I like it!

Bart is the real deal, the next generation.

I love how the Ravens have quietly and smartly dealt Ray Lewis away-from Bisciotti to Newsome to Harbaugh. Offer Ray 2 mil so he stays away.

Interesting Ray nobody else seems interested in you. Get the hint Mr. don't owe your (former) fans anything?

Keep Scott, Lewis is old and will be gone very soon , The Ravens can build around scott for the next 5 or six years with Suggs, and if possible keep Leonhard, Landry is not even close to being the player Leonhard is!

If Bart does leave I got and think he will be this suddenly great player let me mention a few names. Jamie Sharper, Gary Baxter, Duane Starks. Lional Dalton, Will Demps and DeRon Jenkins who took a big payday thinking they would be something great and did not have near the success that they had on the Ravens.

Please tell us, the fans, what the plan is down at 1 Winning Drive. If you are a Ravens insider, then explain what is going on today. I know Ozzie’s saying of “right player right price”, but is seems that he just over paid a backup corner back and that we are a Ray Lewis deal away from having no inside linebackers. I can deal with a team blow up for draft picks but let’s call a spade a spade, what direction are the ravens headed?

I can't blame Bart Scott one bit. He is doing exactly what I would do in his situation.

This guy played at a small school, made the team as a UFA, and has turned himself into a top ten linebacker. He's always been the "other" linebacker. He wants a chance to have a defense of his own.

It seems like if everything were even, he would rather be here. But he is going to take the chance that lets him have a real leadership role on a defense.

We could do a lot worse than signing Bart Scott.

The suspense is killing me! Does this mean that they have no intentions of keeping Ray?

I 'd just like to say Landry is WAY better than Leohnard. Just watch the tape. Leonhard is better at punt returns and that's all. As long as we keep Ray and/or Bart I'll be happy. Foxworth will work out nicely. Our secondary is going to be the best in the NFL.

I hope Ozzie can lock Bart Scott up today! I think another commenter said it well when they said they'd take a young guy who is giving the Ravens opportunity to match offers and truly wants to play here over an aging Lewis who is running his mouth to try to generate his own billing war. Ideally, I'd keep Ray too, but I really hope to see Scott in our purple uniform next fall!

Do you think there is a correlation between Douglass being released (about $2.5M cap room) and the proximity between the reported difference between the Ravens and Scott? Do you think Ozzie may have let Douglass go to bring back Scott? What was the timeframe of Douglass' release?

I am hearing that Bart has left NY without signing and is headed back to Baltimore. My sources say he will sign with the Ravens tonight and that Ray will be thanked for his services and that he will sign with another team, but that will be in a week or so.

what the hell is going on we're going to
lose scott, lewis, brown and leonard
and only kept suggs because of the
franchise tag how hard can it be to make some deals ? other teams do it. if we lose all of these players then newsome should go

Lets remember Edgerton Hartwell and Adalius Thomas were also tragic losses for the Ravens when they signed elsewhere. The team never missed a beat. Ray is the heart of this thing and Bart Scott is just another system player that gets great in our D. Ray is the important cog and Bart is replaceable.

$42 Million, 5-Years, No (Centerpiece)
crap, because centerpiece, you ain't. At least it didn't look like it last year.

The deal is done, let him walk

"Centerpiece" Who does this guy think he is? Ray Lewis.

I would really like it if the Ravens made Bart happy and got him to sign the dotted line. I'm hearing too many rumors of Ray Lewis being upset to think he'll be back. They just sign Foxworth to a 4yr $27 mill contract. That's almost 8 mill per. But they only offered Jason Brown 6 mill per. I don't understand it. I think Jason Brown is right. We need a corner but that is a lot of money for the "right player". I think the price was WRONG. I'm worried that we have two speedy corners with tackling issues. Foxworth is no McAlister in that respect. Sorry Ozzie. I think things will work out because we have a stable of lineman waiting in the wings like Cousins and Hale. Just get us the MAD BACKER!!!!!

Bart Scott is a good ,smart, hard hitting linebacker....but he's not going to go to the jets and turn their defense around...not even with Rex Ryan.....his results will be closer to Hartwell, Sharper,Adalius Thomas than what Ray Lewis did for the Ravens....I fear losing Jason Brown much more than losing Bart [cant cover a runningback] Scott.....Jason Brown more than held his own against Shaun Rodgers, Casey Hampton,The Dalls Cowboys, The Eagles,Albert Haynesworth...I didnt think that was possible.... that's where they should concentrate their efforts and their resources....they have good young linebackers.... Barnes, Ayanbadejo, Jones, Gooden......Chris Chester was a bust before last season..... I dont think they have anyone that can do what Brown did last year.....pay him if your going to pay anyone....Foxworth is a nice addition but please dont think that means you dont need to draft 2 atleast 6 feet good corners.

