THE GRAPEVINE: Samari Rolle's Tenure With Ravens In Doubt

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GRAPEVINE - THE GRAPEVINE: Samari Rolle's Tenure With Ravens In Doubt

News & Rumors in The NFL

Posted On: 3/23/07

Written By:

Tony Lombardi

THE GRAPEVINE: Samari Rolle's Tenure With Ravens In Doubt

Rumors have begun to swirl regarding the Ravens and WR Derrick Mason. Mike Preston of The Sun has speculated that it would be no surprise if Mason is traded given his late season complaints about the Ravens’ offense and his declining role in it. Mason is due to earn $3,000,000 in 2007 and he carries a cap figure of $4.4 million. Trading Mason would accelerate his signing bonus and his departure would trigger a $4.2 million cap number for ’07. Keeping him results in a $4.4 million cap figure this coming season. If traded Mason might not even yield a first day draft pick for the Ravens. The bet here is that the Ravens will have a sit down with Mason, stroke him a bit and bring him back for at least one more run with long-time teammate Steve McNair.

Given Samari Rolle’s struggles in ’06, his contract today looks like a noose around the neck of Ozzie Newsome. Rolle’s current deal runs through the 2010 season. He carries a $5.2 Million cap figure in ’07 and his salaries in ’08 through ’10 are $4 million, $6 million and $6 million respectively. To release Rolle today it would trigger a $6.6 million cap hit so that pretty much assures Rolle’s return this season. However if he struggles in the coming campaign as he did often in ’06, there’s a good chance that ’07 could be Rolle’s swansong as a Raven as the cap figure to keep Rolle or release him nearly mirror each other in ’08. And given Steve Bisciotti’s hunger for cash these days, saving $4 million in real currency on a struggling player would likely be very enticing.

What is going on with the Houston Texans? Let’s recap the last 12 months or so….

Late last February, the Texans decided to exercise the $8 million option on QB David Carr suggesting that they were committed to Carr for at least a couple of seasons. Despite the local clamoring for hometown product Vince Young, the Texans opted for defensive end Mario Williams as the overall No. 1 pick in the ’06 NFL Draft. And let’s not forget, they bypassed playmaker Reggie Bush as well.

Williams had 47 tackles and 4 ½ sacks in ’06 while comparatively speaking former Raven Marques Douglas had 61 and 3 and Williams’ teammate and also a former Raven Tony Weaver had 35 and 1. The Texans are praying for some upside from Williams and they hope he is as projected by some – the second coming of Julius Peppers.

But all that speculative discussion aside, what were they thinking about with this Matt Schaub trade? Has there ever been a player that has done so little yet is so coveted like Matt Schaub. Give the Falcons credit for building up the allure surrounding their former third round pick from Virginia (90th overall in '04).

Schaub in his “illustrious” career has completed 52.2% of his 161 passes for a QB rating of 69.2. He has started 2 games in his three year career losing to the Saints as a rookie, 26-13 while going 17 of 41 for 188 yards with no TD’s and 2 interceptions. Against the Eagles last season he had a decent showing in a 24-17 losing effort going 15 of 21 for 175 yards with 1 score and 1 pick.

So what do the Texans think these stellar numbers are worth? Try $48 million over 6 seasons, including $7 million guaranteed. Schaub will get $20 million over the first three years. Nice job there Mr. Matt Schaub’s agent – nearly a million for every career completion to date.

And to earn the right to be such a philanthropic organization as it relates to Matt Schaub, the Texans swapped first round spots this season with the Falcons (No. 8 for No. 10) and they gave up their second round picks in ’07 and ’08. Now keep in mind that the lowest spot in the draft the Texans have ever occupied is No. 16. Since 2002 they have had the first overall pick twice, the third, the tenth and as mentioned the sixteenth.

In Houston, there will be a ton of pressure on the Texans’ front office and Gary Kubiak if this deal doesn’t work out. If Schaub struggles and Carr goes somewhere and outperforms him and those draft picks perform well for the Falcons, altogether now -- “Houston, we have a problem!”

Matt Schaub better have some thick skin and big shoulders.

And here’s something else to ponder…why give Schaub that deal before you dispose of Carr? Now it’s obvious you have to deal Carr so why would anyone give up anything to get him at this point? I know this, I’m glad these bumble brains running the Texans aren’t running the Ravens.

By the way, would you consider Carr for the Ravens if the price was right?

I hear they want Edgar, Allan or Poe.

Photo by Sabina Moran