Ravens will place franchise tag on LB Suggs
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 5:04 pm EST
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The Baltimore Ravens aren't going to let linebacker Terrell Suggs hit the open market when free agency begins at the end of the month the Baltimore Sun reported.
"We will be using the franchise tag on Terrell if we don't have a long-term deal in place between now and then," general manager Ozzie Newsome said Monday.
Despite having a career-low five sacks last season, Suggs would be one of the most sought-after free agents this year. By using the tag on Suggs, the Ravens would give him a one-year contract worth $8.065 million, the average of the five highest-paid linebackers in the NFL. If another team makes an offer to Suggs (which is unlikely to happen), the Ravens can match it or receive two first-round picks as compensation.
Source: Baltimore Sun
Jones stays close to 'home'
Looking for better '08
By Vic Ketchman, jaguars.com senior editor
02/13/08
There wasn't much chance Greg Jones was going to leave the Jaguars. That's pretty much the way Jones characterized his flirtation with free agency.
"I wanted to stay here. I just wanted to be here five more years," he told reporters at a hastily arranged press conference on Wednesday afternoon that celebrated a new contract some are reporting will make Jones the highest-paid fullback in NFL history.
"That's what some people say but I don't know," Jones said with a smile.
The Jaguars signed Jones to a five-year contract and kept in place the AFC's number one fullback alternate in Pro-Bowl voting. Jones, who came to the Jaguars from Florida State with the reputation for being a feature running back, says it's all fine with him now because it fits neatly into his "simple life."
At Florida State he was a star runner. What if he had been told then that he would become more of a blocker and less of a runner in pro football?
"Then? I would've probably told you something I can't repeat right now," Jones said. "I'm still playing the game of football. I'm one of those lucky few."
Re-signing with the Jaguars was also a simple matter. He wanted to stay near his South Carolina and Florida State roots, and the Jaguars had lots of salary cap room to make it happen. Jones' contract voided the day after the Super Bowl, which would've made him an unrestricted free agent at midnight on Feb. 29.
"They know how bad I wanted to stay here. It's in my backyard. I'm a home body," Jones said.
In 2007, his comeback year from, yet, a second surgery on a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), Jones was primarily a blocker and short-yardage runner. He rushed 42 times for 119 yards and two touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns. He is considered to be a devastating blocker.
He appeared to be headed for a star season as a runner in the summer of 2006, until the ACL injury in a preseason game. He underwent ACL recovery in college, too, when he was considered one of the best runners in the country.
"I feel I can do better than I did last season. They say it's normally a year after the surgery so, hopefully, 2008 will be better," Jones said.
With Maurice Jones-Drew waiting to step into Fred Taylor's feature role, however, Jones is likely to stay in his fullback role.
"I'm going to continue blocking, staying after practice and working my butt off," he said. "It's hard work and it's finally paying off for me."
[h2]http://news.jacksonville.com/justin/2008/02/13/greg-jones-signed-to-five-year-deal/[/h2][h2]Greg Jones signs five-year deal[/h2]
Posted: Wednesday, February 13th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Though Greg Jones opted out of his contract to become a free agent in March, he's not going anywhere.
The Jaguars locked up Jones on Wednesday with a five-year contract,which is believed to be the largest in NFL history for a fullback.
Terms of the deal weren't disclosed. But a source familiar with the negotiations, asking not to be identified because of the sensitive nature of contract disclosure, said Jones' deal is similar to the one signed last March by Atlanta Falcons fullback Ovie Mughelli - "only a little bigger."
Mughelli signed a six-year $18 million contract on the first day of free agency in 2007 that included a $5 million signing bonus, which was the biggest contract handed to a fullback. Scheduled to make $545,000 in base salary in '08, Jones won't get a shot at testing the free-agent waters in March.
That's of little consequence when considering the enormity of Jones' new deal.
Coming off a resurgent 2007 season in which he was named first alternate to the Pro Bowl and voted as the team's Ed Block award winner, Jones rushed for two touchdowns in addition to catching two TD passes.
Most importantly, Jones provided the lead blocks for Fred Taylor, allowing him to finish with his seventh season with at least 1,100 yards rushing in the last nine years. With Jones opening the holes, Taylor was also able to surpass 10,000 career rushing yards last season while securing his first trip to the Pro Bowl.
My man GJ.....
[h2]Greg Jones signs five-year deal[/h2]
Posted: Wednesday, February 13th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Though Greg Jones opted out of his contract to become a free agent in March, he's not going anywhere.
The Jaguars locked up Jones on Wednesday with a five-year contract,which is believed to be the largest in NFL history for a fullback.
Terms of the deal weren't disclosed. But a source familiar with the negotiations, asking not to be identified because of the sensitive nature of contract disclosure, said Jones' deal is similar to the one signed last March by Atlanta Falcons fullback Ovie Mughelli - "only a little bigger."
Mughelli signed a six-year $18 million contract on the first day of free agency in 2007 that included a $5 million signing bonus, which was the biggest contract handed to a fullback. Scheduled to make $545,000 in base salary in '08, Jones won't get a shot at testing the free-agent waters in March.
That's of little consequence when considering the enormity of Jones' new deal.
Coming off a resurgent 2007 season in which he was named first alternate to the Pro Bowl and voted as the team's Ed Block award winner, Jones rushed for two touchdowns in addition to catching two TD passes.
Most importantly, Jones provided the lead blocks for Fred Taylor, allowing him to finish with his seventh season with at least 1,100 yards rushing in the last nine years. With Jones opening the holes, Taylor was also able to surpass 10,000 career rushing yards last season while securing his first trip to the Pro Bowl.
My man GJ.....
i remember him back when he was bout to get drafted...
always thought he was gunna be a steal since he was only drafted in rd. 3
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acidicality 
#108 http://[URL="http://[/color]"][/color][/url]
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Posts: 10857
02/12/08 8:15 PM
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Asomugha is that dude, the Raiders need to re-sign him.
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He'll more than likely catch the Franchise tag...and hopefully they will just sign him next season
Damn Brandon Marshall ended Javon something serious made dude expendable. Or maybe his knee isnt healing up like they hoped?
Javon asked out of Denver.
Word... but Trav and his nice contract didnt
Money up front. They get outrageous bonuses. All those numbers on the back end of contracts is as valuble as monopoly money.
