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Ravens

Ravens-Redskins Preview: Conservative will be the Theme

Luke Jones

For the first time since coming up short in the AFC Championship in Pittsburgh last January, the Ravens will take the field at M&T Bank Stadium in their preseason opener against the Washington Redskins on Thursday night. While doubts surround the wide receiver position and an elite defense adjusts to a new coordinator at the helm, expectations run high for a team that finished 11-5 a year ago under first-year coach John Harbaugh.  Second-year quarterback Joe Flacco will look to build upon a remarkable rookie season that included two road playoff victories and is expected to take a larger role in the offensive game plan. Thursday will be the first—albeit small—step in gauging Flacco’s progression from  rookie to incumbent starter. “In the preseason, I want [Flacco] to throw completions,” offensive coordinator Cam Camerson said.  “That could be up the field [or] underneath.  I want to see completions inside the numbers, up the field, sideline to sideline. That’s what we’re going to try to do this preseason. For us to improve our offense, we’ve got to throw the football better. Obviously, it starts with the quarterback.” It will be difficult to get an accurate picture of the passing offense considering the

Hey Baltimore: Where is the fight in you on this Art Modell issue?

Nestor Aparicio

I am a little embarrassed to be from Baltimore these days. And it has nothing to do with the 30,000 Red Sox fans who invaded the Inner Harbor two weeks ago. Look, no one loves the city or the sports teams or the “culture” of Baltimore more than me and I dare you to find someone who has displayed more civic pride over the last 25 years in the sports circle here than me and/or WNST.net. But, honestly, I don’t know what that’s worth these days. Every Facebook user and tweeter I can find within earshot all share the same opinion: DAMN, I’m glad it’s football season! Hear, hear… Yet the man who brought the team here, Art Modell, continues to be coldly left out of the Hall of Fame and no one here seems to be interested in picking up the torch and taking the slight a little more “seriously” or “personally” as a civic cause. As a community, we were the city that fought desperately and embarrassingly through the loss of the Colts and the frequent use of our metropolis and tax payers by the NFL machine as a $20 hooker for more than a dozen years. The

Ravens should end Vick speculation now: Just officially say “no thanks”

Nestor Aparicio

Chris Mortensen of ESPN has opined this morning — with speculation, and nothing more — that the Ravens might be a very interested suitor in Michael Vick. Personally, I think it’s hogwash and one source from the organization has already told me it’s not even close to the truth. There has been no indication at all that the Ravens have their sights on Michael Vick, nor should they in my opinion. Barring some miracle, mystery rendezvous that Ozzie Newsome has been doing behind the scenes this almost seems outlandish. Really, what’s the upside here for a team that was four minutes away and one drive from going to the Super Bowl in late January? This would be a major late training camp summer distraction for a guy who will have the PETA police and any other dog-lover and convict-hater out in full force in a protest of the organization, league and all things Vick in general. All of this for a guy who had trouble running real offenses in Atlanta and a guy who — on his best day — would be a No. 2 banana in Baltimore behind Joe Flacco and drive the team and the city to distraction?

Live From Westminster: Mason dislocates finger, causes a scare

Luke Jones

4:06 p.m. — With Harbaugh not revealing any plans on which injured players will suit up and play on Thursday, here are some thoughts on the players in question. Demetrius Williams will play if he feels good during the team walk-through tomorrow.  He’s pushed through a hamstring issue for most of camp. Todd Heap’s lower back has tightened up over the last couple days, but there’s still a chance he’ll play.  Heap had not missed a practice before sitting out yesterday. Jared Gaither is still bothered by the shoulder/neck issue, but he took part in plenty of live reps yesterday morning.  He wants to play on Thursday, but it’ll depend how he feels during the walk-through. Derrick Mason suffered a dislocated finger this morning during practice.  I’d be surprised if he plays, and if he does, I’ll predict he’s nothing more than a decoy. Ben Grubbs continues to battle an ankle issue dating back to the offseason.  He participated in the early portion of practice today, but David Hale took his place at left guard.  He’s questionable. Marshal Yanda was given the day off today and is far ahead of schedule compared to where most people predicted he’d be at

Cleveland continues to show why manure is Brown

Nestor Aparicio

(UPDATE: The blogger who inspired this piece and who said Rod Woodson entered the “Hall of Shame” for mentioning Art Modell in his induction speech was on Limited Access on Tuesday. The audio is in the audio vault.) As I have opined many times, I believe the powers that be in the NFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame want no part of Art Modell being rightfully enshrined in Canton, Ohio for one glaring reason: the proximity of the induction ceremonies to Cleveland. As was witnessed on Saturday night when Rod Woodson had the audicity to utter the words “Art Modell” within an earshot of both the Hall and the Cuyahoga River — the natives there are all but ready to roll into Canton and wreck the weekend for everyone if Modell were to be enshrined while he’s alive. Why would the NFL lords and the Pro Football Hall of Fame want to deal with a very cranky and messy local contingent on their biggest weekend and promotional arm on the year? Answer: They wouldn’t and won’t. And most of the people who would fight for Modell’s place in Canton are already dead. Pete Rozelle and the men of

