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Are you going to Carolina this weekend? Join our WNST Purple Pep Rallies

The size of the party crowd kept growing – hence the delay – but WNST.net is poised to host the biggest Purple Pep Rally we’ve ever thrown for any road trip in our history in Charlotte this weekend. Based on the overwhelming amount of interest we needed to find a space big enough to handle all of the purple fans traveling from Baltimore and we’re proud to announce two awesome parties — one on Saturday night at Whisky River at The Epicenter of Charlotte and a Bojangles/Miller Lite picnic tailgate just two blocks from the stadium on Sunday. IF YOU WANT TO BUY TICKETS FOR THIS WEEKEND, CLICK HERE… If you are already booked on the WNST Miller Lite Roadtrip to Carolina your party passes are INCLUDED in our package. There will be no party at the Tilted Kilt in Charlotte — our group outgrew the space there and we had to move the party to a bigger location! I’ve never, ever seen this volume of interest or email for parties. I think half of Baltimore is headed to Charlotte this weekend! These events WILL sell out so please plan to join us and sign up early!!! TICKETS TO BOTH

My Sarasota report: Falling in love with the Orioles and spring training all over again…

I made a fatal yet beautiful mistake this weekend. My mother in law has a place near Sarasota area and my wife and I used the mini-bye weekend to “visit Sarasota” just like all of the ads I saw on MASN all summer said. And you know what? I fell in love with the concept of the Orioles and spring training and Sarasota once again. A proud franchise, steeped in tradition and local lore with the likes of Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, Frank Robinson, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken never saw a training facility like the one that is quickly getting erected off 12th Street in Sarasota. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-bldNihn68[/youtube] I walked around. I checked it out and I dreamed the dream of the orange Kool Aid. No doubt it’s a personal source of pride for the lovely Janet Marie Smith as she once watched Oriole Park at Camden Yards rise above the ashes of a dusty industrial wasteland six blocks west of the shining Inner Harbor 20 years ago. She is now overseeing this long-overdue re-working of the Orioles ways of spring and much like her predecessors, she’s abruptly stopped returning phone calls and emails from WNST.net. Work for a thug,

Maryland mauls Maine, looks ahead to Madison Square Garden

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Resisting the urge to peek toward two big games at Madison Square Garden later this week, the Terrapins used a strong first-half finish to blow out Maine, 89-59, and move their record to 3-0 through the first week of the season. Jordan Williams continued his early domination, scoring 20 points and grabbing 11 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double to begin the season, and senior guard Cliff Tucker scored 16 points in the first half to pace a 23-6 run that put Maryland ahead by 23 points at intermission. Having played at Utah Valley on Friday night, the Black Bears were playing their second road game in less than 48 hours, committing 17 turnovers and shooting just 32.7 percent from the field in a sluggish performance against the athletic Terrapins. “The big thing today is that I thought we executed a little better in the half court, which we were looking for,” Gary Williams said. “But nobody is where they want to be Nov. 14th, you have to keep improving. If you can’t play in March, then it doesn’t matter.” The Terps’ performance from the free-throw line was an encouraging sign for the Terps in the

Maryland hosts Maine: Turtle Power live chat at 2:00!

***Join us in the Turtle Power chat starting at 2:00 p.m.*** COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Fresh off two wins in the College Park Regional of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, the Maryland Terrapins take a break from the preseason tournament (which resumes Thursday at Madison Square Garden) to host the Maine Black Bears (1-0) of the America East Conference this afternoon. After trailing much of the game to the College of Charleston Wednesday night, the Terps pulled it out in the closing seconds as freshman Pe’Shon Howard hit a fadeaway jumper with 4.6 seconds left to give Maryland a closer-than-expected 75-74 victory. Gary Williams and the Terps will have to fight the temptation to look ahead to this week’s trip to New York City and a meeting with Pittsburgh on Thursday night. Maine was picked as the America East favorite by the Sporting News and comes off a 19-win season last year, which included a victory over Boston College in Chestnut Hill. This afternoon’s game will be televised on Comcast SportsNet with Steve Buckhantz and Ron Thompson calling the action. As we do for every Terps game, we’ll have the Turtle Power chat open for discussion, as

Freshman Howard saves day for Terps in last-second 75-74 win over College of Charleston

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Gary Williams had to be having flashbacks for much of the second half Wednesday night. Maryland hadn’t played the College of Charleston since 1997, a disappointing first-round upset that sent senior — and current assistant coach — Keith Booth and the Terps home early in the NCAA Tournament. Current freshman Pe’Shon Howard was only six years old at the time, but his game-winning shot with 4.6 seconds left prevented lightning from striking twice in a thrilling 75-74 win over the Cougars. The point guard scored 14 points and handed out four assists on the night, but no shot was bigger than the falling-away jumper he took after Charleston double-teamed center Jordan Williams in the closing seconds. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvZFbTDL_uI[/youtube] “I knew I took care of the ball [on the last possession], so I know I got a good shot,” Howard said. “And I’m just glad it went in.” Though a November loss for an inexperienced team would not have had the same crushing impact as that defeat in mid-March 13 years ago, it’s never good losing to a non-conference opponent on your home floor. Just ask the Terps, who have fallen victim several times in recent seasons, including

