The Baltimore Ravens are paying the price for winning a Super Bowl.
The NFL champions lost two key components of their defense, linebackers Paul Kruger and Dannell Ellerbe, as free agency began Tuesday. On Monday, they traded star receiver Anquan Boldin, a key to their title run, to San Francisco – the team the Ravens beat 34-31 to win the championship.Kruger went north to division rival Cleveland for a five-year, $40 million deal, while Ellerbe headed south to Miami for $35 million over five years.The Ravens did sign former Cowboys and Giants defensive lineman Chris Canty to a three-year, $8 million deal.Briefly • Bears: Former Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett agreed to a four-year contract with the Bears, leaving the Giants after one season. Defensive tackle Henry Melton, a former Texas Longhorn, signed his franchise tag tender at $8.45 million. Reports say Saints left tackle Jermon Bushrod is nearing an agreement with Chicago. • Chiefs: Former Southlake Carroll quarterback Chase Daniel, who spent his entire career behind Drew Brees in New Orleans, agreed to a three-year contract worth a reported $9 million with Kansas City, where he will join newly acquired quarterback Alex Smith. • Titans: Buffalo guard Andy Levitre got a six-year, $47 million deal to replace left guard Steve Hutchinson, who announced his retirement after 12 seasons, the last cut short by a knee injury that limited him to 12 games. • Broncos: Guard Louis Vasquez from Texas Tech signed a four-year, $23.5 million deal with $13 million guaranteed. In four seasons with San Diego, Vasquez allowed just 11 sacks and had one penalty. • Saints: Defensive end Will Smith and linebacker Jonathan Vilma, both implicated in the Saints’ bounty scandal, agreed to restructure their contracts to remain with New Orleans. • Vikings: The trade of receiver Percy Harvin to Seattle was finalized, 14-year veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield was released and right tackle Phil Loadholt from Oklahoma was re-signed. • Bills: Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was released by Buffalo less than two years after signing a six-year, $59 million contract extension. The Bills went 6-10 both seasons after his deal and have not made the playoffs since 1999. For now, the Bills’ No. 1 quarterback is Tarvaris Jackson. • Eagles: Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, the jewel of free agency two years ago when he signed a five-year, $60 million deal with $24 million guaranteed to go to Philadelphia, was cut. He was scheduled to make $15 million next season. Former TCU linebacker Jason Phillips was signed, along with former Patriots safety Patrick Chung, former Azle resident James Casey of the Texans and former 49ers nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga. • Falcons: Tight end Tony Gonzalez, the NFL’s career leader among tight ends with 1,242 receptions and 103 touchdowns, said he was 95 percent certain he would retire after 2012, but returned instead saying, the lure of being on such a great team “was too good to pass up.” • Raiders: Receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and former Longhorn safety Michael Huff, both No. 7 overall draft picks, were released • Dolphins: Receiver Mike Wallace, formerly of the Steelers, agreed to a five-year, $65 million deal that includes $30 million guaranteed. Linebacker Karlos Dansby, who led the team with 134 tackles last season despite a torn biceps muscle, was cut after three seasons in Miami. • Texans: Receiver Kevin Walter, who caught 326 passes for 4,093 yards in seven seasons with Houston, was released.
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