Live from Westminster: Practicing in the heat, no celebs in the morning

Luke Jones

4:53 p.m. — Harbaugh was wearing what appeared to be a new shirt this afternoon at practice.  The phrase “Mighty Men of Baltimore” appears on the front.  This was a phrase Harbaugh began using last season, and I’ve even seen one or two players wearing the same shirt walking through the hotel lobby this afternoon. 4:22 p.m. — The team will hold their last full day of workouts tomorrow (8:45 a.m. full squad and 2:00 p.m. special teams) before the first preseason game against Washington on Thursday night.  Both practices are open to the public. The Ravens will have a walk-through on Wednesday, but it is closed to both the media and the general public. The team will then be back to practice in Westminster at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday. 4:19 p.m. — Ed Reed again sported a white jersey in the afternoon session, as he did yesterday, but I wouldn’t read too much into it since there was no contact.  Reed was wearing the red jersey this morning. 4:17 p.m. — Jerry Rosburg and the special teams spent a good portion of practice working with the hands team unit. While we’ve mainly focused on the field goal side of

Training Camp Q&A

Luke Jones

We’ve officially reached the dog days of training camp in Westminster, but the Ravens will play their first preseason game against the Washington Redskins at M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday night. The offensive line has suddenly come into question with Adam Terry being placed on injured reserve and Jared Gaither, Michael Oher, Ben Grubbs, and Oniel Cousins battling minor ailments.  In addition to the injuries on the line, Mark Clayton (hamstring) will miss at least two or three preseason games, and it looks doubtful that Terrell Suggs (heel) will play against Washington. Despite the injury problems, the Ravens are undoubtedly ready to hit another team after only matching up against each other for two weeks—yesterday’s fight proved this. With the first preseason game just days away, I’m here to answer your questions or respond to your comments about the Ravens. Just leave your questions in the comments section below, and I’ll be back later tonight to answer them.

Rod Woodson states the obvious: Art Modell belongs in Canton

Nestor Aparicio

9:34 p.m. –Rod Woodson just talked about Baltimore and about Art Modell. “Without Art Modell, old school owner. And I hope the voters get this right — by putting Art Modell in the Hall of Fame, he belongs there.” With that came the usual cascade of classless “boos” from the Cleveland fans in Canton. Woodson shook his head and responded visecerally: “You can boo him because you disagree with him moving them but you can’t disagree with he did as an owner.” He then said: “We had fun in Baltimore in 2000.” He thanked Marvin Lewis, Steve Bisciotti, Ray Lewis and Shannon Sharpe but left Brian Billick out of the speech. This is my column from earlier in the evening: 9:05 p.m. — I sat down to the watch the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies tonight and really expected to be moved by great speeches made by great football players. But before Rod Woodson even got a nanosecond of face time, I was watching Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson having the ultimate honor wearing the gold jacket and entering the hallowed halls of Canton. And as his family rose to his feet and Chris Berman “circled the wagons”

Rod Woodson, in his own words, on WNST

Nestor Aparicio

I’ve known Rod Woodson, the man, since 1998 when he joined the Ravens after heavy recruitment from then-defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis. I had already watched Rod Woodson, the player, for a number of years as a Pittsburgh Steeler and a San Francisco 49er. I love Rod Woodson, one of my favorite people in the sport to chat with about life, football and the “real world” of what it’s like to be a Hall of Famer. I’ll be tuning in today to see his induction speech and will be emotional as the first Raven of this era of Baltimore NFL football gets a bronze statue and goes into the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Here are a series of cool interviews we’ve done over the years with Rod Woodson. Enjoy… [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTCyPSGuS1c[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVVOK1SChsA[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7vzX-37VHU[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWVOnw8aq9A[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owbeTbC4i_o[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_amGs3XAoA[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwM2lVwyfEc[/youtube]

Live from Brawl-minster: Ravens get chippy in heat, Harbs cancels p.m. practice

Luke Jones

1:47 p.m. — As fans continue to wonder about the status of Terrell Suggs and Samari Rolle, Harbaugh is not providing much clarity on either player. “No, nothing really new on that.  They’re both just rehabbing, and that’s where we’re at.” Suggs injured his heel on Sunday, and Rolle is the only player remaining on the physically unable to perform list. 1:41 p.m. — Harbaugh did not seem upset nor surprised with the morning practice skirmish.  He simply reiterated his preference for the battles in between the whistles. “We’ve had a lot of scuffles before the whistle gets blown, I can tell you that,” Harbaugh said.  “Those are the scuffles we’re most interested in.  The other ones are irrelevant.  We don’t mind them.  We don’t want them.  We don’t not want them.  We don’t care about them.  The ones before the whistle gets blown—those are the ones that matter.  Our guys have had plenty of those.” Here are Harbaugh’s comments on the Michael Oher calf situation: “It doesn’t look serious.  He pinched it, as Bill [Tessendorf] put [the injury report] in there.  It may be a little bit of a calf sprain.  It will be a rehab issue for a

