In a move that, as a practical matter, means both nothing and everything, the Ravens have placed linebacker Ray Lewis and center Matt Birk on the reserve-retired list.
It means nothing because the players can unretire at any time. It means everything because the move clears, via the Baltimore Sun, $6.4 million in 2013 cap space.
The moves put the Ravens at $105.9 million in cap commitments. With the salary cap at $123 million and the Ravens carrying over $1.18 million, the Ravens have $18.28 million in cap space.
This doesn’t include any free agents, including quarterback Joe Flacco.
All teams have until March 12 to get and stay under the 2013 salary cap. In the offseason, the calculation encompasses only the 51 highest-paid players on the team.