Franchising Lewis could break the bank in Baltimore
Adam Schefter (NFL.com) brought up an important factor that the Ravens are likely mulling over as we speak with regard to the possibility of placing the franchise tag on MLB Ray Lewis earlier today.
Shefter outlined what it would cost Baltimore to do just that, and if his math proves to be correct (I don’t doubt that it is), the Ravens would be on the hook for over $11 million next season if they end up franchising Lewis, as many have surmised.
Evidently, the rule with franchise tags is that the player is paid an average of the top five salaries at the position or 120% of last season’s salary, whichever is greater. In this case, the 120% rule would be in effect and Lewis would net himself $11.3 million, which would be the highest single-season salary ever given to a linebacker in the NFL.
It’s doubtful that the Ravens would be excited at that possibility, given their other needs this off-season, but right now all signs are pointing towards the team doing everything they can to retain Lewis and his charismatic leadership on and off the field. That’s why the option to franchise Ray is most definitely on the table right now, and I suspect that they’ll use it if they have to.
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[...] Ray Ray has been playing a very political game in Baltimore, indicating that he would be willing to be traded to the Jets or the Cowboys. His contract has expired and he has indicated a bit of impatience with the franchise for not getting a new contract in place. Ray Lewis, if he were to be franchised, would cost the team a whopping $11.3M. [...]