Ravens release then re-sign FB Vonta Leach

[ravensfan160]

Could be their stupid agents who over price their clients and only think of themselves, I mean think about it. If a player restructures, the agent loses money so of course he will do everything in his power to make a player think that a restructure is not worth it, even if it means losing a chance at another ring.

That only applies if the agent thinks the guy can get more money on the open market too. I would be shocked if Leach gets any more than 1 - 1.5 million per year from his new team. I'm dying to see what he ends up getting.

[Yatagarasu]

Funny that once we won the Super Bowl, it is easier to cut solid veterans.

[PolishRifle]

I think the writing was on the wall when this happened.

 

 

There just aren't enough 44's to go around.

He's too small to play FB.

[SeaHawk]

Wow, another solid player gone. Looks like if you're over 30 and don't want to reconstruct, then you're gone. Suggs and Ngata are next.

 

Can't afford to keep those players when Flacco is being paid as high as he is. Whether he deserves that contract or not is not the issue here, fact is, when you pay one player that much money, they can't afford to pay other players as highly as they've been paid in the past.

[Yatagarasu]

Oz is making sure not to make the same mistake twice and leave a lot of cap for the future open. Still I have a feeling that this team could be better than last year. Leach was great, but he was getting less and less rep that his contract was overpriced. Tough choice, but Ozzie knows what he is doing. I wonder if Leach will come back for a reach rate. However teams like Titans and Buccaneers need a FB for the run first offense.

[easternshore97]

Could be their stupid agents who over price their clients and only think of themselves, I mean think about it. If a player restructures, the agent loses money so of course he will do everything in his power to make a player think that a restructure is not worth it, even if it means losing a chance at another ring.

Good argument. Not disagreeing. But could also be the mere principle of the matter.

 

You and me signed a contract 3 years ago and today you change your mind, and you have all the leverage.

 

Obviously, the vet knows how the business works, but I don't think they are thinking that way at first.

[rmw10]

Can't afford to keep those players when Flacco is being paid as high as he is. Whether he deserves that contract or not is not the issue here, fact is, when you pay one player that much money, they can't afford to pay other players as highly as they've been paid in the past.

 

Flacco's cap hit is $6.8M.  He's not the reason for any of these cuts.

[Yatagarasu]

Flacco's cap hit is $6.8M. He's not the reason for any of these cuts.

Nah, Oz is preparing for the cap disaster in 3 years, where Flacco's cap go over $20+ M. Yikes!

[easternshore97]

Can't afford to keep those players when Flacco is being paid as high as he is. Whether he deserves that contract or not is not the issue here, fact is, when you pay one player that much money, they can't afford to pay other players as highly as they've been paid in the past.

You mean even though Joe is getting $6m this year and this would have been Vonta's last under contract, the problem is Joe Flacco's contract?

[SeaHawk]

Flacco's cap hit is $6.8M.  He's not the reason for any of these cuts.

 

In the future, that number increases substantially. So while he's cheap this year, he'll make more and more each year until his contract is up. Again, I'm not being biased with that at all. I'm not saying he didn't deserve that contract, but I'm also not saying that he did deserve it. That's not the point.

[rmw10]

Nah, Oz is preparing for the cap disaster in 3 years, where Flacco's cap go over $20+ M. Yikes!

 

Leach has no bearing on that, though.  He was signed through this year only.

[rmw10]

In the future, that number increases substantially. So while he's cheap this year, he'll make more and more each year until his contract is up. Again, I'm not being biased with that at all. I'm not saying he didn't deserve that contract, but I'm also not saying that he did deserve it. That's not the point.

 

As noted right above, Leach is only under contract this year.  No bearing whatsoever.

[SeaHawk]

As noted right above, Leach is only under contract this year.  No bearing whatsoever.

 

What about the other players that got cut this offseason?? What about the fact that we need to restructure Suggs/Ngata and pay Dickson/Pitta/Oher with limited money, so we needed to cut him to do just that?? It does have bearing, even if it is not a direct impact.

[Gordo52]

Sucks. Wish him the best. I wouldn't be surprised to see him come back after testing FA.

I was re watching all the playoff games a couple days ago and boy did he play great in the time he played. In gonna miss him catching the ball out the backfield and knowing he'll win 1 on 1 matchups the majority of the time.. Maybe with the rules changes he wouldn't be as good as he was but I've never seen a better blocking fullback.

