Ravens swoop for Dumervil

Posted on 25/03/2013 at 06:41, updated on 25/03/2013 at 19:02

Defensive end Elvis Dumervil and the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens agreed on Sunday to a multi-year deal.

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Reuters

The Denver Post first reported the agreement, which is expected to be finalized on Tuesday when Dumervil comes to Baltimore to take a physical and sign a contract. ESPN reports the deal is for five years, worth up to $35 million and includes $8.5 million in the first year.

"As we have from the start of this process, we worked diligently over the last week to find a way for Elvis Dumervil to remain a Denver Bronco," Broncos vice president John Elway said, according to The Denver Post. "Although we made multiple contract offers to Elvis after being forced to release him, we were unable to reach an agreement and are now moving forward without him."

Baltimore's signing brings to an end the debacle over Denver's attempt to keep the free-agent defensive lineman and Dumervil's desire to stay with the Broncos.

The two sides agreed to a restructured contract, but paperwork was not filed with the league office in time, forcing Denver to release the 29-year-old Dumervil.

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Offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer agreed to a four-year deal to stay with the New England Patriots, according to multiple reports.

The 6-8, 310-pound Vollmer did not draw much attention early in free agency, perhaps because he is coming off knee surgery.

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New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz has an offer from the Giants worth more than $7 million annually, but the 26-year-old restricted free agent apparently is looking for a better deal.

Cruz recently hired agent Tom Condon, and the New York Daily News believes that is a signal the sides should "get a contract done rather than Cruz playing for the $2.879 million tender."

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Former Carolina Panthers linebacker James Anderson agreed to a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears, according to a report on the team's website.

Anderson is the second free-agent linebacker the Bears have landed in recent days. On Friday, they added former Denver Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams.

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Safety Ed Reed took out a full-page ad on Sunday in the Baltimore Sun to say goodbye and thank you to Ravens fans.

Reed signed a three-year, $15 million free-agent contract on Friday with the Houston Texans after 11 seasons in Baltimore.

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Defensive end Michael Bennett was diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Sunday.

That probably explains why the former Tampa Bay player received only a one-year deal worth $5 million when he signed with the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent recently. It's unclear what Bennett's status will be for the upcoming season and whether he will need surgery.

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Free-agent tight end Fred Davis met with Buffalo Bills officials on Saturday, according to ESPN's Schefter, suggesting the Bills have an interest in signing him. The Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins also expressed interest.

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Free-agent safety Quintin Mikell was released by the St. Louis Rams because of salary-cap issues. Rams coach Jeff Fisher told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch the team is interested in re-signing Mikell