Next Man Up: Extensions & Re-Signings

[rmw10]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1362590625' post='1379644']
Anyone else find it strange we didn't franchise tag Ellerbe?

McClain injured, Ray gone, and the best linebacker we have we are letting go to free agency. I think we should of tagged him and then worked out a contract with him. I understand that tags can be costly, but I think Ellerbe would be happy to have a long term deal.
[/quote]

The issue is definitely price. The franchise tag for LB is over $9 million. If we weren't able to get him a deal before March 12, we'd officially be screwed in cap space. No room to tender/sign Pitta and Art Jones. It just wouldn't work at that price.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1362590656' post='1379646']
I like Pat Sims as well. He's always been a solid rotation guy for the Bengals. He's a guy that plays with power and leverage. Despite not being a starter I actually think he'd be a upgrade over Cody. I like the lower level FA route and draft a NT.
[/quote]
Sims is another guy I like. Just not sure about his asking price. It seems to be a bit higher than we'd pay, from what I have read.

For me, my top FA NT signings are Vance Walker, Sammie Lee Hill, Aubrayo Franklin & Sims. My favorites are probably Hill & Walker due to upside, with Franklin third.

[bauer77]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1362590625' post='1379644']
Anyone else find it strange we didn't franchise tag Ellerbe?

McClain injured, Ray gone, and the best linebacker we have we are letting go to free agency. I think we should of tagged him and then worked out a contract with him. I understand that tags can be costly, but I think Ellerbe would be happy to have a long term deal.
[/quote]

No, even though i agree with you that it would've been the smart thing to do, Oz said he wasn't going to. I'm worried now that if we don't get him locked up before free agency starts, he may be gone.

[jaege]

[quote name='bauer77' timestamp='1362591628' post='1379668']
No, even though i agree with you that it would've been the smart thing to do, Oz said he wasn't going to. I'm worried now that if we don't get him locked up before free agency starts, he may be gone.
[/quote]


Maybe his tag would be too expensive. Anyone know what a tag on Ellerbe would run?

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='jaege' timestamp='1362593678' post='1379696']



Maybe his tag would be too expensive. Anyone know what a tag on Ellerbe would run?
[/quote]
Only $9.455M for the franchise tag & only 8.216M for the transition tag

[jaege]

Wow, do you think we would be offering him that much? Seems high.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='jaege' timestamp='1362596739' post='1379750']
Wow, do you think we would be offering him that much? Seems high.
[/quote]
Nope. Personally, I would offer Ellerbe a deal of 4M/yr average for 4 years. Give him a quarter guaranteed. Anything more and it's too much. Even 4M is expensive to me. The thing about Ellerbe is this: where was his play the years before? I love Dannell's play. I liked him more than McClain. But I can't see keeping McClain & Ellerbe, especially if Ellerbe wants 5-6M a year on average. That's a considerable chunk of change.

I think Ellerbe is worth 3.5M a year, honestly. I think that's his price but I don't see him going for it. I do not like the idea of paying a player who has been inconsistent or injury-prone that kind of cash. He's a Heck of a football player. He was one of the best LBs are bursting through the middle to make TFL, constantly around the ball, a good blitzer up the middle. I love him. But he has risk of not playing.

I'd pay him 5M if he didn't have all these injuries the past two years, even with the inconsistency. But when you have two black marks next to your name...it just makes me nervous paying the man the money he wants. I'd rather keep McClain in that scenario (and I have a real negative bias/hate for McClain; most around here should know that).

Ellerbe has elite potential, and I am sure someone will say I am nuts. But to me, if he doesn't play 16 regular season games then how does the elite potential help you? He's not some kind of big locker room leader, unlike another elite-potential FA of our team (Ed Reed). I'd rather give Ed Ellerbe's money than invest into Ellerbe. Sure, you have the same risk with Reed, but Reed offers another commodity Ellerbe does not--veteran leadership.

[Tank 92]

[quote name='jaege' timestamp='1362596739' post='1379750']
Wow, do you think we would be offering him that much? Seems high.
[/quote]


Not unless they thought he was the next Ray Lewis. Few LBs make that much.

Given that Ellerbe has been prone to injury, I would guess his price should be around $5 mil..

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1362591342' post='1379661']

Sims is another guy I like. Just not sure about his asking price. It seems to be a bit higher than we'd pay, from what I have read.

