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JUST 3 HOURS AFTER BEING CUT BY RAVENS: The "Cornerstone" Who Led Ravens to Super Bowl Title Expresses Desire to Join Seahawks – Willing to Take Pay Cut Just to Lead Seattle to a Super Bowl Championship

Seattle, Washington – January 2, 2026

Just three hours after being released by the Baltimore Ravens, Ben Cleveland — a name long viewed as a quiet pillar during the Ravens’ Super Bowl journey — sent shockwaves across the NFL by publicly expressing his desire to join the Seattle Seahawks.

What immediately caught the league’s attention was not just the destination, but the manner in which Cleveland made his choice.

This was not a decision about money.
It was a decision about legacy.

According to multiple league sources, Cleveland has made it clear to interested teams that Seattle sits at the top of his list, even if doing so requires him to accept a reduced salary, a diminished role, or less public recognition. His objective is unmistakable: to become part of the leadership driving the Seahawks back to the Super Bowl.

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In Baltimore, Cleveland was never the loudest name on the stat sheet, but he was a key component of an offensive line that consistently ranked among the NFL’s most effective rushing units, helping protect the quarterback and control games at their most punishing moments. At 6-foot-6 and 355 pounds, his physical presence and relentless style made him the type of player a locker room trusts — even when box scores fail to capture his full value.

“I’ve walked through the harshest roads this league has to offer to reach the Super Bowl — and I understand that journey isn’t measured by highlights or pretty numbers,” Cleveland said. “If Seattle needs someone willing to sacrifice money, role, or even attention to help this group return to where it belongs, I’ll do that without hesitation.”

At this moment, Seattle represents the right environment for that mindset.

Under head coach Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks are undergoing a clear transformation — younger, more disciplined, and increasingly confident that they are entering a championship-caliber window. Internally, the organization believes the talent is already in place, but that one authoritative voice up front could make the difference between progress and contention.

That is where Cleveland’s value becomes most evident.

One NFC personnel executive summarized it succinctly:

“Ben Cleveland doesn’t just bring strength. He brings standards.”

For the Seahawks, the pursuit sends a clear message about ambition. For Cleveland, this is not an attempt to quietly extend a career, but an opportunity to close it with purpose and volume.

Three hours after being released, Ben Cleveland made his choice.
Now, Seattle waits to see whether that choice becomes destiny.

Iran Threatens to Destroy Oil Infrastructure Tied to the US After Strategic Island Attack
Saturday, March 14, 2026  Iran has warned it will destroy oil infrastructure linked to the United States after Washington launched an attack on Tehran's oil lifeline. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that the defense systems on Kharg Island had been completely destroyed. The IRGC confirmed that U.S. forces targeted around 15 sites, including Iran's air defense positions, the Joshen naval base, an airport control tower, and a helicopter pad. However, they insisted that the island's defense systems were operational again within an hour after the strike. The IRGC also emphasized that no oil infrastructure on Kharg Island—which handles approximately 90% of Iran’s oil exports—was damaged in the U.S. airstrikes. Tehran reiterated its warning that if its energy infrastructure were attacked, all oil facilities in the region that benefit the U.S. and its allies would be "set ablaze and destroyed." A spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Command also warned that Tehran would turn all oil infrastructure linked to the U.S. across the Middle East into "ashes" if any of Iran's facilities were attacked. On March 13, President Donald Trump reaffirmed his previous statement that the U.S. military campaign against Iran was "far exceeding expectations." However, he declined to provide any specific timeline for the end of the conflict. RELATED STORIESWhat Will Happen When the U.S. Strikes Iran’s “Crown Jewel” Island?Trump stated that the war would continue “for as long as necessary.” When asked about the concept of “unconditional surrender” that he expected from Tehran, the U.S. president responded that it meant "we are in an overwhelmingly strong position like never before." In a post on social media, Trump declared that Iran had been "completely defeated" in the U.S. and Israeli military campaign. He claimed that Iran sought a deal, despite Iranian officials asserting that they would continue the war. “Fake news doesn’t want to report on how well the U.S. military is doing against Iran, a country that has been completely defeated and wants a deal—but not one I will accept!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Kharg Island: The Heart of Iran’s Oil ExportsThe island of Kharg, a small strip of land roughly 8 km off Iran's coast, had remained relatively untouched in the first two weeks of the war. Located in the northern Persian Gulf, Kharg is crucial to Iran's oil export system and a significant revenue source for the Tehran government. Approximately 90-95% of Iran’s crude oil exports—around 1.7 million barrels per day in 2025—pass through Kharg before reaching international markets. Kharg is connected by pipelines to major oil fields on Iran's mainland and has large deep-water ports capable of handling some of the world’s largest oil tankers. This infrastructure allows Iran to efficiently transport crude oil to buyers, particularly in Asia.