art imitates art
dtk
from http://www.iguide.com/sports/football/draft/bal.sml
Baltimore Ravens
Notes from Pro Sports Xchange
Updated July 18, 1996
The Ravens changed cities and nicknames, but they're obviously still owner Art
Modell's team.
They're making the same mistakes in Baltimore that they made in Cleveland where
Modell never managed to make the Super Bowl.
Modell was hoping for a fresh start in Baltimore, but the club is still having problems.
On the week the Ravens opened their first training camp in Baltimore, the on-the-field
action was overshadowed by their controversial moves off the field.
They raised eyebrows by the king sized contract they gave the first pick in the draft,
Jonathan Ogden, the fourth player taken. It might turn out to be the best in the draft..
They also got involved in a flap with the Indianapolis Colts over the rights to wide
receiver Floyd Turner when they signed him, but failed to turn his contract into the
league by the July 15th deadline.
On the face of the Ogden contract, it doesn't look as good as it really is.
It's a seven-year $15.4 million deal with a $6,793,987 signing bonus with the first
year base of $706,000.
The next three years are $882,500, $1,059,000, $1,235,000 and the final three years
are $1,411,000, $1,507,500 and $1,764,000.
But the contract is worth much more than that because of the voidable clauses.
Even the Ravens admit it's worth at least $19.5 million. In reality, it could go well
over $20 million.
That's because it voids after three years, which guarantees the fourth year figure of
$1,235,000. The last three years would then become the franchise number, which is
likely to be at least $3 million.
By contrast, the Redskins refused to give Michael Westbrook any voidables in a
seven-year $18 million deal when he was the fourth player picked last year.
The Redskins have Westbrook locked in the fifth, sixth and seventh years at
$1.450,000, $1,632,000 and $1,813,000 plus $375,000 in easy incentives each year.
Ogden should be making a million more than that the final three years because of the
voidables.
The Ogden contract could have been bigger. His agent, Marvin Demoff, originally
asked for a $8 million signing bonus.
David Modell, the son of owner Art Modell who flew to Los Angeles to negotiate it,
agreed.
But it turned out an $8 million signing bonus would have violated the Deion Sanders
rule, which stops clubs from giving contracts that are high on the signing bonus in
relation to the first year base. So they had to lower the bonus to keep it within the
first year cap number of $1.67 million.
Around the league, GMs were aghast at the Ogden contract.
One of them said, "That's why they had to leave Cleveland (spending too much
money).''
Another said it was one of the worst contracts he had ever seen.
Even Modell said last year he was an "all pro in spending.''
The problem is the team got itself into a salary cap hole in Cleveland by giving out
big contracts and were forced to cut Andre Rison.
They're already down for $4.5 million against the cap in 1997 for players who are no
longer on the team.
If nothing else, this contract vindicates former personnel director Mike Lombardi and
coach Bill Belichick, who had gotten much of the blame for the big contracts in
Cleveland. They're gone, but the Ravens are doing business the same way.
Part of the problem was that they wanted to avoid a holdout of their first pick in
Baltimore. But they paid a dear price.
They also gave Ray Lewis a five-year deal with a $1.3 million signing bonus and bases
of $450,000, $562,000, $675,000, $775,000 and $890,000.
But the last year is voidable so it's really a four-year deal.
Owner Art Modell, noting they had both first round picks signed, defended the
giveaway.
"I think 25 of the 30 first round picks in the league are still unsigned and both of our
No. 1s are in training camp on time. That says something about our commitment,''
Modell said on Tuesday. About half are now signed.
They haven't signed their second round pick, DeRon Jenkins.
Meanwhile, the Turner situation was bizarre.
The Ravens signed him July 10 to a one-year deal with $150,000 signing bonus and a
$300,000 base. Turner got his check, but the Ravens forgot to file it with the league
office.
That meant on July 15, his rights reverted to Indianapolis because they made him a
qualifying offer on June 1 of 110 per cent of his $300,000 salary last year. They've
also offered him an $800,000 two-year deal.
Ozzie Newsome said, "Floyd has a signed contract, it's dated July 10 and it's legal and
binding. There are still some procedural things that have to get done.''
Modell said, "There was a clerical, logistical foul up that will be corrected. The
contract wasn't sent to the league early enough, but it has since gone in. Floyd Turner
belongs to us, and he will report to us this week. That's my prediction. For
Indianapolis to make an issue out of this is insanity.''
The league, though, agrees with the Colts. Once the contract wasn't there on July 15,
his rights were turned to the Colts.
"The league's position is that his contract reverts back to the Colts. He's the property
of the Colts,'' league spokesman Greg Aiello said.
The NFLPA is backing Turner and the Ravens so it'll probably go to a mediator.
Turner's agent, who happens to be Ted Marchibroda, Jr., said he's reporting to
Ravens camp, but it's uncertain if he'll be allowed to workout until the matter is
settled.
Ray Lewis, who is being penciled in as the team's starting middle linebacker, will void
the fifth year of his contract if he plays in 50 per cent of the team's plays this year
or
65 per cent in the following three.
"We think he is going to be a big play performer,'' Marchibroda said.
His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said, "Ray is excited about the season and looking
forward to starting. He is a very confident young man and looks forward to trying to
fill in for Pepper Johnson if the Ravens don't resign him.
The Ravens have only one unsigned draft pick besides Jenkins.
He's seventh round quarterback Jon Stark, who had a shoulder injury when the Ravens
drafted him although they didn't know it. He's had arthroscopic surgery to repair a
damaged rotator cuff and probably won't play this year. Two free agents, Scott Otis
and Mike Groh, will fight for the third string job.
