The two running backs behind Rice, who is a free agent, on the roster are Anthony Allen and Damien Berry. Allen was action in five games this season, totaling three carries for eight yards. All of that action came against the St. Louis Rams way back in Week 3. Berry was a practice squad player.

That’s why I bring up the possibility of former Broncos and Redskins running back Clinton Portis. Portis didn’t play this past season, but would like to play again, according to this report from Steve Wyche of NFL.com.

In Portis’ favor, his legs are fresh after being out of the league for a season and he went to the University of Miami. Former Hurricanes have a way of making their way to the Ravens because of the presence of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.

Portis could be a viable backup to Rice. In his nine-year career, Portis accumulated 9,923 yards and 75 touchdowns on the ground. He also has 2,018 yards receiving for another five touchdowns. Those aren’t bad numbers.

In my mind, he could be a perfect backup for the Baltimore Ravens, but I’m not sure they’ll sign him to be Rice’s backup and they could be satisfied with Allen.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Clearly Rice is the most important player on the Ravens’ offense. Rice finished second in the NFL in rushing with 1,364 yards and led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 2,068. That’s not a guy you let leave town. However, he is a running back and running backs reach a certain and their production quickly falls off. Rice, 25, isn’t quite at that age yet.

The problem here is Rice wants a big contract. According to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, Rice wants his contract in the Adrian Peterson range (seven years, $100 million). Within that contract is a $36 million guarantee and $40 million in the first three seasons.

Rice probably won’t get this type of deal from the Ravens. That’s entirely too much money for a running back.

Instead, it looks like the Ravens will place the franchise tag on Rice and he will pull in a guaranteed $7.7 million this season if he and the team can’t come to an agreement.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Inequality in sports is bad enough but the inequality between people matters even more.  What does it say about a country when a Congressional committee hearing on contraception has exactly zero female invitees?  I think it’s safe to say that even Kenny Powers respects women more than Darrell Issa.

Inequality also appears to be rearing its ugly head among the Republican presidential contenders, although at least one of them doesn’t necessarily see that as a bad thing.  If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that Santorum was trying to throw the race by saying the most patently offensive things possible.  And yet, he’s not only still in the running, he’s also somehow leading Mitt Romney in polling for upcoming important contests.  This continued surge of Santorum (…ahem) seems to prove not only that a portion of the country supports his worldview, it also shows us that quite a few Americans really are batshit insane.

Inequality tends to right itself eventually.  The conspicuous consumption of the 1920′s and the ensuing Depression led to a recalibration in the 30′s and 40′s.  Today, a similar series of events has left a recession that seems to tenaciously hold back growth outside of a fraction of the population, while a small-scale revolt against income equality has risen up in areas of the country.  Are we seeing another recalibration?  Me, I’d say there’s hope because there’s one place where we are all still equal.

-A

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Baltimore is aware they need another pass rusher opposite Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs. However, Jameel McClain, a former undrafted free agent, is now an unrestricted free agent. The Ravens have Dannell Ellerbe on the roster, but he has been ineffective and inconsistent in his three seasons. Albert McClellan, a rookie last season, started in place of Ray Lewis on Thanksgiving night, but he’s more of an outside linebacker. So will Baltimore re-sign McClain?

I bring this up because I was reading a recap from ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley’s chat. Hensley was asked who Baltimore’s starting linebackers would be next season and he named Lewis, Suggs, third-year outside linebacker Paul Kruger (obviously replacing Jarret Johnson) and Vontaze Burfict. That left out McClain and assumed the Ravens would draft Burfict, an inside linebacker from Arizona State.

Then in his weekend mailbag, Hensley brought up the Ravens letting players next to Lewis walk in free agency because they get big-money deals somewhere else.

What was interesting to me about the whole thing was the assumption Baltimore was going to draft Burfict, presumably in the first round. Burfict, an early entry player, has had some on-field discipline issues. He also has had some off-field discipline issues. Burfict reportedly punched a teammate in August.

This could be something to watch. I still think Baltimore will go offensive line with their first pick, but there’s a long way to go between now and the April draft.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

My Two Cents new Podcast is available starring Steve and Connie Mack. The show features Philadelphia sports talk as well as special guests. Hear Steve and Connie break down the Phillies, Flyers, 76ers, and Eagles.

You can listen on MTRMedia.com’s new 24/7 online radio station by clicking here. You can also subscribe to our Podcast in iTunes. (Search for MTRMedia.com) or listen by clicking on the link below.

