Facebook-f X-twitter Linkedin Youtube Spotify Podcast

Paid Advertisement

Sports

Over 400 tickets already sold for “See The Birds” next Tuesday

Nestor Aparicio

In the first two hours of our “See The Birds” promotion for next Tuesday night, we’ve already sold over 400 tickets. Special thanks to Wayne Schoff (Roofing Unlimited), Steve Pavlovsky (Chick Fil A-White Marsh), Gene Myers (Corona), Rob Santoni (Santoni’s Markets) and all of the others who have purchased large blocks of seats. We hope you purchase a few and c’mon down to the ballpark next Tuesday!

Glenn Clark is an Oriole-American Labor Day rock star!

Nestor Aparicio

So, we were out tonight celebrating the birthday of our Ravens “analyst” Glenn Clark and he proved once again that he’s not only a great American — he’s also a true red, white and blue Oriole-American: Happy Birthday Glenn!

Orioles latest scam: the $1 ticket ain’t a buck at all

Nestor Aparicio

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZXHzZvqNUo[/youtube]I was watching the Orioles game against the Rangers tonight. Why? Because I love sports and there’s nothing else on. The Orioles are advertising $1 tickets. All I needed to do was go to their website. They made it sound easy! I thought it over — and I still think a LOT about the Orioles as any of my Facebook friends will attest — and said, “Hey, I’d like to go to the ballpark and as much as I’ve refused to give them ANY money over the past two years, maybe I’d consider giving them two freaking dollars and taking my wife or son to one more game before next April.” My son called me from the beach yesterday and was pestering me about going to a game. We haven’t been to a game together this year because he’s been making dough at Seacrets in O.C. Well, as you can imagine, I was skeptical regarding their honesty and integrity in offering seats for a dollar. Could this be “for real?” And you know what, my skepticism — yet again — is warranted. I followed the prompt through the billing process and lo and behold, my tickets suddenly totaled up to

Final preseason game, final chances

Luke Jones

The Charm City is abuzz over the Ravens’ preseason finale with the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. With a victory in the Georgia Dome, the Ravens would complete a perfect 4-0 preseason and immediately stamp their ticket for Miami in early February.  After all, the 2000 Baltimore Ravens went 4-0 in the preseason and eventually raised the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa.  The stars are already aligning in the Ravens’ favor, right? Alright, you caught me.  I can already hear the groans and see the collective rolling of eyes. Yes, the Detroit Lions finished a 4-0 preseason a year ago and went on to complete a perfect—or imperfect—0-16 season. And, on the surface, watching the fourth—and final—preseason game sounds about as appealing as attending an Orioles-Yankees game at Camden Yards in early September. No one will remember the winner or the final score beyond the weekend, but if you look deeper and from a different perspective, you’ll find an otherwise hollow exhibition filled with consequence and meaning for both the Baltimore Ravens and a number of individuals struggling to secure a job in one of the most cutthroat businesses in the entire world. For those focused solely

So, just how irrelevant are the Orioles?

Nestor Aparicio

Let’s start with these simple facts: the last three days have been the best weather days of this or any other century and Oriole Park at Camden Yards has been pretty much devoid of any signs of life from Baltimore fans. There have been roughly 10,000 Orioles fans at the ballpark each night while the team is en route to probably getting swept tonight by the New York Yankees. The evil empire. The doers of bad deeds, like paying the best players on the planet the most money to come and continue a winning tradition. They’re easy to hate but it’s mandatory that you respect the New York Yankees. They play to win. For the most part, they exclude class. And you get your money’s worth. And you know how much tickets have been for these games? Yeah, eight bucks. So for just $8 anyone in a four-state area could come and watch the Orioles play under the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen. So, clearly, people aren’t as turned on by Matt Wieters, Nick Markakis, Brian Roberts, Adam Jones, Brian Matusz, etc. as the ownership hoped we’d all be. To my way of thinking, after 12 consecutive years of

Not Auto-Matt-ic: Paging Stover…Matt Stover!

