Tag: Ravens football

Former UGA star Roquan Smith signs record contract for off-ball LB

Former UGA linebacker Roquan Smith has signed a massive five-year extension with the Baltimore Ravens

Former Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Roquan Smith has signed a massive five-year, $100 million extension with the Baltimore Ravens. Smith, who represented himself in negotiations, is set to receive $60 million guaranteed as a part of the deal.

The Ravens traded for Smith midway through the 2022 NFL season. Smith has made an immediate impact on Baltimore’s defense, which has improved significantly since he joined the Ravens.

The Chicago Bears drafted Roquan Smith with the No. 8 pick in the 2018 NFL draft. Chicago received linebacker A.J. Klein, a second and fifth round pick when it traded Smith back in October.

The Chicago Bears traded inside linebacker Roquan Smith to the Ravens primarily in exchange for draft compensation. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Roquan Smith has 169 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and three sacks this season. Smith and former LSU linebacker Patrick Queen anchor the center of the Baltimore defense.

No off-ball linebacker has receiver a larger contract in NFL history than Roquan Smith. Only pass rushing linebackers have received larger deals.

Smith’s contract extension comes a few days before the Ravens face the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Jan. 15 at 8:15 p.m. ET in the AFC wild card round.

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Former UGA star Justin Houston signs NFL contract

Former Georgia Bulldogs star outside linebacker Justin Houston is returning to the Baltimore Ravens

Former Georgia Bulldogs star outside linebacker Justin Houston is returning to the Baltimore Ravens on a one-year contract. Houston will give a boost to the Ravens’ pass rush.

Justin Houston has played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, and Baltimore Ravens throughout his lengthy and successful NFL career. Houston has 102 career sacks including 4.5 sacks with the Ravens during the 2021 season.

Houston will continue to mentor young Ravens outside linebackers like Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo.

Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Justin Houston (50) reacts after sacking Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Houston helps fill some of the void left after Ravens outside linebacker Jaylon Ferguson tragically passed away this offseason.

The terms of Houston’s contract are not known at this time. He earned $2.075 million for Baltimore last season, so this deal is expected to be around that number.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the news of Houston’s signing:

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Former Georgia OL Ben Cleveland explains why he eats squirrels

Former Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Ben Cleveland explains his “squirrel diet” to the Baltimore Ravens media.

Former Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Ben Cleveland was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft. Now, Ben Cleveland is already explaining his “squirrel diet” to the Baltimore Ravens media.

The former Georgia lineman makes it clear that he prefers deer meat, but if there’s none of that left, then fried squirrel begins to find its way on to his menu. That’s one way to survive the winter. Ben Cleveland may be looking for a few hunting spots around Baltimore if he hasn’t found any yet.

His quote in this interview is legendary stuff:

Cleveland’s full quote about his squirrel diet is:

I don’t know if it was a specific (squirrel) diet. It’s more so one of those things where you eat what you got in the freezer from the fall. So had a few squirrels freeze-dried in there. So get a little hungry, ain’t got no deer meat left, fry up a squirrel or two and just go eat that.

Ben Cleveland will give the Baltimore Ravens toughness, strength, and power along the interior of their offensive line. Cleveland is one of the more interesting offensive linemen in the NFL. His physique and athleticism combination is impressive and he has lots of big game experience from his days at Georgia.

Ben Cleveland will be fun to watch over the years, unless, of course, if you are a squirrel.