[News] Reports: Jake Long Won't Sign With Ravens

[BR News]

After visiting Dr. James Andrews to get an evaluation of his knee, left tackle Jake Long opted not to sign an injury waiver and will remain a free agent, according to reports.

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[cbrook1862]

Coming off 2 major knee injuries, he shouldn't have been surprised an injury waiver was involved. I don't know what he has to lose by signing it but it's his lost. Why would you be stubborn like that when you were unemployed and a team wanted to sign you?

[EdTheMythicalOne]

Well, there goes that idea...at least for now. I am sure there is some other team out there that would be willing to kick the tires on Long without wanting to sign a waiver. Then again, I am not really sure what good a waiver does anyway since contracts in the NFL aren't guaranteed anyway. They could cut him and not pay him anything other than what he was due per week up until that point and whatever bonus money they gave him.

So, maybe there is a chance they all sit back down again and talk this thing over a bit more in the future. Until then....next man up.

[The Greek]

oh well. next!!!

[The Greek]

pats or steelers will sign him

[bioLarzen]

pats or steelers will sign him

Well... if they are willing to invest any money - and a roster spot - in a player whose knee is famously banged up, and now confirmedly isn't willing to agree to an injury waiver... let them have him ;)

[cbrook1862]

I still hope we can sign a veteran OT to help mentor Stanley.

[The Greek]

we definitely need to sign a veteran with starting LT exp. as insurance. maybe long changes his mind if no other team is willing to sign him without the injury waiver

[dirtybird66]

look,he passed two,mabey three physicals already,they offered him a contract,he say's he's never felt better,just like SUGGS said,he's a one year insurance policy and a damned great tutor for STANLEY at what,the veteran minnimum? at some point you got to believe what a player say's about his own body,which he knows better than anyone.

[Ravensfansince03]

BioLarzen smelled it from the beginning smh.

[cec327]

just curious -- what would have been his salary? Is that woth it to have him coach Stanley if he re-injures his knee?

[ellicottraven]

Why would a player not sign an injury waiver when he's certain there's no problem with the knee in question? He could qualify the injury waiver specific to the concerns regarding his knee right? I'm sure the Ravens wouldn't have a problem with that unless of course he's unsure how his knee will hold up.

[omar586]

that's all right, we will get one after training camp.

Edited July 29, 2016 by omar586

[lfallo1]

look,he passed two,mabey three physicals already,they offered him a contract,he say's he's never felt better,just like SUGGS said,he's a one year insurance policy and a damned great tutor for STANLEY at what,the veteran minnimum? at some point you got to believe what a player say's about his own body,which he knows better than anyone.

If he was so confident in his knee, then just sign the waiver... That said, if it really was a vet min contract, I'd of taken the chance and just signed him without letting a waiver get in the way.

[EdTheMythicalOne]

The veteran minimum for a guy with his experience is like $875,000 if I recall what I read about it. That doesn't sound like a whole lot to me and I am sure the Ravens probably would have given him a bit more in terms of salary. To me that's a moot point anyway because they wouldn't owe him any of that once they cut him. The only thing they would owe him is any signing bonus money and maybe that is where the hold up is. Perhaps that is a fairly significant number for a couple of reasons. One, it is to reward a former great player for signing with you. Two, it helps with the salary cap. So; hypothetically speaking of course because I don't know if this is the gist of his deal or not, if his contract is only for $875k, but you give him a $1.5 million signing bonus....well, you're out of luck on the bonus. He gets that.

Edited July 29, 2016 by EdTheMythicalOne

[trevorsteadman]

2 minutes ago, EdTheMythicalOne said:

The veteran minimum for a guy with his experience is like $875,000 if I recall what I read about it. That doesn't sound like a whole lot to me and I am sure the Ravens probably would have given him a bit more in terms of salary. To me that's a moot point anyway because they wouldn't owe him any of that once they cut him. The only thing they would owe him is any signing bonus money and maybe that is where the hold up is. Perhaps that is a fairly significant number for a couple of reasons. One, it is to reward a former great player for signing with you. Two, it helps with the salary cap. So; hypothetically speaking of course because I don't know if this is the gist of his deal or not, if his contract is only for $875k, but you give him a $1.5 million signing bonus....well, you're out of luck on the bonus. He gets that.

Sounds like the knee recheck didn't go so well if that injury waiver was the deciding factor.

