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The Beat with Aaron Wilson - RAVENS DOWN TO TWO UN-SIGNED ROOKIES

Baltimore agrees to terms with Figurs, Smith
Posted On: 7/25/07
Written By:  
Aaron Wilson
RAVENS DOWN TO TWO UN-SIGNED ROOKIES RAVENS DOWN TO TWO UN-SIGNED ROOKIES
OWINGS MILLS -- The Baltimore Ravens agreed to terms with two more draft picks Tuesday, leaving the defending AFC North champions with just two members of their rookie class to negotiate deals with prior to the start of training camp.
 
The Ravens signed third-round return specialist Yamon Figurs and fifth-round quarterback Troy Smith to three-year contracts with minimum base salaries of $285,000 in 2007, $370,000 in 2008 and $460,000 in 2009, respectively.
 
Figurs, a former Kansas State wide receiver who's competing with incumbent B.J. Sams for kickoff and punt return duties, is believed to have received a signing bonus with a slight increase over the $753,000 given to last year's No. 74 overall pick. Figurs ran a 4.29 in the 40-yard dash, the fastest time at the NFL scouting combine.
 
Smith's contract doesn't include playing-time incentive clauses, according to the strong-armed Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State.
 
"It's pretty standard, but the Ravens were very fair to me," Smith said in a telephone interview. "I'm very excited about my first training camp and I can't wait to show what I can do. It's great to be playing in Baltimore."
 
Smith completed 65.3 percent of his throws last season for 2,542 yards, 30 touchdowns and six interceptions, but his draft stock plummeted amidst concerns about his lack of height at 6-foot, 225 pounds. He's regarded as the frontrunner to be the third-string quarterback in a competition with Drew Olson.
 
Rookie offensive tackle Jared Gaither, the former University of Maryland standout selected in the fifth round of the supplemental draft, signed a three-year contract Monday with a total worth of $1.228 million. It includes a $113,000 signing bonus.
 
Sixth-round linebacker Prescott Burgess (Michigan) agreed to terms Monday to a three-year deal worth $1.171 million, including a $57,000 signing bonus.
 
Only first-round guard Ben Grubbs (29th overall, Auburn) and fourth-round fullback Le'Ron McClain (137th overall, Alabama) remain unsigned.
 
Signing Grubbs should be aided by the fact that the No. 28 overall pick -- San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Joe Staley (five years, $8 million, $5.6 million in guaranteed money, $10.9 million maximum value) has signed along with the No. 30 overall pick: San Diego Chargers wide receiver Craig Davis. Davis recently signed a five-year contract that included $5.5 million in guaranteed money.
 
Expect Grubbs' deal to fit somewhere in between those two slots under traditional NFL contract negotiating guidelines. Grubbs' agent, Pat Dye Jr, didn't return a telephone call.
 
Players are scheduled to report Sunday to the team hotel in Westminster. The first practice at McDaniel College is set for Monday at 8:15 a.m.
 
NOTES: The Ravens signed former NFL Europe kicker Rhys Lloyd, who earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors this summer for the Frankfurt Galazy by tying a league record with a 56-yard field goal. The England native tried out for the Ravens in 2005, but didn't make the team. Baltimore received an NFL Europe roster exemption for Lloyd. ... Linebacker Jim Cottrell, an NFL Europe allocation who's recovering from a shoulder injury, is also on the exempt list. 
 
Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times and the Annapolis Capital.

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Posted On: 7/25/07
Written By:  
Aaron Wilson

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