Hey Baltimore sports fans, it’s Twitter not Spitter

The game is all set for Thursday night and I’m all set to jump a plane to Birmingham, Alabama and make my usual drive through the lovely eastern part of the South toward Atlanta for another Georgia Dome visit and a Thursday night date with Matt Ryan and my old pal Mike Smith’s Falcons. Now that Le’Ron McClain has been found innocent by Park Avenue, I suppose we can move the topic from “spitter” to “Twitter”. If you are NOT “on Twitter” (as they say) let me make an impassioned plea for you to try it tomorrow night and follow along (or just follow from the front page here at WNST.net or in our LIVE CHAT) and see all the fun you’re missing by not getting completely caught up in the mobile fun of gameday with feedback. Over the last 18 months, WNST.net has moved from a “little radio station” into the most-viewed and relevant Baltimore sports media site in the new media space. Come see what all of the fuss is about tomorrow night when we crush the coverage of the Falcons-Ravens game. Along with Chris Pika and Glenn Clark, we’ll be in Atlanta. Thyrl will be at HighTopps

New-look Terps have room to grow after season-opening win over Seattle

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — If a season-opening 105-76 win Monday night is any indication, the Maryland Terrapins will be an exciting and, at times, frustrating team to watch in the early stages of the 2010-2011 season. In a sloppy game featuring 56 turnovers and 51 fouls between the teams, Maryland showed superior athleticism to an outmatched Seattle team, yet struggled against the Redhawks’ press, committing 29 turnovers. A 14-2 run put the game out of reach midway through the second half after Seattle had shaved the lead to 66-56 with 11:56 remaining. The Terps shot 80.5 percent from the foul line (33 for 41) in response to 31 fouls by the Redhawks. “We saw some things that we need to work on,” said coach Gary Williams. “We can be a very good defensive team. We are very quick and have the size; we just have to keep working. It’s not one of those things that will change tomorrow. We just have to get a little better every time we go out there.” The Terps were led by their only returning starters Sean Mosley (21 points) and Jordan Williams (17 points and 15 rebounds), who will be relied upon most heavily

Maryland tips off season against Seattle: Turtle Power chat at 8

**Join us in the Turtle Power chat at 8:00 for live coverage from College Park!** COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Good evening from Comcast Center as the Terps are set to tip off the 2010-2011 season by hosting independent Seattle University in the College Park Regional of the 2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. Maryland will also host the College of Charleston on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. The Terps dominated Div. II Florida Southern in a 106-58 exhibition win last Monday. Seven players scored at least eight points for the Terps, and eight grabbed at least five rebounds in the lone preseason game of the season. Of course, the Terps will try to replace the massive scoring hole left behind by the departing senior trio of Greivis Vasquez, Eric Hayes, and Landon Milbourne. Seniors Adrian Bowie, Cliff Tucker, and Dino Gregory will now join returning starters Sean Mosley and Jordan Williams in the starting lineup, but don’t sleep on a talented freshmen class that includes guards Pe’Shon Howard and Terrell Stoglin who are both expected to be a part of the rotation — at least early in the season. While Seattle (17-14 last season) doesn’t pose much of a

Maryland lets one slip through fingers in 26-20 loss to Miami

Opportunistic is a word we’ve used often to describe this year’s Terps, largely because we’re still trying to figure out just how good they really are after nine games. And there Maryland was again, only seconds away from an unlikely 20-18 victory at Sun Life Stadium over a Miami team that had thoroughly dominated the Terrapins in nearly every statistical category. It was setting up to be the biggest win in two years for a program trying to erase the memory of a 2-10 season a year ago. A defensive score, some favorable officiating, and two botched extra points by the Hurricanes appeared to be just enough for the Terps to steal a victory they really didn’t deserve. Unlike their win against Navy on Labor Day, however, the Terps defense couldn’t make a play to seal it as Miami quarterback Stephen Morris threw a 35-yard touchdown strike to Leonard Hankerson with 37 seconds left, giving Miami a 26-20 victory and leaving the Terps (6-3, 3-2 ACC) wondering what had hit them. While the loss does little to hurt Maryland’s goal of winning the Atlantic Division and playing in the ACC Championship game in Jacksonville (the Terps still control their own

