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Luke Jones

Ayanbadejo clarifies stance on Ravens' decision to terminate contract

Luke Jones

A Thursday interview with Newsday sparked plenty of controversy for former Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, who was officially let go by the organization earlier in the day. The publication implied Ayanbadejo believes his outspoken support of same-sex marriage may have been a factor in the Ravens’ decision to terminate his contract despite having two years remaining on the agreement. The three-time Pro Bowl special-teams player will turn 37 at the start of the 2013 season. “I was a vocal guy and garnered a lot of attention,” Ayanbadejo said to the publication. “I brought a lot of issues with me to the Super Bowl and the issues came up at the Super Bowl. My bark is louder than my bite. I make a lot of noise and garner a lot of attention for various things off the football field. When that starts happening, why do you have that player around?” The veteran acknowledged his play has dropped off in recent years, which was evident late in the season when the Ravens used young linebackers such as Josh Bynes and Albert McClellan when Ray Lewis, Dannell Ellerbe, and Jameel McClain were sidelined with injuries. Ayanbadejo used his official Twitter account to clarify

Pro Bowl RB Rice offers support to embattled Rutgers AD Pernetti

Luke Jones

Ravens running back Ray Rice is offering his support to embattled Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti in wake of the firing of men’s basketball coach Mike Rice earlier this week. Many have called for the removal of top university administrators for failing to remove Rice despite video evidence of the coach’s behavior during practice, which included pushing players, throwing basketballs at them, and berating them with gay slurs. More than 50 Rutgers faculty members reportedly signed a letter asking for the termination of Pernetti and an explanation from president Robert Barchi on why he didn’t fire Rice when learning of the video displaying his conduct. However, the Pro Bowl running back along with other former Rutgers standouts are showing their support for Pernetti. Rice has cited in interviews that the athletic director even encouraged him to graduate at the school’s recent pro day for NFL prospects. “Big 10 doesn’t happen without Mr. Pernetti,” Rice wrote on his official Twitter account. “He has done a GREAT job for RU, our future is bright with him leading us.” Rice also endorsed a tweet posted by former Rutgers and NFL offensive lineman Shaun O’Hara calling for football alumni to stand up for Pernetti.

D&L Window Tinting Morning Reaction Tuesday Top 7 Keys to Orioles Success

Luke Jones

In honor of the Orioles beginning their season in St. Petersburg against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, The D&L Window Tinting Morning Reaction brings its Tuesday Top 7 keys to the club’s success in 2013. To hear Luke Jones’ explanation for his list, click HERE. Drew Forrester offers his thoughts on his selections HERE. Luke Jones’ Top 7 … 7) Darren O’Day 6) Chris Davis 5) Jim Johnson 4) Jason Hammel 3) Adam Jones 2) Nick Markakis 1) Matt Wieters Drew Forrester’s Top 7 … 7) J.J. Hardy bouncing back offensively 6) Jim Johnson continuing success as closer 5) Manny Machado progressing 4) Brian Roberts and Nolan Reimold staying healthy 3) Nick Markakis producing like he did last year when healthy 2) Jason Hammel and Wei-Yin Chen combining for 30 wins 1) Chris Davis having a big year in the field and at the plate

Orioles unveil Opening Day lineup against Tampa Bay

Luke Jones

The Orioles begin their 2013 season on Tuesday in St. Petersburg against the Tampa Bay Rays and unveiled their lineup for the first game of the season on Monday. Right-hander Jason Hammel will take the hill against Rays southpaw David Price, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner. Nick Markakis will pick up where he left off last season as the club’s leadoff hitter after proving to be healthy over the final week of spring training. The 29-year-old right fielder missed most of March with a small herniated disc in his neck. Perhaps the biggest surprise of manager Buck Showalter’s lineup for the season opener is third baseman Manny Machado hitting in the second spot in the order. Machado displayed improved patience during the spring and the Orioles are facing a tough left-hander on the mound, meaning Nate McLouth will be on the bench in favor of right-handed designated hitter Steve Pearce. Nolan Reimold will play left field and hit seventh in what’s likely an effort to keep the pressure off the outfielder in the same way that Showalter has elected to put second baseman Brian Roberts in the No. 9 spot in the lineup to begin the season.

