Vonta Leach is certainly taking his time with deciding his future. While the market for veteran free agents has not been a great one, Leach appears to be an exception to the rule. The Miami Dolphins, New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens have all shown interest in the fullback after he became a free agent. As the Dolphins have decided to pass on Leach, both the Baltimore Ravens and now the New York Giants have contracts in place.
According to the New York Post, the Giants have a standing offer for Leach. The deal is expected to be a one-year contract worth the veteran's minimum. That is not exactly music to Leach's ears. The Giants have no need to sign Leach to anything more than a one-year contract, which makes the situation difficult for the fullback. New York is putting the offer because their starting fullback Henry Hynoski injured his knee and is unlikely to be healthy by the start of the season.
This deal comes after the Baltimore Ravens also put something on the table for Leach. ESPN has reported the Ravens' offer could be somewhere around the $2 million mark, but likely not over a year. They have told Leach this is their final offer for him and he must decide what he wants. Leach's agent Ralph Vitolo has said the door is certainly open to return to Baltimore, but Leach has shown no signs of which way he is leaning.
The Miami Dolphins were originally in the lead to land the Pro-Bowl fullback, but Leach took too long to respond to the team's contract offer. The Dolphins decided to pull back their deal and are denying any further interest in Leach at this time. They are opting to go with third-year fullback Charles Clay instead of making room for Leach.
Leach is a three-time Pro Bowler who jumped on the scene after a successful stint with the Houston Texans. He signed with the Ravens in 2011 and helped turn Ray Rice into the running back he is today. The 31-year-old veteran is likely the best available free agent at the moment. Leach would be a strong upgrade for any team at the moment.
Leach wants to sign with a contender, hence his hesitation on signing with Miami. Both Baltimore and New York could be in the running for a Super Bowl appearance next season, but Leach is holding out for the best deal possible. Both teams are not budging on their contract offers, so Leach most sign something soon.
