Steve Bisciotti - Pro Football Rumors

Odell Beckham Jr: “I’m Thinking Like This Is My Last Year”

July 26th, 2023 at 3:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

Throughout 2022, a recurring storyline around the league was the future of Odell Beckham Jr. The former Pro Bowl wideout’s free agent period lasted all the way into the offseason, but he ultimately signed with the Ravens.

That one-year deal includes $15MM in guaranteed money – a far higher figure than what any team appeared willing to pay. The 30-year-old will receive plenty of attention given the lucrative nature of his pact and the injury concerns which surround him. There will also be questions raised, however, regarding his long-term future in Baltimore of anywhere else in the NFL.

“I’m thinking like this is my last year,” Beckham said in an interview with The Athletic’s Dan Pompei (subscription required). “I’m going to give it my all this year. And then if something happens after that, we can go from there.”

The three-time Pro Bowler missed the entire 2022 season while rehabbing an ACL tear he suffered during the Rams’ Super Bowl victory. Beckham drew interest from a number of suitors, though it seemed inevitable for much of the year that he would re-sign in Los Angeles. A Cowboys deal was mentioned frequently by Jerry Jones, and a reunion with the Giants was on the latter team’s radar. Pompei adds that the Chiefs and Bills – teams which were also named early and often as DeAndre Hopkins suitors – contacted Beckham.

The LSU alum admitted that he was “resistant” at first to the idea of signing in Baltimore. The Ravens certainly do not have a sterling track record with respect to receiver production and passing volume on offense, though many of the team’s most successful wideouts have been 30-something veterans acquired for the short term. Lobbying from quarterback Lamar Jackson helped convince Beckham to join what has become a much different looking Ravens receiving corps this offseason.

As Pompei notes, owner Steve Bisciotti also took personal interest in recruiting Beckham. His efforts helped finalize a deal which will allow the former Rookie of the Year to attempt to complete a first full season since 2019. That year also represents the last time he reached 1,000 yards, and a return to that form (or anything near it) would help give Baltimore a veteran pass-catching presence as the team leans on top 2021 selection Rashod Bateman and first-round rookie Zay Flowers at the WR position.

A strong showing would, of course, also boost Beckham’s free agent market if he decides to continue his career. Multi-year offers could come his way depending on his 2023 performance, but for now his Baltimore tenure could represent the final chapter of his eight-year NFL run.

Latest On Odell Beckham Jr. Deal

April 10th, 2023 at 11:59am CST by Adam La Rose

The Ravens provided the league with a major headline yesterday with the signing of Odell Beckham Jr. The value of his deal – up to $18MM via incentives on the one-year pact – has raised many eyebrows, considering the lack of competition Baltimore appeared to have regarding such a lucrative offer.

Beckham’s base compensation will be $15MM this season, a cumbersome figure for a Ravens team which remains unsure if they will have franchise-tagged quarterback Lamar Jackson this season, and if he will be on the books on the tag or a long-term deal. Given the team’s tight (and relatively uncertain) cap situation, carrying the full cost of the Beckham deal in 2023 would be highly problematic.

As a result, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes that the contract will surely include void years (subscription required). Taking that route – one which the Ravens have begun recently in some of their other deals – would allow the team to spread out Beckham’s cap hit over several years. While it would create significant dead money down the road, it would lessen the impact on Baltimore’s cap sheet for this season, one in which a definitive answer to the question of Jackson’s financial future is all-but guaranteed to be found.

A contract including void years was also long contemplated by the Jets, per CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson (video link). Beckham was scheduled to visit the Jets today, which could have led to a deal being agreed upon shortly thereafter, especially if all parties were convinced an Aaron Rodgers trade will take place at some point this offseason. They do not appear to have been willing to reach the level the Ravens did with any potential offer, though.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that New York was eyeing a Beckham deal featuring a low base salary and high upside through incentives – essentially the inverse of what the three-time Pro-Bowler landed in Baltimore. The Jets had been considered the frontrunners to land Beckham, 30, given Rodgers’ desire to team up with him in the Big Apple, but it was reported in the immediate aftermath of the Ravens accord that they had chosen not to match what Baltimore put on the table.

The same is true of the Giants, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan (Twitter link). Incentives would have been central to any offer for a reunion with Beckham, given the team’s new financial commitments to Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley in particular, and the uncertainty which surrounds Beckham’s ability to produce coming off multiple ACL injuries. In the end, Baltimore’s efforts to pursue the former first-rounder (which dated back to last season to an extent, and continued throughout his 2023 free agent process) stood out against those of other teams.

Anderson tweets that Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti was a central figure in the team’s push to land Beckham. Baltimore has a long-standing reputation for failing to attract high-profile wideouts, and this latest move represents a sizeable financial investment which carries significant risk. Regardless of what effect it has on Jackson, it could prove to be a beneficial one for the team’s offense, or a misstep which ends up confirming the lack of interest showed elsewhere in the NFL to make such a notable commitment.

