The New York Jets have made yet another splash via free agency.
The Ravens beat the Jets in the opening game of this season but that wasn’t enough to make Trevor Pryce stick around.
The defensive end was released by Baltimore on Wednesday in order to make room on the 53-man roster for safety Ken Hamlin. Ravens coach John Harbaugh addressed the move Wednesday and expressed a desire to retain Pryce. Many Ravens players acted as if his Week 5 return was inevitable. The Jets, however, swooped in to sign him.
The 35-year-old has recorded only one tackle this season and did not start in any of the Ravens' three games.
Pryce enjoyed his best season in 2006, while Rex Ryan was still an assistant for the Ravens. A combination of past success and coming home (Pryce was born in Brooklyn) surely contributed to this sudden move.
The Jets will get another roster boost if Calvin Pace can return Sunday. Pace practiced for the first time Thursday since having a screw put in his foot. He did not participate in the 11-on-11 drill but was on the field. He has said that he feels no pressure from the team to rush his return.
"We’re collaborating," he said. "It’s not like it’s a situation where it’s like ‘you have to play' or 'you can’t play.’ If I feel good, then they’ll let me go.”
The terms of Pryce’s new contract have yet to be reported. Baltimore will be responsible for the $2 million in guaranteed salary left on his contract.