Art Modell said of Jenkins, "If he isn't here by Friday, he's only hurting himself.
We're talking pennies in the total structure.''
Jenkins said, "It's not up to me. It's up to the team and my agent to reach an
agreement.''
Jermaine Lewis, their fourth overall pick although he wasn't taken until the fifth
round, signed a two-year deal with a $56,000 signing bonus and minimum salaries of
$131,000 and $164,000.
"It feels good to get this over with. It's been a long process. I'm itching to get into
camp, get started and show them what I can do,'' Lewis said.
Their two sixth round picks, linebacker Dexter Daniels and wide receiver James Roe,
each signed two years deals. Daniels got a $34,000 signing bonus and Roe a $31,000
signing bonus.
Ogden took the redeye flight in from California Monday night and his mother called
and asked if he could take a nap Tuesday morning and miss the first practice. Easy
going coach Ted Marchibroda gave his approval.
"Jonathan's mom asked that he get some sleep,'' Modell said as he patted the
embarrassed Ogden on the knee at a news conference.
"We sent him to his room with some milk and cookies,'' he said.
Ogden said, "I'm sure the expectations are great, but I don't think anyone has greater
expectations than myself. My goal is to come in and perform at the same level I did in
college.''
Ogden will play a year at left guard before moving to his natural left tackle position
next year.
Veteran linebacker Mike Croel, who's supposed to start, signed a one year deal for the
$275,000 minimum although he could get $500,000 in incentives.
QUARTERBACK: Starter -- Vinny Testaverde. Backups -- Eric Zeier, Scott Otis and
Jon Stark.
Ted Marchibroda is hoping that Testaverde will be a late bloomer in this system, but
it's more likely that he'll always be the inconsistent Testaverde he's been throughout
his career. Zeier wasn't ready when he was rushed into the lineup last year, but he's
likely to get another chance if Testaverde sputters. Otis will be the third stringer and
Stark figures to spend the year on IR with a shoulder injury. He's undergoing rotator
cuff surgery.
RUNNING BACKS: Starters -- RB Leroy Hoard, FB Earnest Byner. Significant
backups -- Earnest Hunter and Ricky Powers.
The running game was a major weakness last year and the team failed to upgrade the
position in the offseason. Marchibroda plans to feature Hoard in the one back, but it
remains to be seen how effective he'll be in that role. The club is likely to sign Gary
Brown and he could work his way into the lineup.
TIGHT END: Starter -- Harold Bishop. Significant backups -- Brian Kinchen and
Frank Hartley.
After starting only three games last year, Bishop is likely to replace Kinchen as the
starter, but the Ravens still need to upgrade this position. Neither Bishop nor Kinchen
is the long-range answer.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Michael Jackson and Derrick Alexander. Significant
backups -- Floyd Turner and Calvin Williams.
Now that Andre Rison is gone, Jackson is supposed to be the team's deep ball threat
and Alexander will move into the starting role. The team will use a lot of three wide
receiver sets with two newcomers, Turner and Williams, fighting for the role of third
receiver. Now the question is whether Testaverde can get them the ball.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters -- LT Tony Jones, LG Jonathan Ogden, C Steve Everitt,
RG Jeff Blackshear, RT Orlando Brown.
Significant backups -- G Wally Williams, T Herman Arvie, T Jed DeVries, G Sale
Isaia.
This is one of the stronger units on the team although Ogden is playing out of position
at guard until he makes the transition to left tackle next year where he's likely to play
for a decade. Ogden's arrival means Wally Williams becomes a backup, but he can
play guard when Ogden is at tackle or could be a center in the future because Everitt
becomes a free agent at the end of this season. Arvie has been on the trading block and
it's uncertain if he'll be back.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LE Rob Burnett, LT Larry Webster, RT Dan
Footman, RE Anthony Pleasant. Significant backups: T Tim Goad, E Rick Lyle, E
Mike Frederick, T Chad Eaton.
This is one of the better units on the team. Burnett and Pleasant give the team a pair
of solid rush ends and Webster and Footman can be a force inside. Goad was a starter
last year who's being replaced by Webster but he can fill in.
LINEBACKERS: Starters -- MLB Ray Lewis, OLBs -- Mike Caldwell and Mike
Croel. Significant backups: Craig Powell, Ed Sutter.
This could be the weakest unit on the club. Croel just signed and he's already being
counted on to be a starter although he's a one dimensional player who's only good at
rushing off the corner. He can't play the run or cover. Lewis also will be a gamble as
a rookie middle linebacker. Powell will play more as he develops. Defensive
coordinator Marvin Lewis wants to eventually go to the 3-4, but doesn't have enough
linebackers to do it yet.
DEFENSIVE SECONDARY: Starters -- LC Antonio Langham, RC Isaac Booth, SS
Stevon Moore, FS Eric Turner. Significant backups: CB DeRon Jenkins S Vashone
Adams, S Bennie Thompson.
The key for this unit is whether Eric Turner can make a complete recovery after
suffering a fracture of the transverse process of three lumbar vertebra last October. If
he's as good as he was before the injury, he'll be one of the best in the league. The
only new starter in a solid unit is Booth, who'll replace Don Griffin, a salary cap
victim.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Starters -- PK Matt Stover. P Greg Montgomery. KOR -- Earnest
Hunter, Derrick Alexander, Jermaine Lewis. PR -- Derrick Alexander, Jermaine
Lewis.
Stover is one of the best and Montgomery will try a comeback after a one-year layoff.
Rookie Jermaine Lewis will upgrade the return game.