Baltimore Ravens hammer out $40 million 5-year miraculous deal for RB Ray Rice at last hour – NFL News
Running back, Ray Rice, has confirmed signing of a five-year, $40 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens just before expiry of the deadline on Monday July 16, a miraculous development, which was not in the sight until the 11th hour.
Ray missed the team’s offseason programme in protest to the demand of a long-term deal with redone payout terms. He also refused signing of the $7.7 million franchise tender. He was supposed to play under the tag in case of a failure to
win new contract.
The RB opted to hold out on the fence, continuously declining to return to action with the teammates and signing the franchise tag, and the patience finally paid him off.
Ravens also remained adamant to succumb to the player’s new contract request but cracked just before expiry of the deadline on the final day, giving him new five-year contract.
The deal has the payout of $17 million to Ray this season, more than double of $7.7 million he could have earned under the franchise tag. He will get paid $8 million next year. Rest of the deal terms are unknown.
Reacting immediately after the exciting and surprising development, Ray took to the social networking site Twitter to confirm the supporters and fans that he will be back.
He wrote:
"Baltimore I'm back well I never left lol #Ravens."
The development was even more surprising for the entire National Football League (NFL). Almost all analysts agreed that they will be surprised if Ravens re-sign Ray before the deadline. The team did surprise them when it announced to giving
up to the demand.
Although the management had repeatedly said they were committed to give the RB a new contract, they never took the matter to the negotiating table.
There was no information if the process continued behind the doors. Ray’s attitude at least did not reflect it: the player had remained frustrated over the compelling deal issue throughout. He was so even just before the deadline, refusing
to sign the tag.
A number of analysts see it intentionally done by Ravens, as while they expressively were willing to give the player a new contract, they deliberately waited until the last hour, hoping the player might crack under the pressure and sign
the tag.
Ray’s tag signing could have helped the team save huge amount, which they have committed to him now.
Nevertheless, Ravens’ general manager, Ozzie Newsome, said Ray’s signing reflects on owner Steve Bisciotti's commitment to the local fans to retain core players.
He said:
"This is another example of (owner) Steve Bisciotti's commitment to the team and to our fans to retain our core players. Ray has been an integral part of us earning the playoffs in each of his four seasons. His production on the field
speaks for itself, and his leadership in the locker room is outstanding.”
Now with the deal issue over, Rice is due to hit training camp when it opens in the last week of this month.
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