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[Baltimore Sun] Ravens to cut or trade Vonta Leach

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ASidd_1990

Waterboy
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/...rade-him-sources-say-20130610,0,1026908.story

Unable to reach a compromise after negotiations to try to restructure the contract of veteran fullback Vonta Leach, sources say the Ravens are expected to release or trade the Pro Bowl lead blocker as soon as Tuesday.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome and vice president of football administration Pat Moriarty aggressively attempted to work it out with Leach, but were ultimately unsuccessful.

Just last Thursday, Leach was upbeat that his contract situation could possibly be resolved.

"We're both still here, so we'll see how it goes," said Leach, who's been named to the past three Pro Bowls. "Hopefully, it can work out for both of us. If it don't, I feel like I still can play in this league and I'll have a job somewhere."

Leach is due a $3 million base salary and carries a $4.33 million salary-cap figure. So, the Ravens will save $3 million against the salary cap while still carrying $1.33 million in dead money from the proration of Leach's three-year, $11 million contract that included a $4 million signing bonus.

As the top fullback in the NFL, Leach is expected to be in heavy demand as a free agent with multiple teams expected to pursue him.

The Ravens won't have to search for his replacement after drafting Harvard fullback Kyle Juszczyk in the fourth round in April. At 6-foot-1, 248 pounds, Juszczyk still has to establish himself as a blocking presence in the NFL.

Juszczyk, who caught 125 career passes in the Ivy League for 1,576 yards and 22 touchdowns before excelling at the Senior Bowl, is expected to have a versatile, pass-catching role that includes lining up at fullback, tight end and H-back

Blocking for Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice for the past two seasons, Leach, 31, contributed heavily to the Ravens' running game.

Leach only played in 42 percent of the Ravens' offensive snaps last season and had 22 snaps during the Ravens' Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Few offenses in today's NFL feature an old-school fullback like Leach.

The Ravens signed Juszczyk to a four-year, $2.46 million rookie contract that includes a $300,584 signing bonus.

Still, Leach’s loss will be felt both on the field and in the locker room, where he was one of the most respected Ravens due to his toughness and selflessness.

In two seasons with the Ravens for whom he played in every game, Leach had 21 total carries for 67 yards and a touchdown and 36 catches for 212 yards.

Each time he got the ball at M&T Bank Stadium, he was serenaded with a chorus of “LEEEEEEACH,” similar to the treatment that tight end Todd Heap and safety Ed Reed got during their time with the Ravens.

However, carrying the ball was never the burly fullback’s role. Leading Rice through holes, Leach injected toughness to the Ravens’ offense with his fearless and physical blocking style that earned him a reputation as the NFL’s best pure fullback.

With Leach showing the way, Rice rushed for a career high 1,364 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2011. Rice then had 1,143 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in 2012 despite having his fewest carries since his rookie season in 2008.

In the Ravens’ 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, Leach was on the field for just 22 offensive plays.

The Ravens did run the ball more after Jim Caldwell took over offensive coordinator duties from the fired Cam Cameron in December. However, they also opened up the passing attack, using three wide receivers and a tight end and often leaving Leach on the sidelines.

Juszczyk, who was considered the top fullback in the draft and was a two-time All-American at Harvard, said that he was looking forward to learning under Leach. However, he’ll now inherit a bigger role and likely be used as a less-traditional fullback, which suits his skill set. Juszczyk was Harvard’s leading receiver last year and he lined up at fullback, tight end and even as a slot receiver.

After the draft, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said that he could foresee both Juszczyk and Leach on the same roster. However, he didn’t say definitively that Leach would be back to finish out his contract.
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Wow talk about a complete over haul of the roster.
 
I think there's a place for a FB on a modern NFL roster. Just not a FB with a $4.3 million cap figure. Leach is the best at what he does. But what he does is not worth $4 million/year.
 
