Signing Bonus

On the first day of free agency, the Ravens were merely spectators, watching three starters land big-money contracts elsewhere, including All-Pro outside linebacker Adalius Thomas. In a surprising turn of events, Thomas, 29, chose New England over the San Francisco 49ers and will sign with the Patriots today once he passes a physical, an unnamed league executive told the Boston Herald last night. It's expected that Thomas will become one of the highest-paid defensive players in the NFL. Considered the most versatile player in Ravens history, he will be the only starter not returning to the Ravens' defense, which ranked No. 1 in the league last season.

Ravens top draft pick Chris McAlister is expected to receive partial payment of a $3.75 million signing bonus once the final details of his four-year agreement are worked out with the team, according to a league source who estimated the total value of the deal at $7.1 million.McAlister, a cornerback from the University of Arizona and the No. 10 overall pick in the draft, is expected to receive the second installment of his signing bonus before mid-February. McAlister and his agent, Eugene Parker, agreed to the deal in principle on Friday.

Ravens center/guard Wally Williams agreed last night to a five-year contract with the New Orleans Saints worth $18.5 million, which includes a record signing bonus for an offensive lineman of $7 million, according to his agent, Tom Condon.Dallas Cowboys All-Pro offensive tackle Larry Allen had the previous high signing bonus for established linemen in the league at $6.1 million, Condon said. Williams will make an average of $3.7 million a season, the highest average of any NFL guard or center.

Ravens Pro Bowl defensive end Michael McCrary, frustrated with recent contract talks, left the team for his home in Phoenix last night and has asked club officials about a trade.McCrary, in the final stages of rehabilitating his knee after off-season surgery, was not expected to play last night at PSINet Stadium against the Carolina Panthers in the Ravens' third preseason game, and he was not on the sideline. Contract extension talks between McCrary's agent, Michael George, and the Ravens broke off Friday afternoon after two days of negotiations.

Matt Stover has seen the future, and it could be full of shallow kickoffs.The Ravens kicker understands the philosophy behind the league's decision to force specialists to use brand-new footballs. Like most rule changes the NFL has implemented over the years, an interest in offense is behind the modification.New footballs do not travel as far as the broken-in variety, which means offenses can be expected to start drives with better field position. Stover said he has seen data showing that the average preseason kickoff has gone between the receiving team's 5- and 8-yard lines.

The Ravens began leveling fines on Pro Bowl defensive end Michael McCrary yesterday after the team declared him absent without an acceptable excuse, according to coach Brian Billick.The fines could range up to $5,000 a day for McCrary, who still has one year for $1.9 million left on his contract. McCrary left for his home in Phoenix, Ariz., on Saturday in frustration after contract extension talks broke down Friday afternoon. The player wants a five- or six-year deal that averages $7 million per season and includes a $13 million signing bonus.

That the Ravens and Michael McCrary would agree on a long contract extension was, from the beginning, inevitable.It may not have seemed inevitable when the talks dragged on and McCrary finally bolted from the team two weeks ago because he was upset, but the two sides were destined to work out a deal.Each had too much to lose.The Ravens couldn't afford to lose McCrary, their Pro Bowl defensive end, especially now that linebacker Peter Boulware might be reduced to a third-down specialist because of a shoulder injury that won't go away.

Ravens officials and the agent for Michael McCrary are expected to meet tomorrow in Florida to continue talks about a possible six-year contract extension for the Pro Bowl defensive end.Michael George, McCrary's agent, said he has been in contact with Ravens vice president of administration Pat Moriarty and most of the talk has centered on a six-year proposal.McCrary's side initially wanted a seven-year deal, but this could signal the sides are working within the parameters of the four-year, $32 million extension recently signed by New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan that included a $12 million signing bonus.

As of last night, the absence of defensive end Michael McCrary was still a non-issue for Ravens coach Brian Billick. But if McCrary is a no-show this morning, he'll become the team's only AWOL player.McCrary, who has one year left on his contract, left the team for his home in Phoenix on Saturday in frustration after contract extension talks broke down Friday afternoon. The player, according to his agent, Michael George, wants a five- or six-year deal that averages $7 million per season and includes a $13 million signing bonus.

Ravens defensive end Michael McCrary is expected at practice today, and the team could begin negotiations about a contract extension by this afternoon, according to his agent, Michael George.Ravens officials declined to comment, but George and McCrary both confirmed that the sixth-year player was flying in from Phoenix, Ariz., last night. McCrary left the team Saturday afternoon after contract negotiations broke down Friday following two days of talks.Ravens officials said Monday that negotiations would not resume until McCrary returned to Baltimore.