Terps run Moccasins out of building in 106-58 win

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — An exhibition blowout victory over a Div. II school won’t exactly tell you how Maryland will fare this season, but it can’t be ignored completely. The 106-58 victory against little Florida Southern wasn’t even as close as the final score indicated, as the athletic Terps ran them out of the building (26 fast-break points to 0) and pushed the ball inside (66 points in the paint) from the opening tip and never looked back. Surprisingly, Florida Southern played competively with national runner-up Butler in a 90-70 loss on Saturday, but that’s probably more an indictment of the Bulldogs than a compliment to the Div. II power. After losing 55 percent of their point production from a season ago — and their top three scorers — the Terps figure to be an interesting team with returning role players needing to do more and six newcomers hoping to break into the rotation. If Monday night told us anything, what the Terps lack in established senior leadership and perimeter shooting might be made up for with the most athletic team coach Gary Williams has enjoyed in years. This bodes well for the press-style defense Williams likes to employ, leading

Terps quarterback O’Brien playing well beyond years

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — If you glanced up at the scoreboard Saturday evening, you might have wondered how Ralph Friedgen and the Terps managed to schedule Morgan State for a second time this season. Maryland (6-2, 3-1 ACC) dominated all facets of the game in a 62-14 victory over a Wake Forest team (2-6, 1-4 ACC) that looked more like an FCS school than an ACC rival. The win makes the Terps bowl-eligible for the first time since 2008 — and after the first 10-loss season in the history of the program. A soft schedule makes it difficult to figure out how improved the Terps really are — though a 48-point victory over a conference opponent will raise a few eyebrows at least — but the next four weeks will provide a clearer picture with the Terps taking on two teams currently ranked in the Top 25. We have to acknowledge the Terps, at the very least, are winning all the games they’re supposed to, a concept Maryland has struggled with in recent seasons. Special teams play and and a emphasis on taking better care of the football have been major factors in the turnaround, but there’s no questioning one

Ray Lewis past, present and future: Will he be a Ray of Light in the future?

The really interesting part of watching all of this Baltimore football history unfold around me in so many ways is watching us all age. I don’t think there was a person in the stadium Sunday that didn’t have some anchor to identify emotions that are tied to the 2000 Ravens and what that Super Bowl did for the spirit and soul of our community during 2001. And there was no one in the crowd who wasn’t 10 years younger and wasn’t thinking about pulling out whatever Whiskey Joe’s memories or whatever emotional bond we all have to Jan. 28, 2001. These stories and memories have surfaced with a variety of interesting and fun comments on Facebook this week but all of this Super Bowl XXXV frivolity – and apparently the Ravens had one whopper of an internal party on Saturday night with all sorts of interesting “fallout” – has made us all misty

Local hoops product Nick Faust commits to Maryland

Gary Williams wasn’t letting this one get away. Baltimore City College shooting guard Nick Faust has committed to the University of Maryland, a significant feat for a program that’s struggled to attract local talent in recent seasons. Williams, entering his 22nd season as Maryland’s coach, has been criticized for his inability to attract blue-chip recruits from the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area, often losing out to Big East powers Connecticut and Syracuse on the local recruiting scene. Faust is considered the 25th overall talent and ninth-best shooting guard in the 2011-12 recruiting class, according to ESPN. The 6-foot-5, 175-pound senior announced his choice Thursday on ESPNU. (Photo courtesy of theshiver.com) The four-star recruit had reportedly narrowed his choices to the Terps, Villanova, and Florida State in recent weeks before momentum began building for his desire to play in College Park. The offseason hiring of assistant coach Bino Ranson is considered to be a major factor in persuading Faust to stay home for school. Faust is the highest-ranked recruit to come to Maryland since Mike Jones in 2003-2004. At the time, Jones was considered the second-rated shooting guard recruit in the nation– behind LeBron James, who went first overall in the 2003 NBA Draft — but never

Ray Lewis past, present and future: Celebrating the Ray of today

People still ask me every day of my life what Ray Lewis is like and if I don’t put forth any other theories about No. 52 over the next few days just know this: he is very complex and leads a complicated and very full life with tons of responsibilities and obligations that I wouldn’t care to list or profess to know a whole lot about. But I’m convinced there’s no time for “down time” being Ray Lewis circa Nov. 2010. And I’m pretty sure that I wouldn’t want to trade places in life with him. Because I really don’t think it’s easy being Ray Lewis. First, I’m not around the team six days a week anymore. Because I’m running this awesome web and new media company that occupies every waking moment of my existence these days and I because I have the great Glenn Clark to chase the team every day as Baltimore’s best Ravens beat reporter, I only encounter Ray Lewis twice a week – on Wednesday during media day and Sunday after the games in the locker room. Despite my 15 years of ups and downs with him, I’m just another guy with a microphone and a

Ray Lewis past, present and future: Is it safe to say the Ghost of Ray has passed?

