Right Off Russell

Ken Rosenthal and John Paul Morosi of Fox Sports are reporting that the Orioles are entering the fray in the Matt Holliday bidding.  This comes as a surprise as there has not been much talk of Holliday having interest in the Orioles, or vice versa.  It is none the less and interesting development and maybe a step in the direction some folks at RoR want to see the Orioles head.  The pursuit of Holliday is apparently not without some qualifiers according to Rosenthal and Morosi:

Holliday, 29, is unlikely to go to the Orioles — a team coming off 12 straight losing seasons — unless they make him a much stronger offer than the Cardinals.

The Orioles, meanwhile, might only participate in the Holliday sweepstakes as a token gesture, an effort to demonstrate to their fans that they are trying to improve.

But they did mention that Holliday may see the O’s as a team on the rise in the AL East and that he could want to be a part of a team with young talent.  They also feel the acquisition of 3B Garrett Atkins, a former teammate and close friend of Holliday’s, is a positive thing for the Orioles efforts to lure Holliday.  Rosenthal and Morosi went on to speculate that a deal for Holliday would likely lead to a trade of another outfield for pitching, perhaps Felix Pei, Luke Scott or Nolan Reimold.

While I am encourage to hear this news, I remain skeptical that the club is making an earnet effort until I hear it from sources in theBaltimore media.  This could be nothing more than a ploy to step up the bidding for Holliday by his agent Scott Boras.  Thoughts on the validity of this news, or on the positives of a guy like Holliday?

According to the Baltimore Sun the Orioles are closing in on signing free agent reliever Mike Gonzalez.  Gonzalez, a left hander, spent last year with the Braves where he posted a 5-4 record with a 2.42 ERA, 17 holds and 10 saves in 80 appearances.  Gonzalez also struck out 90 batters in 74 1/3 innings and has posted an ERA below 3.00 in five of his last six seasons.  The Orioles are looking to ink Gonzalez to a 2 year deal, perhaps learning from some recent 3 year deals to relievers that have gone wrong (see Walker, Jamie and Baez, Danys).

I think this is another solid move for the Orioles who needed a lefty in the ‘pen.  Gonzalez also has experience closing and could help the Orioles in that role.  The one draw back to signing Gonzalez is that he is a type A free agent and his acquisition would cost the Orioles their 2nd round draft pick.  Whether signing Gonzalez puts the Orioles out of the running for right handed reliever Fernando Rodney remains to be seen.

What are your thoughts on bringing in Mike Gonzalez?  Is he worth giving up a 2nd round draft pick for a 2 year deal?

That talk to clear the air between Samari Rolle and the Ravens front office must have done wonders.  The Ravens and Samari Rolle have agreed to a 4 year deal that will bring the cornerback back to Baltimore after being released just twenty days ago.  Rolle further solidifies CB depth for the Ravens, who have also added Dom Foxworth and Chris Carr this off-season.

I have to say I am fairly surprised to see Rolle back.  When he was released, Rolle expressed that he did not want to be in Baltimore and he felt the Ravens did not want him back.  It also seems that Rolle’s skills are redundant when paired with the other corner’s in the Raven’s backfield.  Rolle must have not found much interest from other clubs and the Ravens must have gotten him relatively cheap to bring him back.  Rolle also figures to be used in nickel and dime packages.

This move also further decreases the possibility that the Ravens select a corner with their first pick in the upcoming draft.  The Ravens still have a need for a bigger corner, but they have acquired enough depth heading into the season without having to look for db’s in this draft.  That could come in future years though.

Welcome back Samari!

Samari Rolle has, reportedly, told the Baltimore Sun that he will be released on Monday of next week.  The move comes as little surprise considering Rolle’s age, salary and the fact that Rolles’ roll (he, he) would be greatly diminished after the free agent acquisition of Dom Foxworth.  Rolle also has said he would like to be released and seems ready to part the Ravens on good terms:

“I anticipate [the release] happening. I’m happy,” Rolle said. “Everyone got what they wanted out of this. I wish the Ravens nothing but the best of luck.”

During the last 2 years with the Ravens, Rolle had increasing trouble staying on the field.  To his credit, Rolle did over come a bout with epilepsy and mid-season neck surgery to return to the field.  Rolle gave the Ravens what he could, but there have been rumors that he did not always see eye to eye with John Harbaugh’s approach to the game.

