The Baltimore Ravens have largely been a successful team throughout their history with one of the more respected coaches and owners in the league. Yet, it could be Baltimore, the city itself, potentially scaring free agents away from the team.
The Ravens were one of three teams in the running for free agent defensive tackle Gerald McCoy late this offseason. However, McCoy turned down more guaranteed money from Baltimore to sign with the Carolina Panthers, who finished third in the NFC South last year at 7-9. The Ravens, meanwhile, finished 10-6 and made the playoffs in 2018.
According to a tweet from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, McCoy liked the Ravens and Browns as teams but was less sure about the cities themselves.
While McCoy could have been concerned about the change in weather, the school system or public transportation options, a town’s crime rate is likely near the top of his list. It’s hard to blame McCoy if that was his line of thinking when making the decision.
Regardless of the statistics themselves (though Baltimore has the 17th-highest violent crime rate per 100,000 people in the country), the city has earned a reputation as being dangerous. Look no further than kicker/punter Kaare Vedvik being assaulted last year during training camp for a real-world example. Plenty of Ravens fans themselves have posted on social media about not wanting to go downtown for a game because of the city’s crime rate.
With a bad image and the statistics to back it up, Baltimore just isn’t a terribly attractive city for many. In the world of the NFL, where small differences in contract offers can be the deciding factor on where a free agent lands, the location of the team itself plays an important role. Running back Willis McGahee once bashed Buffalo because of their lackluster nightlife upon coming to Baltimore.
“It doesn’t feel like it’s been five years since college,” a 26-year old McGahee said to the Baltimore Sun at the time. “Coming from Miami, I was used to partying, going out, just having something to do every night. Restaurants, whatever. Going to Buffalo, it was like hitting a brick wall. Like, `Damn!’ Can’t go out, can’t do nothing. There’s an Applebee’s, a TGI Friday’s, and they just got a Dave & Busters. They got that, and I’m like, `What the?’ And, you know, the women …”
In the case of McCoy, the Ravens were offering nearly double the guaranteed money the Panthers gave him. McCoy had also stated his new team would have to be a contender.
“I want to win,” said McCoy to ESPN’s Josina Anderson. “I’m not worried about where I’m living. Wherever I got to go to win. … Everybody’s open.”
Combine winning and more money together and it seemed like Baltimore should have had McCoy locked up. However, the city itself and the chance to play his former team twice a year with the Panthers was apparently enough to sway McCoy to Carolina.
Regardless of just how much Baltimore’s crime rate played on McCoy’s decision to sign elsewhere, it might just be an ever-increasing mark against the Ravens.
