Eugene Monroe and the Baltimore Ravens resolved their stalemate Wednesday when the team released the former first-round pick.
Monroe shouldn’t stay on the market for long. In fact, his Wikipedia page already has him signing with the New York Giants, but there’s no news organization presently backing that up. What we do know is the Giants were working hard with the Ravens to trade for Monroe, but couldn’t get a deal done. Monroe was due $6.5 million this season and neither the Ravens or the Giants wanted to pay it.
Ravens release medical marijuana advocate, starting OT Eugene Monroe https://t.co/qDIBGE5ZbN via @USATODAY-1 toke over the line
— Rick (@homen2) June 15, 2016
The Ravens have actually kept Monroe out of their mandatory minicamp so they could trade him.
“My understanding right now is that teams are inquiring about Eugene,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. “And when you’re in that kind of a situation and there is a possibility of those kinds of things happening, you’re pretty much obligated to pull back an not practice a a guy.
The Giants aren’t the only team looking at signing Monroe. The San Diego Chargers and Seattle Seahawks are reportedly interested and USA Today has also linked him to the Los Angeles Rams.
Monroe was a first-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars back in 2009 out of Virginia. Monroe was a day-one starter for the Jaguars and remained in that position until the team traded him to Baltimore four games into the 2013 season. He missed most of last season recovering from midseason knee surgery.
Monroe, t 29 years-old, is still in his prime and feels that his falling out with the Ravens had a lot to do with his public stance on the legalization, both in the United States and in the NFL, of marijuana.
@Ravens continue to distance themselves from me and my cause. I invite you all to do some research. I won't stop. This is for my brothers
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) June 10, 2016
There’s little doubt that Monroe would face more scrutiny in drug tests this season, but he’s also a smart enough guy to know that and make sure he passes them. He would also need to stay healthy, something he hasn’t been able to do over the last two seasons. The Ravens didn’t want to gamble $6.5 million on either of those issues.
The Ravens drafted Ronnie Stanley out of Notre Dame in April’s NFL Draft, so he’s the easy choice to move into left tackle. They added another offensive tackle, Alex Lewis out of Nebraska, in the fourth round.
Joey Bosa and the Chargers still don’t have a contract
With the present collective bargaining agreement in place, it’s difficult to see where the hold up is in the negotiations between the San Diego Chargers and No. 3 overall draft pick Joey Bosa. The issue, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune is offset language. Bosa and his agent want none in the contract.
"Opportunity comes with an expiration date."@RealMikeRob on Joey Bosa holding out of #Chargers minicamp. pic.twitter.com/mhhpxrxOMf
— NFL Total Access (@NFLTotalAccess) June 14, 2016
What is “offset language?” Well, it’s basically like alimony. If a team cuts a player that has, say, $3 million in guaranteed money from the team that released him, but then signs a $3 million deal with a new team, the cutting team is off the hook on paying the guaranteed money. You can see why the Ravens would want this. You can also see why Bosa doesn’t.
Why does this matter? Well, you can blame the Los Angeles Rams and the Carolina Panthers. Back in 2011 neither team cared about “offset language” with their first round picks. Those guys just happen to be defensive end Robert Quinn and quarterback Cam Newton. Both those guys are playing on new deals now so offset language wouldn’t have mattered, but the precedent was set. They also happen to be two of the best players at their positions in the NFL.
But the Chargers haven’t had to swallow that pill yet. Bosa may force them to.
Reshad Jones shows up to minicamp
It was a hold out that lasted all of one day, but Wednesday morning Miami Dolphins safety Reshad Jones. Jones is coming off the best year of his life. He recorded 106 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and five interceptions.
Per sources, Dolphins S Reshad Jones will report to minicamp today. Missed Tuesday and this will be his 1st appearance there this offseason.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) June 15, 2016
Jones is 28 and in his prime, so you can’t blame him for wanted a raise. The problem is that he already makes pretty damn good money for a safety. He’s due to make $7.2 million this season and $7 million next season. That makes him the ninth highest paid safety in the league, really the eighth since the Rams’ Mark Barron is on that list and he really plays outside linebacker. Jones is making more money per season than Kam Chacellor of the Seattle Seahawks and T.J. Ward of the Denver Broncos. I don’t think the Dolphins will blink on this one.
