Baltimore Ravens to tag in RB Ray Rice until negotiating long-term deal later this year-NFL News
The Baltimore Ravens might work out a long-term deal for running back, Ray Rice, and they have the deadline of July 15, 2012 to negotiate and agree it with the player.
Rice’s current deal with the team runs out after July 15 this year, and the management has confirmed to tag in the player through the franchise option by Friday, March 02, 2012, until they come out with a new contract.
The prevalent franchise tag value for running backs in the market is $7.7 million and if Ravens are not able to come up with their planned long-term contract by the deadline, the player will play out the tag year on the same financial terms.
Ravens had earlier hinted at retaining the player for more seasons. They have now confirmed the intentions by locking in him for another year until they sort out the pending long-term deal issue.
The tag deadline, as per the National Football League (NFL) rules, is March 05, 2012, and the player’s agent, Todd France, is reported to have met the team management during the NFL Scouting Combine and discussed the matter.
France said:
"The meeting went fine. We obviously know the tag is coming, but we will continue to have open dialogue and see if we can come to a long-term agreement, which is the preference for both sides."
Ray Rice had remained atop the NFL by scoring 2,068 total yards in 2011 season. This included 15 touchdown passes.
Immediately after the end of their past season’s run in the American Football Conference (AFC) championship, Ravens spoke of the options to retain the player.
Coincidently, the player himself had desired to prolong his stay with the team and said that he would try to negotiate a fresh contract.
He has again reiterated to seek a long-term deal, which he could get by July this year.
He said:
"Yeah, I definitely prefer long-term over franchise tag. 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."
In case of failure in reaching the deal agreement, the player will have a year to play with the team under the franchise tag.
Rice is one of Ravens’ veterans who have played the professional football league for more than a decade now, and are hopeful of getting another chance.
Some of them have remained desperate to play in the Super Bowl while the team had come closer to the opportunity for successive four years since 2008.
There was a great optimism around the Baltimore Ravens’ chances of reaching the NFL title game in 2011 season, but the team lost the run in the AFC championship game, won by the New England Patriots.
Yet, the management is confident about availing more opportunities in the future.
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