NFL

The Baltimore Ravens have signed WR Derrick Mason to a two-year, $8 million contract, including $3.5 million in the first year. Astutely, GM Ozzie Newsome didn’t settle after acquiring Anquan Boldin. Mason is 36 now, but remains a highly effective possession threat, has missed just one game since 2002, and upped both his YPC average (13.0 to 14.1) and TDs (5 to 7) last season, indicating his body isn’t letting him down yet. While his numbers are likely to drop with Boldin as the Ravens’ new clear-cut No. 1 wideout, Mason’s return is exceptional news for Baltimore’s offense.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

New York: Giants SS Kenny Phillips says the team assured him Antrel Rolle was not signed to replace him.
“They made that very clear,” Phillips said. “It’ll be a privilege playing next to him.” Coming off microfracture surgery, Phillips plans to begin running by April. He says he’ll “definitely” be full go by the start of camp.

Cleveland: According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Brady Quinn would “welcome” a trade if the Cleveland Browns aren’t committed to starting him. And obviously, they aren’t. Quinn, whose sprained foot will be fine by the start of Cleveland’s offseason conditioning program, is very available in trade talks. The Broncos were rumored to have interest in him last spring.

Cleveland: The Browns are currently hosting free agent Justin Fargas. Settling on Fargas as a backfield complement might be a best-case scenario for Jerome Harrison, who wouldn’t have trouble outproducing the injury-prone 30-year-old. Fargas might also end up “blocking” James Davis, who quite possibly would present the greatest threat to Harrison’s 2010 workload.

2010 NFL Draft: According to NFL Network’s Mike Lombardi, Alabama LB Rolando McClain’s Crohn’s disease “won’t affect him at all” on draft day. Lombardi compares McClain to ex-Giant Pepper Johnson as a “big, physical, downhill player…a thumper.” The disease may explain McClain’s iffy motor, but he remains a likely first-round pick as a heady, instinctive Mike ‘backer.

2010 NFL Draft: Kentucky CB Trevard Lindley ran forty times of 4.50 and 4.51 at the Wildcats’ Pro Day Wednesday. Lindley ran a 4.53 at the Scouting Combine, also recording a 38.5-inch vertical but just nine reps of 225 pounds. Lanky at 5’11/183, Lindley is a long-armed defensive back with press-coverage experience. He struggled with injuries as a senior, hurting his stock, and is a third-round prospect at best.

2010 NFL Draft: Updating a previous item, NFL.com’s Gil Brandt reports that Alabama NT Terrence Cody only had 22 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at the Crimson Tide’s Wednesday Pro Day.

The difference between this account and agent Alvin Keels’ (he claimed Cody had 32 reps) is major. Cody has likely lost muscle while shedding 22 pounds since the Senior Bowl, and it showed up on the bench. Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy, with only slightly shorter arms, was criticized for repping 225 23 times.