Ravens to Franchise Tag J. Lewis

[VaderFin]

According to ESPN and the Baltimore Sun, the Ravens are going to use the tag on Lewis. Interesting to read that they may let Taylor go as well.

Franchise tag for Lewis?
<Feb. 21> Although the team has yet to reveal its plans, it appears the Ravens have decided to designate Lewis as their franchise player, The Baltimore Sun reports.
One sign that the Ravens will frachise Lewis is they have not had any negotiations with backup running back Chester Taylor, who will become a free agent March 3. As a franchise player, Lewis would be paid approximately $6 million in 2006.

Lewis rushed for 906 yards in 15 games in '05. It was the first time in his five-year career that he failed to reach the 1000-yard rushing mark.

[moochman]

I'm not too surprised. Lewis will have the whole off season to train for the upcoming season instead of worrying about lock down and not dropping the soap. He, with some help from the O-line, could return to a pretty good RB and with the franchise tag it's a one year deal, so if he doesn't they can cut bait.

Taylor will be interesting. They want to sign him, but is he willing to take their offer or would he feel better trying the open market.
Their are second tier RBs out there, so letting Chester walk won't be disasterous.

[maddog60]

Considering reports about them possibly having to cut quality players like Chris MacAlister due to their cap situation, I never thought they'd franchise tag Jamal of all people.

[louisianacajunsam]

of all people..

jamal was having a dominating career before last season and i would still tend to rank him around #15 for next season at runningback..

[Keyser_WV]

There are also rumors of a Lewis for Culpepper trade floating around.

I don't know how probable that is but it has been mentioned.

I think Lewis could bounce back from last year.

If Baltimore doesn't get a QB none of their players have much fantasy value imo.

For the life of me I cannot understand Billick's reasoning behind Boller still starting

[eaglesrule]

being the number 15 starting runningback (if your analysis is accurate) would put him squarely in the "average" category--by definition, given the amount of NFL teams.

I think that is a weird move for them to be honest. You are going to franchise an aging, injured, legal troubled rb in a time the position is being devalued AND you have a quality backup? gotta question that move.

[louisianacajunsam]

well what i'm saying is i would rank him around #15 preseason towards the draft but i wouldnt be surprised to see him return to dominating form and get a 1400 yard season with 10 touchdowns...

therefore, putting him ahead of the top fifteen ranking

[Plindsey88]

Considering reports about them possibly having to cut quality players like Chris MacAlister due to their cap situation, I never thought they'd franchise tag Jamal of all people.

HUH?

What does "of all people" mean? Sounds to me like you think Jamal is semi-worthless...

Let's look:

2000: 1,660 total yards and 6 TD's

2001: IR

2002: 1,769 total yards and 7 TD's
2003: 2,271 total yards and 14 TD's
2004: 1,122 total yards and 7 TD's (in 12 games)

'05 off-season: JAIL

2005: 1,097 total yards and 4 TD's (15 games)


AVERAGES to date:

105.6 total yards and 0.51 TD's per game


By way of comparison, let's look at some other RB's, and see where those numbers fall:

Barry Sanders: 118.9 and 0.71
Walter Payton: 111.9 and 0.66
Marshall Faulk: 108.8 and 0.77
Jamal Lewis: 105.6 and 0.51
Eric Dickerson: 105.5 and 0.66
Emmitt Smith: 95.5 and 0.77
Bo Jackson: 82.5 and 0.47
Marcus Allen: 79.9 and 0.65


Seems like pretty good company to me.... I'm not sure it is so insane to franchise a guy who's stats can be mentioned in the same sentence as Sanders, Payton, Faulk, Dickerson, and Smith...

[maddog60]

I dont think Jamal is worthless, in fact I expected him to find a starting job somewhere. However, I don't think he's worth a franchise tag when if they wanted to pay that kind of salary to a veteran, they could've went after Edge or SA. Especially for a guy who hasn't quite been the same RB ever since his 2000+ yards season.

[louisianacajunsam]

im sure edge and shaun alexander would cost a couple more million at least per year than six...