Mike Florio

It was going to involve, at a minimum, a projection as to whether or not he'd be ready to go and

in time for training camp week one etc but the ravens took a closer look at this from their perspective when you consider the investment that they were making giving up two first round picks a team that's never given up a first round pick in its history for a player

What are we expecting by way of duration of Max Crosby's time in Baltimore?

Is it one year?

Is it two years?

Is it four years?

They're giving up the ability with first round picks to have two different guys for five years.

So I think part of the analysis is how long do we think we're gonna have this guy?

Meanwhile, Trey Hendrickson's price was going down and eventually it got to the point where it's like, hey, we can get Hendrickson for 28 a year.

We're gonna get Max at 29 plus whatever he'd want by way of a sweetener if he wants one.

and we're giving up two first round picks.

It helps us understand, I think, the sliding scale that eventually the Ravens decided we're not comfortable, we're going to get enough out of this player to justify giving up two first round picks.

Oh, absolutely.

And the word trickled out last week of the effort to find lower level college officials who were willing to serve as replacements because emails were going out among the lower conferences to get the word out that this process is moving forward.

They want to identify 150 guys.

They'll be pared down to, I think, 120.

And then they'll have training camps.

And all of that's going to be happening in parallel to their negotiations in an effort to get a new labor deal with their game officials.

Yesterday, the NFL announced through its competition committee proposed rule changes that will allow a significant expansion of replay assistance and replay rulings

if this year involves replacement officials.