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Ravens

You couldn't ask for a better year for Dad

Luke Jones

From the Orioles’ first playoff appearance in 15 years to Ray Lewis riding off into the sunset after the Ravens’ second Super Bowl title, it was a special year for Baltimore dads.

Ravens tight end Dickson sidelined with minor groin strain

Luke Jones

(This blog brought to you by Atlantic Remodeling. Visit www.atlanticremodeling.com to learn about their Red Cent Guarantee!) OWINGS MILLS, Md. — As the Ravens concluded their final day of mandatory minicamp, tight end Ed Dickson was absent from the field for a second straight day. “Ed had a groin strain,” coach John Harbaugh said. “We are resting him. He wasn’t able to practice.” Several others were absent from the field including Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda (shoulder surgery), offensive lineman Antoine McClain (foot surgery), safety Omar Brown (undisclosed), and running back Damien Berry (undisclosed). Harbaugh said Tuesday that Yanda should be ready to go for training camp on at least a limited basis to start. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, nose tackle Terrence Cody (hip surgery), defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore (ACL surgery), and wide receiver Marlon Brown (knee) were all present but not participating. Ngata appeared to be receiving the day off as he continues to work on his conditioning after rehabbing his injured knee for a large portion of the offseason. Cornerback Lardarius Webb and linebackers Jameel McClain and Albert McClellan continued to work on a limited basis while rookie linebacker Arthur Brown (sports hernia surgery) appeared to

Veteran tight end Bajema re-signs with Ravens

Luke Jones

(This blog brought to you by Atlantic Remodeling. Visit www.atlanticremodeling.com to learn about their Red Cent Guarantee!) On the same day they released a member of their Super Bowl XLVII team, the Ravens announced the return of another as veteran tight end Billy Bajema has re-signed with Baltimore. Taking the open roster spot created by the release of Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach, Bajema figures to once again compete for the third tight end spot behind Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson. The 30-year-old appeared in eight games and made one start in 2012, serving in a larger role while Dickson was sidelined three games with a knee injury in December. Serving almost exclusively in a blocking capacity, Bajema did not record a reception for the Ravens last season. In eight professional seasons with Baltimore, St. Louis, and San Francisco, he has made a total of 38 catches for 398 yards and two touchdowns. Bajema’s primary competition for the third tight end job is 2012 practice squad member Alex Silvestro and rookie free agent Matt Furstenburg of Maryland.

Ravens agree to four-year deal with rookie DT Brandon Williams

Luke Jones

(This blog brought to you by Atlantic Remodeling. Visit www.atlanticremodeling.com to learn about their Red Cent Guarantee!) The Ravens moved a step closer toward completing their contract work for their 10-player 2013 draft class by agreeing to terms on a four-year deal with third-round defensive tackle Brandon Williams on Friday. The Missouri Southern product is expected to compete for the starting nose tackle job with four-year defensive lineman Terrence Cody still sidelined after undergoing offseason hip surgery. At 6-foot-1 and 335 pounds, Williams has a rare combination of size and agility that prompted general manager Ozzie Newsome to draft the Division II product. The small-school defensive player put himself on the map with a strong Senior Bowl performance and wound up being selected by Baltimore with the 94th overall pick of April’s draft. Williams is the ninth of the Ravens’ 10 draft selections to sign a contract as first-round safety Matt Elam remains unsigned and has yet to hire an agent.

Birk declines White House invitation over abortion issue

Luke Jones

(This blog brought to you by Atlantic Remodeling. Visit www.atlanticremodeling.com to learn about their Red Cent Guarantee!) While other former players missed the Super Bowl champion Ravens’ visit to the White House because of practice commitments to their new teams or due to a falling out with the organization, Matt Birk’s reason for skipping the event was political in nature. The retired center is a devoted Catholic and declined the invitation to meet President Barack Obama because of his recent praise of Planned Parenthood. The six-time Pro Bowl center spoke in support of traditional marriage and did not support the legalization of same-sex marriage last fall in the state of Maryland. “I wasn’t there,” Birk said in an interview with KFAN in Minnesota. “I would say that I have great respect for the office of the Presidency, but about five or six weeks ago, our president made a comment in a speech and he said, ‘God bless Planned Parenthood.’ Planned Parenthood performs about 330,000 abortions a year. I am Catholic, I am active in the pro-life movement, and I just felt like I couldn’t deal with that. I couldn’t endorse that in any way.” Several media outlets have pointed out that Obama’s

