An undrafted free agent in 2009, Ellerbe is coming off his best season, one in which he recorded career highs of 92 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

A source said the Cleveland Browns are definitely prepared to try to sign Kruger. However, they will confront intense competition from the Indianapolis Colts, who will attempt to persuade Kruger to rejoin Chuck Pagano, the former Ravens defensive coordinator and current Colts head coach.

According to a source, the Colts have targeted Kruger as the replacement for Dwight Freeney, the franchise’s career sack leader who also hits the market next week. Kruger, a 2009 second-round pick, collected a career-high nine sacks this past season.

Freeney told ESPN he has not yet decided on a list of teams to visit.

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“It wasn’t necessarily about the money. It was, at that point, about earning that respect and feeling like I was respected around here,” Flacco said Monday just minutes after signing the contract that includes $52 million in guaranteed money.

“The fact that they have made me that definitely makes me feel good about how I played and how they feel about me.”

Flacco led the Ravens to a 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl, earning MVP honors by throwing for 287 yards and three touchdowns.

The Ravens and Flacco’s agent had been in talks for more than a year, but the agreement was reached Friday, just three days before Baltimore was set to use the franchise tag to keep him from being an unrestricted free agent.

“Joe’s a Raven in his style of play, the way he works and prepares, and the way he lives his life. He’s a significant reason we’ve been to the playoffs five years in a row, played in three AFC championship games, and now, we are the Super Bowl champs with Joe as MVP,” general manager Ozzie Newsome said in the statement announcing the extension.

Flacco said he learned about the deal while at his uncle’s house for family pizza night. He doesn’t have any big plans for the money.

“I’m not going to do anything crazy,” Flacco said. “All the celebration I can take is going out and enjoying a nice little time with the people that are close to me and looking at each other saying, ‘Man, can you believe where we are?'”

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After releasing linebacker Michael Boley on Tuesday, the Giants cut their veteran starting running back and the versatile Canty as they try to create more cap space while also moving in a different direction following a 9-7 season that finished with no playoffs for the 2011 Super Bowl champs. The Giants could release more veterans before next month’s free agency period begins.

“I saw it coming because of the money,” Bradshaw told ESPN’s Josina Anderson. “Everything is about money I guess, so yes I was expecting it. I’m not discouraged at all. I’m just looking towards getting healthy and working with somebody else. That is all I can do. The Giants fans will always be remembered and always be loved. This is where I started and I just want to thank everybody for their support. Hopefully I’ll be back soon.”

Bradshaw, 26, rushed for 1,015 yards and six touchdowns as the team’s primary running back. However, he has had a history of battling through feet and ankle injuries and recently had surgery to have a screw replaced in his right foot, keeping him out for another eight weeks. Bradshaw has missed 12 games in his six seasons with the Giants but helped them win two Super Bowls during his New York tenure.

The Giants were projected to be $4.7 million over the salary cap for 2013 by NFL senior writer John Clayton and the team has to create space to try to keep free agents like left tackle Will Beatty and restricted free agents like Victor Cruz, Stevie Brown and Andre Brown.

Bradshaw was uncertain about his future toward the end of the season. The Giants’ 2012 first-round pick David Wilson emerged toward the end of the season and Andre Brown scored eight touchdowns this past season before breaking his leg.

Canty was due to make $6.25 million in base salary this upcoming season. He played in just nine games this past season after having knee surgery in the offseason.

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