Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) runs against Baltimore Ravens strong safety Bernard Pollard (31) during the first quarter in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Baltimore Ravens continue to lose more players defensively. They’ve let Dannell Ellerbe walk away to the Miami Dolphins, Ed Reed could be headed out of town, Ray Lewis is retiring and now their other safety, Bernard Pollard, could be gone as well.
Bernard Pollard was a good compliment to Ed Reed, the ballhawk, as a hard hitting safety.
But the he had a $3.25 million cap figure this year and a $500K roster bonus, so the move was financially motivated. The Ravens though have run their organization well and fans in Baltimore have faith in their front office led by general manager Ozzie Newsome.
#Ravens safety Bernard Pollard tweets "time in Baltimore is done." He was due a $500k roster bonus and $2M salary in 2013.
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) March 13, 2013
Pollard is young, just 28 years old, and should become a popular player on a free agent market flooded with safeties. He brings a Super Bowl pedigree with him now and had an outstanding season last year with 98 tackles, two sacks, one interception and six pass break ups in 13 starts.
The move could be in part to try and bring Ed Reed back instead of keeping Pollard. The Ravens though haven’t been completely silent on the defensive side of the ball, they signed defensive lineman Chris Canty.
UPDATE
“Well Raven Nation it’s been fun. My time in Baltimore is done… Thank you!” Pollard tweeted.