Super Bowl champion Ravens to visit Obama on Wednesday

Luke Jones

(This blog brought to you by Atlantic Remodeling. Visit www.atlanticremodeling.com to learn about their Red Cent Guarantee!) As has become the custom for the Super Bowl champion, the Ravens will visit President Barack Obama at the White House on Wednesday in honor of their Super Bowl XLVII victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Baltimore last made the trip to the White House in 2001 to visit President George W. Bush after their Super Bowl XXXV win and presented the commander-in-chief with a customized Ravens jersey with the letter “W” on it. The team will also be recognized for its work in the local community. The president phoned coach John Harbaugh and general manager Ozzie Newsome a few days after the Ravens’ 34-31 win in New Orleans to secure the franchise’s second NFL championship. Members of the organization will also receive their Super Bowl championship rings next week.

Ravens ink second-round pick Brown to four-year deal

Luke Jones

(This blog brought to you by Atlantic Remodeling. Visit www.atlanticremodeling.com to learn about their Red Cent Guarantee!) The Ravens announced Thursday the signing of second-round linebacker Arthur Brown to a four-year deal. The Kansas State product becomes the eighth of the Ravens’ 10 draft picks to agree to terms as first-round safety Matt Elam and third-round defensive tackle Brandon Williams. He is expected to compete for one of the starting inside linebacker jobs in Baltimore’s 3-4 base defense after an offseason in which Ray Lewis retired after 17 years and Dannell Ellerbe departed as a free agent to sign with the Miami Dolphins. Brown is currently sidelined after undergoing sports hernia surgery earlier this month, but he is expect to be 100 percent by the start of training camp.

Fourth-round linebacker Simon signs four-year deal with Ravens

Luke Jones

The Ravens took another step toward locking up their entire 2013 draft class Tuesday by signing fourth-round linebacker John Simon to a four-year deal. The Ohio State product became the seventh of the Ravens’ 10 draft picks to sign a contract. Of course, rookie negotiations have become no more than a formality since the new collective bargaining agreement came into play in 2011. Simon was the 2012 Big Ten defensive player of the year and will compete with Courtney Upshaw for playing time as a reserve behind Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil in Baltimore’s 3-4 base defense. In his final season with the Buckeyes, Simon collected 44 tackles, nine sacks, and 14 1/2 tackles for a loss. Only first-round safety Matt Elam, second-round linebacker Arthur Brown, and third-round nose tackle Brandon Williams remain unsigned as the Ravens continue organized team activities this week.

Ravens cut five after rookie minicamp, reportedly part ways with Cook

Luke Jones

Just two days after concluding their mandatory rookie minicamp, the Ravens made five roster cuts that included four rookie free agents and one first-year player. The most notable was tight end Murphy Holloway, who was attempting to make the transition from college basketball to the NFL. He hadn’t played football since his sophomore year in high school and was a long shot to even stick on the Ravens’ practice squad. Three other free-agent rookies were cut, including uarterback Nathan Stanley of Southeast Louisiana, running back Ray Holley of Louisiana Tech, and Florida International cornerback Jose Cheeseborough. Baltimore also parted ways with defensive tackle Swanson Miller after signing him early in the offseason. He previously spent time in the New Orleans Saints organization. Per The Sun, the Ravens have also withdrawn their exclusive-rights free-agent offer to safety Emanuel Cook, who spent the 2012 season on injured reserve after suffering a broken leg in the preseason. He’s appeared in 17 games in his career split between the New York Jets and Baltimore and will attempt to catch on elsewhere as a special-teams player.

