With the recent contracts signed by Houston Texans running back Arian Foster and Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, the parameters have been set for Baltimore Ravens RB Ray Rice to measure up against. Foster and Lynch, along with Rice, were the top three running backs that were on the verge of becoming free agents but have now been retained by their current teams. Rice however, is the only one of the three who has not signed a new deal.
Both the Ravens and Rice's representative now know what the market will bear by the two recent deals. One could argue that Rice is a more complete player than either Foster or Lynch, as evidenced by his league-leading combine yards rushing and receiving. Hopefully the team and Ray will come to a meeting of the minds and end this current stalemate that resulted in the team placing the Franchise Tag on him.
Related to Rice, the Ravens will more than likely take a close look at the free agent running back market for perhaps more depth in their backfield, after the announced retirement of Ricky Williams. Only 2nd year RB Anthony Allen is there to backup Rice and while the team seems to think he is a capable replacement if Rice were to go down to injury, a proven veteran with the size to get that short yardage and goal line attempts would fill avoid that was frustratingly obvious in 2011, as the video above mentions.