OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay was, as he put it, almost a different bird this offseason. On his «Big Play Slay» podcast, Slay revealed that he nearly joined the Baltimore Ravens before re-signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. «I was almost — this close — a Baltimore Raven.
This close,» said Slay, holding up two fingers close together. «But I wanted to be an Eagle. I stayed an Eagle because I know we were going to figure something out.» It looked like Slay was parting ways with the Eagles last month.
Slay, 32, was granted permission to seek a trade before the start of free agency, according to ESPN's Dianna Russini, and he was then expected to get released two weeks ago.
But he was never cut and instead signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Eagles. The Ravens are looking for a starting cornerback because Marcus Peters is a free agent. «The Baltimore Ravens were the first team that called,» Slay said. «They offered just what I wanted.