Written by: Matthew Blunk
Ray Rice has been paid.
The Baltimore Ravens signed the electric star running back to a five-year, $40-million contract before the 4:00pm deadline on Monday, per the Carroll County Times. The buzzer-beating accord guarantees Rice $24 million, and pays him $17 million in 2012 alone.
It was a deal that simply had to be done, much like Matt Forte's with the Chicago Bears earlier in the day, and Chris Johnson's with the Tennessee Titans last September. The Ravens need Rice if they want to remain in contention with the likes of the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC's elite.
Rice rushed for 1,364 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2011, and added 76 receptions for 704 yards and three scores. He adds a dynamic to Baltimore's offense that not a lot of other teams possess. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron would do well to realize that.
Rice can now focus on preparing for the upcoming NFL season, one that could get tricky for the Ravens, with Terrell Suggs still recovering from a torn Achilles tendon and Ed Reed tweeting not-so-subliminal messages to the front office. At least they know they can count on Rice being there.
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This year’s National Football League draft gets underway on Thursday night (4/25) in New York’s iconic Radio City Music Hall. The ceremony will begin at 8ET and be televised on ESPN. One can only wonder what the wild and crazy Jets fans will have to cheer (or jeer) about now that the N.Y. …
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