Free-agent pass rusher Elvis Dumervil has agreed to terms on a multi-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens, reports Mike Klis of The Denver Post.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Dumervil will receive a five-year contract worth up to $35 million from the Ravens. Dumervil will receive $8.5 million in the first year of the contract.
Dumervil was scheduled to earn $12 million from the Denver Broncos this season before agreeing to take a $4 million pay cut to remain with the team. However, the three-time Pro Bowl unexpectedly hit the free-agent market after his former agent, Martin Magid, failed to fax the paperwork back to the Broncos in time for them to submit the restructured contract to the league office by a 4 p.m. ET deadline on March 15, at which time Dumervil's entire $12 million base salary would have become guaranteed.
Dumervil has since parted ways with Magid and hired Tom Condon of CAA Sports. Condon has handled negotiations with the Broncos, who wanted Dumervil back at a reduced rate, and the Ravens, who were in need of an established pass rusher after Paul Kruger and his nine sacks signed with the Cleveland Browns this offseason.
Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway released the following statement on Sunday:
“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. 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," said Elway.
"Elvis was a team captain and a talented player who made a great impact during his seven seasons in Denver. I appreciate all of his effort on the field and the work he did in the community.
"I wish Elvis all the best as he continues his NFL career."
Originally selected in the fourth round of the 2006 draft, Dumervil has started 75 of his 91 games with the Broncos over the last six seasons, posting 63.5 sacks and 16 forced fumbles. The 5-foot-11, 260-pound Dumervil has primarily played defensive end, but the Broncos employed a 3-4 defense in 2009 and 2010. Over those two seasons, Dumervil had 26.5 sacks, including an NFL-best 17 sacks during the 2009 season.
As noted by Klis, the Ravens' inside linebackers coach Don "Wink" Martindale was the Broncos' linebackers coach during Dumervil's breakout season in 2009. That connection, along with reported sales pitches from Terrell Suggs and head coach John Harbaugh, will have Dumervil going from one AFC powerhouse to another this offseason. Given their epic double-overtime game in the divisional round of the playoffs, and now Dumervil moving from the Broncos to the Ravens, it appears as though the NFL has no choice but to have these two teams face off in prime time to kickoff the 2013 regular season.
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