The move also frees up $4.1 million in cap space for the Ravens.  How the Ravens use that money remains to be seen.  The team has already brought in free agent corners Chris Carr and Jarrett Bush to address depth at the position.  There is also speculation that the Ravens would be interested in recently released WR Torry Holt.  Do you see the Ravens making a run at a player like Holt?

In other Ravens news, LB Nick Griesen was also released.  The Ravens do have 4 other inside linebackers on the roster for next year.  There has also been speculation that the team will select an ILB in the draft, possibly with their first pick.  Is USC LB Rey Maualuga likely to be chosen by the Ravens as the heir apparent to Ray Lewis?

This time a week ago the Ravens seemed to be heading down a pretty precarious path. Bart Scott was on his way to NY. Jason Brown? Off to greener pastures (and alot of losses) in St Louis, and Ray Lewis acting like a guy who thought he was 25. The addition of Domonique Foxworth lessened the pain but many fans were still wondering just what Ozzie Newsome was doing. In the subsequent days, Ozzie inked Matt Birk and somehow reeled Lewis back into reality. So what now?  Here is what Ozzie said at the end of the the Birk press conference (covered on WBAL):

We’re not done yet,” Newsome said. “We’re still working the phones. The phones are still hot. We’re still trying to improve our football team.

Word has it that the team would like to upgrade at tackle and has had some preliminary talks with Marvel Smith. Color me skeptical about this guy. He’s had major back issues over the past few years. Add to that the fact that Willie Anderson played fairly well at RT last year and Smith seems to be quite a risk. Signing him would most likely mean Anderson would go. Is he that much of an upgrade over Anderson?

Cornerback could also be addressed seeing as Samari Rolle wants out and can’t seem to stay on the field. Free agent CB and special teamer Karl Paymah was in town this week and could be added for some depth. With the contracts free agent CBs have seen so far, don’t expect anything more than a signing like Paymah.

WR is of course a topic on many fans’ minds. Unfortunatley for the Ravens, this year’s free agent WR’s leave alot to be desired. The bigger names have already signed and the pickings are slim. The team is still high on Demetrius Williams and will probably address the WR position in the draft. Don’t look for any significant free agent signings although we can all dream about trading for Anquan Boldin.

Ozzie figures to be on the phone with some free agent kickers as well.

It’s been quite a week in Ravensland. The end result is this. They’ve retained Lewis and added Birk and Foxworth while losing Scott, Brown, Jim Leonhard, and Matt Stover. Don’t forget that they spent less on their guys than the guys they lost.

Not how I expected it to play out but then again, Ozzie’s never been predictable.

The Ravens free agent fortunes to a dramatic turn today as the team announced that it had reached agreement with veterans Ray Lewis and Matt Birk.  Ravens fans can now more easily shake off some of the frustration of losing out on 3 key contributors from last years squad in Bart Scott, Jim Leonhard and Jason Brown.  Full terms of both deals have not been disclosed.  Birk’s deal is for 3 years, while neither the length or financial terms of Lewis’ deal have been disclosed.

In Birk, the Ravens not only added a 6 time pro bowler, they also picked up a player that can fill the leadership role vacated by Brown on the Ravens young o-line.  The Ravens clearly wanted to find an established talent to replace Brown, evident by their aggressive approach to getting  the deal done with Birk, a St. Paul Minn. native.  John Harbaugh feels the move improves the Ravens immediately:

“To add a player like Matt, who will also give us outstanding leadership, makes us a better team,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. “We’re not standing pat. We’re moving forward and getting better.”

Birk seems to be at the least an adequate replacement for Brown talent-wise and I like the leadership and presence he will bring, but would the Ravens have been better served in making a better offer to Brown?  Brown’s youth and cohesion with the other members of the line was appealing.

Whether or not the deal for Ray Lewis, reportedly for 3 years in the range of $20 to $25 million, results in a happy ending remains to be seen.  After losing out in the bidding war for Bart Scott, it was clear the Ravens needed to make every effort to bring back Lewis.  Lewis after all, has been the face of the Ravens for the teams entire existence.  My concern is with the way some of this played out in the media and whether Ray is truly satisfied with the way this all came down.