Rolando McClain reportedly pleads guilty to window tint violation

Luke Jones

Troubled Ravens linebacker Rolando McClain can apparently cross one item off his laundry list of legal problems as he has reportedly pleaded guilty to a window tint violation stemming from a January incident. According to The Sun, McClain entered the plea to avoid appearing in court on Tuesday. The city of Decatur, Ala. has dismissed a charge for providing a false name when McClain was originally pulled over for the window tint violation. McClain is still due in court in July for charges stemming from April 21 when he was arrested in his hometown for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The incident took place in a Decatur park after police were summoned in response to a dispute. The 23-year-old linebacker has been arrested three times in less than two years but remains on the Ravens’ offseason roster despite finding trouble less than two weeks after he was signed to a one-year, $700,000 contract that includes up to $400,000 in incentives. None of the money is guaranteed should general manager Ozzie Newsome elect to part ways with the 2010 first-round pick. The second-round selection of Kansas State inside linebacker Arthur Brown in last month’s draft put McClain’s future in further doubt

Ravens assigning numbers, handing out contracts to rookies

Luke Jones

With the Ravens welcoming their new batch of rookies to Owings Mills for their mandatory minicamp this weekend, they got down to business with signing some of their 10 draft picks from the Class of 2013. The drama of rookie contracts has largely been eliminated since the introduction of a new system with the collective bargaining agreement signed in 2011, so signings have become mere formalities with holdouts and delayed negotiating now things of the past. The contracts of drafted rookie players are set at four years — first-round contracts contain an option for a fifth season — with rookie free agents receiving three-year contracts. While contract figures aren’t slotted with a fixed amount, each team is given a rookie cap figure by which to abide. According to The Sun, the Ravens have reached four-year agreements with fourth-round fullback Kyle Juszczyk, fifth-round offensive lineman Ricky Wagner, sixth-round defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore, sixth-round center Ryan Jensen, seventh-round wide receiver Aaron Mellette, and seventh-round cornerback Marc Anthony. In addition to handing out contracts to six of their 10 draft choices, the Ravens officially assigned jersey numbers to each player and can be seen below: S Matt Elam – No. 31 LB Arthur

McKinnie receives contract offers from San Diego, Miami

Luke Jones

After failing to come away with a high-ceiling left tackle prospect in last weekend’s draft, the Ravens are now faced with the prospects of veteran Bryant McKinnie departing via free agency. The 33-year-old offensive tackle remained in San Diego on a free-agent visit with the Chargers on Wednesday afternoon and tells WNST.net in a text message that an offer has been made to his agent Michael George. Negotiations continue and the Miami Dolphins have also made an offer, according to McKinnie. The Ravens have remained in contact with the veteran lineman periodically during the offseason despite not making a formal offer to retain his services. General manager Ozzie Newsome and coach John Harbaugh said the week before the draft that second-year lineman Kelechi Osemele would be the team’s starting left tackle if the season were to begin now. McKinnie met with the Dolphins on Monday before flying to San Diego to begin his visit with the Chargers on Tuesday. Both teams are in need of a starting left tackle.

Torrey Smith says goodbye to trademark look

Luke Jones

Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith has said goodbye to his trademark look since his days starring at the University of Maryland. The 24-year-old had teased cutting off his dreadlocks in the past but officially changed up his hairdo on Sunday as fans provided mixed reviews. The 2011 second-round pick had been pulled down by his hair in the past, prompting fans and media to ask whether he should cut it off to prevent slower players from catching him. Smith broke the news via his official Twitter account by writing, “Just a lil change…same face and big cheesy smile.” The receiver explained that he was simply growing tired of the long locks, but fans will hope the haircut doesn’t have the same impact it had on Samson in the Bible. Of course, the possibility of the new look making the already-speedy Smith a split-second faster is a scary proposition for opposing defensive backs.

You couldn't ask for a better year for Dad

Luke Jones

From the Orioles’ first playoff appearance in 15 years to Ray Lewis riding off into the sunset after the Ravens’ second Super Bowl title, it was a special year for Baltimore dads.

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