Center Piece?

Does that mean he gets to jump out of a cake for every home game?

How sky diving into the stadium?

Maybe TV commercials that feature sexy girls rubbing oil over his HUGE EGO.

Let him go. Bring in players who want to be here.

Let Scott GO! During the season we all knew which one of the LB was going to be cut. Scott's head was always on the chopping block in every Ravens Fans' head. Scott is NOT the real deal if you watch his tape for the whole year. Yes he is LB that can do a variety of things. Cover, plug a gap, rush but to me his tackling skills need some serious work... Keep Ray for the remaining years and have him tutor Gooden (has the potential of being just like Scott) or another LB out of the draft.

I may be alone in my thinking, but I think a LOT of our Defensive Players are stellar on the Ravens because they follow the leadership of Ray Lewis. Without Ray would they care as much or overachieve? Or would the team turn into a version of the 1996 team.

I'm stunned at how Ray can want to play anywhere else but here. It's not like he's a player on the team, this is HIS team. It's like Capt Jack Sparrow wanting to give up the Pearl to his crew.

Lewis only has a couple years left in the tank but that "Field General" mentality is unmatched by any other player in the NFL. Our Defense plays better For him.

I like Bart, but I dont see him as a "Leader"... more as a individual like Suggs. For him to want to Lead the Defense like Ray Ray is simply never going to happen. You have to show your leader first. It's something earned by fellow players, not guarenteed in a signing contract.

It has nothing to do with the Ravens wanting to keep Ray. They made Ray a more than reasonable offer of 3 yrs $24 mil with $17 mil guaranteed. Ray rejected it and said he is done with the Ravens. He said he won't be back even if he has to retire. Ray's ego is bigger than his reality. $8 mil a year for Ray is more than we should be paying for a player of his ability.

Under these circumstances I hope the Ravens do what is necessary to keep Scott and that Scott is not just playing us to up the offer from Rex. We will see.

If all else fails and we lose both I could see us signing D. Brooks who was cut by Tampa and start one of our other young LB's

To Mr. Deez - the only "they" who has no intention of keeping Ray is Ray himself.

As Lewis backs himself more and more into the corner by alienating his fan base and the city at large, I can only say that I have bever seen such a poor public relations ploy in my life.

He has totally screwed everything up, and just watch - he will be blaming his agent if this thing does not work out to his satisfaction. One thing about Ray is that nothing Ray ever does is ever Ray's fault, at least not to Ray!

As soon as the players start dictating how they'll be used, its time to go. Anything else Bart? Would you like to dictate the menu at team meals? Pick the patterns for new road uniforms? Have final say on the new wallpaper in the visitors locker room?

cush

Two words that describe Bart Scott..........Jamie Sharper. He was great with the Ravens, average after he left. That is what Bart Scott will be. If he is smart, he will take a little less and stay. What people don't realize and the Ravens have proved this is.....typically the system makes the player, not the other way around. This holds especially true on defense.

"Scott also wants assurances that he will become the center piece of the defense in Baltimore"

Bart Scott has control over this issue, not the Ravens. If he can play like Ray, then he will be the centerpiece.

Remember Jamie Sharper Mr. Scott....he too wanted to escape Ray's shadow.

Sorry Dean, Jamie Sharper was exposed in the expansion draft, he didn't leave on his own accord. Ed Hartwell (who?) did go to Atlanta and faded off into obcurity.

Bart has experience with "being" in another town and still negotiating with the Ravens( He was about to ink a deal in Cleveland last contract and got a call and came back).

On the surface it seems like we over paid for Foxworth, however, is it? On a day when we're likely to lose Ray, Bart, Jason, Jim, and Cory, weeks after ticket prices went up in a down economy(to put it lightly) the Ravens were looking for some positive spin.
Does Domonique Foxworth, local HS and Terp standout, fit the "right player, right price" mold? Only 1 Winning Drive can answer that, based on their vision for the team.