Ravens Coach, GM Pushing For Kaepernick?

August 2nd, 2017 at 12:34pm CST by Zachary Links

Both Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and GM Ozzie Newsome support the idea of signing quarterback Colin Kaepernick, sources tell Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Russini hears they have met resistance from owner Steve Bisciotti, but Newsome issued a statement on Wednesday to try and counter those claims:

“We are going through a process, and we have not made a decision. Steve Bisciotti has not told us we cannot sign Colin Kaepernick, nor has he blocked the move. Whoever is making those claims is wrong,” the unusual statement read.

Recently, Bisciotti and team president Dick Cass publicly acknowledged their trepidation in signing Kaepernick, with Bisciotti adding that he wasn’t sure the QB would help the team “win games.” The team’s coach and GM apparently feel that Kaepernick can be a difference maker.

Recently, some of the team’s locker room leaders also voiced their support for adding Kaepernick.

“Hell yeah, if he’s going to help us win,” linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “We have no issues. Not in the locker room. Hell yeah, we want him.”

The Ravens are taking a hard look at their backup quarterback situation as Joe Flacco deals with a back injury and Ryan Mallett struggles in practice. There is some good news on that front, however. A source with knowledge of the situation tells Mike Florio of PFT that he is feeling better, with the “arrow [pointing] up.”

Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Ravens Owner Pushed To Fire Marc Trestman?

October 13th, 2016 at 12:38pm CST by Zachary Links

Marc Trestman is out in Baltimore and it may not have been John Harbaugh‘s doing. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti had a strong hand in firing the offensive coordinator, sources tell Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Furthermore, sources say that Trestman’s relationship with Joe Flacco became strained this year and that was likely a factor in the ouster of Trestman. Flacco had a similar rift with former Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron in 2012.

When asked about Bisciotti’s role in Trestman’s dismissal this week, Harbaugh denied that the decision was made solely upstairs. However, as Cole notes, Bisciotti has been with the team at practice a lot more than usual in recent days.

With Trestman gone, former quarterbacks coach Marty Mornhinweg has gotten bumped up to offensive coordinator.

AFC Notes: Browns, Pats, Raiders, Ravens

March 22nd, 2016 at 6:19pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

There was speculation late last season that Peyton Manning would retire and take a prominent front office position, perhaps in Cleveland. Manning has since retired and the Browns’ presidency is currently vacant, but it doesn’t sound as if the 39-year-old will end up with them.

“Whatever Peyton decides to do, and I have no idea what that is, I have not literally talked to him since wishing him good luck before the Super Bowl,” owner Jimmy Haslam, a friend of Manning’s, said (link via Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com). “Whatever organization gets him will be fortunate whether it’s a pro organization, a business, media, but I think we’ve got a great organization in place in Cleveland and we’re excited to go forward.”

Here’s more form the AFC:

Even though Patriots owner Robert Kraft has made an effort to persuade the NFL into giving back the first-round pick it took from the team as a result of the Deflategate scandal, club president Jonathan Kraft told Tom Curran of CSNNE.com that it’s a losing battle. On why the Pats haven’t sued the league in an effort to recoup the pick, Jonathan Kraft said, “It’ll take longer than the time before the draft happens and the money isn’t the issue here, the issue is getting your draft pick back and at some point you have to realize it’s not gonna happen and the best revenge will be putting the best team on the field next year and hopefully having a very successful season.”
The Raiders have made some major additions in free agency this year, but they swung and missed on landing safety Eric Weddle – who signed with the Ravens. Not surprisingly, then, head coach Jack Del Rio acknowledged Tuesday that safety is an area of concern for the club, saying, “[W]e need to acquire some people” (Twitter link via Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle).
Safety issues aside, the Raiders’ roster looks more impressive on paper than it has in years. However, the organization’s future in Oakland remains uncertain. When asked to update the Raiders’ situation there, owner Mark Davis said, “There’s nothing … I’m still trying to get something with the stadium” (link via Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com). Davis also spoke highly of Los Angeles and Las Vegas as potential homes for the Raiders, as Maiocco writes, but he shot down the notion of relocating the franchise to St. Louis. “The Raiders brand is a different brand, I believe,” he said. “I just don’t believe St. Louis would maximize it.”
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh suggested Tuesday that there would be competition at the left tackle spot going into next season, implying that Eugene Monroe isn’t locked in as the starter, but owner Steve Bisciotti sang a different tune. Bisciotti said “without hesitation” that the job is Monroe’s, Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun reports (on Twitter).
In Ravens-related draft news, Bisciotti stated that he doesn’t expect the club to trade up from the sixth pick and into the top five, but he wouldn’t be averse to moving back (Twitter link via Zrebiec).

AFC North Notes: Brown, Bisciotti, Farmer

July 26th, 2015 at 5:50pm CST by Ben Levine

Antonio Brown signed a six-year, $43MM deal with the Steelers prior to the 2012 season. Despite leading the NFL in receiving yards last season, the average annual value of the 27-year-old’s contract ranks 14th among wideouts.

