The Baltimore Ravens will release strong safety Bernard Pollard after he takes his physical Wednesday morning, according to a team source.
Pollard, 29, was the leading tackler last season for the Super Bowl champions and was the team's physical presence in the secondary. He forced a key fumble in the AFC Championship Game in New England, when he delivered a vicious hit on New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley.
Pollard broke the news of his upcoming release when he posted on Twitter: "Well Raven Nation it's been fun. My time in Baltimore is done... Thank you!"
Ravens fullback Vonta Leach reacted with surprise to Pollard's news in a tweet of his own Wednesday.
"Wow my boy @Crushboy31 is gone great teammate and father on and off the field," he wrote.
Pollard finished his second season with the Ravens, leading the team with 98 tackles. He also had two sacks and an interception.
This offseason, the Ravens have already lost seven members from their Super Bowl team.
Baltimore has released Pollard and guard Bobbie Williams, traded wide receiver Anquan Boldin to the 49ers, lost linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Paul Kruger in free agency and watched linebacker Ray Lewis and center Matt Birk retire.
Word around here is Harbaugh wants to get rid of all "mouths" in the locker room. It's tough to question anything Newsome does as GM, but damn, this move makes zero sense.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a move to upgrade their secondary, agreeing to terms with safety Dashon Goldson on a five-year contract, league sources tell ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The deal is worth $41.25 million, including $22 million guaranteed.
As a Bucs fan, I'm ecstatic about this move!!! Yea, it's a huge number, but Goldson is a beast! Considering it's only slightly more than Weddle got last season, I'm ok w/the $.
Welker makes no sense to me. They obviously didn't want him that badly. They have been talking about Amendola up here for a while so that wouldn't shock me. Still a huge loss. You can't replace 110 catches a year and that durability. You just can't.
Welker makes no sense to me. They obviously didn't want him that badly. They have been talking about Amendola up here for a while so that wouldn't shock me. Still a huge loss. You can't replace 110 catches a year and that durability. You just can't.
The New England Patriots moved quickly to replace Wes Welker, agreeing to terms with wide receiver Danny Amendola on a five-year contract, league sources tell ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Amendola's deal is worth $31 million, including $10 million guaranteed.
Amendola's agreement comes hours after Welker left the Patriots for a two-year deal with the Denver Broncos.
The 27-year-old Amendola finished last season with 63 receptions for 666 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games for the St. Louis Rams.
He missed virtually all of the 2011 season after dislocating his left elbow in the opener, and then injuring a triceps muscle after returning to practice.
Amendola has 196 receptions for 1,726 yards and seven touchdowns in 42 career games.
Ravens are going from Super Bowl winners to missing the playoffs next year. Unbelievable
Don't write the Ravens off so quickly. They got the best front office in football. They will survive. The only move I question is Boldin. The others are no big deal. The Ravens have always found a way to keep the players they want to keep, Suggs, Ngata, Rice, Flacco, Ed Reed for years and Ray Lewis for years. The fact is Pollard, while a good football player was a cancer in the locker room. That is why he will be on his fourth team this year in 7 years.Ed Reed isn't even half the player he once was. In fact a lot of people thought he would retire after winning the Super Bowl. Ellerbe was supposed to be a priority but the Dolphins were nuts giving him $35 million when he has 14 starts in his career. Very injury prone. Kruger was another one the Ravens had no interest in bringing back , certainly not for $40 million. The guy is similar to Flacco. He put together a career year when he was set to become a free agent.
This crap happens every year to the Ravens. Remember Adaelius Thomas. Was an all pro linebacker several years ago for the Ravens whom they let walk. Pats signed him to a big contract and he was gone in 3 years. Bart Scott bolted to the Jets. Had one good year with the Jets and now he is gone. Ben Grubbs, pro bowl guard left last year who left for the Saints. Ravens win the Super Bowl with a rookie starting at left guard.
Point is some teams like the Browns and Dolphins have to overpay to attract slightly above average players.The Ravens, Steelers, and Pats don't have to. Ravens will replace the guys they lost without missing a beat. Other than Boldin, the guys they lost are on defense. The Ravens have transitioned from a defensive to an offensive team. That is where they have been spending most of their money the last few years.
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