Two former Buffalo Bills have signed off-season contracts with the Baltimore Ravens. Wide receiver James Hardy and offensive lineman Andre Ramsey will be with the Ravens through OTAs, and could remain longer should they impress John Harbaugh and his coaching staff.
Hardy was Buffalo's second-round pick in 2008. He suffered a torn ACL in his rookie season, and never found his groove in Buffalo. Hardy missed most of training camp this year with an ankle injury, and was cut at the beginning of September. He worked out for the Seattle Seahawks, Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants and the Ravens during the season, but was out of football in 2010.
Ramsey was a member of the Bills during the 2009 season. He was signed to the practice squad after being released by Seattle, and ended up on the active roster after Demetrius Bell landed on IR. He appeared in two games for the Bills playing extensively against the Atlanta Falcons in place of an injured Jonathan Scott. Ramsey was waived as part of the team's final cuts in September of 2010, and spent time on the Jets' and Ravens' practice squads.
Only players not residing on an active roster can be signed to a reserve/futures contract. It means the team wants to keep a player around for off-season work, and they sign them ahead of the end of the league year in March.