[EdTheMythicalOne]

1 minute ago, trevorsteadman said:

Sounds like the knee recheck didn't go so well if that injury waiver was the deciding factor.

I am not so sure about that, but if other teams show interest in signing him and then back away at the 11th hour just like the Ravens did then there definitely might be some fire where there is smoke. Might also be rather telling if no other team comes calling him for a shot at making their team.

[b93333]

Too bad it didn't work out... if Stanley get hurt or is ineffective Joe is in real jeopardy.

[Popeye the sailor man]

This is why I'm concerned about Flacco, one pop and he's out for like the rest of the season, whom do we have that can back him up, Flacco better get rid of the ball quickly when he see's those opposing pass rusher coming at him, about Jake Long, If I was him I'd signed those injury waivers otherwise who would hire him, why didn't the Ravens just signed him a for a year without the injury waivers

[thecommish]

there will be another veteran T out there who can play better then Hurst and still be healthy enough to be relied upon!

[TheConquerorWorm]

7 hours ago, EdTheMythicalOne said:

The veteran minimum for a guy with his experience is like $875,000 if I recall what I read about it. That doesn't sound like a whole lot to me and I am sure the Ravens probably would have given him a bit more in terms of salary. To me that's a moot point anyway because they wouldn't owe him any of that once they cut him. The only thing they would owe him is any signing bonus money and maybe that is where the hold up is. Perhaps that is a fairly significant number for a couple of reasons. One, it is to reward a former great player for signing with you. Two, it helps with the salary cap. So; hypothetically speaking of course because I don't know if this is the gist of his deal or not, if his contract is only for $875k, but you give him a $1.5 million signing bonus....well, you're out of luck on the bonus. He gets that.

You can't cut an injured player (if injured during training camp/pre-season) until he's healthy. And you have to continue to pay him while he's injured.

That's what an injury waiver is - it lets the team cut you if you are hurt

Edited July 30, 2016 by TheConquerorWorm

[OzzieBisciotti]

What is this FO coming to? First we lowball Tucker on his contract and now this for a paltry $1M? I know we've been burned by injuries, ask Perruman, but this is not a way to do business- everyone but the FO knows that. We might as well make Trent Richardson sign a waiver too.

[dirtybird66]

the RAVENS own doctor raved that his knee looked great,a liabilty waiver really is a useless piece of paper anyway,if you look up exactly what they mean,either side could still void it,but i think in the NFL. players are protected either way by the N.F.L.PA. in those instances.

[The Mom Gene]

I'm glad we didn't sign him. He's had issues. Only played in 4 games last season??? Why would we invest in a guy who has had numerous issues with the same knee? And the fact that it was "he" that wouldn't sign an injury waiver, tells me he has little confidence in himself.

[The Mom Gene]

Too bad it didn't work out... if Stanley get hurt or is ineffective Joe is in real jeopardy.

They will sign someone else. Everyone keep your eyes opened. There will be another Tackle signed.

[January J]

2 hours ago, The Mom Gene said:

I'm glad we didn't sign him. He's had issues. Only played in 4 games last season??? Why would we invest in a guy who has had numerous issues with the same knee? And the fact that it was "he" that wouldn't sign an injury waiver, tells me he has little confidence in himself.

I read it was only 4 snaps! Maybe I read wrong...

[OzzieBisciotti]

Coming off 2 major knee injuries, he shouldn't have been surprised an injury waiver was involved. I don't know what he has to lose by signing it but it's his lost. Why would you be stubborn like that when you were unemployed and a team wanted to sign you?

Are you serious? He has every right to decline as well.

[bigcatfrank1]

there will be another Tackle, teams will need to get down to 72 in a week or so.
The Ravens are in the drivers seat, they have cash and room for another vet tackle. Plus they have rookies to give work to in practice for now.

[Guest]

Because Jake Long was one of the best tackles in the League and we have unknowns, they should not of pressured him with that ludicrous deal. Test him as many times as you like, put the knee braces on and play ball with him.

[Guest]

12 hours ago, OzzieBisciotti said:

What is this FO coming to? First we lowball Tucker on his contract and now this for a paltry $1M? I know we've been burned by injuries, ask Perruman, but this is not a way to do business- everyone but the FO knows that. We might as well make Trent Richardson sign a waiver too.

I assumed the contract would be for 1 million. Did you hear something to confirm that?  If true, it's dereliction.