While some of his peers would hold out for a new contract, Brown told Gilberto Manzano of NFL.com that that’s not the best route.

“Holdouts never go well,” said Brown. “Just look at history. It always ends badly. It wouldn’t be the best decision. I make a lot of money. I pull up to camp in Rolls-Royces.”

Even with Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas signing lucrative deals this past offseason, Brown isn’t focused on any future payday.

“You know you get caught up thinking about the future you lose sight of the present,” he said. “What I’m here to do today is to show how hard I’ve been working, showcase I can still be the best in the world and help my team win football games.”

Let’s check out some more notes from the AFC North…

Following news that Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti was among those pushing commissioner Roger Goodell to keep Tom Brady‘s full four-game suspension, the 55-year-old denied the report. “I have not and will not put any pressure on the Commissioner or anyone representing the NFL office to take action in what everyone is calling ‘Deflategate,'” Bisciotti said in a statement. “The story circulating that I have put pressure on Roger (Goodell) is 100% wrong. The reports are unfair to Robert Kraft, who is an honorable person, and to his franchise. Let’s talk about football and the start of training camps. Fans and people like me want the issue resolved now.”
It was Browns CEO Joe Banner‘s decision to spend big money on 2013 free agents Paul Kruger and Desmond Bryant, Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com writes. Since then, Cleveland’s big moves have been made by general manager Ray Farmer, including the additions of Donte Whitner, Karlos Dansby and Dwayne Bowe.
A desire to have more depth on the offensive line was part of Farmer’s decision to draft Cameron Erving in the first round, Pluto notes.

AFC Notes: Pats, Smith, Raiders, Dolphins

July 25th, 2015 at 2:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are some notes from around the AFC on the last Saturday before training camps begin.

Chief among the owners that would be irked if Roger Goodell trimmed Tom Brady‘s Deflategate suspension are Ravens boss Steve Bisciotti and Jim Irsay of the Colts, Sal Palantonio of ESPN.com notes. The news that these two lead this figurative charge isn’t exactly surprising, with each’s organization voicing gripes during the Patriots‘ playoff run that included wins over each squad. The longtime ESPN reporter also noted other AFC owners who believe the Pats have “gotten away with murder” would be upset if Brady’s four-game ban was slashed.
Recently suspended cornerback Sean Smith may have been able to suit up for the Chiefs in Week 1 had he resolved his case by last November instead of this April, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Had Kansas City’s top cornerback reached a resolution before Nov. 1, 2014, he could have paid a $50K fine since players, with this opportunity being afforded to players with pending charges under the NFL’s previous substance-abuse policy. Instead, the 28-year-old Smith will miss three games under the new policy, which was agreed upon in September 2014, and forfeit $750K in base salary.
The Raiders and the city of Oakland are communicating again after more than a month of silence, report Matthew Artz, Rebecca Parr and Mike Blasky of the Bay Area News Group. Raiders president Mark Badain called Oakland assistant city administrator Claudia Cappio. The sides previous halted communication after the Bay Area News Group’s publishing of a plan that would have called for team ownership to sell off 20% of the club.
Joe Philbin isn’t concerned about Branden Albert and DeVante Parker‘s Week 1 availability for the Dolphins despite offseason rehabilitation, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. There’s still a chance the highly paid left tackle won’t pass his physical and subsequently end up on the physically unable to perform list, however, after his knee surgery. Parker will not be 100% by training camp, though, after undergoing foot surgery.

Ravens Notes: Smith, Rice, Harbaugh

March 24th, 2014 at 5:42pm CST by Matt Feminis

With NFL owners meeting in Orlando, Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun provided an assessment of the Ravens following their busy month thus far. At this stage, the team is mostly monitoring the market in search of budget-friendly opportunities, but they’re not done spending. According to Zrebiec, the Ravens still need a starting offensive lineman, be it right tackle or left guard, as well as depth at running back, tight end, inside linebacker, defensive back and defensive line.

In other Ravens news:

Also prominent on the agenda is Torrey Smith, whose contract owner Steve Bisciotti wants to extend prior to the draft, according to Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times (via Twitter). Zenitz says Smith’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is scheduled to speak with team brass during this week’s meetings.
Head coach John Harbaugh got a year tacked onto his contract, which now has four years remaining, per Zrebiec (via Twitter).
Owner Steve Bisciotti told Zrebiec there is no circumstance in which Ray Rice is not a Raven in 2014 (via Twitter).
Kelechi Osemele, who is recovering from back surgery and could play left guard or right tackle next season, is progressing well if a recent Instagram video is any indication.
Finally, the team was awarded four compensatory picks (max allowed) in the upcoming draft: a third-round pick (No. 99 overall), two fourths (Nos. 134 and 138) and a fifth (No. 175). Since Ozzie Newsome’s arrival in 1996, the Ravens have been awarded 41 compensatory picks, eight more than any other team, points out Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post (via Twitter).