Paul Kruger contract situation

[Ed_Reed20]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Hate to make this topic immediately after a euphoric win but I just saw the update on Rotoworld. [/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/jason-la-canfora/21544053/nfl-today-arians-whisenhunt-pace-coach-updates-kelly-staying-at-nd"]Per La Canfora[/url]:[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][quote][/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#444444][size=4]Linebacker [/size][/color][url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1245656/paul-kruger"]Paul Kruger[/url][color=#444444][size=4] has starred for Baltimore during the second half of the season and playoffs (registering 2.5 sacks last week). But league sources said he fired his agents this week, is set to sign with a major firm next week and is looking for a hefty payday, in excess of $8 million a year. Given some of the Ravens' concerns about Kruger's decision-making off the field, it's unlikely they would get into a bidding war should Kruger be as sought after as he hopes.[/size][/color][/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#444444][size=4][/quote][/size][/color][/font]

[size=4][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][color=#444444]He's easily been among the top pass rushers this season and it would be great to re-sign but I can easily see a team throwing him what he wants come the off-season and more. [/color][/font][/size]

[JO_75]

I know he may command a lot of money but I hope we are able to come to some neutral agreement with Kruger on the money and contract to keep him here for another 5-6 years.

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

Since Ray is leaving and Cary is leaving, if Ed Reed leaves like I assume he will, will it be enough to keep both him and Ellerbe plus leave room for Joe?

[ravensfan160]

I love Kruger but would he even be a starter next season? He is still average at best against the run and we have Upshaw.

The only way I see us paying Kruger that kind of money is if we think Suggs won't ever be the same again. In that case we have to keep Kruger for his pass rush.

[pep_meister]

i really hop[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1358043740' post='1307535']
I know he may command a lot of money but I hope we are able to come to some neutral agreement with Kruger on the money and contract to keep him here for another 5-6 years.
[/quote]i really hope thats the way it works out... he is on a championship team, i hope being a winner pays....

[Ravens_fan]

I want him back, but not wanting him to get top tier money, second if we can keep him for it

[GrimCoconut]

I said earlier between Williams and Kruger I would take Kruger. He is a good player. Unfortunately, I didn't think we would be able to re-sign him. Now I am convinced he will walk. Sad, really.

The only thing that works in our favor is there are a few good OLBs out next year as free agents. So, there is a good chance his price goes down. I just don't see him here next year.

I do think we will bring Reed back if he doesn't retire.

[Bltravens]

8 mil is too much. He likely will go to a 43 defense if he's looking for 8 mil. A team like Jax comes to mind.

I'll never understand the athlete that wants 8 for a dog**** team but refuses 5.5-6 for a playoff contender each year. Boggles my mind. Hopefully Kruger isn't that guy.

I think with letting Williams walk, Bobbie Williams, McKinnie, Birk gone and Lewis unfortunately retiring. We should have more significant cap space than we have the last couple of years.

[dhstandard]

We should be able to afford him. We just can't let him go to free agency. Teams will bid ridiculously high for a good pass rusher. We have space next year but we can't make any big free agent signings. Have to spend it on our own guys.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='dhstandard' timestamp='1358044713' post='1307688']
We should be able to afford him. We just can't let him go to free agency. Teams will bid ridiculously high for a good pass rusher. We have space next year but we can't make any big free agent signings. Have to spend it on our own guys.
[/quote]
We also have to pay Flacco, Reed, Ellerbe, McKinnie, & Williams who are all free agents. Then we have RFAs who need tenders. Add in the draft picks...ugh. it doesn't look too good.

I know all of our free agents won't be back, btw. Some may retire (Reed), some may just not be wanted back (McKinnie), and some may just outprice themselves (Williams, Kruger). I think Ellerbe & Flacco definitely return.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1358044906' post='1307717']
We also have to pay Flacco, Reed, Ellerbe, McKinnie, & Williams who are all free agents. Then we have RFAs who need tenders. Add in the draft picks...ugh. it doesn't look too good.

