Jets add former Ravens sack leader Trevor Pryce has 0 comments

Oct 1st 2010, 09:35 | FFN-Score: 27 points

The New York Jets signed Trevor Pryce on Thursday, reuniting the former Baltimore Ravens defensive end with coach Rex Ryan.

Pryce will play in the team's game at Buffalo on Sunday, Ryan confirmed, and will likely be used in passing situations against the Bills.

"The guy's a finisher," Ryan said.

Pryce ranks third in sacks among active players with 90, but has only one tackle this season. The 35-year-old Pryce has not started any of Baltimore's three games, but is expected to help New York's pass rush on a thin defensive line.

He was given a tour of the Jets' facility by Ryan, owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum during the media's locker room availability.

"I'm just here for a visit," a smiling Pryce said before Ryan officially announced the signing.

Ryan said the team released defensive lineman Howard Green to make room for Pryce.

Pryce, a 14-year veteran, was a four-time Pro Bowl selection with Denver and played under Ryan in Baltimore for three of his four-plus seasons there.

He was waived Wednesday by Baltimore to make room for safety Ken Hamlin. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said it was likely the team would re-sign him, but the Jets pounced first.

"We saw it as an opportunity," Ryan said. "As soon as we saw they released him, we started trying to get him here."

The Jets were in need of some depth on the line after losing Ropati Pitoitua and Kris Jenkins to season-ending injuries. The move to bring in Pryce might also allow the Jets to leave Vernon Gholston primarily at outside linebacker until Calvin Pace returns from a broken right foot suffered in the preseason.

New York also has the NFL's top active sacks leaders in Jason Taylor, who has a sack in each of the last two games but has played a lot more than originally expected because of Pace's injury.

"He's an amazing player," defensive end Mike DeVito said. "To add this great a player to the team will only help us."

The 6-foot-5, 290-pound Pryce was a first-round pick of the Broncos out of Clemson in 1997 and was a part of two straight Super Bowl championship teams in 1998 and '99. He was also selected to the Broncos' 50th anniversary team last year.

Pryce signed with Baltimore in 2006, and had a career-high 13 sacks in his first season under Ryan, then the Ravens' defensive coordinator.