Off-Season Trades Create Room for Long-Term Deals
By "Lock Emin"

Pre-Season 2330 (Baltimore, MD) - A hectic off-season where many moves by GM Mark Thul were questioned by the fanbase yielded a little bit of clarity as the Ravens offered Franchise Player-3 tags to Offensive Lineman Lonzell Fulcher and Defensive Lineman Richard Evers.

'We suspected that these two fine young men were set to explode this pre-season,' stated weary-looking GM Mark Thul. 'Our expectations were more than met by these two. They showed up, put the work in, and now it's our turn to recognize that effort.'

This will be the third season that DL Richard Evers has started for the Ravens. The past two seasons have yielded six and eight sacks respectively, but bigger things are now imagined as he moves to the middle of the line.

'I really worked on my conditioning in the off-season,' said Evers. 'Coaches really wanted to make sure I could spend more total downs on the field, and apparently they're happy with the results. I'm stoked to locked in to this team!'

Meanwhile, OL Lonzell Fulcher will be making his first career start this season, but Fulcher clearly hit the weight room all summmer. His body lacked a bit of definition before, but now it's just one solid mass.

'I just committed to lifting and eating right,' said Fulcher. 'I was fortunate to have so many quality veterans to learn from immediately upon arriving here. It allowed me time to hone my craft, but my time has come.'

The loss of All-Pro Guard David Moore to free agency created a hole in the line. Fulcher will start his career as the team's center, but Raven coaches are confident in his ability to play up and down the line.

These signings are the culmination of a lot of cap moves. Reigning League MVP Calvin Bolton and leading Wide Receiver Leonard Zeller were both cap casualties to create room for this move. While that might be understandable, many fans couldn't get over Thul trading them to their Sundby opponent, the Carolina Panthers.

'Well,' said Thul, 'you don't always have a choice of who shows interest in your players. Moving Bolts and Zelly was tough, in addition to trading away this year's first round draft pick, offensive lineman Tim Cagle, who I have immense confidence in. In the end, however, we needed to secure some of our assets for the long term, because we're always in cap hell.'

Fulcher was drafted by Baltimore with the 11th selection of the 2327 Draft. Evers was the 10th selection of that draft, but he was acquired by Baltimore in a draft-day trade with Houston, with the Ravens sending a 1st and 3rd round pick for his rights.