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NFL free agency update: Ravens release Bernard Pollard 03.13.13 at 10:53 am ET
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Hard-hitting strong safety Bernard Pollard, who has tormented the Patriots over his career, surprisingly was released by the Ravens on Wednesday.

Tweeted Pollard: Well Raven Nation it’s been fun. My time in Baltimore is done… Thank you!

Bernard Pollard

Bernard Pollard

Pollard, 28, carried a $3.25 million cap hit in 2013. His release could be a sign that the Ravens will try to retain fellow safety Ed Reed.

Pollard had 98 tackles, two sacks and one interception in 13 games last season, despite playing much of the year with cracked ribs. In seven NFL seasons, Pollard has 450 tackles (316 solo), nine sacks and nine interceptions.

Pollard has played for the Chiefs (2006-08), Texans (2009-10) and Ravens (2011-12). In the opening game of the 2008 season, he dove into the knee of Tom Brady and knocked the Patriots quarterback out for the season with a torn ACL. In the final regular-season game of 2009, he was preparing to tackle Wes Welker when the receiver tore his ACL trying to make a cut. In the 2011 AFC championship game, his tackle on Rob Gronkowski left the tight end with a sprained ankle that severely limited Gronkowski’s mobility in the Super Bowl. And in the AFC title game this past season, he knocked out running back Stevan Ridley on a hard helmet-to-helmet hit that caused Ridley to fumble the ball away. Ridley left the game with a concussion and did not return.

• Cornerback Chris Houston has agreed to return to the Lions, according to multiple reports. Houston apparently has a five-year deal.

• The Lions also lost a free agent, as former Boston College offensive lineman Gosder Cherilus is moving on to the Colts. Cherilus, a first-round pick (17th overall) in 2008, started 68 of 75 games over the last five seasons in Detroit. Cherilus, 28, played his high school ball in Somerville.

Read More: Bernard Pollard, Chris Houston, Gosder Cherilus, Print  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Bruinman86

    Any bets the Pats come calling?

  • guest

    Maybe the Pats should sign him! At least he wouldn’t take out any more of our guys….. Just sayin.

  • Tommy12

    If you can’t beat him, sign him!

  • Schwank

    He’s just a head hunter.  Needs a strong supporting cast to thrive.  He’s really bounced around.  So in other words he’s usually the final piece of the puzzle for teams. 

    That whole team is being dismantled.  Funny too, because Ozzie Newsome has a good rep for managing his teams.  Perhaps they went “all in” last year and it paid off. 

  • Ty

    There’s always practice! Yikes… but in all seriousness, I think the Patriots have needed someone like him in the backfield since Rodney Harrison retired… so it may be in the cards.  I’m not sure how great a fit it would be since there’s some negative comments he’s made about the Patriots in the past, but people can change their attitudes quickly.  If the Jets sign this guy, I’m gonna flip out though lol.

  • Ih8sno

    This guy sucks!  He’ll end up on the Jets.

  • Bad Media Hype

    Grab him….they haven’t had a punisher in that secondary since Rodney Harrison….just be sure he doesn’t injure anyone in practice.

    Before you think you hate him too much to have him on the team think about how you felt about Harrison before he became a Patriot

  • Daysofthenew

    THEY MUST SIGN HIM NOW!  What a presence he would be!

  • Bob_Ryan

    The Patriots should sign him since they need that hard hitting intimidator they have been missing since Rodney retired

  • Keebs

    Why do they always talk about him still when mentioning Welker’s ACL injury. The guy had nothing to do with it. 

    Why wouldn’t they try signing him? We’re so thin at DB as it is. They need a force back there.

  • Willco44

    Besides being a “grade A” jerk, Pollard really hasn’ t been anything more than a Patriot’s jinx!…I don’t see where any of those incidents which resulted in Patriot’s players injuries were really anything more than unfortunate circumstances for those players.

  • Srogan12

    the guy hits like a truck…the secondary needs an intimidating force

  • http://www.facebook.com/derek.lee.82 Derek Lee

    First they make Flacco filthy rich, then trade away their best receiver, and get nothing in return. Now they cut their young safety. Have they gone batsh!t?

  • Anonymous

    They were in cap trouble before they gave Flacco all that money.  Granted not a lot of his money is due this year, but they can’t sign people longer term without getting into serious cap jail.   Bottomline:  they better hope Flacco’s worth it.

  • Ljmel

    Not so fast!  Remember that they practice every day.

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