Being a free agent, can Joe sign with any team?

[gscaton1]

Just curious, how does this work. If Joe is a free agent, does he have the right to sign with anyone else? Do the Ravens have rights on Joe so he can't leave? Don't know how this works. thanks

[baltiMOREO&R]

The Ravens can franchise him and keep him from leaving. This would cost them $20M and be very bad as far as keeping other free agent players currently on the team.

[bmore_ken]

Just curious, how does this work. If Joe is a free agent, does he have the right to sign with anyone else? Do the Ravens have rights on Joe so he can't leave? Don't know how this works. thanks

We can tag withteh franchise tag to keep him from going anywhere. Suggs was tagged two years in a row before his long term deal finally got done

[gscaton1]

I read on line something like this. Unrestricted is free to sign anywhere, and restricted can negotiate with other teams but his old team can match the offer to keep him. Is this correct?

[ivanbalt]

I doubt he'd want to go to another team (unless the Ravens completely lowball, which they won't do). Is there a semi-decent team that needs a franchise QB?

[ivanbalt]

I read on line something like this. Unrestricted is free to sign anywhere, and restricted can negotiate with other teams but his old team can match the offer to keep him. Is this correct?

Plus the team signing a restricted free agent has to give up a draft pick.

[Peej7245]

I read on line something like this. Unrestricted is free to sign anywhere, and restricted can negotiate with other teams but his old team can match the offer to keep him. Is this correct?

True....

A restricted FA, if the current team matches a legitimater offer, the player has to sign the matching offer.

Not so for the UFA. The only way the team can keep him is to apply the Franchise tag.

Even the Franchise tag has two levels: restricted and unrestricted.

[baltiMOREO&R]

I doubt he'd want to go to another team (unless the Ravens completely lowball, which they won't do). Is there a semi-decent team that needs a franchise QB?

I am sure Joe could stomach being closer to home than he already is (Eagles, Jets or Giants)... but the Giants are set at QB, the Eagles have Vick, and the Jets QB is tatooed on the arm of Rex.

[LarryN]

(unless the Ravens completely lowball, which they won't do)

(unlike the team on the other side of the parking lot would be likely to do)

[ivanbalt]

I am sure Joe could stomach being closer to home than he already is (Eagles, Jets or Giants)... but the Giants are set at QB, the Eagles have Vick, and the Jets QB is tatooed on the arm of Rex.

The other two maybe, but I highly doubt he'd want to go to the Jets (other than maybe to be the new Broadway Joe). The Jets have no receivers, running game or OL. And the Jets are clearly one of the worst run franchises.

[tigercruise]

Flacco is not going anywhere.

[SNAFU]

The Ravens can franchise him and keep him from leaving. This would cost them $20M and be very bad as far as keeping other free agent players currently on the team.

More like $14 million.

[LarryN]

More like $14 million.

I keep reading $20mil cap hit to franchise him, but according to this chart, it's only $14.6mil.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100...-cap-near-121m

Heck, they could transition him for $12.85mil and if he goes elsewhere, the Ravens would still get two first round picks out of the deal.

[Peej7245]

I keep reading $20mil cap hit to franchise him, but according to this chart, it's only $14.6mil.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100...-cap-near-121m

Heck, they could transition him for $12.85mil and if he goes elsewhere, the Ravens would still get two first round picks out of the deal.

The lower figure is for a non-exclusive tag. Any other team would have to agree to his price and give up two consecutive 1st round draft picks and he could sign with that team.

[prairieaug]

Have faith in Oz. Joe is here to stay and the Ravens will have a competitive team on the field to start the next season. I really want to see Boldin stay for a few more years. The guy is so strong and mean, Ravens must keep him if possible. There is so much talent on the team right now it will be a challenge to keep them all though.