After Haloti Ngata Signing, Will Ravens Pay Ray Rice?

It’s not like Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata needed to make a splash in the season’s first two games to get paid.

Already a two-time Pro Bowler, Ngata established himself as one of the best defensive tackles in football in recent years.

But it couldn’t have hurt Ngata’s contract negotiations that he was the most disruptive player on the field through Baltimore’s first two games, a giant win over Pittsburgh and a deflating loss to Tennessee.

So, finally, after the 330-pound mammoth showed he might actually be getting better, the Ravens signed him up earlier this week. Then, they rejoiced.

“Congrats to the best Defensive Tackle in the NFL. Haloti Ngata,” linebacker Terrell Suggs tweeted. “They paid the man his money!!!!! Congrats my dude!!!!!”

Suggs, himself a four-time Pro Bowler, was already on the record saying that his success on the field was due to Ngata’s tremendous play.

Five years and $61 million said the Ravens felt the same way.

The celebrating of Ngata’s signing lasted all of a few minutes before the next step was on the mind of some, including full back Vonta Leach.

“Well deserved, u on deck @RayRice27: Congrats to the big fella Haloti Ngata”
–Tweeted by Vonta Leach (@vleach44)

Rice, who is still playing under the rookie contract he signed as a second round draft pick out of Rutgers in 2008, is thought to be the next Baltimore player up for a contract extension.

He, like Ngata, has proven to be one of the best at his position in the NFL, while also becoming the security blanket for quarterback Joe Flacco when receivers down the field are covered.

Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson, the back to whom Rice is often most directly compared due to their dual use as runners and receivers, just signed a four-year, $53-million deal.

How much will it take to lock up Rice?