Ray Rice wants Adrian Peterson money, but is he worth it?

[SHOGUN]

Ravens running back Ray Rice is set to become an unrestricted free agent next month, and given that there’s been no progress on talks for a long-term deal, Baltimore will surely use the franchise tag to keep Rice in place.

That may lead to months of negotiations between Rice and the Ravens, and Peter King writes at SI.com this morning that Rice wants an Adrian Peterson-like contract. Peterson signed a seven-year, $100 million contract in September, with $36 million guaranteed and $40 million in the first three years.

Is Rice worth that much? It’s easy to see why he and his agent think he is. Rice is one of the best running backs in the NFL and probably has a better chance than Peterson of staying near the top of the league for several years to come, given that Rice is almost two years younger than Peterson and has probably taken less wear and tear on his body than Peterson had when he signed his deal. (It goes without saying that Rice has taken less wear and tear on his body now, after Peterson suffered a torn ACL.)

However, it’s also easy to see why the Ravens would be extremely reluctant to give Rice that kind of money. Running backs have proven to be fungible, prone to injury and susceptible to sudden declines in the quality of their play, and NFL teams that give lucrative long-term deals to running backs often live to regret it. Would the Titans still give Chris Johnson a huge contract knowing that he would have career lows in yards, yards per carry and touchdowns last year? Would the Panthers still give DeAngelo Williams a huge contract knowing that he would average 52 yards a game last year? Would the Vikings still give Peterson that contract knowing he was going to tear his ACL less than four months later?

So while the Ravens are reportedly ready to start talking to Rice’s agent at the Scouting Combine, starting to talk and working out a deal are very different things. What the Ravens would rather do is have Rice play for the one-year franchise tender of $7.7 million.

The wild card in all this is that there might be a team out there willing to sign Rice to a long-term deal and give up the two first-round draft picks they would have to surrender to the Ravens if Baltimore doesn’t match the offer. Rice just turned 25 and hasn’t had any significant injuries, and if some team out there is in awe of the idea of getting five seasons of Rice’s services before his 30th birthday, maybe someone other than the Ravens will offer him Adrian Peterson money.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/20/ray-rice-wants-adrian-peterson-money/

 

[Senser81]

Pro football talk is still a trash website. I don't know how it ever became popular. Mike Florio is one of the biggest douchebags associated with the NFL...and its a loose association at best.

Rice has been much more consistent than Chris Johnson or DeAngelo Williams. And Johnson's performance has been historically bad, so its a ridiculous comparison at best.

What I love about all this contract talk is that hack websites like Pro Football Talk and FootballOutsiders never look at what is actually relevent...who are the Ravens spending their money on? It doesn't matter if the Titans give big money to Chris Johnson...that has no impact on the Ravens cap structure. If the Ravens pass on giving Rice a big $30 million dollar contract, then a few days later they give Ray Lewis $15 million and Torrey Smith $10 million...is that good spending?

 

[jms493]

He may want it be he aint getting it.

 

[G-men]

He deserves it. He's been the most consistent halfback in the league besides a guy like Maurice Jones-Drew since he was drafted. However, I feel like every time we say "I don't see him falling off any time soon," that is the kiss of death for a running back.

 

[jms493]

paying HBs big money doesn't seem worth it anymore.

 

[shag773]

Ray Rice is one of those guys you really never see take the big shots. When Adrian Peterson came out of college he was obviously a physical freak, but I thought his shelf life was limited because he ran upright which exposes the lower half of his body. IMO Rice is a guy that you would feel more comfortable investing that kind of money in. I think he'll be productive into his early to mid 30's.

 

[Rudi]

I personally think Ray Rice is a fucking beast. If he were on my team, I would be fine with paying him a huge amount of money. He is so consistent and I don't think his running style makes him that vulnerable to injuries as much as AP.

 

[Nucking Futs]

Rice can do what Peterson does and more. He is a dual threat. Pay the man.

 

[Aso]

paying HBs big money doesn't seem worth it anymore.

At least long term. I think the 49ers got it right in the extension they gave Frank Gore. Anything longer than 4 years with big money for a running back is too long of time.

 

[BrntO4Life]

If anyone is worth Peterson's money, it's Rice. It sure as hell isn't Peterson.

 

[ralaw]

I like Ray Rice, but I wouldn't give him a contract like that. Rice has his moments where he is great and he has moments where you wonder where he is. IMO Peterson has the ability to impose his will on a defense and is more conistent. In the end Rice is a runningback and you don't pay runningbacks that type of money anymore. Let's not forget Flacco wan't big money as well.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

If they dont who runs the ball ?
Guys are getting old. Unless they have a supreme back in mind pay him what hes worth.
Just dont go nuts with the signing bonus.

 

[Aso]

If they utilized him the way he should then yes. But it would be pointless if he continues to have 5-10 carry games now and again. Never at any point should that ever happen. You gotta give him his touches. The games the Ravens lost he had 13, 8, 5, 10 carries. Ridiculous.

 

[Nucking Futs]

He still racked up 1,300 yards rushing with the touches they give him.






Plus 700 yards receiving..




Oh, he was 3rd in attempts btw..

 

[jms493]

If anyone is worth Peterson's money, it's Rice. It sure as hell isn't Peterson.

 

[Aso]

He still racked up 1,300 yards rushing with the touches they give him.






Plus 700 yards receiving..




Oh, he was 3rd in attempts btw..

He started all 16 games on a run first team. He should probably be averaging at least 20 carries per game.

Most of the other RB's either didn't start as many games or they just weren't nearly as good like Chris Johnson. He can be 3rd in rush attempts, that's great. I'm happy for him. Doesn't change the fact that they lost games due to Ray Rice's lack of involvement. When Ray Rice carries the ball 8 times and they lose it's not exactly a head scratcher why.

 

[jaxjaggywires]

Considering they seem to forget he's even playing so often...I'd say no.