NEW RICE, FLACCO CONTRACTS COULD HELP FREE UP CASH

By Joe Platania

Throughout the offseason, the Ravens have been among the teams with some of the least salary-cap room with which to work. Now, they have less than any other team.

A published report states that Baltimore is the only NFL team (as of June 22) that has cap room totaling less than $1 million, making the signing of running back Ray Rice to a long-term contract more important than ever.

The Ravens have a mere $606,000 in cap room, according to Pro Football Talk.

The team faced a similar dilemma last year during the lockout before defensive tackle Haloti Ngata inked his deal just before the deadline, spreading out the cap hit throughout several seasons instead of just one.

But if Rice does not sign a spread-out contract by the July 16 deadline, he will play the 2012 season while costing the Ravens a $7.7 million cap hit, effectively tying the team's hands as it tries to add players that could help it defend its AFC North Division title and make yet another run at the postseason.

Baltimore is the only team to have made the playoffs each of the last four years. It has also advanced to the postseason during eight of the past 12 seasons.

Quarterback Joe Flacco has one more year on his contract, and an extended deal could also assist the team in finding additional cap room to shore up areas of need such as offensive line, linebacker and safety, among others.

Even a slight increase in available cap funds could help the team fill up its training-camp roster. Currently, the Ravens have 87 players under contract (not including Rice), three short of the allowable 90-man maximum.

As was the case when the offseason began, the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals have the most cap room in the AFC North, with the Browns actually doing slightly better than their Buckeye State rivals, according to the chart below.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, who were about $20 million higher than the $120 million cap at one point before the league year began, currently have about $3.5 million in room.

Since the regular season has not yet begun, only a team's top 51 contracts count toward the cap, which went up only $225,000 this year. After Week One, all 53 active-roster players and those on any other list such as injured reserve are applied toward the ceiling.

The Ravens did not have much carryover from last year's unspent cap money, a luxury Cincinnati had as it began the league year with more than $60 million in cap space. It appears that same situation will apply next year.

Previously, teams could not carry over any money from one league year to the next, but under the new collective bargaining agreement, such a maneuver is now permissible.

Here is a look at what each NFL team has left to spend (as of June 22):

Jacksonville: $25.1 million
Tennessee: $19.97 million
Philadelphia: $18.02 million
Cleveland: $17.7 million
Cincinnati: $16.58 million
Kansas City: $16.54 million
Tampa Bay: $15.74 million
Indianapolis: $14.59 million

Green Bay: $11.25 million
New England: $10.93 million
Denver: $10.87 million
Minnesota: $10.59 million
Carolina: $8.76 million
Seattle: $7.47 million
Buffalo: $7.38 million
Dallas: $7.18 million

Washington: $6.97 million
New York Jets: $6.04 million
Arizona: $4.55 million
Miami: $4.45 million
San Francisco: $4.19 million
Houston: $4.05 million
Chicago: $3.97 million
Detroit: $3.77 million

St. Louis: $3.60 million
Pittsburgh: $3.58 million
New York Giants: $3.11 million
San Diego: $2.86 million
Atlanta: $2.83 million
New Orleans: $2.27 million
Oakland: $1.34 million
Baltimore: $606,000

Posted June 27, 2012