I know all of our free agents won't be back, btw. Some may retire (Reed), some may just not be wanted back (McKinnie), and some may just outprice themselves (Williams, Kruger). I think Ellerbe & Flacco definitely return.
[/quote]
We'll have space I think. But it all depends on Kruger's demands. We KNOW Ozzie won't overpay.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='dhstandard' timestamp='1358044713' post='1307688']
We should be able to afford him. We just can't let him go to free agency. Teams will bid ridiculously high for a good pass rusher. We have space next year but we can't make any big free agent signings. Have to spend it on our own guys.
[/quote]no we don't have space. We won't even have enough to tag flacco with some serious cap management.

[Dubs]

[quote name='BALTIMOREFLACCO' timestamp='1358044162' post='1307598']
Since Ray is leaving and Cary is leaving, if Ed Reed leaves like I assume he will, will it be enough to keep both him and Ellerbe plus leave room for Joe?
[/quote]

this is what I am hoping for and is really best case scenario. Guess we will have to wait and see - I really hope we got Flaccos contract done before FA so we could think about using the tag on Kruger or Reed.

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

[quote name='Dubs' timestamp='1358045220' post='1307749']
this is what I am hoping for and is really best case scenario. Guess we will have to wait and see - I really hope we got Flaccos contract done before FA so we could think about using the tag on Kruger or Reed.
[/quote]

Good call

[pep_meister]

money cant buy championships... unless your the yankees... all comes down to how much krug is willing to give up to stay.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1358045138' post='1307741']
no we don't have space. We won't even have enough to tag flacco with some serious cap management.
[/quote]
We need to renegotiate Boldin's deal. Boldin is a stud in every sense of the word so I hope he realizes what needs to be done.

[Token]

Yea, I talked about it earlier in the game thread.

La Canfora had some pretty interesting notes about both Kruger and Cary, I don't think we keep either of them this offseason.

[redlobster]

What has Kruger done off field to concern Baltimore ?

[Guest Im An Ozzie Newsome Guy]

[quote name='pep_meister' timestamp='1358045516' post='1307790']
money cant buy championships... unless your the yankees... all comes down to how much krug is willing to give up to stay.
[/quote]

Err... not even that analogy works, anymore; seeing how many superstars the Yankees have brought in, these past 12 years, only to wind-up with 1 World Series championship during that period.

Basically, once again: Ray Lewis is retiring, Bobbie Williams gets cut, Vonta Leach gets cut (Let's face it: We all love Leach, but, if Jim Caldwell opens-up the playbook, Leach might be "useless" in Baltimore), and BOTH Anquan Boldin and Jacoby Jones restructure their contracts.

I don't know where that leaves the Ravens in available cap space, but I just hope Joe Flacco re-signs to a long-term contract before the free agency period. That way, Baltimore can tag Paul Kruger (and then, re-sign him to a long contract).

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1358044906' post='1307717']
We also have to pay Flacco, Reed, Ellerbe, McKinnie, & Williams who are all free agents. Then we have RFAs who need tenders. Add in the draft picks...ugh. it doesn't look too good.

I know all of our free agents won't be back, btw. Some may retire (Reed), some may just not be wanted back (McKinnie), and some may just outprice themselves (Williams, Kruger). I think Ellerbe & Flacco definitely return.
[/quote]

Honestly of those guys you just named I'd say only Flacco and Reed are priorities above Kruger. Williams is a good corner but not great, and Ellerbe plays a position that's becoming more unimportant. Kruger stepped up huge this season, and if Suggs returns to form, the two of them together could be huge for us in the next few years.

[redlobster]

There is no way Kruger is back , he wants too much and is not worth 8 million no matter what happens

[arnie_uk]

To be honest lifer. I think ellerbe is becoming the beating heart of this defense. I'd argue he's more important than Kruger. When he plays well lately we play well. His blitzing and pressure from the inside is under rated, it means qbs can't step up into a clean pocket and avoid the edge rush.

He's solid in the run game, which Kruger shows flashes off, but really he isn't a good run defender.

He's also improving in the pass defense department.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1358047679' post='1308049']
To be honest lifer. I think ellerbe is becoming the beating heart of this defense. I'd argue he's more important than Kruger. When he plays well lately we play well. His blitzing and pressure from the inside is under rated, it means qbs can't step up into a clean pocket and avoid the edge rush.

