Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti: Haloti Ngata is 'always welcome back'
Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said Wednesday that he is open to Detroit Lions defensive tackle Haloti Ngata returning to Baltimore, according to the Baltimore Sun.
The Ravens traded Ngata to the Lions last month for draft picks. The 31-year-old had spent his entire nine-year career with the Ravens after being drafted by them in the first round in 2006.
"I respect Haloti. I had a wonderful conversation with him after he was traded. We are going to miss him, but I haven't heard anything about him getting an extension from Detroit. As far as I know, he could be a free agent a year from now, and we may be watching the second coming of Haloti Ngata," Bisciotti said.
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Ngata, a five-time Pro Bowler who won Super Bowl XLVII with the Ravens, is set to earn $8.5 million in 2015, which is the final year of his current contract. Baltimore traded him after the team reportedly was not able to work out an extension with him that would lower its salary cap.
"Who knows? I never give up hope that we couldn't get him back," Bisciotti said. "I talked to [former Ravens linebacker Jarret Johnson] about that when he left for San Diego. Players like that are always welcome back. There were no hard feelings on either side. Haloti is a wonderful guy. I wish him the best, and maybe we'll see him again."
Ngata played 12 games for Baltimore in 2014, recording 35 tackles, two interceptions and two sacks. He missed the final four games of the season after being suspended without pay for taking Adderall, which constituted a violation of the NFL's performance-enhancing drugs policy.
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