Joe Flacco's franchise tender has been lowered by more than $800,000 due to Tom Brady's new extension with the New England Patriots.

The Baltimore Ravens can use the franchise tag on Flacco if they are unable to agree to a long-term deal.

The tender is the average of the five highest salaries at the quarterback position and Brady's new deal takes him from No. 1 to off the list.

Ray Lewis has been hired by ESPN as a commentator, which has been controversial given his history of being charged with murder and later pleading guilty to obstruction of justice.

ESPN President John Skipper said he is comfortable with Lewis joining the company.

“We had an opportunity last fall to get Ray and we debated internally some of the history,” Skipper told Richard Deitsch of SI.com. “Obviously, we decided we were comfortable with it. We must have because we did it. I will tell you we did remind ourselves of some of the issues. We sort of decided that the NFL welcomed him back into the fold and the fans welcomed him back into the fold. I think we are fine with second chances and we think he will make great television. Ultimately, we were comfortable with it.”

Joe Flacco's agent is scheduled to meet with the Baltimore Ravens this week.

Joe Linta has been trading phone calls in recent days with the Ravens to discuss a sit down.

The Ravens will use their franchise tag on Flacco if they are unable to agree on a long-term deal.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said he's "optimistic" that the team will get a long-term deal done.

The exclusive tag would take $20 million of cap space for the Ravens this season.

Bryant McKinnie is interested in returning to the Baltimore Ravens for 2013.

"Bryant would want to come back," agent Michael George told The Baltimore Sun. "He likes it there. He likes the situation, the way it is now. He's a free agent, so it's up to the Ravens what happens next obviously. The intention is to see what the market says. If the Ravens want to do something, we're definitely open to that. Obviously, it has to be right numbers for both sides."

McKinnie began the season on the bench, but became an integral part of the Ravens' Super Bowl win.

"BMac is a free agent, I think the way he played down the stretch against [Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Dwight] Freeney, against [Denver Broncos outside linebacker Elvis] Dumervil, against [San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker] Aldon Smith, I think it makes a statement for him," Ozzie Newsome said. "I think he has a decision to make as to whether he wants to come back and play here."

Ravens veteran receiver Anquan Boldin said he will retire if he is released by the team in a salary-cap move.

"I won't play in another uniform," Boldin said in an interview Friday on NBC Sports Radio. "We have a saying, once a Raven, always a Raven, and I'll always be a Raven."

John Harbaugh and Jim Harbaugh have still not spoken since the Super Bowl.

John was asked by David Letterman if they had spoken since the handshake.

"I have not," Harbaugh said. "We have not had a conversation since. We will -- soon."

Haloti Ngata avoided suffering a serious injury during the Super Bowl.

An MRI conducted on his knee on Thursday revealed a sprained MCL.

“Nothing serious with Haloti,” John Harbaugh said, via the team’s website. “There are some things in there we’ll just have to see. It won’t be anything that should keep him out of training camp or anything like that.”

Before the Baltimore Ravens kicked off to the San Francisco 49ers at the end of the Super Bowl, Joe Flacco searched for someone from the sidelines to tackle Ted Ginn Jr. should he break free toward the end zone.

Flacco solicited Dennis Pitta, as well as offensive linemen, to interfere with the play if need be.

The NFL has strict rules against interference for obvious reasons, citing it as an "unfair act."

Super Bowl XLVII was the most watched television event in United States' history.

Nielsen is reporting that the game posted a 48.1 rating and 71 share in its measurement of the biggest cities in the country.

Last year's game did a 47.9 percent rating and was the previous record holder.

The final half hour of the game did a 52.4 rating and a 75 share.

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers by a final score of 34-31 to win Super Bowl XLVII.

Joe Flacco was named MVP, going 22-for-33 for 287 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Flacco found Anquan Boldin six times for 104 yards for a touchdown, while also connecting with Jacoby Jones and Dennis Pitta for scores.

Jones also started the third quarter with a 108-yard kickoff return that gave the Ravens a 28-13 lead.

The 49ers scored 17 unanswered points following a 34 minute delay in the game to a power outage at the Superdome.

The 49ers had a chance to tie the game at 31 following a 15-yard Colin Kaepernick touchdown run, but failed on their two-point conversion attempt.

San Francisco also had an opportunity to score the go-ahead touchdown inside the final minutes of the game with a first and goal on the Ravens' five-yard line, but were unsuccessful.

Kaepernick finished the game 16-for-28 for 302 yards, one touchdown and one interception passing, along with 62 yards rushing. 

Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis and Frank Gore each eclipsed the 100-yard mark.