Mason’s Agent Expects Meeting With Ozzie
Lamont Smith, the agent for wide receiver Derrick Mason, expects to meet soon with Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome about Mason’s future, according to Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times.
“At this point, the two-time Pro Bowl selection is expected to try to work something out to remain in Baltimore,” Wilson said.
Mason re-signing with the Ravens would be good news.
Retirement for Mason (or for safety Ed Reed) would be the worst case scenario under the “Final 8″ rule. Plus, re-signing Mason would likely be the better option over him inking a deal with a new team since the Ravens can’t sign a player for more money than the free agent it loses.
Schefter: Baltimore A Potential Landing Spot for Peppers
Carl Carey, the agent for five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers, believes his client will play for a team other than the Carolina Panthers in 2010, according to USA Today.
Neither Peppers nor his agent have received a phone call from the Panthers, and Carey doesn’t expect to hear from the team in the future. All signs point to Peppers becoming the top defensive player to hit the free agent market, and one wonders if he could end up in Baltimore.
“My three best guesses on potential landing spots for free-agent-to-be DE Julius Peppers: Atlanta, New England, Baltimore,” tweeted Adam Schefter of ESPN.
I’d be interested in Schefter’s reasoning in adding Baltimore to that list. The money it would take to sign Peppers would be exorbitant, and it would be unlikely that the Ravens would fork out that kind of cash after signing their own pass rusher Terrell Suggs to a six-year contract reportedly worth $63 million in 2009.
Signing the 30-year-old to a long-term deal could likely cost in upward of $15 million a year, according to USA Today.
Troy Smith Wants to Play for Browns
Quarterback Troy Smith said he’d like to get the chance to play for his hometown team, the Cleveland Browns, in a recent interview with Mark “Munch” Bishop of ESPN Radio’s Cleveland affiliate.
“There is no doubt about it,” Smith said. “It has always been a childhood dream of mine. It’s funny how we always talk about Cleveland. That’s the first thing that comes to mind with anything I do, whether I get a chance to come home and be a part of that organization or not. You know, I would love to get that chance if that opportunity comes up, but the political and right thing to say in this situation is that I would love to be anywhere that would give me a chance. But, without a doubt, there would be no second guessing in my mind if I could come back home and be a part of something that I love.”
Jets’ Rex Ryan Issues Apology
Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan apologized for making an obscene gesture (published by SportsbyBrooks) at an MMA event in Miami on Sunday.
“I wouldn’t accept that type of behavior from one of the coaches or players, and it’s unacceptable from me,” Ryan said in a statement, according to USA Today. “I apologize to the Jets organization, the National Football League and NFL fans everywhere.”
Per Pro Football Talk, Ryan directed the middle finger at one specific guy who had been badgering Ryan relentlessly. “He crossed way over the line,” a source with knowledge of the situation said of the person who provoked Ryan.
Quick Hits
Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun gave the Ravens’ coaching staff a C for its 2009 efforts. Preston pointed to slow challenges, wasted timeouts and penalties as opportunities for growth in 2010.
Vic Fangio (former linebackers coach) left Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh, only to be hired by the other Harbaugh, Jim, as Stanford’s defensive coordinator, according to Rivals.com.
The NFL announced its 2000s All-Decade Team, with five former and current Ravens making the list: fullback Lorenzo Neal, running back Jamal Lewis, offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed.