[rmw10]

What about the other players that got cut this offseason?? What about the fact that we need to restructure Suggs/Ngata and pay Dickson/Pitta/Oher with limited money, so we needed to cut him to do just that?? It does have bearing, even if it is not a direct impact.

 

Not sure what point you're getting at here.  All I'm saying is that Flacco's contract has nothing to do with any of the cuts/FA losses this year specifically.  Yeah, in 3 years, Flacco's number becomes very tricky, but everyone that was cut or let go was short-term and not related to his contract.

[GrimCoconut]

Not surprised. This was a move I expected earlier in the offseason--much earlier. A bit disappointed we didn't make this move earlier than this. I would have liked to see Leach have a fair chance on the market, though I guess that doesn't matter a whole lot. It's not like teams are breaking the bank for FBs or anything. 

 

Thanks for your big hits, Vonta! I'll miss your pounding hits on linebackers! I know Patrick Willis won't miss them!

[Gordo52]

I think our running game will suffer a little bit, especially early on. Good thing we got 2 beasts in the backfield and a stud at QB, we'll survive.

[SecretAgentMan]

OMG THE SKY IF FALLING ;)

[SeaHawk]

Not sure what point you're getting at here.  All I'm saying is that Flacco's contract has nothing to do with any of the cuts/FA losses this year specifically.  Yeah, in 3 years, Flacco's number becomes very tricky, but everyone that was cut or let go was short-term and not related to his contract.

 

Ok.

[Geving]

Sad to see Vonta go. Thought he might get released because of his cap number and drafting Juice, but then so much time went by that I thought he would stick for another year. Oh well, best of luck to him.

[Clayton Bigsby]

I hope Juice has mastered the physical side of fullback along with the finesse side. If Juice can provide the big hits on LBs, I'll have no problem with this move

[The Oakland Cathedral]

Nah, Oz is preparing for the cap disaster in 3 years, where Flacco's cap go over $20+ M. Yikes!

Leach wouldn't even be on the roster 3 years from now so that doesn't make sense..

[SecretAgentMan]

Leach wouldn't even be on the roster 3 years from now so that doesn't make sense..

LIES! If not for Flacco, cancer would be cured, there would be no war, and everything would be stable.

 

Flacco is the definition  of destruction!(of opposing defenses)  

[jimmypowder]

I loved Leach but under Caldwell he was seeing the field less and less. He only played 22 snaps in the Super Bowl. For the money he was making, no way were we gonna keep him unless there was a significant salary reduction . I guess the figure we had in mind was one Leach didn't like.

[easternshore97]

Not surprised. This was a move I expected earlier in the offseason--much earlier. A bit disappointed we didn't make this move earlier than this. I would have liked to see Leach have a fair chance on the market, though I guess that doesn't matter a whole lot. It's not like teams are breaking the bank for FBs or anything. 

 

Thanks for your big hits, Vonta! I'll miss your pounding hits on linebackers! I know Patrick Willis won't miss them!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7I5A05f8T8

 

'...I'm finna go give it to whatshi'name...44...'

[ratedr]

I love Leach, but the writing was on the wall. He was on the field for less than half the snaps. That said, if the market sucks I could see us bringing him back at a lower price.

If not, it's Kyle Juszczyk time.

[T3hRaven]

I disagree with this one.  Leach is still the best blocking fullback in the league, and this was the last year of his deal anyway.  There is no one we're going to be able to sign at this point that's worth as much to the team as Leach was.

[ratedr]

I disagree with this one. Leach is still the best blocking fullback in the league, and this was the last year of his deal anyway. There is no one we're going to be able to sign at this point that's worth as much to the team as Leach was.

For someone who's on the field for less than half the snaps, $3.5M is too much.

He's still the best FB, but the FO thinks they get a better value in Juszczyk.

[The Raven]

I would have kept him for the year, but I understand the release. This just means that Juice is even farther along than I thought! And, I think it also increases the chances of Furstenburg making the roster. Next man up!

 

The timing of the move is good, as it gives Leach time to find a new home. This was the proper thing to do, for his sake. Also, does anyone else think this might have an effect on any extensions? I think Pitta might be due for an extension soon. 

[SeaHawk]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7I5A05f8T8

 

'...I'm finna go give it to whatshi'name...44...'

 

That's not even the best one. The best one came when he caught the ball and rammed his helmet right into Patrick Willis' helmet, and destroyed it. He got right back up and went back as if he was going to line up again and run over some more people, while Willis took forever to get back up and his helmet was a complete mess. That was hilarious.