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Chad Brown went to Pats. How about Peter Boulware?
May 11, 2005
BOULWARE RELEASED
By Adam H. Beasley
The Ravens terminated the contract of Peter Boulware Wednesday, parting ways with the team’s sack king who missed 17 games due to injury over the last two seasons.
At an impromptus press conference late Wednesday afternoon, Billick praised Boulware’s service to the Ravens and the city of Baltimore, and said the decision had to do with finances, not concerns about the linebacker’s health.
“We’re at the point right now where we really felt that Peter could be, as he has been, an impact pass-rusher for us,” Billick said. “He would like to see if there is more of an expanded role with someone else. He’s earned that right, particularly [since] we were at a situation where the contract had to be restructured. We hate to see it happen, but that’s the name of the game these days.”
Boulware is in the fourth year of a seven-year contract, and since the Ravens released him prior to June 1, they will absorb the entire cap hit this season. The good news is they will not carry any dead money from his contract into the 2006 season.
Late in the 2003 season, Boulware suffered a knee injury from which he did not recover until midway through the 2004 campaign. But before he could return to the field, Boulware injured his foot during practice. He did not see a single snap all last year.
However, Billick said that Boulware had the chance to fully recover in the last 17 months, and expects him to be an impact for another team this season.
Baltimore, which had tried unsuccessfully to renegotiate Boulware’s contract, could have waited another three weeks before cutting him, but chose to give Boulware as much time as possible to find a new team.
The Ravens took Boulware with the fourth overall pick in the ’97 draft after he was a consensus All-American as a junior at Florida State.
Boulware earned a spot in the Pro Bowl four times during his time in Baltimore. His 67.5 sacks are the most in team history.
During the Ravens defense’s recording-breaking season in 2000, Boulware returned from offseason shoulder surgery to log seven sacks, helping the Ravens get to and win their first Super Bowl.
But the memory that may stick with Billick the longest was the way Boulware responded in 2002. After injuries sidelined Ray Lewis and Chris McAlister, it was essentially Boulware and a slew of rookies on defense.
“He was kind of the last man standing,” Billick said. “He fought through the year, all the way to the end and showed what kind of professional [he] was.”
If the Ravens had kept Boulware, he would have played fewer than 30 snaps a game as a pass-rushing specialist. The team had already planned to start Adalius Thomas and Tommy Polley at outside linebacker and Terrell Suggs at end.
Now, Suggs and rookie Dan Cody – a second-round draft pick – will be the team’s rush ends in passing situations.
“Due to the play of Adalius Thomas and the drafting of Dan Cody, we decided to terminate Peter Boulware,” said general manager Ozzie Newsome. “Peter has been a major contributor to the success of our organization both on and off the field. As others who have departed this year, whether it has been by termination or free agency, we feel that Peter will continue to be a successful player in this league.”
Added Billick: “The numbers on the field speak for themselves. He’s leaving here with a Super Bowl ring, of which he was a part of. Off the field, what he’s done for this community, the class with which he’s conducted himself, is just what you want in a player.”
May 11, 2005
BOULWARE RELEASED
By Adam H. Beasley
The Ravens terminated the contract of Peter Boulware Wednesday, parting ways with the team’s sack king who missed 17 games due to injury over the last two seasons.
At an impromptus press conference late Wednesday afternoon, Billick praised Boulware’s service to the Ravens and the city of Baltimore, and said the decision had to do with finances, not concerns about the linebacker’s health.
“We’re at the point right now where we really felt that Peter could be, as he has been, an impact pass-rusher for us,” Billick said. “He would like to see if there is more of an expanded role with someone else. He’s earned that right, particularly [since] we were at a situation where the contract had to be restructured. We hate to see it happen, but that’s the name of the game these days.”
Boulware is in the fourth year of a seven-year contract, and since the Ravens released him prior to June 1, they will absorb the entire cap hit this season. The good news is they will not carry any dead money from his contract into the 2006 season.
Late in the 2003 season, Boulware suffered a knee injury from which he did not recover until midway through the 2004 campaign. But before he could return to the field, Boulware injured his foot during practice. He did not see a single snap all last year.
However, Billick said that Boulware had the chance to fully recover in the last 17 months, and expects him to be an impact for another team this season.
Baltimore, which had tried unsuccessfully to renegotiate Boulware’s contract, could have waited another three weeks before cutting him, but chose to give Boulware as much time as possible to find a new team.
The Ravens took Boulware with the fourth overall pick in the ’97 draft after he was a consensus All-American as a junior at Florida State.
Boulware earned a spot in the Pro Bowl four times during his time in Baltimore. His 67.5 sacks are the most in team history.
During the Ravens defense’s recording-breaking season in 2000, Boulware returned from offseason shoulder surgery to log seven sacks, helping the Ravens get to and win their first Super Bowl.
But the memory that may stick with Billick the longest was the way Boulware responded in 2002. After injuries sidelined Ray Lewis and Chris McAlister, it was essentially Boulware and a slew of rookies on defense.
“He was kind of the last man standing,” Billick said. “He fought through the year, all the way to the end and showed what kind of professional [he] was.”
If the Ravens had kept Boulware, he would have played fewer than 30 snaps a game as a pass-rushing specialist. The team had already planned to start Adalius Thomas and Tommy Polley at outside linebacker and Terrell Suggs at end.
Now, Suggs and rookie Dan Cody – a second-round draft pick – will be the team’s rush ends in passing situations.
“Due to the play of Adalius Thomas and the drafting of Dan Cody, we decided to terminate Peter Boulware,” said general manager Ozzie Newsome. “Peter has been a major contributor to the success of our organization both on and off the field. As others who have departed this year, whether it has been by termination or free agency, we feel that Peter will continue to be a successful player in this league.”
Added Billick: “The numbers on the field speak for themselves. He’s leaving here with a Super Bowl ring, of which he was a part of. Off the field, what he’s done for this community, the class with which he’s conducted himself, is just what you want in a player.”
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