I was sitting in a Canton restaurant six weeks ago doing a WNST.net sales presentation and out of the corner of my eye I caught a purple flash. There, larger than life was the familiar sight of Ray Lewis coming down on Darren Sproles on the San Diego turf last fall on all of the flat screens at once in a jarring HD highlight reel, then pounding more running backs, belting quarterbacks and creating that beautiful purple havoc that we’ve grown to love to watch on Sunday afternoons in Baltimore. The volume was down but it didn’t take me long to realize that Steve Sabol and a series of former Ravens coaches were doing a roundtable conversation about the career of Ray Lewis and I realized this was the NFL Films special that was shot in Orlando back during the NFL Owners Meetings that I attended. It was the same day when I spent time with all of these same people – Jack Del Rio, Mike Smith, Marvin Lewis, Rex Ryan, Mike Singletary – for a coffee table conversation book I’m working on about the lineage of Baltimore coaching and leadership. In case you missed any of the segments on

Terps hold on for ugly 24-21 win at Boston College

Having not won a road game in over two years, the Terrapins would take a victory any way they could get it entering Saturday’s meeting with Boston College in Chestnut Hill. The Terps certainly didn’t make it easy on themselves, squandering a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter and needing a fourth-down stop of Boston College running back Montel Harris with 1:13 remaining to preserve a 24-21 victory, snapping a 10-game road losing streak. Maryland (5-2, 2-1 ACC) used an opportunistic 21-point first half and a patchwork offensive line to do just enough against a Boston College team that has now lost five straight games. A pair of unlikely heroes were the difference as safety Antwine Perez secured three turnovers — two interceptions and a fumble recovery — that led to 14 points for a Maryland offense that managed just 222 yards for the afternoon. The other story was center Paul Pinegar shifting to right tackle — due to the horrific accident suffered by starter Pete DeSouza late Thursday night — and helping stabilize an already porous offensive line. The unit protected quarterback Danny O’Brien against a stout Eagles defense, allowing the redshirt freshman to toss three touchdown passes to

Reed, Ayanbadejo activated from PUP, Gaither to IR and E. Jones released

Ed Reed is officially back. In a move first reported Friday night, the Ravens have officially activated Reed from the Physically Unable to Perform list, meaning the All-Pro safety will see his first action of the season against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday after missing the first six weeks of the season while still recovering from offseason hip surgery. Also returning from the PUP list is linebacker and special teams standout Brendon Ayanbadejo, who suffered a torn quadriceps against the New England Patriots last October. Speculation had persisted that the team would wait until after next week’s bye to activate Ayanbadejo, but the 34-year-old will instead see his first action in over a year on Sunday. To clear room on the 53-man roster, the Ravens placed offensive tackle Jared Gaither on Injured Reserve and released reserve linebacker Edgar Jones. The move ends Gaither’s season and perhaps his career in Baltimore. The projected starting right tackle had only practiced once since Aug. 5 after suffering a thoracic disc injury on the first day of full-squad practice in Westminster. The roster move ends a tumultuous year for Gaither, who battled a foot injury during the OTA schedule and unexpectedly reported to training

Reliving Super Bowl XXXV glory means so much more to Baltimore

We’re always told not to live in the past in all walks of life, and the devotion to our sports teams is no exception. It’s the same accusation we spew toward our adversaries in western Pennsylvania who constantly bring up their team’s six Super Bowl rings — particularly the four won in the 1970s — as a measure to claim their superiority over Baltimore and its fans. We should always be looking forward instead of celebrating past achievements in the rear-view mirror, right? In contrast, Baltimoreans tend to romanticize the 2000 season in which the Ravens rose from relative anonymity in their fifth season to capture the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The feat emphatically recaptured Baltimore’s place in the National Football League after a 12-year absence had left the tradition-rich city without an identity — or professional football. The lackluster offense and poor quarterback play that led to a five-game touchdown drought left those Ravens with a mortal 5-4 record before embarking on an 11-game winning streak to close the season as the top team in the NFL. It’s the ultimate case study that has provided hope in nearly every season since, as fans overlook the Ravens’ deficiencies — such as

A gut-wrenching flashback for Orioles fans during ALCS

The second inning of Game 4 of the American League Championship Series between the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees brought back an excruciating memory for Orioles fans tuning in on Tuesday night. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmEH7r85yrU[/youtube] Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano’s drive into the right field bleachers was ruled a home run by umpire Jim Reynolds despite the protests of Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz and manager Ron Washington. It was eerily similar to one of the worst memories in Baltimore sports history — also taking place in the Bronx — with Tony Tarasco as the right fielder and Davey Johnson as skipper. You might want to scroll down if you have a heart condition or other stress-related conditions. [myspace]http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=15623423[/myspace] Unlike the blown interference call by umpire Richie Garcia in Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS, umpires are now afforded the luxury to review a home run in which there is possible interference. Despite a fan clearly making contact with Cruz’s glove in the field of play, the umpires made no attempt to use instant replay to see what really happened, if even to confirm Reynolds got the call right. Was it a clear case of fan interference? Maybe not, but it