Nestor Aparicio

Just in case you’re wondering, the Ravens have NOT contacted Matt Stover about their kicking needs for the game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 13. Not yet, anyway. But, of course, there are more than just a few people around the Charm City who think that might not be a bad idea. And the team is led by head coach John Harbaugh, who spent his entire existence in the world of special teams and kickers and punters. This has to perturb Harbaugh more than most coaches. The kicking game and life in the NFL is a strange one. Here is this macho game played by the biggest, fastest and toughest guys in our culture and along comes a little kicker with it all on the line to win the game on his foot and the 40 yards between the line of scrimmage and goal posts. It’s not a cruel joke or coincidence as much as it’s weekly reality in the NFL. After he made the game-winning kick in Tennessee last January, the Ravens jettisoned Matt Stover for three reasons, really: 1. He wasn’t their best bet on kickoffs, which forced them to carry an extra man on the

Two weeks notice: The long offseason is almost over

Luke Jones

After a long and eventful offseason, we’re exactly two weeks away from the start of the NFL season when the hated Pittsburgh Steelers host the Tennessee Titans for the Thursday night opener. In Baltimore, an impressive 2-0 preseason start has only raised expectations for the Ravens entering the 2009 regular season. With two preseason encounters remaining before the Ravens kick off against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 13, much has gone well, but questions still remain before the real games begin. Here are my purple thoughts as we approach the Ravens’ meeting with the Carolina Panthers on Saturday night. – Receiver Mark Clayton returned to practice yesterday after missing most of training camp with a hamstring injury.  Though he won’t play against Carolina, it’s definitely a positive sign for him to be practicing more than two weeks before the regular season opener. Considering his history with hamstring issues, the Ravens will be extremely careful with Clayton.  If his hamstring responds well to practice, he’ll likely play against Atlanta to get some game reps next Thursday night, but don’t be surprised to see the Ravens limit his reps into the early stages of the season. It helps that Clayton had

Live from Westminster: The swan song from McDaniel College

Luke Jones

4:05 p.m. – I chatted with Frank Walker as he walked off the field, and he was definitely glad to be breaking camp, though he emphasized it was a great experience in Westminster. Even though the players were eager to leave summer camp behind, they continued to sign autographs for the fans out here in Westminster this afternoon.  You can tell these guys genuinely enjoy interacting with the fans.  The organization does things the right way, and it’s why the Ravens are king in this town. 4:00 p.m. – The special teams practice has concluded, as has the Ravens’ 2009 training camp here in Westminster.  The team will hold a walk-through tomorrow morning (closed to the media and public) before breaking camp. The hour-long afternoon practice was uneventful, but tackle Oniel Cousins did not practice with the other young offensive linemen.  There was no word on any injury, but I did overhear offensive line coach John Matsko asking Cousins if he’d be able to play Monday as they were leaving the field toward the end of practice. Cousins is the team’s top reserve tackle, so this will definitely be a situation to monitor leading up to Monday night’s game with

Orioles continue to sink even lower than we thought possible

Nestor Aparicio

As the biggest critic of Orioles ownership over the last decade, I’ve purposely refrained from being particularly hard on the team in 2009. Unfortunately for you, the WNST fans and true Baltimore sports lovers, they have me right where they want me. I’m back on the radio without a press pass to their games and no one is going to tune into my show if all I do is tell the truth, and bury them for their ineptitude, mean-spiritedness and general incompetence over the past dozen years for four hours every day. And at this point, what do I have to lose? Short of them killing me, what do they have left to take away from me? The team is awful (again), there is not an iota of pride remaining in being an Orioles fan and I’ve watched about 90% of the action this season and I’m here to tell you that it has NOT been a fun or memorable summer for baseball here in the land of pleasant living. And really, telling the truth — see the paragraph above — is NOT what Baltimore wants to hear from me about the Orioles. It’s like a broken, freaking record —

Getting down to 53: The final days of training camp

Luke Jones

We’re in the final week of training camp in Westminster, but the Ravens do not need to make any cuts until Sept. 1, when they must trim the roster to 75 players.  The team must then narrow down to the regular season number of 53 by Sept. 5. For those begging for help at the wide receiver position, the late cut dates mean any veteran receiver that could possibly shake free and help the cause in Baltimore probably won’t be available until right before the regular season. 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 will keep in addition to the 53-man roster. QUARTERBACKS (3) LOCK: Joe Flacco, Troy Smith, John Beck BUBBLE: None LONG SHOT: Cleo Lemon, Drew Willy Skinny: It’s been an interesting week regarding quarterbacks, but Cam Cameron made it clear the Ravens are still committed to Beck as the No. 3 guy.  Smith’s play in the preseason has further cemented his status as the backup to Flacco. RUNNING BACKS (5) LOCK: Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, Le’Ron McClain BUBBLE: Jalen Parmele, Matt Lawrence, Cedric Peerman

Orioles do a reverse, sign 2nd-rounder Givens for $900K

Nestor Aparicio

In the end, Orioles scouting director used the media and the internet as a leverage tool to get Plant (H.S. Fla.) second-round draft pick Mychal Givens to sign near the midnight deadline last night. For a week, Jordan declared Givens and his agent Kenny Felder uncooperative and told stories that they had “jacked up their price.” Once again, it was all posturing. In the end, Givens got $900,000 — about $200,000 more than the “budget” allowed. The team announced that “ownership agreed with the increase,” which is to say that Peter Angelos was called in on this one. Givens, a highly touted pitcher and shortstop, will enter the Orioles organization as a potential infielder and is years away from playing in the big leagues. So, it’s a nice story for today — the Orioles got their man! They wound up signing 9 of their first 10 picks, with only their 8th rounder Davin Harris slipping back to class at East Carolina.

