The Ravens have agreed to a three-year deal with fullback Vonta Leach. Leach will earn $11 million over the life of the contract.

The Ravens will release veteran wide receiver Derrick Mason once allowed to under the NFL calender. According to sources, Baltimore will also let go running back Willis McGahee and tight end Todd Heap. The Ravens could also let defensive tackle Kelly Gregg go. "It's a little bittersweet," Mason said. "I understand the business of football, and I understand what has to be done in the business of football. It was good while I was there. I can't hang my head down. I think I did everything above and beyond what they asked me to do when I came in there six years ago. And I think everybody in that building can attest to that. If last year truly was my last year in a Ravens uniform, then I've enjoyed every bit of it."

The Ravens and Haloti Ngata could come to terms on a long-term contract agreement shortly after the NFL lockout ends. Baltimore used a franchise tag on Ngata, but it would make sense for both sides to agree to a deal early in free agency because he currently is taking up more than $12 million in cap room.

The Ravens have decided not to print dates or times on their season tickets because of the uncertainty surrounding the NFL lockout. A team spokesman explained that the team didn't know when the lockout would end, which means a possibility that dates could change. Baltimore is supposed to open their season on Sept. 11 against Pittsburgh.

Ravens running back Ray Rice wants to stick with the team over the long-term. Rice is scheduled to earn $550,000 this season and become a free agent at the end of the year. Over the past two seasons, he has averaged 119.3 yards from scrimmage, which is second only to Tennessee's Chris Johnson. "You start to think about where you want to play long-term," Rice said. "I don't see why I wouldn't want to stay in Baltimore. I've done right by them. I'm hoping one day that we're all right for each other and make it a long-term deal."

Ravens coach John Harbaugh heavily criticized Chicago's front office on Tuesday for a botched draft-day trade, calling into question the team's honesty and ethical integrity. Bears general manager Jerry Angelo profusely apologized at the time, claiming to have made a simple mistake. Harbaugh, appearing Tuesday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000, was skeptical about the team's intent in April's draft, asserting what it had done "was just not honest." "It was disappointing," Harbaugh said. "They can get mad at me if they want, but I'm not buying the mistake thing. It wasn't a mistake. They knew what they were doing. "They put their guy on the phone. They agreed to a pick. They got their guy on the phone. They recognized he wasn't getting calls from the team behind them, and they basically stalled for over a minute, telling us they had called the trade in. They hadn't called the trade in. They said it was a mistake. Those guys have been doing it for a long time, c'mon." When contacted Tuesday, a Bears team official said, "We've moved on months ago."

Steve Smith has long been reported to want out of Carolina and the Panthers quietly shopped him prior to the beginning of the NFL lockout. The Charlotte Observer writes that Smith's preferred destinations would be Baltimore or San Diego because he wants to play for a contender.

Le'Ron McClain, already known as one of the NFL's top fullbacks, wants to get his chance to carry the ball. Baltimore's Pro Bowler has worked out to drop weight this offseason with the goal of adding speed and quickness. "I have no problem getting in there blocking and getting dirty because I love contact," McClain said. "I just want to take my game to another level. No disrespect to anybody, not (offensive coordinator) Cam (Cameron), not (coach) John Harbaugh, not (running backs) Ray Rice or Willis (McGahee). I just don't want to disrespect my game anymore, like I feel like I've done these last two years." McClain carried the ball just 28 times for 85 yards last season, and he added 21 catches for 134 yards.

Steelers safety Ryan Clark says the Ravens must beat the team in order to make it a genuine rivalry. "People try to make this game between the Ravens and the Steelers like so much of a rivalry, of a fight, you know," Clark told KDKA-FM in Pittsburgh. "You can say it's a rivalry if you like, but for something to be a rivalry, I think both teams have to win equally. The hate between the fans doesn't make it a rivalry. Teams have to win equally, and that really hasn't been the case in our situation." The Steelers have won seven of the last 10 meetings with the Ravens, including last season's AFC Divisional Playoff Game in Pittsburgh. The Steelers lead the all-time series 21-12.

Hall of Famer John Mackey, who helped revolutionize the position of tight end as an offensive weapon, died on Wednesday. He was 69 and had suffered from dementia for years. Mackey played 10 seasons for the Colts and Chargers, catching 331 passes for 5,236 yards and 38 touchdowns. As president of the NFL Players Association after the AFL-NFL merger, he fought to improve players' pension benefits and access to free agency. Enshrined in 1992, Mackey was the second player elected to the Hall of Fame as a tight end. He played in five Pro Bowls and was named All-NFL at his position three times.