Ravens safety Thompson suspended for violating substance abuse policy

Luke Jones

Ravens safety Christian Thompson has been suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season due to violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, the league announced Monday. The 2012 fourth-round pick out of South Carolina State will be suspended without pay but will remain eligible to participate in organized team activities, training camp, and all preseason games before his suspension goes into effect at the start of the regular season. At that point, Thompson will not be allowed at the team’s training facility in Owings Mills. “We have been aware of this situation for some time,” general manager Ozzie Newsome told the team’s official website on Monday. The free-agent addition of veteran safety Michael Huff makes the news of Thompson’s suspension less severe as Huff and veteran James Ihedigbo are projected to start at free safety and strong safety respectively. The Ravens are also expected to take a long look at a deep class of rookie safeties in this month’s draft. Active for seven games in his rookie season before being placed on season-ending injured reserve with a knee injury on Nov. 17, Thompson held a role on special teams in limited duty and did not record a tackle

Orioles officially place three more on DL to begin season

Luke Jones

The Orioles have officially placed three more players on the 15-day disabled list to begin the 2013 season after sending right-handed pitcher Chris Tillman there a few days ago. Infielder Wilson Betemit (right knee ligament sprain) and pitchers Steve Johnson (right lat strain) and Tsuyoshi Wada (left elbow surgery) were sent to the DL on Sunday as the Orioles finalized their 25-man roster to begin the season. Betemit’s placement is retroactive to March 26 as the veteran hopes to return to action in six to eight weeks after suffering a torn PCL. Wada isn’t expected to return until late May or early June as he continues to rehab from last season’s Tommy John surgery. Baltimore hopes Johnson can return soon and begin pitching for Triple-A Norfolk to begin the season after resting his back. He would be eligible to return from the disabled list next Sunday. The club also selected the contract of outfielder Steve Pearce after he was informed by manager Buck Showalter on Saturday that he’d won the final spot on the 25-man roster. Pearce’s addition fills the empty slot on the Orioles’ 40-man roster.    

A. Jones, McClellan sign tenders for 2013 season

Luke Jones

As the Ravens continued to make moves to bolster their defense, two incumbent members of their Super Bowl team officially signed their respective tenders on Wednesday. Defensive lineman Arthur Jones signed his second-round tender worth $2.02 million for the 2013 season. This means that other teams may no longer negotiate with Jones in an effort to sign him to an offer sheet and potentially pluck him away from Baltimore. In his third NFL season, Jones emerged as a viable threat along the defensive line as he made six starts and finished the year with 47 tackles and 4 1/2 sacks. He will compete with veteran free-agent additions Chris Canty and Marcuse Spears for playing time along the defensive line as it’s been speculated that Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata will move inside to play more nose tackle this season. After taking Jones in the fifth round of the 2010 draft from Syracuse, the Ravens could still explore a contract extension for the 6-foot-3, 315-pound lineman as he is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2013 season. Linebacker Albert McClellan also signed his exclusive-rights tender on Wednesday, which was only a formality considering players with less than

D&L Window Tinting Morning Reaction predicts Orioles’ 25-man roster

Luke Jones

With the Orioles only a week away from the start of the 2013 season, The D&L Window Tinting Morning Reaction puts together its 25-man roster in a collaborative effort. You can hear the full explanation from Drew Forrester and Luke Jones HERE. CATCHERS Matt Wieters Taylor Teagarden INFIELD Chris Davis Brian Roberts J.J. Hardy Manny Machado Alexi Casilla Ryan Flaherty OUTFIELD Nick Markakis Adam Jones Nate McLouth Nolan Reimold Steve Pearce STARTING ROTATION RHP Jason Hammel LHP Wei-Yin Chen RHP Miguel Gonzalez RHP Chris Tillman RHP Jake Arrieta BULLPEN RHP Jim Johnson RHP Darren O’Day RHP Pedro Strop RHP Tommy Hunter LHP Brian Matusz LHP Troy Patton LHP T.J. McFarland NOTES: Jones and Forrester predict Luis Ayala will be traded and Wilson Betemit will be placed on the disabled list to begin the season.

Ravens keeping tabs on McKinnie as New Orleans shows interest

Luke Jones

Just a couple days after saying the Ravens were “very open” to bringing back Bryant McKinnie, head coach John Harbaugh reached out to the 33-year-old on Thursday to say he’d like him to return to Baltimore this season. Whether it happens remains to be seen as the tackle said in a text message that the New Orleans Saints are showing the most interest in his services with their left tackle position currently unsettled following the free-agent departure of Jermon Bushrod, who signed with the Chicago Bears on the first day of free agency last week. Former Ravens guard Ben Grubbs signed a five-year, $36 million contract with the Saints last offseason after playing his final season in Baltimore next to McKinnie on the left side of the offensive line in 2011. McKinnie said that Harbaugh was simply checking in with the 6-foot-8 offensive lineman but wanted him to know he wants him back with the Ravens, who have already lost center Matt Birk from their offensive line due to retirement. The Ravens haven’t had any contact with McKinnie’s agent Michael George. “They have other things they are working on, so it’s no rush,” said McKinnie, who joked with Harbaugh to