All sides are saying the right things at this point, witness some of Ray and John Harbaugh’s comments today:

“From beginning to end as a Raven … Wow! To be with the same team with the same fans for an entire career, that doesn’t happen in the NFL,” Lewis said in a statement.

“My heart is with the Ravens,” Lewis said. “My heart is with Baltimore and the great fans. What can I say? Here we go!”

“What a great day for the Ravens,” coach John Harbaugh said. “To get the commitment from Ray means so much to the team, to the franchise and to our fans.”

But what is said outwardly does not always reflect how team and player feel about one another.  Don’t get me wrong.  I am not saying Ray does not have a lot to offer to the Ravens, but it became clear that there is some tension in the relationship.  Sometimes tension can be a motivating factor, or it can lead to a bad situation.  Will Ray and the Ravens be able to move beyond this?  And will Ray be able to retire as the icon in Baltimore sports history that his play on the field has afforded him?

The Suns Jamison Hensley is reporting that FA C Matt Birk is back at the Ravens HQ in Owings Mills today.  Birk had a lengthy meeting with team officials on Tuesday, went to dinner with Jim Harbaugh last night and was back today after the teams medical evaluations.

It is going to be tough to get Birk out of Minnesota.  The Ravens do seem to be putting on the full-court press, and are apparently not content with replacing Jason Brown with either someone currently on the team or a draft pick.  The fact that Birk is still in town seems to bode well for the Ravens.

Not so fast my friend!  Apparently the deal that would send Bart Scott to the Jest has not been finalized.  Mike Preston is reporting that:

There is speculation that the Ravens have offered Scott a five-year contract worth $42 million, and Scott also wants assurances that he will become the center piece of the defense in Baltimore, much like Ray Lewis was during the last decade.

Still not sure I like the amount of money being thrown at Scott as I am not convinced he is worth that much.  If the Ravens are willing to enter into a bidding war for Scott, then it appears they prefer to keep him to Ray Lewis.

Speaking of Ray Lewis….Earlier in the day Adam Schefter on his nfl.com blog reported that according to people close to Lewis, the Baltimore star was frustrated with the pace of negotiations with the Ravens and was ready to sever ties with the team.

Now Schefter is reporting this:

After speaking with Lewis, Woodson reported that Lewis never said he wouldn’t return to the Ravens. He is open to go back to Baltimore. Lewis never told DeMarcus Ware that his dream was to play for the Cowboys despite published reports.

It is entirely possible that Ray was upset with the Ravens and willing to leave, but after realizing that he is not in high demand, he is changing his tune about returning to Baltimore.  Ray needs to leave himself some options, so he is not in the position to eliminate any potential suitors.  The question is, if Ray’s expectations are not met financially by the Ravens or any other team, do the Ravens want to bring back an unhappy Ray Lewis?  Ray unhappy has been bad news in Charm City in the past.

The Ravens have reached a deal with free agent defensive back Dominique Foxworth. The team agreed to a 4-year $27.2 million deal with Foxworth, moving quickly after losing out on Bart Scott in free agency.  Foxworth played his highschool ball in Catonsville and went on to play at the University of Maryland.

Foxworth is a smaller corner with great speed in the mold of the Ravens other 2 starting db’s Fabian Washington and Samari Roole.  It would appear that the writing is on the wall for Rolle as the team is unlike to have signed Foxworth to such a lucrative deal if tehy did not intend to make him a starter.  Rolle is older and more expensive than Washington and will likely be cut by the Ravens.  Also, look for CB to still be a priority for the Ravens in the upcoming draft.

Foxworth Signs

Bart Scott and the Jets have agreed to a 5-year $40 million contract.  Considering the news of the passed week this is somewhat of a surprise, but after the season Scott seemed like he was the odd man out.  We knew signing Terrell Suggs was a priority and it appeared that Jason Brown adn Ray Lewis would be the other two free agent priorities for the Ravens.  What surprises me most is that the Ravens and Scott reportedly came so close to a deal last night, and then he is a Jet a day later.

Bart’s personality and toughness will be missed in Baltimore, but I am not sure he is worth $8 million per over 5 years.  It looks now that the Ravens will turn more of their focus on keeping Ray Lewis.  Here is the Sun article on Bart Scott.

Scott to Jets