Money

Everyone needs to rethink what constitutes "overpaid". There are people on this board that are approaching things like $320 million wasn't just added to the league-wide available cap and like $545 million won't be added to that by 2016.

All indications were that he was agreeable to getting a fair long-term deal done. Using the tag on a player you are close to negotiating a deal with is good business because it keeps a team like the Dolphins from coming in and offering a deal well above market value. The Steelers (another very well run organization) used the tag on a player who was backup LB last year. Worilds is young and has a ton of potential and the Steelers don't want to lose him. They are confident that they will get a deal done with him. Obviously none of us have any idea how negotiations have gone, but I have to believe the Ravens were not confident a deal could get done. I believe the Ravens are using the deal Jake Long signed last year as a barometer. 4 yrs, $34mil, $12mil guaranteed. I'm guessing Monroe is coming in well above that.

This simply is not true. Negotiations are always based off of other contracts.

This is where you show that you have no idea what you are talking about. There is only one player in 2014 who was tagged and is a top 5 player at his position. That is Graham (and if Graham gets the WR number, you can't count him either). Tagging a player does not give him leverage. Players absolutely hate to play under the tag.

I think it's obvious that Monroe and the Ravens weren't even close in negotiations. If they were, the tag would have been used. Ozzie had no problem using the tag on Suggs, Ngata and Rice because he knew long term deals would get done. He obviously was not confident about Monroe. There are still a ton of moves that can be made. There are several good LTs and numerous Cs available in FA.

You're always good for a laugh.

Why?

No. The comp pick they receive next year for Monroe (if he's signed by someone else). Unless, of course, they sign another UFA themselves.

I think it all depends on what comp pick they receive.

There are definitely options. Besides Veldheer and Albert who I mentioned above, there is also Anthony Collins. Collins was actually very good for Cincy last year and would most likely be cheaper than any of the other guys.

I still have high hopes for Gino. I have always compared him to Mike Flynn and I won't back away from that. This being said, they cannot go into next year with Gino/Jensen as our plan for the center position. There are some very good FA centers out there and I'm hoping we pounce on one.

This has been my stance all along. Unfortunately, it might mean that the Ravens didn't feel they would be able to get a deal done (in which case they would indeed be stuck paying him the $11.5mil or so). The good news is that the Raiders didn't tag Veldheer and Albert is available as well. I'm guessing they wanted to leave their options open. We'll just have to wait and see how this plays out.

Here are the players tagged in 2012. How many would you consider "top 5" at their position? Arizona Cardinals: Calais Campbell, defensive end Atlanta Falcons: Brent Grimes, cornerback Baltimore Ravens: Ray Rice, running back Chicago Bears: Matt Forte, running back Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Nugent, kicker Cleveland Browns: Phil Dawson, kicker Dallas Cowboys: Anthony Spencer, linebacker Denver Broncos: Matt Prater, kicker Detroit Lions: Cliff Avril, defensive end Indianapolis Colts: Robert Mathis, defensive end Jacksonville Jaguars: Josh Scobee, kicker Kansas City Chiefs: Dwayne Bowe, wide receiver New England Patriots: Wes Welker, wide receiver New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees, quarterback New York Giants: Steve Weatherford, punter Oakland Raiders: Tyvon Branch, safety Philadelphia Eagles: DeSean Jackson, wide receiver San Francisco 49ers: Dashon Goldson, safety Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Connor Barth, kicker Tennessee Titans: Michael Griffin, safety Washington Redskins: Fred Davis, tight end How about 2013? Buffalo Bills safety Jairus Byrd - $6.916 million Chicago Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton - $8.45 million Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Michael Johnson - $11.175 million Dallas Cowboys linebacker/defensive end Anthony Spencer - $10.627 million (120 percent his 2012 tender) Denver Broncos offensive tackle Ryan Clady - $9.828 million Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee - $2.977 million Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Branden Albert - $9.828 million Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Randy Starks - $8.45 million

What are you talking about? The tag figure only comes into play if a deal isn't worked out. Monroe wants to avoid having to play under the tag just as much as the Ravens want to avoid it. What the tag will ensure is that no other team (like the Dolphins) mucks up negotiations by putting a ridiculous offer out there. With the tag in place, they would need to give the Ravens two 1st round draft picks if the Ravens didn't match their offer.

I'm not sure where you are getting this. He's the 9th highest paid TE in the league. He'll be 10th if/when Graham gets his deal. He won't even be in the top 15 highest paid TEs in two years. As far as percentage of time TEs are targeted while on the field...he's 3rd behind Gronk and Graham. It's a very fair deal for both sides.

I wouldn't. It would help if they get Smith done before FA begins. They have time with Monroe after he's tagged.

It certainly wasn't a bad one.

It's actually not too terribly far off from the Yankees payroll. Just think about that for second.

That's why I said "should".

5 years / $32mil Very fair contract. Everyone should be happy with this. Hopefully they get Smith done before FA starts as well. They will tag Monroe to keep other teams from talking to him and will then work out a nice deal with him as well.

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 54mSalary cap projected to rise to about $133 million this year, expected to break $140 million next year and $150 million by 2016, per source Does anyone remember the Chicken Little's on here talking about Flacco's contract? As I predicted when he signed the contract...Flacco won't even be among the top 10 highest paid QBs in two years.

Kubiak already moved on once from him which is why he was here to begin with.

Leach won't be back. McClain might be. That $5 million will be put to very good use.

So if you feel they should just let Monroe walk, what is your plan to upgrade LT, LG, C and RT?

Really? He's a top-10 LT in the league. Who do they have that's better? Who would you use the tag on?