Live From Westminster: Cousins carted off field in AM practice

Luke Jones

6:39 p.m. –The Ravens will hold two practices tomorrow, a morning session at 8:45 a.m. and an afternoon workout at 2:45 p.m.  Both practices are expected to be full-squad. Just a quick note to anyone planning to head out to Westminster on Monday to watch the Ravens in action.  The morning practice will be closed to the public.  The afternoon practice scheduled for 2:45 p.m. will be open for fans to attend. 3:24 p.m. — Despite the defense thoroughly dominating this morning, there were a few highlights for the offense.  Flacco threw a long touchdown pass to Mason during a 7-on-7 drill, beating Frank Walker in coverage. Justin Harper also made another spectacular one-handed catch.  Harper must still prove he can hold onto the ball when getting hit, but he certainly has shown an ability to stretch the field.  He continues to share time at the No. 3 receiver spot with Kelley Washington with Mark Clayton sidelined with a hamstring injury. 3:17 p.m. — The special teams practice lasted about an hour, as the team focused on kick return and punt team alignments. Chris Carr, Lardarius Webb, Ray Rice, and Jayson Foster worked on returning kicks.  Punt returners included Carr,

Live from Snoop-minster: Pics & vids of Snoop Dogg in the hizzouse at Ravens camp here!

Luke Jones

7:46 p.m. — Practice will get underway at 8:45 a.m. on Friday morning.  The team will have a special teams practice at 2 p.m. with special teams coordinator/assistant head coach Jerry Rosburg running the show. Harbaugh will be attending the memorial service of former Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson.  The two men coached together in Philadelphia for a decade before Harbaugh became the head coach of the Ravens in 2008. 5:28 p.m. — Happy birthday to Frank Walker.  In honor of his 28th birthday, he was allowed to break the team huddle at the end of the afternoon practice. How did he celebrate?  Walker worked on his conditioning by running laps around the field after practice. 5:19 p.m. — Just when we thought Marcus Smith’s weight fluctuation problem was settled, the wide receiver did not practice this afternoon, though he was running on his own out on the field. With Smith having problems staying on the practice field and Clayton sidelined for the next few weeks, Kelley Washington and Justin Harper will both get looks at the No. 3 position.  Washington is a little more polished while running his routes, but Harper continues to stretch the field unlike any other

Getting down to 53: An early projection

Luke Jones

We’re a week and a half into training camp, so I thought I would give my VERY early look at the 53-man roster.  Keep in mind, injuries are bound to occur and will change the makeup of the roster considerably. The first preseason game will take place against the Washington Redskins next Thursday night, but here’s my roster projections based on my early observations in Westminster. I’ve listed the number of players I predict the Ravens to keep at each position in parentheses. This list does not include the practice squad of eight players the Ravens could keep in addition to the 53-man roster. And, remember, I’m not John Harbaugh, nor will I ever claim to be. QUARTERBACKS (3) LOCK: Joe Flacco, Troy Smith, John Beck BUBBLE: None LONG SHOT: None Skinny: Though Smith and Beck will continue to battle for the No. 2 job, there are no other quarterbacks currently in camp to even compete. RUNNING BACKS (4) LOCK: Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, Le’Ron McClain BUBBLE: Cedric Peerman, Jason Cook LONGSHOT: Jalen Parmele, Matt Lawrence Skinny: It will most likely come down to special teams in determining whether Peerman and Cook find their way on the roster. Cook would

Live from Westminster: Fabian Washington sits out, 'Over 30 Club' gets morning off

Luke Jones

7:23 p.m. — The Ravens have signed a defensive tackle to the 80-man roster.  Nader Abdallah was out on the field during the afternoon special teams practice, wearing No. 61. Abdallah is a rookie out of Ohio State and is 6-4 and 292 pounds. 5:09 p.m. — Another player slowed by injury is special teams ace Brendon Ayanbadejo.  The linebacker has battled a toe injury but is now walking around without a protective boot.  He has not tested the toe in cleats, so it’s anyone’s guess when he’ll return to the field. Ayanbadejo said the toe is very sensitive, and he will take it slow in getting back. 5:05 p.m. — The Ravens will hold practices at 8:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.  Both workouts will include the full squad and are open to the public at McDaniel College. 5:03 p.m. — Harbaugh will not be present for Friday afternoon’s practice as he attends the memorial service for former Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. The two men coached for a decade together in Philadelphia, and Harbaugh has referred to Johnson as a “football dad” to him. Special teams coach Jerry Rosburg will run practice in Harbaugh’s place. 3:42 p.m. — Punter

Live from Westminster: Adam Terry done for the season

Luke Jones

5:09 p.m. — Here’s a question for you: what would the Ravens do if long snapper Matt Katula went down in the middle of a game? We saw our answer after practice this afternoon.  Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata practiced field goal snaps while running back Willis McGahee was long snapping for punting situations.  Both players looked capable, but let’s hope neither has to be called into duty. While the average fan has no idea who Katula is, he has certainly been an excellent long snapper since joining the Ravens in 2005. 5:00 p.m. — Another rookie to keep an eye on is defensive end Will VanDeSteeg.  At 6-4 and 256 pounds, VanDeSteeg has good size and has received a few reps with the starting defense since Terrell Suggs is currently out with a strained heel.  Paul Kruger has been taking Suggs’ place in the starting lineup. He’s just another example of the fine work Eric DeCosta and the scouting staff do every season.  While there’s no guarantee that guys like VanDeSteeg or Dannell Ellerbe will make the team, they are more than capable of coming in and competing—exactly what you want during training camp. 4:55 p.m. — With Oniel Cousins