He's solid in the run game, which Kruger shows flashes off, but really he isn't a good run defender.

[b]He's also improving in the pass defense department.[/b]
[/quote]

Agreed. I forget which quarter it was but the play where he picked up WR or TE running up the seam and then jerked back to pick up a WR running a crossing route and break up the play was a thing of beauty.

[dhstandard]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1358044906' post='1307717']
We also have to pay Flacco, Reed, Ellerbe, McKinnie, & Williams who are all free agents. Then we have RFAs who need tenders. Add in the draft picks...ugh. it doesn't look too good.

I know all of our free agents won't be back, btw. Some may retire (Reed), some may just not be wanted back (McKinnie), and some may just outprice themselves (Williams, Kruger). I think Ellerbe & Flacco definitely return.
[/quote]

I thought we had around 26 million for next season? If Flacco is getting around 12-16 you could afford Kruger without much trouble. He'll probably get a lot of mony on the back end. Ellerbe and Cary Williams aren't going to demand a high price tag. McKinnie is probably going to retire. I just don't see him coming back especially if we draft a LT early.

Now with Ed Reed. That's a major story. I don't want to think about any of this right now.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1358047679' post='1308049']
To be honest lifer. I think ellerbe is becoming the beating heart of this defense. I'd argue he's more important than Kruger. When he plays well lately we play well. His blitzing and pressure from the inside is under rated, it means qbs can't step up into a clean pocket and avoid the edge rush.

He's solid in the run game, which Kruger shows flashes off, but really he isn't a good run defender.

He's also improving in the pass defense department.
[/quote]
Times like this when you wish Ellerbe had been healthy the last 2 years and we didn't have to pay McClain...anything.

[msufan]

[quote name='redlobster' timestamp='1358046650' post='1307945']
There is no way Kruger is back , he wants too much and is not worth 8 million no matter what happens
[/quote]yeah we have other talented lb and if all else fails I trust Ozzie to just find another lb who will be just as good.

[Bltravens]

This whole thing hinges on how much Kruger really wants. If it's actually upwards of 8 a year theres no way we're going to give him a 40 mil 5 year deal kind of thing.

Its what Ozzie does, he knows what he can and can't pay for Kruger.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='dhstandard' timestamp='1358048246' post='1308109']


I thought we had around 26 million for next season? If Flacco is getting around 12-16 you could afford Kruger without much trouble. He'll probably get a lot of mony on the back end. Ellerbe and Cary Williams aren't going to demand a high price tag. McKinnie is probably going to retire. I just don't see him coming back especially if we draft a LT early.

Now with Ed Reed. That's a major story. I don't want to think about any of this right now.
[/quote]we have around 19 after rays retirement with only 36 people on the roster. We have 15 spots to fill, that averages under 2 mil a spot

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1358047679' post='1308049']
To be honest lifer. I think ellerbe is becoming the beating heart of this defense. I'd argue he's more important than Kruger. When he plays well lately we play well. His blitzing and pressure from the inside is under rated, it means qbs can't step up into a clean pocket and avoid the edge rush.

He's solid in the run game, which Kruger shows flashes off, but really he isn't a good run defender.

He's also improving in the pass defense department.
[/quote]

I see where you're coming from, but aside from the QB and a hall of fame safety, it's hard for me to prioritize anyone over a guy who has had 14.5 sacks the last 2 seasons despite only starting 5 games and is only going to be 27 next year.

[redlobster]

[quote name='dhstandard' timestamp='1358048246' post='1308109']


I thought we had around 26 million for next season? If Flacco is getting around 12-16 you could afford Kruger without much trouble. He'll probably get a lot of mony on the back end. Ellerbe and Cary Williams aren't going to demand a high price tag. McKinnie is probably going to retire. I just don't see him coming back especially if we draft a LT early.

Now with Ed Reed. That's a major story. I don't want to think about any of this right now.
[/quote]

I would doubt McKinney retires , he was getting his check garnished for that lockout loan he took , he will get somewhere around a 2-3 year deal with a tackle desperate team ( Arizona ?)