I would have liked to see more positive action in Jason Brown's direction, yet I understand he's looking for Faneca $$ ($8mil or so) and the fact that Lord Moron, King of the Pro Fantasy League, Sir Daniel Snyder overpaid for two VERY questionable pieces to his yet ever growing puzzle and didn't sign Brown this morning is encouraging. Let's hope the Rams are a little hesitant and the Ravens get another shot at him. I believe he's worth the reported( or hinted) offer of approx. $6~ish mil.

So Ray, what was the name of that limo company which picked you up at your house at midnight?.......

Ray Lewis is screwing with the Ravens! While he continues to test the market, he's flushing the Raven's free agency period down the toilet. If the the Ravens keep farting around waiting on washed up Ray Ray, who won't play every down next year cause he's a liability on 3rd down pass coverage, they're going to let all their good, core, middle of the road free agents walk, which will kill this team next year. While Ray waits to see how much he can get out of B-more, the Ravens have too keep cap room in the hopes of resigning him, which is inhibitting their ability to sign core guys. Just part ways already!!!

I think this is encouraging. Scott is the kind of linebacker we need: a versatile guy with the speed to cover the middle and the strength to stop the run and rush.

We have a much brighter future with Scott than we do with Ray, and as I've been saying all along, Scott will - and apparently wants to - step up and lead in Ray's absence.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

Hey John, $16.5 million guaranteed is too much Foxworth. Who cares that he's a local boy? Is this not a business? This is why the Raven's are in the position they are in! Who cares what Ray Ray did....what's he going to do for the club the next 3 years? That's what they're paying him for! Steelers released Porter several years ago because they weren't going to bay a 30-something linebacker in decline. Sure, he had one good year (this year) since his release but the first year of his trade was poo. I guess everything work out alright for the Steelers! Don't mix business with personal feelings and emotions. And no, I'm not a Ray hater!

please keep jim leonhard.he may not be big, but he is all football player. the hit he and scott put on crumpler in the tennessee playoff game was one of the most exciting plays i have seen in many years of watching football at all levels

John, I forgot about Ed Hartwell but my use of Jamie was just meant to show that great players in the Ravens system don't always mean great players and success in other systems and they found that out the hard way.

These guys won't admit it but they know if the stay in Baltimore they will always be chasing the Steelers!!

Hey 'Jo', speak for yourself! Don't come on here and assume your sentiments are a reflection of Ray's fans. You Sir, or Madam, are really in the minority in the land of Raven's fans.

Ray Lewis put the Baltimore Ravens on the map. Without him, we probably don't win a Super Bowl and probably don't make the playoffs in the years we did. We certainly would not have made it to the playoffs last year, much less the AFC championship game.

We were ONE game away from not going to the playoffs last season. Ray's mere presence made us a number 2 defense statistically (number 1 in my book) and had our D playing with passion and fire. His performance itself was well above average and even the critical and evil King Preston had said at one point during the season that Ray looked like the Ray of 10 years ago.

You take Ray away from our 'D' and we're maybe a 10th ranked defense at best. Lewis brings the best out in everybody around him, including guys on offense. Our record last year without Ray, 8-8, AT BEST.

Anyone wanting to keep Bart Scott, well, if anyone's noticed his head has increasingly become larger and larger the last two seasons. When he first came up he was well spoken and presentable and came off as a 'team' guy. Last year, a regular guest on the NFL Network, he appeared dressed like a clown and spoke like one too. He's morphing into a "T.O." or "Ocho Cinco" type personality. I got the feeling he was indicating he wanted to be the center of attention wherever he goes this year.

His comments about wanting to be the 'centerpiece' of any defense are just ridiculous and confirmed my feelings. Sounds more like a 'me' type guy now. If he leaves, good riddance. Notice, that's my opinion 'Jo'. I'm not arrogant enough to speak on behalf of the entire Raven's fan base. But I can tell you this, we don't need anyone who's a 'me' type guy.

As for Lewis, he has AT LEAST 3 more years of pro-bowl caliber campaigns left in him. If Brooks from Tampa Bay can make the pro bowl for 11 consecutive years including this year's pro bowl, at 36, Ray Lewis certainly can.

Even after Ray falls back to the pack of mediocracy at the end of an assumed 3 year deal at the age of 37, I'd sign him to another three years through 40 yeas old as a part time player just to keep him in the locker room.

And Ray, I saw the interview on NFL Network live and then saw the replay a few times. The media and the fans that just heard about the interview because they probably can't afford the $5 a year to get the NFLN, blew it WAY out of proportion.

