Baltimore Ravens veteran wide receiver Derrick Mason, without sounding irate or disgruntled, is looking for a contract extension of one or two more years on his current deal.
The two-time Pro Bowl selection is heading into the final year of a five-year, $20 million contract.
Per an interview with the NFL Network, Mason said he has informed team officials that he wants more financial security.
“I don’t know if I’m going to be back,” Mason said. “I have one more year left on my deal, and I want to play more than one year. For a player, one year is no security.
“No security whatsoever. I think I’ve earned the right to go to management and let them know that I want to play more than just one year.”
Mason, 35, who led the Ravens in receiving last season with 80 catches, 1,037 yards and five touchdowns despite a left shoulder injury that required surgery, said he has considered retirement.
However, Mason also emphasized that he thinks he could play two or three more seasons.
“So if we can get that deal done, then that will be great,” Mason said. “But if not, then we have to explore other options after that. I don’t know where this thing is going to end, but I think I’ve earned the right by what I’ve done on the field — and off the field — for the last four years with the Ravens.”
RAVENS' MASON: "NO SECURITY WHATSOEVER"
Posted by NBC Sports on March 8, 2009, 4:12 PM EDT
19 Responses to “RAVENS' MASON: "NO SECURITY WHATSOEVER"”
Roger Mason is KILLING the Suns. Give him his damn extension.
Don’t you just love these guys – even if the Cravens were to cut him he will have been paid $16 million for playing a friggin game – if he is so stupid to NOT have guaranteed his financial security by now he is an idiot and deserves whatever happens to him…
By the way Florio – $16Million – that is about 100 good years of fees for the average West Virginia lawyer isn’t it…
So if he doesn’t get more guaranteed money and a signing bonus at the age of 35 he would rather retire than play another year “without financial security.” Apparently he already has enough financial security.
he needs to talk to Ray Ray about how the Ravens treat over the hill veteran players and contract talks. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
5 million is more than most make in a lifetime. So freaking WAAAAAH! I do not feel sorry for these people. When you are making 100k jobe security is a huge deal. When you have 5 years and 20 mil, you never need another job. So shut up and look around at all the people with real problems, then actually be grateful for once in your life.
I feel so sad for you, thousands of people are out of jobs in the real world. Go ahead and retire.
bdhumbert says:
March 8th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Don’t you just love these guys – even if the Cravens were to cut him he will have been paid $16 million for playing a friggin game – if he is so stupid to NOT have guaranteed his financial security by now he is an idiot and deserves whatever happens to him…
By the way Florio – $16Million – that is about 100 good years of fees for the average West Virginia lawyer isn’t it…
———
I don’t believe the “security” that he’s talking about is financial security. I think he’s talking about “job security”.
I think he’s just saying that he wants to keep playing for a few more years, not that he’s hard up for money.
Love Mason. Think he is the best receiver our team has ever had. Hard worker. Plays hurt. Good team guy. If we could extend him for another year at a reasonable number, I would be for it. But like Oz always says….Right player, right price.
As far has him having earned the “right” to be extended. Sorry, I disagree. He has earned the right to finish his contract and nothing else. Seems to me he got a really good signing bonus and is finishing out a very good contract.
Hopefully we can get it done, but if not…. well then sayornara Mason, see you in the ROH after you retire.
In an NFL chat, Mason said nothing about financial security, but rather that he wanted to know where he would play for his final three seasons. Someone asked him if he would play for the Chargers since they were his favorite team, and he said that he would rather stay on the east coast to be around his family and his wife’s family. This is not as much about money as it is about playing three more seasons with him.
Stop hating.
financial security are you kidding me? financial security? If you can’t live off of 20 mil, you got problems.
Anyone who watched this guy play wide reciever with only one working arm in the playoffs wouldn’t question this request. Mason’s been wholly underappreciated his whole career; give the man (still the Ravens’ only real wideout) his due.
Peace
Ty @ The Lions in Winter
You guys need to put that money into perspective. The Baltimore Ravens according to Forbes is ranked 10th in the league for revenue, at 226 million dollars and are also valued as a franchise at over 1 billion dollars. What’s wrong for a player to want millions of dollars if it is available. Do you think this money is being taken from hard class working people and the money would disappear if the player wanted less money? No! The owners would just pocket the extra profit and move one. To me it’s not unreasonable for someone who helps bring in 226 million dollars of revenue to want a piece of that pie.
@ journeyman–
Man, what if you had to make your life’s fortune by 35, because the only thing you really knew how to do would be taken from you because your body breaks down? These men sacrifice their health and well-being–and often, many years of their lives–so we can be entertained. Of the billions of dollars being thrown around on this childhood game writ large, I don’t think it’s too big of a crime to see that a man who’s been a warrior his whole career gets his slice.
Peace
Ty @ The Lions in Winter
he doesnt have much left in the tank.
No reason the guy should’t want financial security. And he could no doubt have it – by taking a pay cut. The problem isn’t that teams don’t want players – they don’t want them at the money the players think they deserve.
Derrick
I will extend your deal now if you agree to an incentive laden deal.
Ozzie
I only see him getting an extension if it’s a contract renegotiation and it free’s up some cap space…
Who knows what the Ravens will do? The way Mason played hurt last year was nothing short of heroic. In my mind that should count for something. Mason is the only dependable receiver the Raven’s have to keep drives alive. He would be an asset to any team, even if as a third wide receiver. If the Ravens don’t extend his contract after this year, he can go play for the Patriots and have a shot at the Superbowl.
GO STEELERS!
COME BACK TO TENNESSEE DERRICK!!! WE NEED YOU BACK!