Special teams gaffes doom Terps in 31-7 loss to Clemson

Despite an encouraging 4-1 start and an opportunity to end a nine-game road losing streak against a struggling team on Saturday, we didn’t know how improved the Maryland Terrapins really were in comparison to last season’s 2-10 squad. A soft schedule — with only a victory over Navy passing as a respectable feat — caused most to wait and see how well Ralph Friedgen’s team would play during a trip to Death Valley to take on the Clemson Tigers, the last place they had won on the road in over two years. And despite a hostile environment at Memorial Stadium, it looked like a win for the taking with the Tigers having lost three in a row. But if the ugly 31-7 loss was any indication, the Terps are far more similar to last year’s team than any of us had hoped. Despite looking like the better football team midway through the second quarter and outgaining the Tigers by 137 yards for the game, the Terps did exactly what we saw countless times in 2009. Shot themselves in the foot. Repeatedly. It started with special teams. The facet of the game that invigorates your football team as quickly as it

Maryland-Clemson: Turtle Power chat at noon

Fresh off their bye week, the Terps travel to Clemson on Saturday afternoon with their sights set on improving to 5-1. The Tigers (2-3, 0-2 ACC) have lost three straight and are desperate to extract revenge against a Maryland team that stunned them, 24-21, in College Park last season, the Terps’ only conference win of 2009. Clemson has lost its first two conference games against Miami and North Carolina. Coach Ralph Friedgen has not named a starting quarterback for today’s matchup in Death Valley, a good indication that both Danny O’Brien and Jamarr Robinson will see time under center. Robinson’s injured shoulder is again healthy after the bye, but O’Brien has played well in his absence. We will see if Maryland can improve to 2-0 in the ACC and make a convincing argument that their current 4-1 record is more an indicator of improvement than a product of a weak non-conference schedule. We’ll have the Turtle Power chat open at 12 p.m. to talk about the happenings in Clemson (the game airing on WJZ-TV 13 in Baltimore) as well as anything else on your mind. See you in the Turtle Power chat!

Questions abundant as Terps tip off practice at Maryland Madness

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — The lavish, smoky spectacle of Maryland Madness tipping off is always full of surprises, from the over-the-top dancing to the unpredictable entrance of coach Gary Williams, this year as a fighter pilot right out of “Top Gun.” The event always provides conflicting feelings of optimism and uncertainty. The distinct absence of departing seniors and the premiere of freshman faces is an annual ritual in mid-October, but through all the smoke and pyro, Williams faces a much thicker cloud of questions this season. The graduation of ACC Player of the Year Greivis Vasquez, Eric Hayes, and Landon Milbourne leaves behind a 43.6-point hole in the offense and an even bigger void in leadership after guiding the Terps to a share of the ACC regular season championship. You just don’t replace one of the more decorated senior classes in the Gary Williams era without significant doubt and tempered expectations. “What we lose [in the three seniors] is guys who know how to play,” said Williams, beginning his 22nd season at Maryland. Of course, Williams is not starting from scratch, returning five players who averaged more than 14 minutes per game a year ago. Junior guard Sean Mosley (10.1

Was Sunday a 'Dilfer-like' epiphany for Flacco?

You just knew it was coming. On a rainy, dreary start to the work week in Baltimore, fans bask in the afterglow of one of the finest regular season wins in franchise history. The Ravens went to Pittsburgh and did exactly what they had been unable to do since 2006. Ben Roethlisberger or not — and Steelers fans are doing everything they can to remind you the Super Bowl-winning quarterback was missing from yesterday’s game — critics can no longer question whether Joe Flacco can win at Heinz Field. The third-year quarterback finally orchestrated a game-winning, comeback drive in the final seconds, even if a major assist went to the Baltimore defense for setting him up on a short field. And with Sunday’s win vaulting the Ravens into the national eye as the slight front runner among legitimate Super Bowl contenders at the quarter pole, I began thinking about Trent Dilfer. Yes, he is still the most revered quarterback in franchise history with the Ravens sporting a laundry list of failures and journeymen at the quarterback position over their 15-year history. With Sunday’s enormous victory, someone had to bring up the Super Bowl XXXV winners and the quarterback who led

Maryland-Duke: Turtle Power chat LIVE NOW!!!

**Join us in the Turtle Power chat starting at 6:00 p.m.!!!** COLLEGE PARK, Md. — The Duke Blue Devils strolling into College Park in early October may lack the buzz of a February matchup on the hardwood at Comcast Center, but Maryland is eager to kick off its conference schedule on a positive note while potentially doubling its win total from a year ago. Ralph Friedgen and the Terps are fresh off a high-scoring 42-28 victory over Florida International to conclude the non-conference portion of the schedule at 3-1. Redshirt freshman quarterback Danny O’Brien made quite the claim for the starting job after a two-touchdown, 250-yard performance in his first collegiate start. We await word whether O’Brien or junior Jamarr Robinson will get the nod against the Blue Devils this evening. While Maryland wrapped its non-conference slate with only one loss, David Cutcliffe’s Blue Devils (1-3, 0-1) only have a victory over Elon pinned against losses to Wake Forest, No. 1 Alabama, and Army in the first month of the season. Of course, Duke is playing with young quarterback Sean Renfree after Thaddeus Lewis finished an impressive career in Durham last season. In addition to playing their ACC opener, the

Bench Flacco for Bulger? Are you people on dope?