I knew the Raiders were screwed up, but c’mon…

Nestor Aparicio

Three months ago I had the privilege — well, actually, it was more disgusting than enjoyable — of sitting two feet behind Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis on a flight from Southern California to the Bay Area. He was pleasant, filthy and old. Like, VERY old. At the owner’s meetings, you can only imagine the treatment he’s given after treating the first “establishment” like enemies — moving his team, suing them and coining the phrase “abstain” during any of the league’s votes on various issues from collective bargaining to television deals. The Oakland Raiders have always been a little kooky because, like the Orioles, they have a kooky owner. Davis is eccentric, borderline senile and clearly marches to his own beat. But tonight, with whispered words leaking that his current head coach Tom Cable might’ve assaulted one of his own assistant coaches (defensive assistant Randy Hanson) in a meeting and went as far as to send him to a clinic for an apparent broken jaw, this puts the league and the rest of the teams on red alert as to how weird and uprofessional a place that Oakland is to work in the NFL. (Later tonight, ESPN refuted the intial

Training Camp Q&A

Luke Jones

It’s hard to believe we’re entering the final week of training camp at Westminster!  It’s been an interesting summer, ranging from the return of Derrick Mason to the appearance of Snoop Dogg as a personal guest of Ray Lewis. While the wide receiver position continues to be an area of concern, Ravens fans have to be pleased with the team’s performance in the preseason opener against the hated Washington Redskins. It’s time for the final Training Camp Q&A you’ll see from me this summer, as I go back to my full-time work commitment this week.  Not to worry though, as WNST’s Glenn Clark will be bringing all of the same training camp coverage you’ve come to expect here at WNST.net during the final week of workouts in Westminster. And, no, I’m not going anywhere, so continue to look for my thoughts here at WNST.net.  You can also friend me on Facebook or shoot me an email (Luke@wnst.net) if you want to talk Ravens, Orioles, or Terps. If you have a question or comment about the Ravens, leave it in the comments section below and I’ll be back later tonight to offer my thoughts.

Live from Westminster: Rolle to see another specialist for neck, still on PUP list

Luke Jones

6:57 p.m. — The Ravens will hold two practices on Monday, a morning session at 8:45 a.m. and an afternoon workout at 2:45 p.m.  Both practices are full-squad sessions and are open to the public. WNST’s Glenn Clark will be providing all of the coverage including hourly reports, blogging, and Twitter updates, so be sure to follow WNST.net for all of your Ravens training camp coverage! 6:50 p.m. — One of the last drills of practice involved some pressure situations late in the half.  The first and second offenses were presented with different scenarios in which they would have to run a play, kill the clock (if necessary), and line up for a field goal. The starting offense struggled mightily in this drill with a few dropped passes, batted passes (courtesy of Antwan Barnes), and even a Flacco stumble and fumble while trying to escape pressure. It was clear that Harbaugh was not thrilled with the way his offense played during this portion of practice.  Ed Reed was talking trash and reminding the offense they were still out there. 6:46 p.m. — I’m really starting to think Ed Reed is just trying to mess with people—including the media.  After playing

Young Matusz shoved around by the Angels, lose 5-1

Nestor Aparicio

Brian Matusz’s night was long and unproductive. In his home debut, he labored through 5 2/3 innings, giving up a whopping 11 hits,  five runs (four earned) and walked three, while striking out seven. He threw 98 pitches and leaves the game with the Orioles trailing 5-1 and two inherited runners. The game story is here. The box score is here. It’s hot. The stadium is kinda lonely for a Saturday night. And the Orioles big night last night with Felix Pie seems a distant memory. You’ve gotta enjoy the rare wins when you get them.

