Tucked into a report in the Baltimore Sun in an oh-by-the-way fashion was one line that shows how serious the Ravens were about finding another pass-rusher.
According the Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec, former Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison “was due in Baltimore Sunday night for a free agent visit.”
Whether Harrison continues that trip, and whether the Ravens are still interested after dropping a five-year contract with a base value of $26 million, with $8.5 million in the first year for Dumervil remains to be seen. The indication from the report is that they’re no longer interested.
Harrison’s clearly a tier below guys such as Dumervil, Dwight Freeney and John Abraham because of his age (he turns 35 in May), but he played well for the Steelers last season.
After calling the Steelers bluff on a pay cut (and losing), Harrison hasn’t drawn the kind of interest that would get him back to the $6.57 million he was scheduled to make this year.
Earlier this offseason there were folks around the league who wondered whether outside linebacker Terrell Suggs and his $13.02 million cap number were a long-term fit.
Whether the Ravens continue to pursue Harrison should let you know whether he was simply a Plan B to Dumervil, or part of a bigger move.