In the era of the internet, it doesn’t take long to ferret out the bitchers, moaners, whiners, complainers and bridge jumpers on a fall NFL Sunday afternoon. Being the social media zealot that I am, it’s easy to feel the temperature of the never-ending Baltimore “barstool” here at WNST.net during our Purple Haze live chats as well as all over Facebook and Twitter during games. For an old fart like me, it’s quite compelling (if not entertaining) to gauge the shaky and ever-changing morale of the purple fan base during each possession, each drive and each success and failure by the Ravens. To say Sunday’s performance by Joe Flacco was a hot button would be an understatement. I could only hope that the Orioles 14-year free-fall would have such relevance and concern to the Baltimore sports community. Sure, Flacco stunk. He stunk early and often and looked bewildered at different points during the first half of a 5-for-18, 23-yard first half. The second half started with a solo burst of offensive success as Flacco led the team into the Bengals’ end zone on the initial drive but in the end it wasn’t good enough as he threw four interceptions in

Is Mark Sanchez really a fruitcake? We’ll find out tonight as Ravens visit Jets

If you don’t watch Hard Knocks on HBO, you won’t get the humor in the headline but I have a hunch you will be watching tonight as eight months of sports silence in Baltimore and a revenge game on national TV for Jets coach Rex Ryan should whet your appetite for the deliciousness of the next 17 weeks and beyond. Tonight, the Ravens finally play football. For real… I have been quite silent this summer as the Orioles have continued to tank it en route to a last-place finish but today I recommit to telling you what I think during the football season. I’ve been busy 24 hours a day building the new WNST.net that many of you are enjoying daily via our many means to reach you: the Morning Newspaper, text service, Facebook, Twitter, AM 1570, this very website at WNST.net, etc. The Orioles are winning and no one is watching while the Ravens have been dormant since that dark night in Indianapolis eight months ago but have once again captured the imagination not only of the local marketplace but they’ve become the national media darlings and are expected to be in Dallas in early February by many pundits.

Maryland-Morgan State pre-game notes

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Hoping to build upon their 1-0 start after a 17-14 victory over Navy at M&T Bank Stadium on Labor Day, the Maryland Terrapins will host the Morgan State Bears at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday night. The Terps (1-0) would figure to have few problems against Morgan, the local FCS school from the MEAC that won its opener behind the leg of kicker Kemar Scarlett, who booted four field goals in an unconventional 14-7 victory over Bowie State last Saturday. A difficult battle in Morgantown looms next Saturday for the Terps, so coach Ralph Friedgen clearly expects a crisp performance against the Bears. Despite rushing for 92 yards against the Midshipmen, quarterback Jamarr Robinson struggled in the passing game, completing just two passes for 11 yards despite having a talented group of wide receivers at his disposal. The game can only be seen on ESPN3.com (formerly ESPN360), so be sure to join us in the Turtle Power chat, as I’ll be coming to you live from Byrd Stadium in College Park. If you’ve ever joined our live chats at WNST.net, you know they’re the best way to watch the game other than being in the stadium! Check

Live from Owings Mills: Webb a "game-time decision," Cousins expected to play against Jets

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — With an opening night encounter against the New York Jets only two days away, the Baltimore Ravens took the practice field on Saturday for a final tuneup before Sunday’s walk-through and train ride to East Rutherford, N.J.. Cornerback Lardarius Webb was practicing again on Saturday and is listed as probable on the official game status report released Saturday afternoon. Coach John Harbaugh,  however, labeled the second-year corner a game-time decision, which often means a player will be listed as questionable on the final injury report. Even if Webb does play, Fabian Washington and Chris Carr are expected to start against the Jets, with Josh Wilson working as the third corner. “[Webb has] practiced 100 percent the whole week; he’s done everything,” Harbaugh said on Saturday. “We didn’t rule [him] out, and we haven’t said he was going to go. That’s kind of one we’re leaving up in the air for you.” The Ravens are at least making it sound like Webb might play after defensive coordinator Greg Mattison claimed the second-year corner was “a lot closer” to returning following Friday’s practice. As he has said repeatedly since returning to the practice field last month, Webb will

Live from Owings Mills: Webb a “game-time decision,” Cousins expected to play against Jets

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — With an opening night encounter against the New York Jets only two days away, the Baltimore Ravens took the practice field on Saturday for a final tuneup before Sunday’s walk-through and train ride to East Rutherford, N.J.. Cornerback Lardarius Webb was practicing again on Saturday and is listed as probable on the official game status report released Saturday afternoon. Coach John Harbaugh,  however, labeled the second-year corner a game-time decision, which often means a player will be listed as questionable on the final injury report. Even if Webb does play, Fabian Washington and Chris Carr are expected to start against the Jets, with Josh Wilson working as the third corner. “[Webb has] practiced 100 percent the whole week; he’s done everything,” Harbaugh said on Saturday. “We didn’t rule [him] out, and we haven’t said he was going to go. That’s kind of one we’re leaving up in the air for you.” The Ravens are at least making it sound like Webb might play after defensive coordinator Greg Mattison claimed the second-year corner was “a lot closer” to returning following Friday’s practice. As he has said repeatedly since returning to the practice field last month, Webb will

