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Just 3 Hours After Being Cut by the Ravens: A Former Super Bowl “Cornerstone” Publicly Expresses Desire to Join the Colts — Willing to Take a Pay Cut to Help Bring Indianapolis Back to the Top

Indianapolis, Indiana – January 2, 2026

Just three hours after being officially released by the Baltimore Ravens, Ben Cleveland — long regarded as a quiet cornerstone during the Ravens’ Super Bowl run — sent a ripple through the NFL by publicly expressing his desire to join the Indianapolis Colts.

What stood out immediately wasn’t simply the destination — it was the conviction behind it.

This wasn’t about money.
This was about legacy.

According to multiple league sources, Cleveland has made it clear that Indianapolis sits at the top of his list, even if that means accepting a reduced salary, a smaller role, or life away from the spotlight. His objective is straightforward: help guide the Colts back into Super Bowl contention.

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In Baltimore, Cleveland was never the loudest name on the stat sheet. But inside the building, he was respected as a stabilizing force along the offensive line — a player who helped power a physical run game, protect the quarterback in high-pressure moments, and control games when the margins were razor thin. At nearly 6-foot-6 and over 350 pounds, Cleveland paired rare size with a relentless, no-frills approach — the kind of trench DNA championship teams are built on.

I’ve walked through the toughest roads this league has to offer to reach the Super Bowl, and I understand that the journey isn’t measured by highlights or numbers. If Indianapolis needs someone willing to sacrifice money, role, or even attention to help this team get back to where it belongs, I’ll do that without hesitation.

For Cleveland, Indianapolis represents more than a destination. It represents a football culture built on discipline, balance, and strength in the trenches — principles that have long defined the Colts at their best. Championships, Cleveland believes, are still forged up front, far from the spotlight.

Inside the Colts’ facility, there is a growing belief that the roster is trending in the right direction. However, league insiders note that proven, Super Bowl-tested leadership along the offensive line remains a missing ingredient. Cleveland’s interest is viewed as an opportunity to inject championship standards into a locker room learning how to win consistently again.

One NFC personnel executive summarized the appeal succinctly:

“Ben Cleveland brings credibility. He’s lived through a championship run. For a team like Indianapolis, that experience changes the tone inside the building.”

For the Colts, Cleveland’s willingness to sacrifice financially sends a clear message — this is about winning, not contracts.
For Cleveland, it’s not about quietly extending a career, but about defining its final chapter with purpose.

Three hours after being released, Ben Cleveland made his choice.
Now, Indianapolis waits to see whether that choice becomes the foundation of something bigger.

Just Three Hours After Being Released by the Packers, 2× Pro Bowl Star Deletes Every Post About Green Bay After His Attempt to Take a Pay Cut to Stay Was Rejected — His Vow Never to Return Leaves Packers Nation in Sympathy
Green Bay, Wisconsin – The offseason took an emotional turn for the Green Bay Packers when the organization decided to release veteran offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins as part of a salary-cap adjustment. But what happened just hours later turned the situation into one of the most emotional storylines of the week across the NFL. According to multiple reports, Jenkins — a two-time Pro Bowl selection and former All-Pro honoree — had attempted to negotiate with the team and even offered to take a pay cut in order to remain with the franchise that originally drafted him. The effort ultimately fell short as Green Bay chose to move forward with a roster reset, clearing nearly $20 million in cap space for the 2026 season. Just three hours after the release became official, fans began noticing something unusual on Jenkins’ social media accounts. Every post connected to his years in Green Bay — from locker room celebrations to photos wearing the iconic green-and-gold uniform — had quietly disappeared. Jenkins had been one of the pillars of the Packers’ offensive line since being selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State. Throughout multiple seasons, he built a reputation for rare versatility, capable of playing guard, tackle, and center at an elite level, and was widely regarded as one of the most reliable and flexible offensive linemen in the league. At his peak, Jenkins was often described as Green Bay’s “secret weapon” on the offensive front. He protected multiple quarterbacks over the years and helped anchor an offense that consistently remained competitive during several playoff runs. His ability to seamlessly shift across nearly every position along the offensive line made him one of the most trusted players inside the Packers’ locker room. At first, the decision to erase those memories surprised many fans. But once reports surfaced that Jenkins had been willing to sacrifice financially just to remain with the team, the reaction across Packers Nation quickly shifted from shock to empathy. Green Bay will always hold a special place in my heart because it’s where my journey truly began. But sometimes you fight to stay somewhere and still realize that chapter has ended, and when that moment comes, the only thing you can do is walk away with respect for every memory that was built there. While Jenkins did not criticize the organization, sources close to the situation say the emotional weight of the release influenced his decision to remove the posts. What surprised many even more was the report that Jenkins has told people close to him that he does not plan to return to Green Bay at any point in his career, choosing instead to start an entirely new chapter elsewhere in the NFL. Yet instead of anger, the reaction from Packers fans has largely been one of understanding. For many supporters, Jenkins’ willingness to take a pay cut simply reinforced what they had long believed. He wasn’t just protecting the quarterback on Sundays.He was trying to protect a home he once hoped would last his entire career.