Free agency is among us, let us rejoice and exclaim hallelujah! The “super” dead season of sports is over, and now we’re entering the “just a little bit dead” season. Between now and the NFL draft, well will likely see some pretty ridiculous deals go down, mainly because there is no salary cap and some of these NFL owners are downright crazy. And by some, I really mean Dan Snyder, Jerry Jones and, speaking of just a little dead, Al Davis.

For the Ravens, a lot of us have been drooling over the opportunity to land some potential season changing players via the free agency market. Baltimore is by no means a cash strapped organization, and with just a few upgrades away from a Super Bowl, it’s hard not to welcome a free agent market full of wonderful gifts and treasures.

However, there is a little bit of a catch.

I know what you’re saying. You’re thinking that it probably has something to do with how Ozzie Newsome looks for players with just as much character off the field as they have on it. He doesn’t want to spend money on problems, and rightfully so because it really never gets anybody anywhere when you throw a ton of cash a an already egotistical athlete who has no grasp on real life. That’s why he signed Dante Stallworth, duh!

Or maybe you’re thinking, “Hey! The Ravens never really participate in free agency the way some teams, like the Redskins, do.” Baltimore has never been a huge participant in the act we refer to as free agency. However, they have made it very well known this this off-season, the team plans to delve it’s isotoners deep into the free agency barrel in order to haul in the missing pieces to a world championship team.

But really, neither of those reasons, or any of the other reasons that I didn’t mention, but knew you were thinking, are correct. Instead, it’s because the NFL has outsmarted those teams that thought they would have no trouble fielding a contender, and then turning around and throwing huge dollars at stopgap players in order to win a championship. The NFL saw this uncapped season coming; It was of very little surprise to anybody, NFL or Players’ Union, when no new collective bargaining agreement was settled upon. And so, like every good Disney villain does, the NFL set stipulations in order to control good teams.

So, here’s the slight problem for Baltimore. The rule says that if a team reached the divisional round of the playoffs last January, as they Ravens did, then that team loses the ability to sign a free agent with no questions asked. Instead, it can only sign a free agent if it loses one of its own. This is not an all-you-can-eat free agency buffet; There is no freeloading allowed.

Now, you’re really kicking yourself. Damn it, why did the Ravens have to beat the Patriots??

Will Fabian Washington be allowed to sign elsewhere in order for the Ravens to obtain a receiver like Vincent Jackson?

So now we’re left with a good question. Who will Baltimore be willing to let walk in order to free up free agency moves?

Will it be Fabian Washington? No, not a great idea.

Or how about Frank “Let Him Walk” Walker? Hmmm… it would be a good excuse to tell him to kick rocks.

Maybe it will be L.J. “I’m Made Of Glass And Haven’t Played In So Long I Forget What Color The Field Is” Smith. Forget excuses, this guy should be long gone, with our without the free agency rule.

Whoever it is, the Ravens are going to have to part ways in order to make a run at a player like Brandon Marshall or Antrell Rolle. This is not to say that the decision to keep a player like David Tyree instead of attempting to sign Vincent Jackson will be a brain buster, but the cards have to be played right when it comes to making contract offers. Tyree costs a lot less than Jackson, and money has to be taken into some sort of account. We’re not all as fortunate (and as football ignorant, thank goodness) as Dan Snyder.

Regardless, the Ravens should be able to figure out the new rules; Ozzie has already stated that he looks at it as a new, exciting challenge. Honestly, he has the right frame of mind. The rules aren’t changing, and the Ravens were good enough last season to have to play the off-season game with stipulations. How they attempt to maneuver should be another part of the fun over the next two months.

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