2010 NFL Forecast: Will the Ravens raise the Lombardi Trophy?

With the beginning of the 2010 NFL season only hours away, expectations have never been higher in Baltimore as the Ravens have their eyes fixed on their first Super Bowl title since the 2000 season. Questions remain in the secondary and whether Joe Flacco can reach elite status with an abundance of new weapons in the Baltimore offense, but contenders and pretenders alike face some level of uncertainty on the eve of Week 1. Easy schedules — and the unsophisticated attempts to predict a team’s fate week by week — in early September frequently transform into daunting slates in the unpredictable nature of the NFL. An injury to a key performer at the wrong position can derail even the strongest teams’ championship aspirations. Inevitably, a sexy preseason contender or two will collapse under fatal flaws, and an anonymous outfit that no one is even pondering as a victor will find itself playing long into January. We just never can tell. And with that digression, I toss my hat into the futile, but enjoyable, pool of forecasting the 2010 season. If nothing else, predictions offer damning proof that most of us (all of us?) really don’t know what we’re talking about

Maryland-Navy Notebook: Questions remain at quarterback

BALTIMORE — The Terps will feel good about their 17-14 victory over the Naval Academy — Maryland’s first win since Oct. 3, 2009 — but a plethora of question marks remain for a team trying to rebound from a 2-10 season in 2009. Perhaps none looms larger than quarterback Jamarr Robinson, who rushed for 92 yards on 12 attempts but completed only two passes for 11 yards. Despite showing impressive speed, Robinson has yet to show enough consistency in the passing game to instill much confidence that the Terps can significantly improve after a disastrous 2009. In Monday’s victory over the Midshipmen, Robinson tossed an interception from the Navy 19-yard line as the Terps were threatening to add to a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter. “I felt like I could have thrown the ball better,” Robinson said. “We struggled in the passing game, but we came away with the win and that is all that matters.’ Maryland’s plight at quarterback might not be as frustrating if not for the extensive depth it possesses at the wide receiver position. Junior Torrey Smith, a Biletnikoff Award candidate, touched the ball just three times for a total of 11 yards, as

Ed Reed to begin season on PUP, miss first 6 weeks

After months of speculation regarding his status for the start of the 2010 season, Ed Reed will be placed on the reserve physically unable to perform list, meaning the Ravens will be without their All-Pro safety for at least the first six weeks of the regular season. The decision was first reported by the NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora on Friday night. The soon-to-be 32-year-old Reed missed all of training camp and the preseason after undergoing hip surgery to repair a torn labrum in the offseason. Despite occasionally doing agility and conditioning work in Westminster, Reed described his surgically-repaired hip as only “35 percent” in late July before training camp started. Given the Ravens’ depth at the safety position with Tom Zbikowski performing well in Reed’s place in the preseason and reserve Haruki Nakamura also making plays in the secondary, the organization will choose the safe route despite Reed reportedly campaigning to play sooner. “This is a slow process,” Reed told WNST.net’s Drew Forrester on The Morning Reaction in early July. “I don’t want to come back and have another injury and then be out for the whole season, maybe even a career. I’m going to take my time with

Greatest Ravens by jersey number (81-99)

With Sports Illustrated releasing its list of all-time best NFL players by jersey number recently, we continue to look back at the 15-year history of the Baltimore Ravens to construct a list of the greatest players for Nos. 1-99. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 covered jersey numbers 1 through 80 if you missed them. Part 5 (81-99) concludes our trip down memory lane by looking at some of the greatest receivers, tight ends, and defensive linemen in franchise history. 81 Michael Jackson (1996-98) Anquan Boldin is a good bet to hold this honor in the near future, but “Action” Jackson was a big-time receiver in the Ravens’ first season in Baltimore, catching 14 touchdowns and eclipsing the 1,200-yard mark. Jackson’s numbers declined in his final two seasons with the Ravens, but he and fellow wideout Derrick Alexander were huge weapons in Ted Marchibroda’s passing game. 82 Shannon Sharpe (2000-01) The former Denver tight end came to Baltimore and immediately provided the leadership sorely lacking on the offensive side of the football. His game-winning 29-yard touchdown catch with seconds remaining in a 39-36 comeback victory over Jacksonville set the early tone for what would eventually be a

