Ravens Wide Receiver Derrick Mason Agrees to Return
Thursday, March 11th, 2010
BALTIMORE (MAR. 11, 2010)
Two-year, $8 million deal brings back Flacco’s favorite target, team’s most consistent threat
On the night when wide receiver Derrick Mason came back to the Ravens, their passing attack continued to take another step forward.
The Ravens struck a two-year, $8 million agreement with Mason on Wednesday, retaining the most consistent wide receiver in team history. He will earn $3.5 million the first year.
This much-anticipated deal returns Joe Flacco’s favorite target and sends yet another message that the Ravens wanted to improve their passing game.
“We know exactly what we’re getting with Derrick, and that’s production,” general manager Ozzie Newsome said. “Every Ravens fan knows what Derrick brings to this team. It’s reliability, toughness, leadership, the fight to win and the want of the ball in the clutch times. He has a two-year history with Joe that says, ‘We know how to produce together.’ They are on the same page.”
There was really never a question of whether the Ravens and Mason were on the same page this offseason.
Mason, 36, made it known that he wouldn’t play this season unless he received a two-year contract. The Ravens then publicly said they would want Mason for two more seasons.
“I’m getting myself ready to play football and help the Ravens win,” Mason said. “But the first thing I am going to do is take my family on vacation. I’ll see everybody back in Baltimore soon.”
“This is outstanding, just great news for the Ravens,” coach John Harbaugh said. “Our coaches are happy. Derrick’s teammates are happy, and you know Joe is smiling.”
But the Ravens have always been able to count on Mason. With a group of receivers who have been sidelined with injuries in the past (Boldin, Stallworth and Clayton have missed a total of 20 games the past four seasons), Mason has been one of the most durable at this position, playing in 122 straight games.
During his 13-year NFL career, Mason has 863 catches, 11,089 receiving yards and 59 receiving touchdowns. He is one of 17 players to record 850 catches in a career and ranks 14th on the NFL’s all-time receptions list.
“We would have lost something special if Derrick had gone to another team,” Harbaugh said. “We have gotten better in the last couple of days.”