Live from Westminster: Suggs, Clayton do not practice

Luke Jones

4:51 p.m. — One player I haven’t discussed too much is tight end Todd Heap.  The veteran has looked good out there with no lingering effects from the back injury apparent.  He looks quick getting in and out of his cuts and is hoping to once again become a major factor in the passing game. “Todd has done a really good job in the offseason getting himself ready,” coach John Harbaugh said.  “He looks like he’s getting himself ready to have a really good season.  He’ll be the first to tell you that he’s got a lot of work to do betwen now and then, but he’s done well.” 4:45 p.m. — Dannell Ellerbe is a player to keep an eye on if you’re going to make your way out to Westminster.  An undrafted rookie inside linebacker out of Georgia, Ellerbe was considered a mid-round draft prospect before battling knee issues in 2008.  Ellerbe was 2nd team All-SEC in 2007. He has been so impressive that he received a few reps with some of the defensive starters at the end of practice this morning.  While he clearly won’t challenge Ray Lewis or Tavares Gooden for a starting spot, he could

Training Camp Q&A

Luke Jones

The Ravens are one week into training camp, and we’ve had plenty to talk about, ranging from the Michael Oher signing to the return of Derrick Mason. Mason was out on the field practicing this morning and even caught a touchdown pass from Joe Flacco, earning the cheers from the fans in Westminster. I wanted to give you, the WNST.net audience, an opportunity to ask some questions.  I’ve covered a plethora of topics throughout the first week in our hourly training camp reports and in “Live from Westminster” right here on WNST.net, but if you have a question about a particular player or Ravens-related subject, now’s your chance. Just leave it in the comments section, and I’ll be back tonight to answer your questions.

Derrick Mason’s return to Ravens was never in doubt at WNST

Nestor Aparicio

In what has not been a surprise to us – if you go back to Monday July 13th’s blog vault you’ll see we can confirm this — Derrick Mason will in fact play for the Ravens this season, ending his temporary “retirement” from the Ravens and the NFL. Three weeks ago, it took us about 45 minutes after Mason announced his “retirement” via his agent’s sports website, to begin predicting that Mason would play in 2009 but somehow it’s a major “news” story today. This was in no way a huge upset/surprise/shocker for anyone using common sense and their “sniffer” for facts. The amount of money at stake, Mason’s lack of true leverage (he would’ve had to refund money to the Ravens if he didn’t play) and the fact that he attended virtually every camp in the offseason and is in world-class shape all were clues that we would be seeing Mason in a purple sweater on Sept. 13 when the Kansas City Chiefs come to town. So, while others may take the credit for “breaking” the story today we’ve felt all along that it would be a major upset if Mason didn’t play in 2009. Just this morning I

Live from Westminster: Derrick Mason ends retirement, returns to Ravens

Luke Jones

8:39 p.m. — I had to chuckle when I came across this on JOCKlife, the site that broke the news about Mason retiring on July 13. While Baltimore will undoubtedly welcome back Mason with open arms, the way this “retirement” was initiated will leave a black mark on Mason’s great career. 8:00 p.m. — Earlier I had said the Ravens would need to make a roster move in order to place Mason back on the active 80-man roster, but they will not have to do this since they were at 79 players on the roster. Sunday’s practices will take place at 8:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.  Derrick Mason is expected to be on the field and practicing Sunday morning.  He will talk to the media after the morning session. 2:29 p.m. — The Ravens will take Mason off the reserve-did not report list and place him back on the active roster.  The Ravens placed Mason on the list in order to gain the roster spot on the 80-man limit. We’ll let you know what that move is as soon as we find out. 2:16 p.m. — There will be no press conference today, but Mason will speak to the media

Live from Westminster: Yanda practices, Reed wearing red jersey (no contact)

Luke Jones

7:09 p.m. — The Ravens will practice on Saturday at 8:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.  Both practices are open to the public. 5:45 p.m. — Domonique Foxworth had a nice play in the afternoon, breaking up a pass intended for Demetrius Williams. Foxworth signed a huge contract to come to Baltimore, so the expectations are high for the fifth-year player. 5:40 p.m. — Defensive linemen Trevor Pryce and Will Johnson and receiver Marcus Smith did not practice this afternoon.  Pryce had his foot stepped on in the morning and was even carted off the field, but he should be back to practice as early as tomorrow.  Johnson has a right leg issue, and Smith sat out with cramps. 5:25 p.m. — Despite the rain delay, the Ravens did make it outside to the lower field for practice this afternoon.  Several hundred people hung around to watch the workout despite the terrible storm that came through Westminster in the 2 o’clock hour. There were two major highlights in the afternoon.  The first was Dawan Landry swiping a Troy Smith pass and returning it for a touchdown.  He looks to be 100 percent healthy and has not shied away from contact in

Oher relieved to sign deal, ready to focus on football

Luke Jones

Michael Oher’s long journey to football success is well-chronicled in a best-selling book and an upcoming movie, but he needed to wait just a few extra days to officially realize his dream. Oher officially signed a five-year contract on Thursday, ending a brief holdout.  The deal is worth up to $13.8 million and includes $7.8 million in guaranteed money.  With the contract now behind him, the projected starting right tackle is ready to focus on the game. “I’m pleased to be here today, and I’m still excited,” Oher said.  “I’m very excited that the Ravens decided to pick me. I feel like I have to give it my all, and I’m glad we came to an agreement.” General manager Ozzie Newsome described the negotiations as difficult, pointing to the team’s early start date for training camp and the lack of first-round picks that had signed contracts.  He credited vice president of football administration Pat Moriarty and Oher’s agent Jimmy Sexton for their creativity in working out a contract that would work for both sides. In describing why Oher was such an attractive player to the Ravens, Newsome talked about his work ethic and the responsibility he feels for his teammates. 

