Baltimore Ravens Hope To Secure Ray Rice Well Into The Future
The Baltimore Ravens and star running back Ray Rice have not been able to hammer out a long-term contract and because of that conflict Rice has not been participating in organized team activities, something the Ravens had hoped to remedy sooner rather than later.
Now sources close to the teams talks with Ray Rice have revealed to NFL Network’s Kimberly Jones that the Ravens are tirelessly working on a long-term deal that should be hammered out by July.
When Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked about his star RBs negotions and if he had anything to report he simply responded, “No I Don’t” at which point he smiled and said “Does that surprise you?”
Rice was a key component to the Ravens offense during the 2011-2012 season, leading the NFL in yard from scrimmage.
The Baltimore Ravens were quick to slap the franchise tag on Rice which means he’ll earn $7.742 million in base salary for the 2012-2013 NFL season.
According to the Baltimore Sun both sides have been “talking regularly” and certain milestones have been reached in their dealings while a long term deal is still a ways off.
It is believed that Ray Rice’s eventually deal will fall close to the upper levels of other top running backs which includes Arian Foster and his four-year, $40.758 million extension and LeSea McCoy and his five-year, $45 million extension.
In the meantime it will be in the Baltimore Ravens’ best interest to lock up their star player as quickly as possible, avoiding the chances that he becomes disillusioned and looks elsewhere when his contract finally expired.
