Ray Rice, Ravens Have Work To Do On Long-Term Contract

The biggest offseason item on the Baltimore Ravens' to-do list is getting running back Ray Rice re-signed. From the sound of it, they've still got a bit of work to do on that front. The two sides have made no progress on agreeing to a deal for the now out-of-contract Rice, according to a report in Pro Football Talk.

That news seems to mean Rice could be heading toward the dreaded Franchise Tag. That would mean that a team signing Rice would have to send a first-round pick to the Ravens if they signed him.

For a player of Rice's pedigree, that hardly seems like a high price. Rice, 25, is coming off a career year in which he rushed for 1,364 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. He also had a career high 704 yards receiving and made 76 catches. He's now rushed for at least 1,200 yards, scored at least six touchdowns, made at least 60 catches and racked up 500 yards receiving for three straight seasons.

For more analysis of Rice's situation, be sure to check out Ravens blog Baltimore Beatdown.