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The Baltimore Ravens seem to have a knack for getting rid of players at the right time as we've seen time and again. When they cost to much and you have young players ready to play, these older veterans become expendable. Usually on their next destination, they fail to live up to the hype garnered here in Baltimore, usually because of injury and just poor execution.
Yet another example of this was shown today as the Detroit Lions put defensive lineman Haloti Ngata on the non-football injury list.
The #Lions have put Haloti Ngata on the non-football injury list.
— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) August 3, 2015
Ngata did skip a good portion of OTAs and it is reported that he has a hamstring injury that should see him back in about a week or so.
The #Lions start DT Haloti Ngata on the active/NFI list with a minor hamstring injury.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 3, 2015
Ngata was traded by Baltimore before the NFL Draft partially because his cap number was too high and because of his unwillingness to sign a more cap friendly extension. Detroit has had similar issues with Ngata as they have tried to extend him further.
The Ravens were given fourth and fifth round picks in exchange for Ngata and the Ravens' seventh round pick. The Ravens turned those draft picks into outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith, who has looked exceptional already in camp and traded the fifth rounder to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for the chance to move up and grab tight end Maxx Williams, who has also looked good so far in camp with a huge frame and catch radius.
Meanswhile, the Detroit Lions are dealing with a 31 year old player that is costing them $8.5 million against the cap this season with no long-term deal signed as of yet. The Ravens took a dead cap amount of $7.5 million, but seem to have come out on the positive side of the transaction, especially as Ngata currently sits in the training room.
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