Live from Westminster: McGahee and Grubbs off PUP list, Kelley Washington on

Luke Jones

7:39 p.m. — The Ravens’ official site reports that Willis McGahee and Ben Grubbs have been removed from the PUP list, but wide receiver Kelley Washington was added to the list.  There was no word on the reason why Washington was placed on the list. The Ravens also signed wide receiver Thomas White out of Baylor.  White has good size at 6-2 and 205 pounds.  You can read his college bio here. 6:35 p.m. — The press conference was spiced up by a surprise appearance by Terrell Suggs.  The Pro Bowler complimented Oher on his first practice as a Raven and even asked him about the upcoming season.  Great stuff from T-Sizzle! 6:18 p.m. — The press conference has concluded, and Michael Oher expressed relief at having the contract signed and being able to focus on football.  The entire press conference will be up in the WNST audio vault if you’d like to hear from the Ravens’ new right tackle directly. Ravens general manager did most of the talking, but Oher expressed enthusiasm for being a Baltimore Raven. Here are just a few notes from the press conference: – Ozzie Newsome called it a tough negotiation, citing how very few

Ravens sign Michael Oher to a five-year contract

Nestor Aparicio

The waiting is over! Michael Oher will be in camp tomorrow and will meet with the media. In the end, he missed four workouts. He’ll be on the field Friday morning when the veterans all report for the first time. These eleventh hour signings are all-too-common but are a bit of a necessary evil. There’s a lot of money at stake. It’s a real fistfight on the negotiating side and I never pick sides on these and the Ravens do their best to not get the media or anyone else involved. Of course, agent Jimmy Sexton will be bandying the numbers at some point later tonight and we’ll report the signing bonus and salary. That’s just the way it works. In the end, it always gets done. It will all around the league for the other 26 first-round “holdout” draft picks as well. Every hour over the next few days you’ll be hearing of more signings. From Mike Duffy at the Ravens website: “At approximately 9 p.m. tonight, Michael Oher and his agent, Jimmy Sexton, agreed to a five-year contract with the Ravens. The Ravens are one of the first teams to have all of their draft picks signed this

Live from Westminster: Oher signs, Mason placed on reserve/did not report list

Luke Jones

11:54 p.m. — As I’ve discussed earlier—both in the blog and on the training camp reports—the delay in Oher’s signing was likely based on the slotting system that exists for signing draft picks. With the 21st pick (Cleveland’s Alex Mack) and the 28th pick (Buffalo’s Eric Wood) signing contracts already, it gave some basic parameters for the Oher deal to get done.  Oher is only the sixth first-round pick to sign a contract. We’re still waiting to hear the official terms. 11:02 p.m. —  John Harbaugh’s statement to the Ravens’ official site about the signing of Michael Oher: “We knew Michael wanted to be here.  He said that many times.  Ozzie [Newsome] wanted him to be here, and his agent [Jimmy Sexton] wanted him to be here too.  The agent wanted to make sure he did the right thing by Michael, and we wanted that.” 10:48 p.m. — With the signing of their first-round pick, the Ravens have become one of the first teams in the NFL to sign all of their 2009 draft picks.  Others to sign all of their picks include Chicago, the New York Jets, and Pittsburgh. 10:01 p.m. — The Ravens just announced that they’ve signed

Ravens kick off 2009 Training Camp

Luke Jones

The Baltimore Ravens completed their first workouts on Tuesday with rookies, quarterbacks, and selected veterans participating.  The morning and afternoon workouts each lasted an hour and 15 minutes due to a smaller roster needing a smaller number of reps. “Guys worked hard; it was crisp,” coach John Harbaugh said.  “But it will be a lot sharper on Thursday and Friday.” The Ravens announced 11 players would be placed on the active PUP (physically unable to perform) list to start training camp.  The players are Lamar Divens, Davon Drew, Yamon Figurs, Ben Grubbs, Willis McGahee, Jason Phillips, Joe Reitz, Samari Rolle, Lou Saucedo, Adam Terry, and Marshal Yanda. These players still count against the 80-man training camp roster but may come off the list at any time to practice.  Once a player practices, he is no longer eligible for the more commonly-known reserve PUP list that is used in the regular season and requires a player to miss the first six weeks of the season. “We’ll continue to put these guys through a physical, who have had injuries in the past,” Harbaugh said.  “We’re going to make sure that certain situations react positively to the work before we put them on

