www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-sp.ravens21jan21002017,0,1981132.story baltimoresun.com Leonhard's contract is up after strong season Safety waits as Ravens juggle many offseason priorities on 'D' By Ken Murray | ken.murray@baltsun.com January 21, 2009 Change is coming to the Ravens' indomitable defense. Rex Ryan, the architect/coordinator, is already gone. Cornerback Chris McAlister has one foot out the door. Pro Bowl linebackers Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs are lined up for big paychecks. Then there's play-making safety Jim Leonhard, one of the unsung heroes of that defense, whose future in Baltimore is cloaked in salary cap intrigue. If the Ravens are able to sign Lewis and Suggs, will they have enough money left to reward Leonhard for his stellar season? Or, faced with a lesser offer, might Leonhard bolt for the New York Jets and a reunion with Ryan? After three nondescript years with the Buffalo Bills, Leonhard found a home in the Ravens' secondary this season. When Dawan Landry suffered a spinal cord concussion in September and eventually went on injured reserve, Leonhard became the starting strong safety. He never missed a step, through 16 starts, including three playoff games. As the season wore on, Leonhard proved his worth in more ways than as a safety. He was the team's best punt returner, averaging 11.6 yards, nearly twice that of Yamon Figurs. He returned kickoffs on occasion (averaging 20.4yards). And when the need arose - as it did in the AFC title game, when the Ravens were short on cornerbacks - Leonhard played nickel back, too. Versatile, tough, quick, smart. He made a career-high 85tackles in the regular season and played well in the playoffs (one interception, half a sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 16tackles). Not a bad resume to take into free agency Feb.27. Leonhard, 26, signed a one-year contract for $520,000 in April after he aced a weekend minicamp tryout with the Ravens. That contract is up, and for the first time in his pro career, he has options. "I had a great season," he said Monday before players scattered across the country. "I was put in position to make plays, and fortunate enough to make a lot of them. I've spoken all season of how I love this system and this defense." Defensive tackle Trevor Pryce calls him "Little Jimmy Leonhard" out of respect for the 5-foot-8 safety with a boyish face. "You like players like that because they don't get a lot of publicity," Pryce said. "But those are always the best ones. Jimmy is a damn good football player. People are just starting to notice now, but we knew that a long time ago." As much as he would like to stay, Leonhard knows there's a chance he might have to go. It's obvious the Ravens' biggest priority on defense will be keeping Lewis and Suggs, and perhaps fellow linebacker Bart Scott. Contracts for Lewis and Suggs, franchise tag or not, will be very expensive. "These guys are tremendous game changers on the team and in the league," Leonhard said. "I don't know what the front office thinks, but in my mind, they're priority guys, and that will determine what happens ... to the rest of the free agents." While the Ravens almost certainly will want to keep Leonhard, paying him may become the issue. They still don't know how soon or how well Landry will come back from his injury. He has yet to be cleared by a doctor for any contact. But they did draft two promising safeties in April in Tom Zbikowski (third round) and Haruki Nakamura (sixth round). In salary cap economics, this gives the Ravens leverage, too. And don't discount the Ryan factor. The departed coordinator likes Leonhard a lot. He wanted the Ravens to sign him out of Wisconsin as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He might get that chance now as coach of the Jets. Leonhard also appreciates the fact that Ryan knew how best to use him. "I would love to play for Rex again," Leonhard said. "Obviously, I have a lot of respect for him, as well as the coaches that are still here. If that opportunity comes up, who knows what will happen? I'm going to enjoy this season for a little bit, then let everything work itself out the next couple months." And if Leonhard hits the free-agent market, how long would it take before he calls Ryan? "Probably not long," he said. Who replaces Ryan as coordinator is another factor in his decision. The Ravens presumably would like to stay in-house for reasons of continuity. "You ask anyone on defense and they'd like it to stay in-house," Leonhard said, "just because we have that bond with them already. But that's not to say there's not somebody else on the outside that's the right person for the job. [The Ravens] have a great track record with coaches, and they'll bring in the right guy. Nobody's worried about that."
Damien Robinson was an average player on a dominant defense that cashed in when he became a FA. Hopefully Leonhard isn't the same kind of player, but we've seen this show before and it sucked. I don't want us to gamble and lose again on a guy that benefited by being surrounded with elite talent.
I wouldn't get him and stick him in a cover 2 defense but If we get him and Ryan is the coach I trust he would utilize him properly.
If the Ravens defense showed me anything, it proved to me that you need a CLEAR and DOMINANT leader. A guy that makes other players ACCOUNTABLE. Someone who will not hesitate to get up in a guys face, and call him out. Who are our leaders ? FAVRE- team captain, my ass. This guy did not deserve that right. RHOADS- A leader leads by example, and his performance this season, is NOT exemplary. ELLIS- "PASS THE DOCHIE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE" REVIS- Don't know much about his personality, but he does walk the walk. My point is, WE NEED RAY LEWIS!!! Or more realistic, a RAY LEWIS type guy. Ray Lewis makes everyone around him play better. HE HOLDS THEM ACCOUNTABLE. This type of attitude is contagious.
There is only one Ray Lewis and we can't afford him. There is not another player on any team that I can think of with the same effect on their team.
i was talking to VickBlows during the Ravens-Phins game and i mentioned how every Ravens game I watch, Leonhard seems to be ALL over the field. hes also got good speed and instincts, all you can ask of a DB. id go after him hard and place him next to Rhodes.
if we got Leonhard and either one of them, id fuckin be extatic. hell just getting any one of the three would be a major upgrade IMO.
I don't think you'd have an awfully hard time prying Leonhard from the Ravens as Baltimore has more than enough depth to spare an extra safety. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to keep Leonhard, but you wouldn't see any drop off as the Ravens have two all-pro caliber DB's in Reed/Landry, and players that fit Leo's mold in Haruki/Zbikowski. For all of the aforementioned reasons, I can see someone stealing Leonhard with a big offer. That being said, I'm not quite sure how much you would want Leonhard. Jenkins is great, but you'd need more than just a few excellent players to make Jimmy at all useful. Leonhard is barely average in pass coverage, but he is a great gadget type player. Don't be fooled by his weight, as he can still follow through with a big hit if he has someone backing him up, but Jim is not a good open field tackler, nor is he good at reading a quarterback. Rex could still probably find a way to implement him successfully, but I don't see the use in the Jets signing him as you already have a good returnman, and that was half his worth in Baltimore.
Leon while decent on punts is worth more on Kick returns. Leonhard I hear is a much better punt returner so we could use him there too