Former Ravens safety Pollard joining Titans

Luke Jones

The morning after it was learned that longtime Ravens safety Ed Reed would be joining the Houston Texans, it appears his former partner in the defensive backfield will be moving into the AFC South as well. Former Baltimore strong safety Bernard Pollard will join the Tennessee Titans on a one-year deal, as first reported by ESPN’s Josina Anderson. The reporter tweeted that Pollard informed her of the move Thursday morning, and Pollard’s agent Tory Dandy confirmed the news via Twitter. The 28-year-old was released and designated as a post-June 1st release last week, meaning his $2 million base salary remains on the salary cap until that date. This allows general manager Ozzie Newsome to push $1.5 million in dead money to next year’s cap that otherwise would have been applied to the 2013 cap. Only this year’s prorated signing bonus amount of $750,000 will count against the cap. In other words, the Ravens will receive an additional $2 million in cap space in June, which could provide flexibility in signing a veteran to address a need such as how they added guard Bobbie Williams last summer. Pollard will join his fourth team in eight NFL seasons, leaving some to believe

Goodell staying optimistic over Ravens-Orioles compromise

Luke Jones

As WNST.net’s Glenn Clark and Drew Forrester have offered their insight into the scheduling conflict jeopardizing the site of the Ravens’ season-opening game on Sept. 5, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell remained optimistic on Thursday that they would be able to work out a compromise with the Orioles. Goodell said on the final day of the league meetings in Arizona that he hasn’t spoken to Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig this week, but the sides continue to work toward a solution. The commissioner went out of his way to take a soft approach in discussing the Orioles’ position after many have accused the league of bullying Baltimore’s baseball team. “People are working toward trying to find a solution that will work for everybody,” Goodell said. “We recognize that this wasn’t something that baseball or the Orioles asked for. They’ve been very cooperative in trying to work out a solution.” The commissioner once again mentioned the idea of the Orioles playing an afternoon game — shifting their scheduled start time of 7:05 p.m. — that would leave enough time for the Ravens to kick off at M&T Bank Stadium later that evening, but many have suggested the only realistic possibility would

Ravens awarded four compensatory picks for April's draft

Luke Jones

The Ravens were reminded of the silver lining of suffering free-agent losses on Monday with the NFL awarding them four compensatory picks for April’s draft. After seeing a plethora of players depart last offseason, the Ravens were awarded with a compensatory selection in each of the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh rounds. This brings their total number of draft choices to 12, which already included their seven original picks as well as the sixth-round selection acquired from the San Francisco 49ers in the Anquan Boldin trade last week. Last year, Baltimore lost Pro Bowl left guard Ben Grubbs, outside linebacker Jarret Johnson, defensive tackle Brandon McKinney, safety Haruki Nakamura, defensive end Cory Redding, and safety Tom Zbikowski in free agency before signing unrestricted free agents Corey Graham and Sean Considine. This difference meant the league would award the maximum of four to the Ravens. Compensatory picks may not be traded, but the high overall volume of picks gives the Ravens plenty of flexibility to move up the draft board if they so choose. Here is the breakdown of the Ravens’ four compensatory picks: 4th (130th overall) 5th (168th overall) 6th (203rd overall) 7th (247th overall) The Atlanta Falcons were the

Baltimore sends Flacco (not that one) packing

Luke Jones

After the Ravens triumphed over the Patriots in January’s AFC Championship, perhaps it was only fair to send a Flacco to the New England area. On Friday, the Orioles traded first baseman Mike Flacco — younger brother of the Super Bowl XLVII MVP — to the Boston Red Sox for cash considerations or a player to be named later. In a feel-good story, Baltimore’s baseball team drafted Flacco in the 31st round of the 2009 amateur draft out of CCBC-Catonsville. Spending most of his season at Single-A Frederick last year, Flacco hit .214 with eight home runs and 35 runs batted in in 107 games played with the Keys and Double-A Bowie. The 26-year-old played at first base primarily but also spent time at third base and the corner outfield spots. He has a .253 career average in four minor league seasons. Though it was a fun connection between Baltimore’s two major professional franchises, the younger Flacco clearly wasn’t progressing at a rate necessary to consider him more than organizational depth in the lower levels of the system. The dream of a Flacco on each team simply wasn’t going to come true and the Red Sox had an organizational need

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