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With the Ravens dismissing running back Mark Ingram on Tuesday and quarterback Robert Griffin III on Monday, some wonder if any of the players can be claimed by one of the remaining playoff teams.
The answer is no.
Teams can now dismiss players. However, exemption claims are not processed until after the Super Bowl.
So, why dismiss them now, when they can just be released after the Super Bowl? According to a league source, some players asked to be released, thinking that someone could claim their contracts. Furthermore, it doesn’t hurt to have a reputation among veterans that the Ravens will get you to market quickly and not claim your contract rights.
For Ingram, no team will claim the $ 5 million contract for a running back on the wrong side of 30. And if a team were willing to do that, that team would possibly pay more to sign Ingram on the open market – especially if other teams were trying to hire him.
He will be a free agent over time, because no one will claim the contract. Regardless, none of the final four teams will have the ability to claim Ingram’s contract for the conference championship or Super Bowl games.