Ravens, WR Frank Sanders agree to deal

[The_Philster]

Moving to bolster their passing game before the draft, the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday evening culminated weeks of courtship with free agent wide receiver Frank Sanders, reaching agreement in principle with the former Arizona Cardinals standout on a four-year contract.

One of three unrestricted wide receivers targeted by Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome at the outset of the signing period, Sanders will arrive later this week in Baltimore to sign the contract. Because there are minor details to be worked out, financial terms were not yet available.

Agent Eugene Parker told ESPN.com last week that a decision by Sanders, on whether to re-sign with the Cardinals or accept the Ravens offer, was to come soon and emphasized a deal would be completed before the draft....

more (http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1540063.html)

[The_Philster]

The Ravens provided an answer to their inexperienced receiving corps and removed a major question mark surrounding a franchise quarterback.

Hours after Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich solidified his draft standing by passing the team's physical yesterday, the Ravens announced they reached an agreement in principle with receiver Frank Sanders. Slated to be the team's No. 2 wide-out, he is expected to sign a four-year contract, believed to be worth about $7 million, by the end of the week.

Sanders, 30, becomes the oldest and most accomplished member of the Ravens' receiving corps, which previously had no one over the age of 25. Considered the top free-agent receiver left on the market, the eight-year veteran leaves the Arizona Cardinals after averaging more than 60 receptions over his career.

"We needed a veteran presence at receiver," general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "We now have an experienced guy who can provide some leadership and can teach our guys what it takes to work on this level and what it takes to prepare week to week."...more (http://www.sunspot.net/sports/football/bal-sp.ravens17apr17,0,2381367.story?coll=bal%2Dsports%2Dfootball)