Three Octobers ago, Baltimore swung a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars for left tackle Eugene Monroe. Now the Ravens are looking to ship him out of town.
Coach John Harbaugh confirmed Tuesday that the team is involved in trade talks to move the 29-year-old bookend. The Ravens are holding Monroe out of this week's mandatory minicamp practices until general manager Ozzie Newsome decides Monroe's fate.
"As a coaching staff, we just kind of respond to what happens in terms of front-office type of situations, and my understanding right now is that teams are inquiring about Eugene," Harbaugh said. "And when you're in that kind of a situation, there's possibilities of those kind of things happening, you're pretty much obligated to pull back and not practice a guy. So that's where it's at right now, it's in Ozzie's hands, and we'll see where it goes."
Harbaugh last week showed plenty of faith in first-round pick Ronnie Stanley taking over at left tackle, saying: "He's the sixth pick in the draft. I expect him to start."
Monroe, meanwhile, was cleared for workouts last Wednesday after offseason shoulder surgery. Set to make $6.5 million in base salary this year -- $1 million more than anyone else on the team -- the veteran has become an odd man out in Baltimore, even if the Ravens can't afford to wave farewell to experienced linemen.
Monroe has been an asset to Harbaugh's offense, but he started just six games last year due to injury. For a Ravens team already nipped by the injury bug, the shift toward a younger version of last year's front five is underway.
