Wednesday was a tough day, to say the least, for the Baltimore Ravens. There were two deaths the organization had to announce. Linebacker Jaylon Ferguson, who was 26, was found unresponsive in a house in northern Baltimore and pronounced dead on the scene by medics. Ferguson, who was drafted in the third round by the Ravens in 2019, came into the league with a reputation as an excellent pass rusher.
Dubbed “Sack Daddy” during his time at Louisiana Tech, Ferguson racked up 45 sacks during his collegiate career. During his three years in Baltimore, Ferguson recorded 4.5 sacks and 67 tackles. News of former defensive tackle Tony Siragusa’s death also shook the franchise.
Siragusa, who was 340 pounds played a large role on the Ravens’ Super Bowl XXXV championship team, was 55. He had a 12-year career, of which he spent the last five in Baltimore.
Heal Up, Champ
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey had shoulder surgery Tuesday but is expected to be ready for the start of the 2022 season. Ramsey had tears in both shoulders and had been dealing with the pain since at least 2021. Last season was Ramsey’s sixth in the league, and he fought through the pain to earn All-Pro honors for the third time.
Ramsey finished with a career-high four interceptions, 77 tackles, and forced a fumble.
Walls Are Closing InM
Daniel Snyder, the owner of the Washington Commanders, has spent a lot of time in hot water. The scandal about how Snyder keeps his books, not to mention alleged poor treatment of female staff, led to Roger Goodell being forced to testify before Congress on Tuesday. While Snyder declined an invitation to testify, Congress is planning to force his hand and issue a subpoena.
When asked by members of the committee, Goodell told them he would not remove Snyder as the owner because he doesn’t have the authority. It’s a messy situation that will worsen as details filter out.
Out For Good?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been taking a cue from the WWE when it comes to retirements, recently. Sure, Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski say they are done, but will they return for one last match. Brady’s retirement this offseason lasted a little over a month. Gronkowski, who announced retirement for the second time Wednesday, had originally stepped away following the 2018 season.
However, Gronkowski returned in 2020 when Brady talked him into coming into Tampa Bay when the star quarterback left New England. Gronkowski was productive during his two years in Tampa Bay, catching 100 passes for 1,425 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Fight For Flores
The fight for Brian Flores to have his day in court will be an arduous road for the former Miami Dolphins head coach and current Pittsburgh Steelers assistant. The NFL and six of its teams have filed for arbitration in Flores’ case, which alleges racial discrimination in hiring practices among the league’s coaches. The owners are eager to pursue the arbitration root, as the arbiter would be Goodell. The owners argue that there is language in coaching contracts that require arbitration in all disputes.
The lawyer for Flores’ lawsuit – which was joined by Steve Wilks and Ray Horton – argues that this tactic would strip his clients of their rights. No ruling is expected on this issue until late summer at the earliest.