Ray

Rice

Unlike most centers, Gurode has the size at 6'4/315 to kick over to guard. Grubbs is one of the league’s top guards and isn’t easily replaced, but we’re not downgrading Ray Rice’s matchup against a Rams defense that is dead last against the run and allowing 5.07 yards per carry.

With the Ravens being able to do essentially whatever they wanted through the air today, there was no need to establish Rice and the ground game. That won’t be the case in Week 4, however, where Baltimore will travel to New York to take on the Jets. Rice will be facing a run defense that allowed 171 yards to Darren McFadden on Sunday after entering Week 2 ranked ninth in the league.

After tagging Rice, the Ravens will have until July 15 to work out a multi-year agreement, which remains the goal on both sides. A flurry of tags around the league could be coming on Friday, as Profootballtalk.com has reported. Monday, March 5 is the franchise deadline, and teams want to avoid any last-minute hangups heading into the upcoming weekend. It’s been estimated that as many as 25 franchise tags will be doled out prior to March 5.

The move was an inevitable no-brainer for Baltimore, which remains interested in signing Rice to a long-term extension, but is unwilling to meet the 25-year-old’s alleged Adrian Peterson-type asking price. Rice set career highs in rushing yards (1,364) and all-purpose touchdowns (15) in 2011 while leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage. Rice’s fantasy value received a welcomed boost when he was officially named the Ravens’ new goal-line back. After excelling in the role, he won’t struggle to retain those duties in 2012.

Drew Brees, Matt Forte, Ray Rice, and Wes Welker are also expected to sit out. According to NFL Network’s Jason LaCanfora, it would take an “unforeseen degree of progress in talks over the weekend” to get any of them signed to long-term deals in time for OTAs. Tyvon Branch and Josh Scobee of the Raiders and Jaguars respectively, have already skipped their new coaches’ workouts begun last week.

Since there’s been no indication the sides are on the verge of a deal, Rice shouldn’t be expected anywhere near Baltimore’s “voluntary” workouts. It’s possible he could end up missing the Ravens’ entire offseason program, though he’s yet to hint he’s considering holding out of camp. July 16 is the deadline for franchise players to sign long-term deals.

Rice skipped the Ravens’ offseason conditioning program, and likely won’t attend any OTAs. “Nobody ever had to beat me in the head to get up and work out,” Rice explained. “Anybody who knows about my workout regimen, I’ve probably been through two before noon. Training has never been my issue.” The Ravens and Rice have until July 16 to come to terms on a long-term contract.

In other words, the Sun expects Rice to be tagged, whether or not it’s a segue to an extension. Tagging Rice would turn the team’s focus toward free agents Jarret Johnson, Ben Grubbs, and Jameel McClain ahead of the March 13 free agency period. A long-term agreement with Rice could wait until the summer.

If Rice is truly seeking an “Adrian Peterson-type of contract,” he’s hurting his chances of landing a long-term deal. ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, a former Ravens’ beat writer, said Monday he believes the Ravens would be content to franchise Rice each of the next two years. Rice may have to drastically lower his demands if he wants to jumpstart long-term talks.

Rice is “looking forward” to participating, but wouldn’t completely commit to attending workouts. “If his agent convinces him that he has to [hold out], Ray is not the kind of guy that we fear will come in out of shape,” owner Steve Bisciotti said last week.