For me, my top FA NT signings are Vance Walker, Sammie Lee Hill, Aubrayo Franklin & Sims. My favorites are probably Hill & Walker due to upside, with Franklin third.
[/quote]

I haven't heard his asking price but if its high I agree. I know its a unpopular option but I wouldn't be surprised to see Hampton come in on a 1yr deal just like Kemo had. Hampton isn't the guy he used to be, but he performed at a higher level then either Kemo or Cody last year. But that would be my last resort option.

I like Sammie, Vance and i'm interested to see if anything comes of the Ricky Jean rumors. I think they'll definitely add talent to the NT position.

[Ravensfan23]

Ellerbe is one of the negative effects of winning the Super Bowl. Teams want player who have recently won a Super Bowl and could be a young leader. So they'll pay more tthen what the player might usually be worth. From the player standpoint, they already have the ultimate team accomplishment. So now they can kind of be selfish and think about themselves and family. From the Ravens standpoint you have to be confident that you developed a guy like Ellerbe and you can do it again, but that's risky.

The Ravens actually lose leverage with their own guys because of the Super Bowl. Then if you allow a guy like Ellerbe to back you into a corner, who'll be the next guy to try and do so? Art? Oher? Mcphee? So the Ravens can't just give in to contract demands, but you definitely wanna keep him.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1362599091' post='1379779']
Ellerbe is one of the negative effects of winning the Super Bowl. Teams want player who have recently won a Super Bowl and could be a young leader. So they'll pay more tthen what the player might usually be worth. From the player standpoint, they already have the ultimate team accomplishment. So now they can kind of be selfish and think about themselves and family. From the Ravens standpoint you have to be confident that you developed a guy like Ellerbe and you can do it again, but that's risky.

The Ravens actually lose leverage with their own guys because of the Super Bowl. Then if you allow a guy like Ellerbe to back you into a corner, who'll be the next guy to try and do so? Art? Oher? Mcphee? So the Ravens can't just give in to contract demands, but you definitely wanna keep him.
[/quote]
Scott Fujita? Lol.

[Ravensfan23]

Right

[KruggersCrew]

RESIGN ED REED PLEASE! I don't care if he lost a step, he still has the best IQ in the game!

Give Pitta, Boldin, an Art Jones a deal! After next season Jones WILL command more then we will be able to pay!

Krugger, Cary walk.

Mckinney isn't a Raven in attitude, an as good as he played let him go if he wants to be greedy, if it wasn't for us he would be retired! What about KO at LT? He played there at Iowa St. an was outstanding! or Jah Reid too!

Ellerbe to me is a must keep, he is so good at timing his rush, an has learned from Lewis for years! He is a 3 down ILB! Then we don't have to draft an ILB high!

I would love a stud TE in draft to catch those high Flacco passes! Ertz Please! (I see a lot of Boldin in him!)

[Ravensfan23]

I think Ellerbe will eventually sign. I think right now the Ravens offer is fair but Ellerbe people are thinking more. I'm sure someone is willing to spend big on Ellerbe, but I think he accepts the fair deal from the Ravens and is signed between the 9th-12th. Even though I know there will never be another, I think Ellerbe is eager to step into that Ray Lewis spotlight. He wants to be the guy who plays great in the middle and rally this defense game to game.

I think Ellerbe is one of those guys that Harbs can take credit for getting the best out of. I know he's not consistent but I think the Ellerbe we saw last year is the real Ellerbe. He played through a lot of injuries and still had great success. If and it's a big if, but if he stays healthy, I think he's a stud in the making.

[LordRavens]

[quote name='KruggersCrew' timestamp='1362610765' post='1379941']
RESIGN ED REED PLEASE! I don't care if he lost a step, he still has the best IQ in the game!

Give Pitta, Boldin, an Art Jones a deal! After next season Jones WILL command more then we will be able to pay!

Krugger, Cary walk.

Mckinney isn't a Raven in attitude, an as good as he played let him go if he wants to be greedy, if it wasn't for us he would be retired! What about KO at LT? He played there at Iowa St. an was outstanding! or Jah Reid too!

Ellerbe to me is a must keep, he is so good at timing his rush, an has learned from Lewis for years! He is a 3 down ILB! Then we don't have to draft an ILB high!

I would love a stud TE in draft to catch those high Flacco passes! Ertz Please! (I see a lot of Boldin in him!)
[/quote]


High Passes?

[omar586]

I don't think we will sign anyone, until the very end of FA