Derrick Mason Re-Signs With Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens dove right into the offseason last week, addressing their top need by acquiring a new passing-game weapon for franchise quarterback Joe Flacco.

Getting back a reliable old one, though, was a bonus.

Derrick Mason, the 14-year veteran and Baltimore's top wideout the last five seasons, re-signed with the club Wednesday night, bolstering a receiving corps that added Anquan Boldin via trade from Arizona last week and signed Donte Stallworth before the start of free agency. Mason's deal was for two years, with terms undisclosed.

Mason topped Baltimore's wideouts last season with 73 catches for 1,028 yards and seven touchdowns. The 36-year-old was said to be listening to offers from other teams (Miami and New England reportedly were interested), but also seriously pondering retirement.

"This is outstanding -- just great news for the Ravens. Our coaches are happy. Derrick's teammates are happy, and you know Joe is smiling," said Coach John Harbaugh, whose club is one of just three in the NFL that has advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs the last two seasons. "We would have lost something special if Derrick had gone to another team. We've gotten better in the last couple of days."

In aging gracefully, Mason has a string of three straight 1,000-yard campaigns (and eight over nine seasons, dating to his final three years with Tennessee). Mason's 14.1 yards per catch average in '09 was the second-best of a career that has taken him No. 14 on the NFL's all-time receiving list -- he has 863 catches to go with 11,089 yards and 59 TDs.

"We know exactly what we're getting with Derrick, and that's production," general manager and executive vice president Ozzie Newsome said. "Every Ravens fan knows what Derrick brings to this team. It's reliability, toughness, leadership, the fight to win and the want of the ball in the clutch times. He has a two-year history with Joe Flacco that says, 'We know how to produce together.' They are on the same page."

The goal now is to get on the same page alongside Boldin, the Cardinals' all-time leading receiver, and Stallworth, the one-time deep-ball threat who was suspended for the '09 season after pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter charges. Stallworth was released by Cleveland in February.

The trio of Mason, Boldin and Stallworth, along with wideout Mark Clayton and tight end Todd Heap, will look to improve a passing game that ranked 18th in the league in '09. A better aerial attack will make Baltimore's fifth-ranked rushing attack all the more dangerous.

Mason will be ready to do his part, but first things first. It is still March, after all.

"I'm getting myself ready to play football and help the Ravens win," Mason said. "But the first thing I'm going to do is take my family on vacation. I'll see everybody back in Baltimore soon."