Would have loved to have him back, but we signed Greg Jones this offseason, and he's a very capable FB. I hope Vonta finds another gig somewhere that he will be appreciated. I know the Bucaneers have a lot of caproom, and man would Doug Martin be a beast with Vonta lead blocking for him!
 
But but he was the greatest FB ever and we lost our minds for letting him go and it cost us everything, and and

:rolleyes:
 
Dutchrudder said:
Would have loved to have him back, but we signed Greg Jones this offseason, and he's a very capable FB. I hope Vonta finds another gig somewhere that he will be appreciated. I know the Bucaneers have a lot of caproom, and man would Doug Martin be a beast with Vonta lead blocking for him!
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I don't want to see an MJD-VL choo-choo train coming at us..........:kitten:
 
I like vonta, but I do think he's a bit overrated. I actually think Greg jones is better. Greg jones is going to be a monster leading the way.

Watch.
 
Lucky said:
I think there's a place for a FB on a modern NFL roster. Just not a FB with a $4.3 million cap figure. Leach is the best at what he does. But what he does is not worth $4 million/year.
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I think a full back can earn $4.3M cap figure, had we been able to get 10 games or so every year from Casey, similar to that New Orleans game a few years back (5 caches, 126 yards, 14+ average, 1 TD)

But he'd have to be on a team where getting open quick is not such a premium (how many fullbacks can get out of the backfield & open quickly) or a team that plays well off script.
 
HOU-TEX said:
He gone!
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Leach obviously believes his skills are worth more then what others believe they are worth. He was ultimately let go by the Ravens for the same reason the Texans let him go...money. I too believe he is bit overrated. Great blocker, but doesn't offer much else. I think Jones is a much better option as a ball carrier & receiver & isnt to shabby in the blocking department either. Good luck to Leach, but I kinda prefer Jones.
 
tru80texan said:
Leach obviously believes his skills are worth more then what others believe they are worth. He was ultimately let go by the Ravens for the same reason the Texans let him go...money.
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The Texans did not let him go. He was a UFA and someone else, i.e. the Ravens, valued him that much.
 
Leach hasn't missed a game in 6 years, Jones has missed several. I do, however, think Jones can be a bit more versatile out of the backfield. Leach was always cut down by the 1st defender when he'd catch a ball in the flat. I think Jones might be a little more agile to avoid that 1st tackler.

I like Jones too....if he stays healthy. But, Leach was damn good for us and I'd have no problem at all if he came back. He was always one of my favorites. Good guy too
 
thunderkyss said:
I think a full back can earn $4.3M cap figure, had we been able to get 10 games or so every year from Casey, similar to that New Orleans game a few years back (5 caches, 126 yards, 14+ average, 1 TD)
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Casey lined up wide like a WR on the play that produced the bulk of those yards. How many FBs can do that? And Casey is a H-Back that was used (misused?) as a FB. Not really like the type of FB Leach is, which is what I was referring to.
 
infantrycak said:
The Texans did not let him go. He was a UFA and someone else, i.e. the Ravens, valued him that much.
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I'm aware that Leach was a UFA when he left the Texans, BUT his request in salary was the issue between him & the Texans & once again money was the ultimate reason they allowed him to walk via free agency.

Obviously the Ravens feel Leach isn't necessarily worth what they initially valued him at because he is currently unemployed & it was a result of his salary.
 
HOU-TEX said:
Leach hasn't missed a game in 6 years, Jones has missed several. I do, however, think Jones can be a bit more versatile out of the backfield. Leach was always cut down by the 1st defender when he'd catch a ball in the flat. I think Jones might be a little more agile to avoid that 1st tackler.

I like Jones too....if he stays healthy. But, Leach was damn good for us and I'd have no problem at all if he came back. He was always one of my favorites. Good guy too
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Hopefully Jones can avoid the injury bug this season, but to be fair Jones did break or fracture, can't quite remember which it was, his leg last season to end up on IR. Before that he had played 2 full seasons w/out injury. I do prefer Jones' versatility compared to Leach & still believe he is the better option IF he can stay healthy as you mentioned.
 
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