Live from Westminster: Gaither returns to practice, Divens placed on IR

Luke Jones

3:45 p.m. — The afternoon special teams practice lasted about an hour with the only news being the absence of returner Chris Carr.  He did not practice this afternoon and was walking very gingerly, suggesting he’s dealing with some type of leg issue. Carr walked off the field with trainer Bill Tessendorf in the closing minutes of the morning session. 1:27 p.m. — The Ravens will hold a special teams practice at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon.  Tomorrow morning’s practice has been CANCELLED.  The team will have a full-squad practice on Sunday afternoon at 2:45 p.m. 1:23 p.m. — Unofficially, Steve Hauschka was two of four in field goal attempts.  Hauschka made attempts from 20 and 41 yards but appeared to miss from 47 and 51 yards.  Both of these attempts were very close, and it was difficult to tell.  There were no officials standing underneath the goal posts, so I was just judging from my spot on the sideline.  I guess I need to hire my own personal referee to help me with this part of the blog! Hauschka appears to have a slight edge over Graham Gano at this point, but there are three preseason games remaining before any

Ravens spank Redskins in preseason opener

Luke Jones

In a thoroughly dominating performance, the Baltimore Ravens upended their neighbors to the south, beating the Washington Redskins, 23-0. Though the starting unit failed to put the ball in the end zone, quarterback Joe Flacco and the offense moved the ball consistently against the Redskins’ defense.  Flacco finished his night going 9 of 15 for 103 yards. His longest pass came on a 34-yard completion to Ray Rice out of the backfield.  Rice and Willis McGahee both looked strong running the ball, combining for 48 yards on only nine carries. “I thought they ran hard,” coach John Harbaugh said.  “You know they got the ball north and south.  It’s good to see the checkdowns [from the quarterbacks].” Despite moving the ball deep inside Washington territory twice, the Ravens had to settle for two Steve Hauschka field goals. “The three penalties in the first half hurt us,” offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said.  “We can correct those.  We held the ball and moved the ball early, but we have to score touchdowns, not field goals.  Ball security was good, and we’ve worked hard on that.” The Ravens finally found the end zone at the end of the first half when backup quarterback

Harbaugh refutes ESPN report regarding Ozzie’s interest in Vick

Nestor Aparicio

On a bizarre night for breaking news in Baltimore — with Michael Phelps getting into an accident at Calvert & Biddle and Michael Vick abruptly signing in Philly — the wildest story came an hour after the Eagles fans went into deep shock and disgust when ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that the Ravens were very much in the hunt for Vick’s services. ESPN reported that Ozzie Newsome wanted Vick and had a lack of agreement with owner Steve Bisciotti and head coach John Harbaugh. It didn’t take me five minutes after the game to find one “off the record” official who called it “bulls**t” and John Harbaugh then told me he was happy to go on the record as saying “that’s completely false, completely untrue.” Who knows what those conversations sounded like in Westminster last week but both of my sources were very perplexed and almost angry about the report. Either way, we can collectively breath a sigh of relief that Vick isn’t heading here. For the folks in Philadelphia the second guessing and the drama has only begun.

Live from the Purple Crab Cake: Ravens blank Skins, 23-0

Luke Jones

11:11 p.m. — Just a few injury notes to pass along.  John Harbaugh confirmed that Marcus Smith sustained a severe knee injury in tonight’s game, speculating that it could be an ACL. Troy Smith re-entered the game late in the fourth quarter after John Beck had an undisclosed injury.  Harbaugh does not believe the injury is serious. Safety Haruki Nakamura suffered a “stinger” but should be fine. 10:35 p.m. — Gano misses a 28-yard field goal as time expires.  Tough break for the rookie in the kicking competition.  Final score:  Ravens 23, Redskins 0. 10:28 p.m. — Troy Smith is back in at quarterback.  This is definitely an interesting development. After Jason Cook recovered a fumble, Matt Lawrence just picked up 14 yards and a first down. 10:26 p.m. — The Redskins continue to look terrible offensively and are in danger of being shut out. Ernie Wheelwright nearly blocked the punt. 10:24 p.m. — Paul Kruger just picked up the sack on Brennan, showing great speed off the edge. I’ve been singing his praises during training camp, so it’s nice to see him deliver in his first preseason game. 10:19 p.m. — Beck just completed a 64-yard pass to little

Ravens-Redskins: Keys to the Game and Players to Watch

Luke Jones

While Ravens fans undoubtedly are excited for tonight’s preseason opener against the Washington Redskins, maintaining enthusiasm for an exhibition game can be difficult.  Despite paying regular season ticket prices,—and that’s another issue entirely—we’ll likely see Ray Lewis, Joe Flacco, and the rest of the starters for a quarter at most. And let’s face it; few will remember the outcome of this one by this time next month. Keys to the Game 1. Health The ultimate goal of any preseason game is to keep players healthy. The Ravens are already dealing with injuries at wide receiver and the offensive line, so they won’t want to add to the list. The team certainly wants to play well in their first live-game action but not at the expense of any key players. Regardless of the game’s outcome, coming out of it healthy will be a victory in itself. Expect a vanilla game plan on both sides of the ball. 2. Establish the run While Ray Rice appears to have the inside track at the running back position, the Ravens will continue to use a by-committee approach with Rice, Willis McGahee, and fullback Le’Ron McClain sharing carries. Rice will get the start but expect

How can Orioles “build from within” by allowing draft picks to walk?