Any fans that missed it, Ray was ASKED about how he felt about some hypothetical landing places in free agency. All Ray did was speak of the organizations with class, just as any other player would have done. Just like head coaches do speaking of their opponent after putting a whooping on them during post-game press conferences.

At the end of that interview, which NOBODY reported, Ray spoke of the city of Baltimore and it's fans. He said Baltimore "will always be my city [no matter what happens]" and spoke highly of the Ravens and his fans.

So Ray, ignore the negative press who twist your words and start controversies. It's so sickening it reminds me of the Liberal bias in mainstream media and the 'sponges' otherwise known as the vast majority of the American People who buy into it.

I love ya Ray, so do a large contingent of fans I know. The fans you may have disenchanted thanks to the media blowing the situation out of proportion? Well, they'll be back on board after you make another grand entrance into M&T! You're a Raven. Stay here at home and get that statue erected next to Johnny U one day while you're playing in your final campaign in a RAVENS uniform 6 years or so from now!

I REALLY hope the Ravens make this happen. Scott represents much more value at this point than Lewis.

I appreciate all Ray has done for this team. And, I hope he does stay. But he has to acknowledge he's on the downhill side of his career and sign a contract that reflects that. He played like a man on fire this year because he was playing for this contract. He'll never play like that again if he gets his mega-deal here.

If he wants to play out the string and retire with honor, let him sign a back-loaded 5-yr deal and retire after 2 or 3. If his ego demands a top-5 contract, he needs to go.

Guys like Scott are the future. Sign him Ozzie!!!

PS Sign Leonhard and, I'm sorry to say, cut Landry. "Jimmy" brings too much to this team to let him go!

"You take Ray away from our 'D' and we're maybe a 10th ranked defense at best." That's been the Raven's problem for years Matt, number 2 defense and 25th ranked offense. When is Baltimore going to stop spending all their time and money on defense. Even out this team on def and offense! Raven's won't been even close to as good as they were last year. Maybe in 2 years. Amen to Michael....always chasen the Steelers!

NFL Network's Shefter has posted an update to his blog - according to identified (vs. mystery man) source Rod Woodson, Ray is totally open to staying in Baltimore, never said he "dreamed" of being a Cowboy and is chilling in Florida waiting for things to pan out. Patience, everyone. Scott has shown his loyalty by giving the Ravens the right to match or beat a Jets offer -- if he goes, good for him, and if he goes at a ridiculously high price, good for us...leaves the Jets less room to sign Lewis, Leonard or Ivy (all of whom they are eyeing.) We've offered Ray a reasonable deal - ball's in his court to see what else s out there. It's all a negotiating game and we seem to be playing it just fine. Make our chief competitor cough up big dough for someone who is (despite his talent) expendable and, ultimately, the chips may fall well for us.

Centerpiece of the defense? Nah. Bart Scott is a nice player who benefited from playing next to Lewis and Suggs. You just never know when he'd blow up and make a boneheaded move like throwing the ref's flag. See ya.

In Ozzie I trust. I'd like to see both of them back, but I won't cry if neither are back.

Ray who? The last time I looked it took a 11 man defense to stop a 11 man offense. Ray is no more than 1/11th,if you think not try putting him on the field by his self and see how he does. Thats why they call it a TEAM!

Bottom line, get Scott signed. Get another linebacker through the draft or let Ray come in at a lower price.

Bart's gone but Can you blame him for leaving for the money. He stayed with Baltimore for less in his 1st free agent tour and that was largely because he felt like he owed Ryan and the Ravens for investing in him and developing him. Remember his rendezvous with the Browns and Phil Savage? But he stayed for less and gave us some really great years. So Thanks for the memories Bart.

With that said I don't think he repeats the success he had in Baltimore. And even if he does he definitely will not live up to that contract. He's a good player and I wish him the best but going to NY and walking into a situation where he's appointed the leader of that defensive locker room from day one is a very tall order. Much respect to Bart but this has Sharper/Hartwell written all over it. And I don't care if Ryan is the head coach and the fact that Petine is there. I think Ryan will be a hack job as a coach a-la Wade Philips, and Petine has his work cut out for him after paying bart all that money and expecting the players to automatically give Bart that Ray Lewis type of respect.

J..E..T..S Jets...Jets...Jets will be 5-11 in 2009.

I'll Holla

Seems to me that Bart did an excellent job stepping in for Ray the year Ray was hurt. I don't recall much of a difference in the middle. What a shame he got away...