in demand they struck a deal with former Falcons CB Domonique Foxworth on a 4 year deal worth $28 million with $16.5 guaranteed. That is where the I think part comes in. Foxworth is solid but not worth $7 million a year for 4 years. But with their secondary aging they needed some youth, now they have have it and paid dearly for it... The Rams are making a big push to improve their offensive line this off season, starting with ravens center Jason Brown who is in town and could be signed before the end of the day. Not a good day for Ravens fans... Reports have the Jets offering former Ravens LB Bart Scott $40 million over 5 years... but there are also reports he is giving the Ravens a chance to match. Rex Ryan know what he is paying for but $8 million for the third best LB on the Ravens team last year tells you something about that defense. Scott is young and an excellent linebacker, but that is too much money period...
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