Cundiff agrees to 5 year deal with Ravens

**TL24x7** · 01-23-2011, 12:21 PM

OWINGS MILLS -- Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl kicker Billy Cundiff is cashing in on his breakthrough season, agreeing to a five-year, $15 million contract.

He has yet to sign the contract, though, but no snags are expected.

The Ravens have been in talks with Cundiff over the past week with contract negotiations picking up over the past few days.

"I think it'll come together," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said last week."I think Billy really wants to be here. I know we're in negotiations with him right now, along with other guys. I'll be very surprised if something doesn't get done with Billy Cundiff, and I'll be disappointed, but I think it's going to happen."

Cundiff replaced a struggling Steve Hauschka a year ago and solidified the Ravens' kicking situation.

He tied an NFL record with 40 touchbacks and connected on 26 of 29 field goals. He also converted all 39 of his extra points.

Cundiff played under a $1.01 million restricted tender last season, beating out former Pro Bowl kicker Shayne Graham in a training camp competition.

Now, the former journeyman kicker is the Ravens' long-term answer in the kicking game.

He's their first consistent kicker since the end of the Matt Stover era.

LINK

**Carey** · 01-23-2011, 12:38 PM

Good news! Hey TL, do you know if they are negotiating with Koch yet?

**camdenyard** · 01-23-2011, 12:54 PM

Damn right. Sam is just as important on this team as Billy. Lock him up!

**AirFlacco** · 01-23-2011, 01:07 PM

Gotta hand it to Scally. He said Billy would get about $3M pr yr - tops.

**Jeremiah W** · 01-23-2011, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by AirFlacco

Gotta hand it to Scally. He said Billy would get about $3M pr yr - tops.

That seems like a lot for a kicker, but those touchbacks are so valuable. It likley keeps a player or two from getting injured for the season.

**Brtnder81** · 01-23-2011, 04:57 PM

$3M with incentives is what my prediction was so I was pretty close. Does anyone know where that salary ranks among kickers? I know the franchise number for the 2010 season was $2.8M.

**psuasskicker** · 01-23-2011, 05:05 PM

Jesus. Cundiff was terrific this year, no doubt, but $3MM a year is a lot for a K who, let's face it, may have just had a fluky year. Seems like a pretty heavy bet to me.

- C -

**RavNMadMan** · 01-23-2011, 06:12 PM

This good news. Billy C was one of a few guys that performed well CONSISTENTLY this season. The price tag seems a little heavy for a kicker...I wonder how it's structured (gauranteed money, incentives etc)?

**Lee Van Cleef** · 01-23-2011, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by psuasskicker

Jesus. Cundiff was terrific this year, no doubt, but $3MM a year is a lot for a K who, let's face it, may have just had a fluky year. Seems like a pretty heavy bet to me.

- C -

This is what I thought when I heard the amount.

**AirFlacco** · 01-23-2011, 06:46 PM

Good point on incentives etc. Almost all these contracts are back loaded and seldom
realized. Only the signing bonus is guaranteed, unlike in baseball.

I Would like to see the break down.

**festivus** · 01-23-2011, 07:01 PM

I was driving past DC the night they announced McNabb's new contract this season & listening to Deadskin radio. I don't know how that announcement came out here, but *there* it was widely reported as some massive mega-year deal, showing just how committed the organization was to the QB Shanahan had benched 2 weeks (I think) earlier in Detroit.

Fast forward to the end of the season: McNabb's days in DC are done.

Funny how that works.

Yeah, I'll wait until the real numbers are available.