Death of Eagles Jim Johnson is hitting Harbaugh hard tonight

Nestor Aparicio

I went to Westminster today and hung out for an hour. It’s always great to know that football season is here and the games, tailgates, travel and fun of the NFL campaign is upon us again. (Just to get geared up, I’ve been reading John Steadman’s book, “From Ravens To Colts.” God, I miss Steadman a lot!) I even got to spend some quality time with Lenny Moore. Video is in the vault to the right…I’d embed it here but it’s not the appropriate place for it. About 15 minutes ago my wife called me to tell me that Jim Johnson died. I just Tweeted it and I thought I’d throw a quick note together because I feel like I want to share my “link” to Jim Johnson. And this is sure to get complicated. But let me say that I actually pulled John Harbaugh up after practice today at 10:45 a.m. and specifically asked him about Jim Johnson. And Harbs said: “I’m not hearing anything good. I wish I could say I did.” I didn’t know Jim Johnson. I never met him. But, WOW, do I know a lot of people who do and people who really thought the

Live from Westminster: Ravens put 11 on "active" PUP to start camp

Luke Jones

7:23 p.m. — The Ravens have waived former Terps receiver Isaiah Williams. 6:44 p.m. — Defensive back Derrick Martin made the defensive play of the afternoon, picking off a pass from John Beck during 7-on-7 drills. Only two offensive linemen practiced today, Robby Felix and Bryan Mattison (the defensive coordinator’s son).  Offensive line coach John Matsko really worked the two linemen hard. Newly-signed Jayson Foster jumped right in, snagging a pass after signing with the team today.  Foster’s signing was such a secret that many of the assistant coaches had to ask his name on the field.  He wore No. 18 today—with no name on the back. Though Marshal Yanda is sporting a bulky brace on his knee, he was moving around fairly well on the sideline today.  He wasn’t as active as Ben Grubbs or Adam Terry in his running, but it was good seeing him moving around after the horrific knee injury he suffered in Indianapolis last season. 6:23 p.m. — The afternoon practice was pretty uneventful and similar to the morning workout.  It lasted about an hour and 15 minutes, though rookies stuck around for a little longer to work with special teams coach Jerry Rosburg. The

An early issue with Biren Ealy…

Nestor Aparicio

Well, it’s only been two hours since they signed this wide receiver kid Biren Ealy and the story about him allegedly exposing himself and urinating in public when the New Orleans Saints cut him three months ago has made the round on the social media circuit. According to the ESPN.com story, “Authorities alleged that they were drunk, urinated in public and then exposed themselves when the women who called authorities came upon them.” Meanwhile his agent, Donald “Chick” Foret defended Ealy and then-teammate and tight end Kolomona Kapanui with this statement: “This is not an obscenity crime,” Foret said. “How many times have you had fraternity kids who are urinating in public? And this is a case where you had two guys together who went out at night. They came home, one of them wanted to change his pants and he was urinating in what he thought was a secluded area and a young lady walked up on him and he overreacted verbally. “But never, ever, ever, did either of these young men threaten, intimidate or expose themselves to anyone.” I’m sure Ozzie Newsome must’ve googled Biren Ealy but feel free to click the link and read the allegations for

Harbaugh kicks off his second training camp with questions at receiver

Luke Jones

Less than 24 hours after newly-signed receiver Drew Bennett abruptly announced his retirement, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was disappointed but reiterated the Ravens would move on with the players they already have. Bennett retired after an arthritic condition caused his knee to swell up after working out and signing a contract with the Ravens on Friday.  The eight-year veteran spent most of his career with the Tennessee Titans but spent his final two seasons in St. Louis with the Rams.  Bennett is the second Ravens wide receiver to retire in the last two weeks, though Derrick Mason’s absence clearly has a much bigger impact on the offense. “I think that’s why you put guys through a workout at this stage; it’s to find out how they recover the next day and what not,” said Harbaugh.  “[Bennett’s] knees just didn’t calm down…And it is time for him to move on.  He didn’t feel like he could get through a practice, let alone a season at this level.” Harbaugh reiterated the Ravens would be adding a wide receiver but did not mention any specific name, saying it could be a veteran or younger player.  The Ravens have signed receiver Biren Ealy

Live from Westminster: Ravens waive Sypniewski & sign WR Biren Ealy

Luke Jones

8:32 p.m. – Ealy’s dismissal from the New Orleans Saints stems from an arrest back in May.  You can read about it here. 5:57 p.m. – If you’re on the WNST text service, you just learned the Ravens have signed wide receiver Biren Ealy.  Having only one career catch, I’m not sure Ealy would be the signing to “replace” Drew Bennett, but he is another warm body here in Westminster. Ealy played his college football at Houston and played four games with the Tennessee Titans in 2007. 5:42 p.m. – Willis McGahee just walked into the lobby of the Best Western, joining veterans Samari Rolle, Adam Terry, and Antwan Barnes among the select veterans reporting today. McGahee looks to be in good shape, but we’ll get our first look at the former Hurricane tomorrow morning on the field. He was second behind Ray Rice on the depth chart during OTAs, as he was recovering from offseason knee surgery. As I type this, I just saw Kellly Gregg walk through the door. 5:14 p.m. – Lardarius Webb is really excited to get going and says that the sore hamstring that plagued him during OTAs is now 100 percent. He mentioned how