Listen to My Two Cents live on Thursday nights at 10:00pm EST or on replay on MTRRadio.com!

Listen to MTR Radio on your Android Device by clicking here, on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod by downloading our FREE new app from the iTunes Store (search for MTR Radio), or on your Windows Phone, Blackberry, Palm, and Samsung Bada by clicking here for the FREE app. Search for MTR Radio and add it to your presets.

My_Two_Cents_2-16-12.mp3 Listen on Posterous

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Tim Hasselbeck suggested the Ravens could sign him away from Pittsburgh by offering the speedster a roster bonus which would hurt the Steelers’ chances of re-signing him. Of course, the problem with this would Baltimore loses its first-round pick for this season. According to Hasselbeck, the roster bonus would be troublesome because that counts toward this season’s salary cap, unlike a signing bonus which can be prorated for the entire length of the contract.

The method to this madness would be to force the Steelers to choose to match the offer sheet and cut some valuable players, or the Steelers would lose an offensive weapon that would strengthen their arch-rival.

Wallace’s numbers have increased since bursting on to the scene in 2009. He had a career-high 72 catches this season. He has gained 3,206 yards on 171 catches to go along with 24 touchdowns in his career. Wallace has never missed a game.

The idea of the Ravens signing him piqued my interest because they could then put him and Torrey Smith on the outside with Anquan Boldin in the slot. That would make Baltimore’s offense lethal.

However, the Ravens have entirely too many needs along the offensive line, which I covered Thursday, and on defense in the secondary and linebacking corps to give up a draft pick, particularly a first-rounder.

I don’t see this happening, but it’s something to ponder.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

-The Economist, 11 February 2012

Ideology colors everything.  For the dyed-in-the-wool conservative, Obama’s healthcare plan is a socialist plot that threatens the very foundation of the United States.  For the liberal, it’s a half-assed compromise that sells out to big business and especially insurance companies.  In reality, it’s the first step toward reining in out of control healthcare spending that simultaneously provides a laughable level of actual service.

And ideology goes further than that, filtering everything through a lens of principles and beliefs.  This is fine to a certain extent when the debate is constructive and leads to better proposals and more responsive policies.  But when ideology goes too far, it leads to a total lack of common sense.

For instance, take the uproar over Chrysler’s Super Bowl ad.  Setting aside the fact that Clint Eastwood is apolitical at best, it’s hard to see how this car ad could be taken as anything but a commentary on the tough economic conditions Americans have faced over the past few years and how Chrysler wants them to know that they went through the same thing.  Look at it again:

Me, I see a pretty darn effective car commercial.  But conservatives see a hidden campaign for Obama’s re-election while liberals interpret it as anti-union.  It makes me wonder what they’d see in last year’s Chrysler Super Bowl commercial:

Xenophobia?  Racism?  Socialism?

Here’s what I think.  Detroit is a metaphor for America.  And Detroit has had a rough decade.  But Detroit hasn’t given up.  Look at the Tigers and Lions.  Look at the new line of Fords.  Hell, look at what Chrysler is turning out.  That, my friends, has nothing to do with ideology.  It has everything to do with inspiration.

-A

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Listen live to our shows Monday through Friday and call in at 609-9100-MTR. Listen to MTR Radio on your Android Device by clicking here, on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod by downloading our FREE new app from the iTunes Store (search for MTR Radio), or on your Windows Phone, Blackberry, Palm, and Samsung Bada by clicking here for the FREE app. Search for MTR Radio and add it to your presets.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Baltimore happens to have a need at offensive line this offseason. Ben Grubbs is a free agent and as I wrote last week, it doesn’t look like the Pro Bowl left guard will be back with the Ravens.

His absence leaves a huge void.

Additionally, center Matt Birk hasn’t decided whether or not he will retire and he’s a free agent this offseason along with backup interior lineman Andre Gurode.

That, folks, is 40 percent of Baltimore’s starting offensive line that doesn’t look like it will be back for 2012.

Lucky for Baltimore, it appears this year’s draft has a deep crop of offensive linemen.

The guy I keep seeing being taken is Wisconsin center Peter Konz. Konz is a center and could step in as starter if Gurode or Birk isn’t brought back.

Beyond Konz, the Ravens could draft a guard later in the draft or plug second-year lineman Jah Reid in to the lineup.

The draft is always an interesting thing to track, but it’s impossible to know what’s going to happen.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites