Standing at his locker inside team headquarters, Ravens inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe made it abundantly clear that he prefers to remain in Baltimore when he becomes a free agent in March.

Ellerbe has established himself as a valuable defender for the NFL’s 17th ranked defense, ranking second on the team with 89 tackles while also recording 4 1/2 sacks as an inside blitzer.

Now, it’s up in the air whether the Ravens will be able to afford Ellerbe as an unrestricted free agent or if he’ll wind up playing in another NFL city next season.

“I know the defense, I love the city, I know people here, I have a good relationship with coaches, I know the playbook,” Ellerbe said. “Everything that I could possibly want is here, but it a business. It not up to me. If it was up to me, I be here.”

With star middle linebacker Ray Lewis retiring after this season, which will create $4.35 million in salary cap space, there could be a spot for Ellerbe going forward.

However, the Ravens invested a three year, $10.5 million contract in middle linebacker Jameel McClain last year. Although McClain is coming off a season ending spinal cord contusion, he indicated he should be ready to go by offseason minicamps and won’t need to undergo surgery.

And Ellerbe could command lucrative offers as a free agent despite a history of durability issues as he battled a broken thumb, sprained thumb, left foot and a sprained right ankle this season in 13 games and seven starts. Last season, he was plagued by hamstring problems.

Nonetheless, Ellerbe is talented.

“When he out there, he always been good, Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach said. “He physical, fast, air jordan 6 rings black dark army and he can cover a lot of receivers and tight ends. When he’s back out there, we’re a lot better on defense. Hopefully, we can hold onto him, but you know how this business is.”

When a reporter asked Ellerbe if Lewis was passing the torch to him, the former University of Georgia standout wasn’t enthused about that characterization, saying, “Nah, I wouldn’t say that.”

Jeff Zrebiec has been with The Sun since 2000 and covered the Orioles from 2005 through 2011. A New Jersey native, he was a 2001 graduate of Loyola University in Baltimore. He also has covered University of Maryland basketball and college lacrosse during Air Jordan 10 308497 001 nike his Air Jordan 10 136002 132 nike time with The Sun.

Aaron Wilson joined The Baltimore Sun in August 2012 after 11 years at the Carroll County Times. He’s entering his 12th year on the Ravens’ beat. He has previously covered the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans. Wilson Air Jordan 10 642849 200 nike lebron 11 low dunkman medium khaki medium khaki volt medium olive attended East Carolina University.

Mike Preston has been with The Baltimore Sun since 1983. Prior to becoming a columnist in 2000, he covered the Ravens for four years. Preston is a air jordan 12 retro taxi 2013 native of Essex and a graduate of Towson State University, where he played football.