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In a move that stirs echoes of Cincinnati signing Matt Jones last week, the Baltimore Ravens have signed wideout Donte Stallworth. Like Jones, Stallworth was out of football last year, and like Jones, both missed the season after off-field missteps resulted in a league suspension. (Unlike Stallworth, Jones could have played last season had a team shown an interest.)
The other similarity is that both players could very well be starters and legitimate No. 2 wideouts next season. Conversely, they could also languish deep on the respective depth charts and not make the final rosters, depending on other offseason transactions.
The Ravens are pretty thin at the position, with Derrick Mason a candidate to retire, and none among Mark Clayton, Kelley Washington and Demetrius Williams proven starter material. Clayton has somehow started 37 games over the last three seasons while averaging fewer than 600 receiving yards and catching a total of 5 TDs. Washington and Williams have shown flashes of ability at times, primarily in the preseason.
Baltimore will likely add a higher-profile wideout than Stallworth, either via trade, free agency, or a high draft pick. Brandon Marshall and Anquan Boldin are possibilities. Either way, Stallworth is no lock to do anything for the team.
Then again, should he find his way into a starting role, he had a pretty productive four-year stretch with the Saints, Eagles and Patriots from 2004-2007. In those four seasons, he averaged 53 receptions for 784 yards and 5 TDs. Not too shabby.
The story from the Baltimore team website can be seen right here.
--Andy Richardson
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