The “Drew Bennett era” ends before it begins

Nestor Aparicio

In yet another weird turnabout of July pre-camp events, wide receiver Drew Bennett who signed to become a top option for the Ravens on the edge has decided to retire instead of report to camp on Tuesday in Westminster. Apparently, he has re-injured his knee and has reconsidered his Friday decision to sign a one-year deal with the Ravens. “I’ve been blessed to have the opp to play in NFL for as long as I have but it’s time for me to move on to next chapter in my life,” Bennett said in a statement. “After returning home from Baltimore this weekend, a previous knee injury flared up, making me realizing that I am unable to play another NFL season. Therefore, I have decided to retire from the NFL.” “After an offseason of workouts and rehab, I thought I was ready to play again, but it became apparent over this weekend that while my mind is willing, my body will not be able to make it through another NFL season.” So, just who are the options left on the marketplace? Matt Jones, Reggie Williams, Marvin Harrison, Joe Horn, Plaxico Burress and Ashley Lelie. Not exactly a buyer’s market. There’s a

Training Camp Preview: Five Burning Questions

Luke Jones

With the eve of training camp upon us, the Baltimore Ravens—and their fans—have extremely high expectations entering 2009 after coming ever so close to the Super Bowl last season, falling to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship. As with any offseason, the Ravens have undergone a number of changes to the roster and coaching staff.  These changes leave behind questions that must be addressed if the Ravens are to build upon last season’s 11-5 record. Here are five burning questions to ponder as rookies, quarterbacks, and select veterans report to McDaniel College on Monday with the rest of the roster arriving on Wednesday. 1.  Will Derrick Mason show up in Westminster? It’s been almost two weeks since Mason announced his retirement, and the Ravens are still trying to figure it all out.  Most believe the “retirement” is driven by money, as Mason made it clear he was seeking a new deal earlier in the offseason.  His contract will expire following the season. The tragic murder of former teammate Steve McNair has also impacted the 35-year-old receiver and further complicates what would otherwise be viewed as a disguised holdout. Mason is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and may not

One draft pick to go: 2nd-round pick Kruger inks four-year deal

Luke Jones

With rookies scheduled to report to McDaniel College for the start of training camp on Monday, the Ravens today reached an agreement with second-round selection (57th overall) Paul Kruger. The defensive end-linebacker from Utah will receive a four-year deal, leaving only first-round pick Michael Oher unsigned from the Ravens’ 2009 draft class. Kruger becomes only the ninth player of 32 second-round picks to reach an agreement. The Ravens continue to work on a deal for their rookie right tackle Oher, selected 23rd overall, but the pace at which first-round picks are signing is likely slowing the process.  Only four of 32 first-rounders have signed, but newly-signed Cleveland center Alex Mack (21st overall) likely provides some parameters for Pat Moriarty to reach an agreement. In addition to Mack, Detroit quarterback Matt Stafford (first overall), Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (fifth overall), and Pittsburgh defensive end Ziggy Hood (32nd overall) are the only other first-round selections to sign contracts.

Training Camp Preview: 5 Under-the-Radar Players

Luke Jones

With only a week to go until the first practices for the Ravens’ quarterbacks, rookies, and select veterans, it’s time to consider what players flying beneath the radar could play a major part in the 2009 season. Undoubtedly, injuries will occur, and the coaching staff will look to the next man waiting to step into a larger role.  One can simply look back to last season to see how critical it is to have these types of players. Fullback Le’Ron McClain, safety Jim Leonhard (now with the New York Jets), and guard Chris Chester were little more than afterthoughts entering training camp but went on to make major contributions to an 11-5 season that ended with the Ravens coming up short in the AFC Championship. Who are this season’s players currently flying under the radar that could be key contributors this season? Here are five names to keep an eye on this summer: 1.  Chris Carr Though this free-agent signing lacked the local appeal of Domonique Foxworth (Maryland and Western Tech) or the pedigree of Matt Birk (six Pro Bowl selections), Carr will play a critical role with special teams and the secondary. The fifth-year defensive back provides exceptional return

Wide receiver update: Ravens to work out D.J. Hackett and 3 others

Luke Jones

After Derrick Mason abruptly announced his retirement last week, the Ravens will try out former Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers wide receiver D.J. Hackett on Friday. Hackett was invited to try out during OTAs but chose to work out with the Houston Texans instead.  The 28-year-old caught 13 passes for 181 yards and no touchdowns in 2008, his only season in Carolina. He has 118 receptions and nine touchdowns in his five-year career. The other three receivers set to work out have not been identified at this time. With Mason and coach John Harbaugh scheduled to meet this week, it figures to be an interesting time in Owings Mills leading up to the start of training camp at McDaniel College next week. Quarterbacks, rookies, and selected veterans will report on July 27.  WNST.net will bring you live reports, audio, video, and blogs from Westminster. luke@wnst.net

