Ravens release then re-sign FB Vonta Leach

[rmw10]

Just thought this might be an interesting conversation for a slow offseason.  It's good to hear that Leach isn't all about the money and is open to negotiating.  Hopefully we can keep him for the year to mentor Juszczyk a bit.

 

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-ravens-vonta-leach-0607-20130606,0,2998479.story

[GrimCoconut]

Nice to read. I would like to keep Leach. He's a killer. I love the way he plays and would hate to lose him but I recognize the reality that his position is a dying one. I hope he takes a pay cut. He seems like the kind of guy who would do it.

[Gordo52]

Nice. I would hate to lose him. He's huge for our run game. Truly the last of a dying breed.

[Ravensfan23]

That is music to my ears because I'm a huge Leach fan, but I strongly thought he'd be cut because of his cap number. Leach is a big part of this offense and a huge leader. Great man and community guy. He's one of those guys that was drafted by another team but was clearly a RAVEN.

[redlobster]

I don't know if restructure is the right word, he is probably going to have to take a pay cut to stay on the team

[jaege]

Maybe he sees the hand writing on the wall. A smaller paycheck is better than no pay check. And there are not many teams that use an actual fullback anymore, particularly not a contending team. After seeing Boldin, Pollard and Reed leave, he must realize that no one is exempt.

[usmccharles]

I wonder how much that would help us out, maybe implying going after a veteran wr

[codizzle]

Hopefully it's an extension with a paycut that will take off the pressure from this years cap if Ozzie sees a player he wants to go get..

I'd like to see him here for 2 more years

[BloodRaven]

Well then hopefully he has Lorenzo Neal's longevity and we can keep him around for a few years and use Juice as a TE.

[codizzle]

Well then hopefully he has Lorenzo Neal's longevity and we can keep him around for a few years and use Juice as a TE.

He's only 31 and hasn't missed a game since 2006

[arnie_uk]

No where in that article does leach say anything about a pay cut or restructure. He says he will have a job somewhere which to me reads the complete opposite.

[Moderator 3]

No where in that article does leach say anything about a pay cut or restructure. He says he will have a job somewhere which to me reads the complete opposite.

Which is why there is now a question mark in the title.

[NaveSenrag]

I hope he doesn't go out like Boldin, but I don't see how a FB with a 4.3 mil cap hit is going to stay with the team; even the best FB in the league.

[display name]

This is the kind of classy guy whom I love to have on the Ravens. However, one must realize that the only reason his position is dying is because people chose not to use it. In other words, just because other teams are out there playing high-flying fantasy football doesn't mean that we have to stop grinding it out the old-fashioned way! To be honest, I would not have drafted a fullback, but we certainly need somebody to block for Rice and Peirce. Maybe we could even put one of them down at the #3 RB or as a 3rd TE to save room on the roster.

[display name]

I don't know if restructure is the right word, he is probably going to have to take a pay cut to stay on the team

A restructure refers to a change in the contract, such as in the form of a pay cut.

[display name]

No where in that article does leach say anything about a pay cut or restructure. He says he will have a job somewhere which to me reads the complete opposite.

He says he is optimistic that he and the Ravens can come to an agreement.

[CapoRocky]

I hope he doesn't go out like Boldin, but I don't see how a FB with a 4.3 mil cap hit is going to stay with the team; even the best FB in the league.

I am a big fan of Leach, but the business side of football is cold and calculating.  If a big-play receiver becomes available due to being a late cut in preseason, then there is a good possibility that we might need to cut someone's salary to pay for him.  As for now, we are best served by keeping Leach in there knocking people down so that we can have a top-notched running game with Rice and Pierce.

[arnie_uk]

Which is why there is now a question mark in the title.

yea I think it needs it because he doesn't say he is open to one

[arnie_uk]

He says he is optimistic that he and the Ravens can come to an agreement.

where do he say that?

Quote 1 - "We're both still here, so we'll see how it goes," said Leach, who's been named to the past three Pro Bowls. "Hopefully, it can work out for both of us. If it don't, I feel like I still can play in this league and I'll have a job somewhere."

Quote 2 - "We don't know," Leach said. "When the situation comes, I think we'll take care of it."

The other two quotes have nothing to do with contract or anything related.

The most important and telling quote to me is, that he knows he will get a job elsewhere. While he may take a pay cut or whatever, there's nothing in this article indicating he will, if anything it indicates, well I know I can get a job elsewhere, so cut me and I'll land on my feet, much like boldin played hardball with them and ended up traded.

[izvoodoo]

They're probably hoping to keep him for this year.  we won't be resigning him.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

They're probably hoping to keep him for this year.  we won't be resigning him.

 

i bet we're trying something similar with what we wanted with Q - add one more year to the contract and say 5 mil for 2 yrs with the most of it as signing bonus so it counts less towards the cap

[izvoodoo]

i bet we're trying something similar with what we wanted with Q - add one more year to the contract and say 5 mil for 2 yrs with the most of it as signing bonus so it counts less towards the cap

See I doubt it.  I'm fairly certain they only want to keep him this year and then let him walk.  He's 31, and it's hard to keep to FB's, but I wouldn't be surprised if you were right.

[rmw10]

No where in that article does leach say anything about a pay cut or restructure. He says he will have a job somewhere which to me reads the complete opposite.

I mean, the title of the article mentions a possible restructure, so I thought that was basis enough haha

[arnie_uk]

I mean, the title of the article mentions a possible restructure, so I thought that was basis enough haha

I never pay attention to headlines in papers for that very reason

[cobrajet]

We really bolstered the defense, but the jury is still out on the offense because the rookies are still unproven. We lost Birk to retirement and Boldin with the trade, so I would like to keep Leach if possible. I would love him to be used even more in the passing game this year. Don't forget, he has "good hands" also and he is a bulldozer, and God help it if he has a little space to work with!

[gabefergy]

We are pretty tight against the cap, so if Leach would be willing to take a more reasonable salary it would be a big help. 

[Yatagarasu]

He is the highest paid FB in the game. I think he might be looking at his options since we drafted Kyle Juszczyk to be our next FB. We had two FBs in 2008 with Le'Ron McClain and Vonta Leach. If Vonta decides to take a paycut to stay with the team, I think we should be loyal to him. I understand why he is in the chopping block because FB is a luxury position, but having two does really help our run game.

[Yatagarasu]

See I doubt it.  I'm fairly certain they only want to keep him this year and then let him walk.  He's 31, and it's hard to keep to FB's, but I wouldn't be surprised if you were right.

 

If he takes a reasonable amount, they I don't see why not keep him a while. However, a player of his caliber does have a market and we all saw what premier FBs got paid this past offseason. 

[Tank 92]

My hope is that Vonta sees the market, knows his comparative value and will do what needs to be done to stay until retirement.

 

Nosebleed is one helluva Raven and needs to stay a Raven!  Remaining healthy, he'll always be a valuable addition in some way.

[Yatagarasu]

http://www.spotrac.com/top-salaries/nfl/average/fullback/

It's an interesting view because Vonta Leach is paid the highest because he has been an All-Pro for the Ravens in the past two years. Now, he is not getting any younger, thus it reduces his value. He makes $1M more than the nearest FB, which is actually deserved since he's the best FB in the league. However, for contract reconstruction, his numbers might drop to average. I think we're exploring options to keep him another year for the average rate or even less. I doubt we cut him this year and stick with rookie Jusczyzk. It's best to keep him at least this year to mentor the rookie and then let him test the market. He knows he can make a lot of money elsewhere, but it will take a hometown discount to stay with the champs.