Rice headlines list of unrestricted free agents
Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice sprinted away from the competition all season, leading the NFL with 2,068 yards from scrimmage.
Now, Rice is due for a significant pay raise as an unrestricted free agent either through a projected $7.7 million franchise tag or an even bigger long-term contract.
Although team officials have said they want to sign Rice to an extension before a March 5 deadline to use the franchise tag, the most likely scenario is they'll designate him as the franchise player before eventually signing him to a multiyear deal as they did last year with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.
During the final year of his $3.16 million rookie contract that included a $1.1 million signing bonus, Rice made $600,000 while rushing for a career-high 1,364 yards and a dozen touchdowns.
"It's exciting because I feel like I've done everything that I had to do to put myself in the situation that I don't control, it's in the next man's hands," Rice said. "Whatever they do, it's going to be more than I've ever had. There was a reason why I never brought my contract situation into that locker room because I wanted to play the game for the love of the game and my teammates. I think we'll get it done. There's no doubt that I'll be here next year."
Negotiations haven't begun yet.
"Ray's an unrestricted free agent, so obviously, the franchise mechanism has to come into play," owner Steve Bisciotti said.
Regardless of whether Rice is the Ravens' franchise player or signed to an extension, he feels like he can't lose.
His preference is clear, though. He wants the Ravens to lock up his services for the long haul.
"Yeah, I definitely prefer long-term over franchise tag," Rice said. "I'm not going to complain about the franchise tag, either. It puts yourself in a position where you play that year out and guys have done it, but I prefer the long term. That's what Baltimore, the city, the fans, they would love to know that Ray Rice is going to be here, not just one year, but for many years to come."
Bisciotti was adamant last year that the organization wants to lock up quarterback Joe Flacco on a long-term basis.
Entering the final year of his original rookie contract, Flacco is due a $6.76 million base salary that includes him triggering a $5.4 million escalator clause. Plus, there's a $2.1 million roster bonus.
The Flacco negotiations may be complicated by a difference of opinion between how much the Ravens are willing to pay him and his financial expectations.
While this shapes up as an extremely tough round of negotiations, this should ultimately get done.
General manager Ozzie Newsome said that the team prefers to sign Rice to a long-term deal as soon as possible rather than designate him as the franchise player.
Although Flacco is under contract through next season, the Ravens intend to sign him to a long-term contract.
Negotiations could prove difficult with Flacco, though, due to differing views between the quarterback and the organization on how much he should be paid.
"With Joe, we're just going to sit down and start grinding out a contract and terms," Bisciotti said. "Ray and Joe Flacco will be part of this football team next year, guaranteed."
Meanwhile, the Ravens know that it will be difficult to retain all of their 13 unrestricted free agents, especially Pro Bowl offensive guard Ben Grubbs.
The Ravens invested a five-year, $32.5 million contract in guard Marshal Yanda last August that included a $10 million signing bonus.
Grubbs is expected to be command an even more expensive figure in the marketplace, perhaps as high as $40 million to $50 million in total value.
Ideally, the Ravens would like hold onto him.
"Ben has two major factors that we like: He's a really good player and he's young," general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "Ben was here in the building just two hours ago, and I had a good talk with him. I think we're at a good spot with Ben, but will Ben keep us from getting and who will we have to let go in order to keep Ben? That's going to be the balance."
The reality is Grubbs' situation could unfold the way it did three years ago when the Ravens lost another promising young offensive lineman in center Jason Brown as he signed with the St. Louis Rams.
The Ravens are unlikely to sacrifice several players in order to keep Rice, Flacco and Grubbs.
"I would have to say then, 'Who would we let go to keep those three guys?'" Newsome said. "Because if we decide to let four or five players go, waive them, terminate them, then we could keep those three very easily. It's easy to do if I was to sit here, 'I'm going to cut this guy, cut this guy and cut this guy.' Then, I could sign all three of those guys in two days."
After an injury-plagued season where he caught only four passes, wide receiver Lee Evans is unlikely to be back at his current scheduled salary of $3.275 million, salary-cap number of $5.607 million and a $1 million roster bonus due on March 18.
Unless he accepts a significant pay reduction, the Ravens won't retain him.
Keeping offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie requires paying a $500,000 roster bonus on March 18.
He's also due a $3.2 million base salary with a total salary-cap figure of $4.2 million. It's a reasonable amount for a left tackle, especially if McKinnie reports in better shape this year by paying the price in the offseason conditioning program.
Six-time Pro Bowl center Matt Birk is contemplating retirement and is expected to make a decision before free agency begins on March 13.
Regardless of whether Birk returns or the team replaces him with free agent Andre Gurode, Newsome said the team plans to bolster the center position through free agency or the draft.
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