The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... The Ravens' offseason program kicks off April 16, and Rice wants to be there as if it were any other year. But it's not any other year -- Rice has had a franchise tag worth about $7.7 million placed on him that he has not yet signed. Rice said on Tuesday he hopes to report back to Owings Mills, Md. on time with his teammates, though he wouldn't commit to doing so.

Diehards Line:"Me and my agent (Todd France) have been going over things," Rice told NFL Network. "We're going to figure out what's best going forward. Whatever decision we make, you gotta protect yourself out there. I look forward to being there. As far as we know, we look forward to being there, maybe under some terms, whether I sign the tag or not. But I want to be there. I like to be around my guys. ..." Rice took exception to the idea that running backs represent a risky investment, given the rate at which they historically have worn down. The four-year Ravens veteran has logged 1,069 touches (852 rushing attempts and 217 catches) over the past three years, an average of 22.3 per game. "Everybody's different," Rice said. "I'm 25 years old. I came in at 21. I'm 25, with no signs of slowing down. ..." Stay tuned. The Ravens have a history of getting these things worked out in a timely manner.