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One of the most important moves the Ravens will make this offseason has to do with tight end Dennis Pitta.
Clearly the Ravens want him back, as it would seem he's the top target for the franchise tag if he's not coming back on a new deal. But a report from the Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson this past weekend indicated the two parties were not close on a deal at this time.
Then, a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport came out Monday, which indicated the two sides were moving in the right direction.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Ravens&src=hash">#Ravens</a> and TE Dennis Pitta are making progress to a new deal, per sources. Nothing imminent. Sides have until March 3 before he gets tagged</p>— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/statuses/438040827374206977">February 24, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Of course, the term "making progress" is about as vague as it gets. That could mean just about anything, from getting closer to a deal to that the two sides will speak again.
Shortly after, Wilson put up a couple of tweets that would indicate the Ravens and Pitta are still in neutral, with the two sides far apart on a contract.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>No deal imminent between Ravens, Dennis Pitta, nothing changed from Sunday update as negotiations continue: <a href="http://t.co/kd2RGpypcI">http://t.co/kd2RGpypcI</a></p>— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) <a href="https://twitter.com/RavensInsider/statuses/438048101996445696">February 24, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>There is interest from other NFL teams in Dennis Pitta, per sources, if he hits free agency. March 3 NFL deadline to use franchise tag</p>— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) <a href="https://twitter.com/RavensInsider/statuses/438048340576829440">February 24, 2014</a></blockquote>
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As much as Ravens fans would love to hear that Pitta and the Ravens are "making progress," it seems more likely that the two parties are still trying to find common ground on a number.
That doesn't mean a deal can't be reached by the March 3 deadline. And even if Pitta is franchised, the Ravens have until July 15 to get a deal done so that he doesn't play the season under the tag.