Complete recap of the Terrell Suggs/John Harbaugh Press Conference

Luke Jones

Terrell Suggs downplayed the importance of signing one of the richest contracts in NFL history, but there was no mistaking how seriously the Ravens wanted to keep the Pro Bowl linebacker in Baltimore. Facing a 4 p.m. deadline, Suggs and the Ravens agreed to a six-year, $63 million contract Wednesday morning, eliminating the possibility of Suggs playing under the franchise tag for a second straight season.  The 26-year-old linebacker is relieved to continue his career in Baltimore. “I consider myself a player of the fans,” Suggs said.  “I play for them.  I love the cheers that I get when I’m running out of the tunnel, and I’m just glad that we finally got back to football, and that they wanted me [in Baltimore] and I wanted to be there.  Ozzie [Newsome] and everybody, we all wanted the same thing, and we just had to agree on the little stuff.  Both sides compromised a lot, and now we came to an agreement” The deal includes $33.1 million in bonus money, second only to Peyton Manning’s bonus from a deal signed in 2004.  Suggs now becomes the highest-paid linebacker in the history of the NFL, though he was quick to downplay the

Suggs continues his double talk over camp

Nestor Aparicio

Today is the day. Either Terrell Suggs agrees to the deal the Ravens have put forth and becomes a long-term signee or he’ll be franchised at 4 p.m. and will have to suffer with a second year of detainment and a $10.2 million payday in 2009. After telling The Los Angeles Times that training camp is “overrated” two weeks ago, Suggs told Jamison Hensley this in this morning’s fishwrap: “The fans want to see me in training camp on time, and I want to be there on time.” A change of heart? Perhaps…but who can blame him about training camp? Not many are fond of the necessary evil. But here’s the key fact for the day: there’s a contract for about $30 million in guaranteed money sitting on the table awaiting his wet signature. Of course by signing the current multi-year deal the Ravens are offering, it would indeed mean that he’d need to be in Westminster in 12 days. Suggs told the world two weeks ago that the deal was “close” to a long-term agreement. One thing is for sure: the deadline is now close and we’ll know more by the end of the day. Either way, Suggs will

Let the wide receiver speculation begin

Luke Jones

The surprising news of Derrick Mason’s retirement—even if it’s a negotiating ploy—has sent shockwaves through the city of Baltimore, especially for the large portion of Ravens fans that had already been clamoring for an impact receiver during the offseason. While many are making the comparison to Steve McNair’s abrupt retirement in April 2008, the Ravens had more time to prepare in that situation.  If Mason goes through with his intentions to retire, the Ravens will have to treat it similarly to how they dealt with Jamal Lewis’ season-ending knee injury in the early stages of training camp in 2001. Denver Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall and Arizona Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin will undoubtedly come up as potential replacements for Mason, but it’s highly unlikely we’ll see either player reining in passes from Joe Flacco. Neither the Broncos or Cardinals are in the business of doing the Ravens any favors, so unless you’re willing to surrender multiple first-day picks, forget either one.  With Mason’s retirement, these teams will view the Ravens as being backed into a corner, so the asking price would be even higher. The other obstacle continues to be the salary cap.  Mason’s retirement would save $3 million in space,

Ploy or legit? Derrick Mason shocks everyone, “retires” on his agent’s website

Nestor Aparicio

UPDATED 9:11 p.m. — In a turn of events that can only be deemed “shocking,” Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason announced his retirement from the NFL via a website called JockLife.net at precisely 5 p.m. tonight. This much is assured: Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens had NO idea this was happening. And privately, they aren’t as concerned about the announcement as the fan base has been over the last few hours. Honestly, it smells more like a negotiating ploy than a legitimate retirement and Mason’s agent has already responded to the initial purple response of “no response.” But, one of two things is happening: 1. Mason’s “retirement” is 100% sincere and the death of Steve McNair has affected his desire to play… or 2. His agent, C. Lamont Smith, who owns the website that “released” the news is angling to get Derrick Mason the final pay day that he cried out for in another story on the same website back in March. See that piece here… “For any player to retire, he has to send a letter to the NFL stating this. Derrick Mason has not done that,” said Kevin Byrne, the Ravens’ senior vice president of public relations. Before

5 W’s and 1 H

Luke Jones

The first half is in the books, and the Orioles are right where most of us thought they would be—last place and out of contention. While it’s certainly been frustrating watching the Orioles’ inconsistent play, the club has also provided some excitement with the greatest comeback in club history—against the Red Sox, no less—and the unveiling of rookies Brad Bergesen, David Hernandez, Nolan Reimold, and the much-hyped Matt Wieters. The 40-48 record and last-place standing does not reflect the positive strides made in the first half of the season.  Yes, there’s still a long way to go before we’re talking about the Orioles contending with the three heavyweights in the AL East, but as more youngsters join the fold, it’s easy to see this organization is in much better shape than it’s been at any point since 1997. Will it be enough to put the Orioles back in the playoffs in the next few years? Only time—and the willingness to acquire missing pieces via trades and free agency—will answer that question. It will be interesting to see how active general manager Andy MacPhail will be as the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline approaches.  Aubrey Huff, Luke Scott, Danys Baez, Jeremy

Training Camp Q&A

Luke Jones

We’ve officially reached the dog days of training camp in Westminster, but the Ravens will play their first preseason game

Training Camp Q&A

Luke Jones

The Ravens are one week into training camp, and we’ve had plenty to talk about, ranging from the Michael Oher

Ravens kick off 2009 Training Camp

Luke Jones

The Baltimore Ravens completed their first workouts on Tuesday with rookies, quarterbacks, and selected veterans participating.  The morning and afternoon

5 W’s and 1 H

Luke Jones

The first half is in the books, and the Orioles are right where most of us thought they would be—last

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