Baltimore Ravens: Dallas Clark Retires and Ravens Seek Out Veteran Cornerbacks

Sep 5, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end

(87) runs a route in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Ravens are going to have a healthy Dennis Pitta next season, but now Dallas Clark will not be around.

Clark announced Monday that he will retire as a player from that professional team from Indianapolis.

He spoke at a press conference for Indianapolis, in which, he mentioned how special it was for him to be able to retire with the team where he spent nine years.

The Ravens signed the 35-year-old tight end on a one-year deal as a reserve when Pitta went down with injury last season. He accumulated 31 receptions for 343 yards over 12 games for three touchdowns.

He did not produce as well as he could have under Joe Flacco, but I had some expectations for him next season with the new offensive scheme.

With Ed Dickson’s signing with the Carolina Panthers earlier in April, the Ravens are left with Owen Daniels, Dennis Pitta, Nathan Overbay, Crockett Gillmore, and Phillip Supernaw at the TE position.

Pitta and Daniels are the only TEs on the roster who have any real experience. Overbay and Supernaw both have one year of experience from other teams, but have not seen any real playing time.

With Gary Kubiak’s offense, TEs are going to be a major part, so I would think the Ravens are going to pick up another veteran player to serve as a backup.

The three new Ravens, one rookie, could serve as adequate backups, if they pick up Kubiak’s offense during the OTAs. Otherwise, the Ravens would have to pick up another TE before training camp, so there is sufficient time to put him into the offense.

In other news, former Giants’ cornerback Aaron Ross tweeted that he is headed to Baltimore for minicamp.

The Baltimore Ravens reported there has been no deal struck with Ross when this tweet was made, but they are interested in veteran CBs to compete for the third spot behind Lardarius Webb and Jimmy Smith.

Ross would be coming to Baltimore on a tryout basis, because the Ravens have interest in a number of other veteran CBs.

Ross only started four games last season for the Giants before being put on injured reserve with a back injury. I would hope the Ravens would go in another direction.

For someone who will compete for a third spot, the risk of Ross possibly re-injuring the back is not worth what he could bring to the third-string position.

However, Ross is clearly excited about trying out for the Ravens; so if he can prove he belongs in Baltimore, I will gladly welcome him. His injury history still has to be a factor in any possible future considerations for him to join the team.

It seems the Ravens’ minicamps will serve as a time to seek out veteran players to sign. Ross will have competition from CBs Maurquice Cole, Dominique Franks, and Drayton Florence, according to the Baltimore Ravens, as to other veterans who have interest in joining the Ravens or have been contacted by Baltimore’s front office.

With the loss of a veteran presence, Ravens’ minicamps could bring another veteran presence on the other side of the ball to Baltimore.