The Ravens confront their sordid salary cap past Sunday when they reunite with the Houston Texans' Jamie Sharper and Jermaine Lewis, two casualties in the team's historic offseason purge.
But, with the regular season winding down, the Ravens prefer to focus on what is shaping up to be a bright and busy future.
The Ravens are a projected $17 million under next year's salary cap, with 44 players committed (27 players under contract along with 17 restricted/exclusive rights free agents) to their 53-man roster.
One of the league's best cap situations should allow the Ravens to add punch to their sputtering offense and patch some holes on an improving defense. The Ravens, though, are going to be selective in their spending in what figures to be the weakest free-agent crop in league history.
"We're excited about what this offseason will bring," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "By the same token, I hope people understand come March 1, it's not going to be some free-wheeling spending spree. We've worked hard and long to get ourselves in the cap shape we're in right now."
The Ravens might not be aggressive, but they're likely to take an offensive approach.
In what has been an overachieving season overall, the Ravens have struggled offensively, ranking 29th among 32 teams. The areas that need to be addressed are receiver, offensive tackle and quarterback.
With one of the league's youngest and least productive receiving corps, the Ravens might look to pick up a receiver in the draft -- where they expect to have as many as 10 picks -- as well as free agency. Receivers who could be available include Buffalo's Peerless Price, Arizona's David Boston and St. Louis' Isaac Bruce.
The Ravens have talked about improving at right tackle, a long-running trouble spot where Ethan Brooks currently starts. Tackles who could be available in free agency are Dallas' Flozell Adams and Solomon Page and Carolina's Todd Steussie. Washington's right tackle Jon Jansen would be a perfect fit for the Ravens, but the Redskins are considering tagging him their transition player.
As far as quarterback, the Ravens will either bring back the current combination of Jeff Blake and Chris Redman or add one through the draft. Picking up a quarterback in free agency doesn't appear to be a viable option at this point, with the likes of Arizona's Jake Plummer and Pittsburgh's Kordell Stewart possibly shaking free on the market.
"That's one position we'll clearly need to evaluate where we're at, see what Chris' health is, and see what we come out of the next three weeks-minimum with," Billick said. "We'll see what Jeff's and Chris' perspective is, and we'll see what the market is. But we have a lot of time before that thing has to be resolved."
Redman is a restricted free agent and probably will be re-signed. Blake is unrestricted but said yesterday that he wants to return.
Asked if he expected to come back, Blake said, "I don't know. This is a business, and I don't know what plans the management has. I signed a one-year contract, and I came in and did what they asked me to do. I don't know what's going to happen."
The Ravens' first offseason step will be to retain their free agents.
It was only nine months ago when the Ravens had to cut $26 million to get under the cap, which meant parting ways with nine starters. Among those let go were Sharper and Lewis, who were picked up by the Texans in the expansion draft.
Now, the Ravens have the choice of how many of their 14 unrestricted free agents to bring back. Of that group, seven are starters.
Billick said the team has opened talks with cornerback Chris McAlister and left guard Edwin Mulitalo, both of whom can sign with any team beginning in March.
"Our No. 1 priority will be to sign our players," Billick said. "We're not going to overpay. But by the same token, we're going to make sure that they are paid equitably."
McAlister, the 10th player taken overall in the 1999 draft, was having his best season before spraining his right ankle last month. Still, he should draw tremendous interest if he lands in the free-agent market in March.
"The contract right now is not an issue," McAlister said. "That's not something I'm worried about."
Mulitalo, a former fourth-round pick, has formed a dominating left side of the offensive line with Pro Bowl tackle Jonathan Ogden.
"My agent knows my feelings about having a sense of loyalty to the team that drafts you," Mulitalo said. "I love Baltimore and feel like this is my home now."
Other pressing concerns will be the salary cap numbers of defensive end Michael McCrary ($7.9 million), center Mike Flynn ($2.7 million) and kicker Matt Stover ($1.25 million). McCrary could reduce his cap hit by retiring before June 1, while Flynn and Stover might be asked to restructure.
Stover is scheduled to earn $1 million next season, which is the fifth-highest among NFL kickers. He entered the season as the fourth-most accurate kicker in NFL history.
"The trust factor that the team has with me, I'm hoping that I continue to maintain that," Stover said. "In order to get a good kicker these days, it's going to cost you some money."
The Ravens' defense probably will have its line and secondary upgraded. The team already started looking to the future by signing six-year veteran cornerback Tom Knight.
Sidelined the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, Knight is signed through next season and might be given a chance to compete for a starting job.
There has been discussion of the Ravens moving cornerback Gary Baxter back to his more natural position of safety.
"That's a possibility," Billick said. "I don't know if that's the way we'll go. Nor would it preclude us going at a corner or safety if we get Chris [McAlister] signed."
The cap room gives the Ravens plenty of choices, which is a startling change from last offseason. But it doesn't alter the organization's motto of "right player, right price."
"We've demonstrated through both our pro personnel department and our scouting department to identify Raven-type players," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "With the flexibility we have under the cap, we will be able to do that next year and in future years. But I think we'll be more prudent in how we will do it."
Ravens in 2003
Unrestricted free agents (14)
Players who will no longer be under contract at season's end and can sign with any team beginning in March: QB Anthony Wright, QB Jeff Blake, CB Chris McAlister, CB Robert Tate, FB Sam Gash, CB James Trapp, S Anthony Mitchell, LB Bernardo Harris, G Edwin Mulitalo, OT Ethan Brooks, WR Jeff Ogden, LB Cornell Brown, DE Riddick Parker, WR Brandon Stokley.
Restricted free agents (7)
Ravens can tender a qualifying offer and have first right to refusal if another team matches the tender: QB Chris Redman, LB Shannon Taylor, DE David Nugent, TE John Jones, DE Marques Douglas, DE Adalius Thomas, NT Kelly Gregg.
Exclusive rights free agents (10)
Team only has to tender contract offer to retain rights: WR Milton Wynn, CB Alvin Porter, S Ray Perryman, FB Alan Ricard, S Will Demps, OL Jason Thomas, G Bennie Anderson, OT Damion Cook, WR Randy Hymes, OT Lawrence Smith.
Under contract (27)
K Matt Stover, P Dave Zastudil, S Ed Reed, CB Gary Baxter, RB Chester Taylor, RB Jamal Lewis, RS Lamont Brightful, S Chad Williams, LB Ed Hartwell, LB Peter Boulware, LS Joe Maese, C/G Casey Rabach, WR Travis Taylor, LB Bart Scott, DT Maake Kemoeatu, OT Jonathan Ogden, TE Terry Jones, WR Ron Johnson, WR Javin Hunter, TE Todd Heap, DE Tony Weaver, LB Ray Lewis, DE Michael McCrary, C Mike Flynn, G Mike Collins, RB Dameon Hunter, CB Tom Knight.
Next for Ravens
Matchup: Ravens (6-7) vs. Houston Texans (4-9)
Site: Reliant Stadium, Houston
When: Sunday, 1 p.m.
TV/Radio: Ch. 13/WJFK (1300 AM), WQSR (102.7 FM)
Line: Ravens by 3
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