Ravens acquire CB Josh Wilson from Seattle

After weeks of speculation over whether they would seek help to boost a vulnerable secondary, the Ravens announced Tuesday evening they have acquired cornerback Josh Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks for a conditional 2011 draft pick, pending a passed physical. Wilson, a former impact player at the University of Maryland, is entering his fourth season in the NFL and has made 24 career starts. The 5-foot-9, 192-pounder was a second-round choice in the 2007 draft. He had been a starting cornerback for the Seahawks this preseason. “[Wilson] is someone who has started a lot of games for a young player, plus he has been a good special teams player both as a kick returner and in coverages,” general manager Ozzie Newsome stated after the trade. “He adds depth to our secondary and will help us. Pending his physical, we expect [Wilson] to be taking snaps against the Jets on opening night.” The conditional pick is reportedly a 2011 fifth-round selection that would become a fourth-rounder should Wilson play enough snaps, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The 25-year-old Wilson had a successful 2009 season in Seattle, starting 12 games and returning two interceptions for touchdowns. The former Terp has also returned

Greatest Ravens by jersey number (61-80)

With Sports Illustrated releasing its list of all-time best NFL players by jersey number recently, we continue to look back at the 15-year history of the Baltimore Ravens to construct a list of the greatest players for Nos. 1-99. Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 covered jersey numbers 1 through 60 if you missed them. Part 4 (61-80) mostly looks at the trenches of the offensive line, with a few obvious choices and several where we need to look long and hard to find a representative. 61 Casey Rabach (2001-04) Though in the shadow of Mike Flynn for three seasons before finally getting an opportunity to start at center in 2004, Rabach was a solid backup who has become one of the best centers in the NFC while playing for the Washington Redskins. 62 Mike Flynn (1997-2007) Flynn made 115 starts in his 11 seasons with the Ravens, most of them at center. He was the starting right guard on the Super Bowl XXXV team and moved to center after Jeff Mitchell’s departure for Carolina the following season. Undrafted from Maine, Flynn is one of the great underdog stories in franchise history. 63 Wally Williams (1996-98) A versatile interior

Ravens-Giants Notebook: Stallworth breaks foot, gone two months

BALTIMORE — Despite 243 total yards of offense in the first half and an impressive 24-10 thrashing of the New York Giants, the Ravens suffered a significant loss on Saturday night, losing wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth for the next two months due to a broken left foot. Stallworth will have surgery immediately and a screw will be inserted in the foot with hope that the receiver can return after the bye in Week 8, according to head coach John Harbaugh. “That’s really disappointing for him and for our football team, obviously,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll do what we do. We’ll step up and the next guy will play well.” The injury was sustained when the receiver “just planted wrong,” according to teammate Derrick Mason. With Stallworth working as the punt returner and fourth receiver, the Ravens will now lean more heavily on Tom Zbikowski and Mark Clayton for return duties and will look down the depth chart at Demetrius Williams, David Reed, and Marcus Smith for additional help in the receiving unit. Passing offense thrives Joe Flacco may have only played 34 minutes in Saturday night’s win over the New York Giants, but his right arm received a full night’s work

Ravens-Giants Purple Haze chat now!

BALTIMORE — The Ravens will try to win their third straight preseason game this evening as they host the New York Giants at 7:30 p.m. The third preseason game is widely-regarded as the most critical of the four preseason contests, so we can expect extensive playing time for the starting units. Glenn Clark and I are live from the press box at M&T Bank Stadium for all pre- and post-game coverage at WNST.net. We’ll have the Purple Haze chat open for business at 7:30 to talk about tonight’s preseason action, and you can expect a number of WNST.net personalities to chime in throughout the game. It’s the newest and best way to enjoy the game other than actually being at the stadium yourself! If you haven’t done it already, remember to sign up for the WNST Text Service to receive all breaking news including injury updates prior to tonight’s game. It’s our best feature at WNST.net, and it’s free! As always, you can get the quickest updates and quips by following us on Twitter (@WNST)! Stay right here for updates (time-stamped below) leading up to the start of the Purple Haze chat at 7:30 p.m.! _______________________________________________ 7:00 p.m. — Interestingly

Greatest Ravens by jersey number (41-60)

With Sports Illustrated releasing its list of all-time best NFL players by jersey number this week, I decided to look back at the 15-year history of the Baltimore Ravens to construct a list of the greatest players for Nos. 1-99. Part 1 and Part 2 covered jersey numbers 1 through 40 if you missed them. Part 3 (41-60) presents the most obvious choice on the list—who was also chosen as the greatest player to wear his number in the history of the National Football League—as well as two of the most obscure numbers in team history. 41 Frank Walker (2008-09) He was never popular among fans due to his propensity for drawing penalty flags, but Walker was not as bad as some made him out to be. Injuries often forced the backup into starter duty where his weaknesses were exposed. His only competition for this number was Ralph Staten, a once-promising safety who was jettisoned from the team due to character issues in the spring of 1999. Regardless of where you stand with Walker, he is a pretty clear choice and has at least one big fan on YouTube. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ8A0kF5Gz0[/youtube] Knowing Walker, it would not be a complete shock to

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