Ravens release Vontae Leach

[Dante84]

Looks like he wants to go to Houston. Would be nice to get him on our roster.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/93...houston-texans

The Baltimore Ravens released three-time Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach on Tuesday and re-signed tight end Billy Bajema.

A league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that the Ravens tried to trade Leach but were unable to find a taker. His agent, meanwhile, told a Houston television station that his client would like to return to the Houston Texans.

Lot Of Football Left?

Vonta Leach was the top-ranked fullback in the NFL last season and the best lead blocker for the second straight season, according to ProFootballFocus.com. In fact, he's ranked among the top three in four of the past five seasons.
Rating Block rtng
Leach Ravens 19.1 16.5
Rhett Ellison Vikings 14.8 12.2
Marcel Reese Raiders 14.8 7.2
Mike Tolbert Panthers 14.3 1.0
Darrel Young Redskins 9.3 6.6

"We've had lots of discussion in the past week with Vonta and his agent, and both parties agreed that it was best to terminate Vonta's contract," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said in a statement.

"He played a significant role in helping us get to the AFC Championship Game in 2011 and win the Super Bowl last season. He added to our toughness and will to win, plus he provided leadership. He's a good football player. There could be an opportunity for him to return to the Ravens once he explores the free-agent market, and we could re-visit this before or during training camp."

Leach's agent told KRIV-TV in Houston that the Texans, who Leach played for from 2007-10, are at the top of the fullback's wish list and he would reach out to the team soon to see if they are interested.

"Obviously, which teams you have the best fit at," agent Ralph Vitolo told KRIV-TV. "The most logical fit and the smoothest transition to another team would be Houston because he's already been there.

"He understands the coaches, the scheme. He's worked with Arian Foster and the rest of the offensive line, so it would be a very smooth transition to go back to Houston."

It is unknown if the Texans, who signed veteran fullback Greg Jones earlier this offseason, would be interested in signing Leach.

More From ESPN.com

It should come as no surprise that the Ravens decided to part ways with Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach, writes Jamison Hensley. Blog

Leach, one of the NFL's best lead blockers, was due to make $3 million this season. The nine-year veteran made the Pro Bowl in each of the past two seasons with the Ravens.

Leach, 31, had indicated that his stint with the Ravens was over in a series of tweets Monday,

"Thanks ravens organization for a great two years," Leach wrote on his Twitter account. "I came here and did what we set out to do and that's win the Super Bowl. My time here is up but what we accomplished, we will be forever linked. Thank the fans for accepting me and my family to Bmore."

Leach has rushed for 749 yards and four touchdowns in 130 career games with the Ravens, Texans and Green Bay Packers. He also made the Pro Bowl in 2010 as a member of the Texans.

The reigning Super Bowl champion Ravens figure to give rookie fullback Kyle Juszczyk, a fourth-round draft selection this past April, the first opportunity to replace Leach.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Let's not act like their valuable resources or anything. A 6th round pick, a trade for Arenas or a signing this late isn't going to bring us a difference maker on the DL.

So can I use the "Player Z was drafted in round 6 and look at what he's done" the same we everyone does when someone talks about drafting a QB in round 1?

You never know. I'd rather use "invaluable resources" on positional acquisitions that if they do hit, will make a large impact.

Just because they aren't valuable resources doesn't mean they should be thrown away.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by O.city

So can I use the "Player Z was drafted in round 6 and look at what he's done" the same we everyone does when someone talks about drafting a QB in round 1?

You never know. I'd rather use "invaluable resources" on positional acquisitions that if they do hit, will make a large impact.

Just because they aren't valuable resources doesn't mean they should be thrown away.

Acquiring Leach is the opposite of wasting resources.

[Dante84]

Any debate on this is dumb.

He is the best fullback in the league, and would make our running game top notch.

No way you can bitch about this move.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by BossChief

This teams only chance at winning more than half it's games (which would be a tall order) is to field an elite running game and to give Alex Smith forever in the pocket.

Leach would help us do both of those things. I'd gladly flush the other investments we have made at FB to add an all pro guy.

If the version of the Chiefs West Coast offense takes on the look that the Houston Texans run, then Leach could be a valuable addition to our team.

