Late For Work 8/4: Mason Visiting Jets
Mason Visiting the Jets
Apparently Rex Ryan is looking to pull another player up the pipeline from Baltimore to New York, as wideout Derrick Mason is slated to visit the Jets Thursday.
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According to CBS Sports and Jen Royle of 105.7 The Fan, Mason is taking a free-agent visit to Ryan’s team one week after being released to save money under the salary cap.
And ESPN’s Rich Cimini writes, “If the meeting goes well – and that means passing a physical – he’s expected to sign a contract.”
Mason is the Ravens’ all-time leader in receptions (471) and receiving yards (5,777).
The 37 year old has also been flirting with the Tennessee Titans, who drafted him in 1997.
“Those kind of guys always are (a possibility),” Titans Head Coach Mike Munchak said, via the Tennessean. “Derrick’s a guy that’s special. We know that, and he brings a lot to the table. There are guys like that we’re definitely looking at.”
Should Mason join the Jets, he would follow a path cut by former Ravens Bart Scott, Jimmy Leonhard, Marques Douglas and Trevor Pryce.
He would also be the Jets’ third receiver, behind Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress.
Reports: Ravens Have Floyd Offer On Table
Several Ravens fans have called for Baltimore to bring in another game-breaking wide receiver, and reports out of San Diego suggest that the Chargers’ Malcolm Floyd could be that guy.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Kevin Acee, the Ravens are the front-runners to acquire the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Floyd.
Other teams interested in Floyd include the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers.
Acee reports that the Ravens made an offer late Monday night that betters San Diego’s, which is limited at $3 million.
“There are still other teams on the line, but the Baltimore Ravens appear to be the leader to acquire Floyd,” Acee writes.
And with the Chargers recently signing wideout Laurent Robinson, it appears they are ready to part with Floyd.
If the Ravens do sign Floyd, they would be getting a big-time downfield threat and reunite him with Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron, who was the architect of a potent Chargers offense from 2002-06.
Last year, Floyd hauled in 37 passes for 717 yards and five touchdowns, averaging an impressive 19.4 yards per catch.
Le’Ron Signs With The Chiefs
You can officially take Le’Ron McClain off the list of potential backups for Ray Rice, as the fullback/running back officially signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday.
McClain supplements a potent backfield that includes Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones.
As KCChiefs.com’s Josh Looney pointed out, the Chiefs need McClain to boost their short-yardage game, where they ranked 31st in the NFL in converting third downs of 4 yards or less. Kansas City also converted just 11 of 26 third-and-one plays, which was last in the league.
“We want to be a running team first and then build from there,” Chiefs Head Coach Todd Haley said. “That part of it’s not going to change.”
McClain led the Ravens in rushing with 902 yards in 2008, but he has also blocked for three 1,000-yard backs during his four-year tenure in Baltimore.
The two-time Pro Bowler has some kind words for his former city and the Ravens (via @LeRonMcClain33) “Just wanna thank the awesome fans, the entire city of Baltimore, The Ravens organization for these last 4 years!! Thank you so much!!! #33″
The Ravens signed Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach on Monday.
Cowherd: Ravens Must Pursue a Veteran QB
In light of Marc Bulger’s retirement this week, Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh said it will give his team a good chance to evaluate the talents of rookie quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
But the Baltimore Sun’s Kevin Cowherd thinks the Ravens absolutely must pursue a veteran signal-caller to provide insurance against a Joe Flacco injury.
“Me, I don’t think there’s a whole lot to figure out here. There’s no way this team can be comfortable with a guy as green as Taylor a heartbeat away from the starter’s job if Flacco goes down,” Cowherd opines.
The available free-agent quarterbacks include the likes of Brodie Croyle, J.T. O’Sullivan, J.P. Losman and Jake Delhomme.
Quick Hits
- Joe Platania of Comcast Baltimore and Press Box breaks down the current contract situation of the Ravens’ entire roster.
- Not sure which movie Terrell Suggs is tweeting about, but I think it has something to do with his performance on the football field. (@untouchablejay4) “You see, I know how this movie ends. Still I play the starting role in t~sizzles way!”
- Bubba Smith, a five-year member of the Baltimore Colts turned actor and pitchman, was found dead in his Los Angeles home Wednesday. The cause of death has yet to be determined.
- Here’s a great story on former Ravens tight end Shannon Sharpe, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer, from the Canton Repository.
- Mike Garafolo first broke the news that the New York Giants will no longer allow defensive end Osi Umenyiora to seek a trade. The Ravens had been rumored to be in the Osi running.
- Sports Illustrated writer Peter King’s interview with quarterback Joe Flacco is on YouTube.

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