Nestor Aparicio

It’s not headline news or a WNST Text alert — nor should it be — but the Orioles have once again failed to follow through on an organizational commitment to “build from within” by allowing second-round draft choice Mychal Givens to slip away and go off to college at Oklahoma State. Givens, who helped lead Plant High School in Florida to the Class 5A state semifinals this spring, going 8-4 with a 1.71 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 78 IP on the mound while hitting a team-high .374 with 4 homers and 31 RBIs, is now a lost cause according to Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan. Givens, who is being represented by former Florida State star Kenny Felder, has asked for too much money and the Orioles have given the word that they’ve “walked away” before Monday’s deadline. All of the MASN guys and local media have given Jordan the “hall pass” on this one and shrugged their shoulders and who knows whether Mychal Givens will ever be heard from again? But I do know this: 1. They liked him enough to use a second-round draft pick on him 2. They were ready to make him a shortstop and not

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

Zaun traded to Tampa on waiver claim

Nestor Aparicio

The Gregg Zaun trade is official: The Orioles today announced that CA GREGG ZAUN was assigned to the Tampa Bay Rays via a waiver claim in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations and selected the contract of CA CHAD MOELLER from Triple-A Norfolk. Zaun, 38, batted .244 (41-168) with four home runs and 13 RBI in 56 games for the Orioles.  He signed a one-year contract with a team option for 2010 with the Orioles as a free agent on January 21, 2009.  It was his second stint with Baltimore (1995 & ‘96). Moeller, 34, batted .200 (10-50) in 15 games with the Orioles earlier this season.  He was designated for assignment on May 29 when the team selected the contract of MATT WIETERS.  Moeller batted .203 (24-118) in 35 games with Triple-A Norfolk. 2:34 p.m. — Even though we’re the “banned” media outlet — mainly because we believe in free speech — we still manage to scoop the rest of the world on Orioles breaking news. We’re hearing that Gregg Zaun will be ending his stay with the Orioles and will be moving on to the Tampa Rays later in the day. No word

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

Hail Cesar: Matusz impressive in debut win over Tigers

Nestor Aparicio

9:57 p.m. –The Orioles got a huge rookie debut from Brian Matusz tonight. Cesar Izturis flashed leather and even hit a home run as the Birds defeated the Detroit Tigers 8-2 at Comerica Park. Matusz on his comfort and happiness after the win: “I’d like to enjoy it a little longer. I was a little nervous out there. I can go out there for my next start and be a little more comfortable.” On his family: “It’s awesome to have that support, My family and friends have been supportive. It’s awesome. I could hear them all after my first pitch.” On his effort tonight: “It’s important to really attack the zone. I had a couple of walks today. I fell behind in the count. To not nibble so much on the corner and go after the guys. The strike zone is a little smaller. Relax. Have fun. It’s the same game. Enjoy it and hopefully I can carry it over.” On Izturis: “Izzy was awesome. He made some great plays. Got me out of a jam. It was a lot of fun.” 9:07 p.m. — The Orioles are, for once, piling on a first-place team. It’s 8-1 and even Melvin

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

Were you one of the few Orioles fans amidst sea of red this weekend?

Nestor Aparicio

Well, it’s all over. The Orioles were once again swept in Baltimore by the Red Sox. Once again, thousands of New Englanders and supporters raided the city and brought millions of dollars of civic kindess on the metropolis while they continued to point out the biggest crime of Peter Angelos’ tenure as the owner of our baseball team. I ventured to Camden Yards today. Instead of writing about everything I saw and did, I shot a video for you. If you like my radio show, maybe you’ll like my lengthy set of views, observations and comments while I spent my day watching Jason Berken and Orioles pitchers give up 23 hits and 18 runs. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNQtAwg-nGI[/youtube]

Training Camp Q&A

Luke Jones

It’s hard to believe we’re entering the final week of training camp at Westminster!  It’s been an interesting summer, ranging

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

8

Paid Advertisement

Podcast Audio Vault

Spotify Apple Youtube
8
8
8

Paid Advertisement

Scroll to Top
Verified by MonsterInsights