Personally, I think the Texans model fits us damn near perfectly... maybe even more so that the Reid model he used in Philly. And I kind of get the feeling from things we have been reading that the Texans version may be a little closer to where we may be heading on offense than Reid's version. JMO

EDIT: Houston's 2012 version stats (7th overall, 8th scoring)...

http://www.pro-football-reference.co...s/htx/2012.htm

554 passes for an average of right at 35 throws a game.

508 runs for an average of right at 32 carries a game.


Eagle's 2012 version stats (15th overall, 29th scoring)...

http://www.pro-football-reference.co...s/phi/2012.htm

618 passes for an average of right at 39 throws a game

413 rushes for an average of right at 29 carries a game.

[Rausch]

Apparently Phat Andy and Dorsey feel the key to winning this season is the FB position so I say sign him and end this...

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Rausch

Apparently Phat Andy and Dorsey feel the key to winning this season is the FB position so I say sign him and end this...

This all day long. He can catch as well as block...

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Inmem58

@espn_afcwest: Chiefs hold initial talks with Vonta Leach http://t.co/fHv3f8n9vw

Oh, no, the horror of actually bringing in the best player at his position.

Or are you going to complain that we spent a 6th round pick on a fullback, or traded someone they were going to cut anyway?

[The Bad Guy]

If Andy Reid truly didn't utilize fullbacks in the way he does, I would say pass on Leach.

But the fullback is a part of this offense and why not have the best one?

[mcaj22]

I know its just the FB position but do you actually think that 5th round rookie or Anthony Sherman are going to actually block someone or be good in pass protection? or catch a football if needed? Those two are going to get blown up by every LBer in the league, so if we are going to be a running team cause of a noodle arm game manager QB, I'd rather have the toughest and best SOB blocking in front of Charles

[-King-]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Oh, no, the horror of actually bringing in the best player at his position.

Or are you going to complain that we spent a 6th round pick on a fullback, or traded someone they were going to cut anyway?

It doesn't matter if they were going to cut him anyways. If you're going to have a surplus of players, would you rather have it at CB or FB? And having a lot of CBs can come in very handy in case of injury. I'd rather have Arenas here over Sherman any day of the week.
Posted via Mobile Device

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by -King-

It doesn't matter if they were going to cut him anyways. If you're going to have a surplus of players, would you rather have it at CB or FB? And having a lot of CBs can come in very handy in case of injury. I'd rather have Arenas here over Sherman any day of the week.
Posted via Mobile Device

Without knowing how Arenas was taking being demoted to basically a dime back, yes, I'd rather have a corner over a fullback.

However, he was not happy when they signed Robinson or Smith and basically told the team he didn't want to be there anymore according to what I heard.

So when the player doesn't want to be here, and there's virtually zero interest in his services around the league, you end up with that trash.

If Leach signs here, Sherman is obviously gone.

[Sassy Squatch]

He'll be a Dolphin or a Texan

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Without knowing how Arenas was taking being demoted to basically a dime back, yes, I'd rather have a corner over a fullback.

However, he was not happy when they signed Robinson or Smith and basically told the team he didn't want to be there anymore according to what I heard.

So when the player doesn't want to be here, and there's virtually zero interest in his services around the league, you end up with that trash.

If Leach signs here, Sherman is obviously gone.

The Chiefs still dicked him over anyway, as the Cardinals have a deeper secondary than us. The 4th or 5th CB here hes now the 5th or 6th there with way better defensive backs on special teams than him there, where as he was the best one on the Chiefs, Arenas will be cut after TC I bet

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by milkman

The fact that this team didn't participate in, or even compete for, a SB is not Tony Richardson's fault.

If this debate included a QB, and you had to choose between Leach and a QB, then your post would have merit.

Since, however, we are only discussing Leach, you are just a dumbass, posting dumbassery.

It's El Jefe. El Jefe in Spanish means the stupid one. That's my catch phrase.

He is an epic moran.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

He'll be a Dolphin or a Texan

I just can't see why he'd go back to Houston. They have zero cap space, and already signed a pretty good fullback.

Miami maybe, but blocking for Lamar Miller with a junk O-line or blocking for Charles and a better oline?