Baltimore Ravens RB Ray Rice goes rebellious, to miss voluntary workout to press hefty deal demand
The Baltimore Ravens seem to be in trouble following emergence of reports that their running back, Ray Rice, has decided to go rebellious against the team to attract the managers’ attention to his demand of a hefty, long-term deal.
As of the latest, a number of reports have claimed that Rice has decided to boycott Ravens’ voluntary workout starting from this Monday, April 16, 2012, unless he wins a lengthy and expensive contract.
Since it will be difficult for the managers to work out something closer to his demand over the weekend, the planned protest by the player looks to be very much certain.
There is no confirmation that the managers will be as much flexible as to succumb to his demand and re-sign him on his desired contract in near future.
Rice has recently said that he thought to have played out his previous contract, setting the tone of his demand very much clear to the expectations of a significant increase in his payout.
He has refused to sign the franchise tender assigned to him by the management, which, according to certain estimates, will be of worth $7.7 million in 2012. He remains persistent for a long-term arrangement.
The running back has recently been more vocal about the demand and recently told media that both parties were looking to "come out with a number that's fair to both sides."
Since nothing much has been said from the management in clarification of the issue, the phase of uncertainty and lull has prompted him to go for the alternative option to press his demands.
Ravens’ managers have also not commented on the recent reports of the player being serious in boycotting the team’s workout, which turns out to be even more frustrating for him.
Also, Rice is not alone in the demand for a long-term deal as quarterback, Joe Flacco, is another Raven apparently unhappy over the delay in negotiations for a similar contract for him.
The team is reported to have not made any progress on the planned negotiations in spite of repeated outbursts from Flacco.
He recently rated himself to be the best QB in the league, while his agent ranked him among top five. Both, however, are unsuccessful in convincing Ravens’ management over their ambitions for a hefty deal.
Flacco has been reported to be planning skipping the team’s workout, but lately there is no confirmation if he still sticks to the plan. Rice, in the meantime, is certain to sit out.
The Baltimore Ravens are starting their campaign for 2012 NFL season with the voluntary workout this Monday, and the sudden surfacing of the controversial situation does not bode well with their new beginning.
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