While on a pitcher's mound, Jake Arrieta doesn't mind if he's perceived as cocky. Honestly, he kind of likes it. "It doesn't bother me at all," said Arrieta, one of the Orioles' top pitching prospects who was recently promoted to Triple-A Norfolk after dominating at Double-A Bowie. "Off the field, I don't have a big mouth, or say this or that or talk about how good I am. ... If people think I am a [jerk] on the mound, that's fine with me." Case in point: Arrieta tells a story about a game last year in which he pitched for the Frederick Keys against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

Matt Hobgood, the Orioles' first-round pick in Tuesday's amateur draft, expects to take a physical in Baltimore in two weeks, and barring any unforeseen developments, he will sign a contract June 27. "That's the plan. We've pretty much got [the contract] set," said Hobgood, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound right-handed pitcher from Norco High in suburban Los Angeles. "Nothing is final, but [the Orioles] presented us a deal and we'll work something out. I'll for sure sign on that Saturday." Hobgood, the fifth overall pick in the draft, presumably will be introduced to the Camden Yards crowd June 27 during a game against the regional rival Washington Nationals.

April 20, 1996:: Drafted by the Ravens with the 26th pick in the first round. Lewis was the fourth linebacker selected in that draft (behind Kevin Hardy, John Mobley and Reggie Brown). July 15, 1996:: Signs five-year contract worth $5 million in time to report for first training camp. The deal includes a $1.3 million signing bonus. Nov. 19, 1998:: Reaches a four-year contract extension that totals $26 million and includes a $7 million signing bonus. The new deal, which comes with two years still remaining on his rookie contract, makes him the NFL's highest-paid middle linebacker.

Observations, opinions and musings from this week in major league baseball: When Manny Acta, one of baseball's straightest shooters, took the Washington Nationals' managerial job two offseasons ago, he knew it wasn't going to be easy. But he certainly couldn't have imagined it was going to be this bad. Not after a relatively acceptable 73-89 record in 2007 - when the Nationals were supposed to be dreadful. It's arguable as to whether injuries or opponents have crushed the Nats more this season.

Orioles first-round draft pick Brian Matusz is scheduled to be in Baltimore today to take a physical, one of the final steps to the pitcher and the team reaching an agreement on a contract. According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the two sides are closing in on a deal that could be finalized within the next 24 hours. The Orioles have until midnight tomorrow to reach an agreement or they'll forfeit the draft rights to the University of San Diego left-hander and get a similar compensatory pick in next year's draft.

CLEVELAND - The Orioles had more extensive negotiations yesterday with Marc Agar, the agent for first-round draft pick Brian Matusz. However, the two sides remain far apart on a deal, leaving the Orioles with 72 hours to reach an agreement with the fourth overall pick before they lose the rights to the University of San Diego pitcher. Club president Andy MacPhail said last night that the issue has become a concern. "The fact that it's not done yet and we thought it would get done earlier, that makes it a concern," MacPhail said.

In an 11th-hour deal that seemed doomed for much of the past few days, the Baltimore Orioles signed Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters to a contract that will pay the 21-year-old approximately $6 million in a signing bonus. Principal owner Peter Angelos and new president Andy MacPhail worked on the deal while in Toronto for the quarterly owners' meetings last night and, with 10 minutes left before the midnight amateur signing deadline, reached a pact during a phone call with Wieters' agent, Scott Boras.

With less than two days left to broker a deal with first-round pick Matt Wieters, the Orioles are losing confidence that they can sign the Georgia Tech catcher by tomorrow's midnight deadline. When asked to characterize talks, a team source said the sides are "a long way away" from agreeing to a contract. According to a baseball source, Wieters, a 6-foot-5, 21-year-old junior whom the Orioles selected fifth overall in the June amateur draft, is seeking a contract similar to the one signed by Maryland native Mark Teixeira in 2001.

On the first day of free agency, the Ravens were merely spectators, watching three starters land big-money contracts elsewhere, including All-Pro outside linebacker Adalius Thomas. In a surprising turn of events, Thomas, 29, chose New England over the San Francisco 49ers and will sign with the Patriots today once he passes a physical, an unnamed league executive told the Boston Herald last night. It's expected that Thomas will become one of the highest-paid defensive players in the NFL. Considered the most versatile player in Ravens history, he will be the only starter not returning to the Ravens' defense, which ranked No. 1 in the league last season.

The Ravens signed four of their 10 rookies, including fourth-round running back P.J. Daniels, to three-year contracts, the team announced yesterday. Also, as reported yesterday by The Sun, the franchise released sixth-year fullback Alan Ricard. Daniels, the 132nd overall choice, gained 3,340 yards to finish his career as the fourth-leading rusher in Georgia Tech history and scored 23 rushing touchdowns. His 16 100-yard rushing games ranks second in school history. The team also reached three-year deals with tight end Quinn Sypniewski, punter Sam Koch and cornerback Derrick Martin.