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SWATS owner Ross evades, confuses even more in aftermath of SI story

Luke Jones

NEW ORLEANS — A week of buildup to Super Bowl XLVII ended on a bizarre note Friday as SWATS owner Mitch Ross addressed the controversial Sports Illustrated article reporting he sold deer antler spray to Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis to aid in his recovery from right triceps surgery. Ross provided just as many questions as answers as he evaded countless questions about Lewis and their communication following the injury on Oct. 14 and argued over semantics with reporters gathered outside the media center in New Orleans. Earlier this week, Lewis dismissed and vehemently denied the report saying he acquired deer antler spray from Ross following his triceps injury. “Ray was right about one thing,” Ross said. “This whole story — this whole slander — was the tactic of the devil.” Ross said he was “catfished” by Sports Illustrated in how the story portrayed him, but he wouldn’t answer whether he communicated with Lewis on the night he was injured or in the days immediately following that. He later revealed he sent Lewis a text message earlier this week that read, “God bless.” Confirming that he first met Lewis in 2008, Ross said he didn’t have any proof the linebacker took

D&L Window Tinting Morning Reaction Picks and Comment – Super Bowl XLVII

Luke Jones

Here are this weekend’s picks as The D&L Window Tinting Morning Reaction will pick every NFL game this season. Drew Forrester finished 2-0 in conference championship weekend and Luke Jones was 1-1. Forrester is now 168-80 and Jones is 159-89 overall. Their postseason marks are locked, however, with Forrester and Jones each holding a 7-3 record. Official standings are only kept based on the NFL picks. With the WNST.net crew in New Orleans for Super Bowl XLVII coverage this week, Glenn Clark joined the Friday segment as a guest prognosticator. To hear their full explanation, click HERE. Ravens vs. 49ers: Baltimore 27-17 (Drew), Baltimore 27-24 (Luke), Baltimore 27-23 (Glenn)

Reed clarifies comments on playing for Belichick

Luke Jones

NEW ORLEANS — A running diary was needed this week to track the comments of Ravens safety Ed Reed as he prepares to play in his first Super Bowl on Sunday. The 34-year-old started the week hinting that retiring teammate Ray Lewis might not be so serious about walking away from the game while also appearing to soften on his stance from last week stating he would play again next season. Reed also stated he felt former NFL linebacker Junior Seau had no regrets about playing football before committing suicide last spring. However, his comments about wanting to play for New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick created quite a stir on Wednesday with Reed scheduled to become a free agent this offseason. Many running with the story failed to acknowledge Reed also expressed a desire to remain in Baltimore during the same interview session. On Thursday, Reed clarified his remarks about Belichick while also scolding reporters who elected to pick and choose his words for their purposes. “The bad part about this is that you all ask the question, but don’t write down everything that someone says,” Reed said. “People only get a part of what the comment was.

Connections abundant as Ravens, 49ers convene in New Orleans

Luke Jones

NEW ORLEANS — With the San Francisco 49ers having already arrived in New Orleans Sunday night and the Ravens landing on Monday afternoon, much of the Super Bowl discussion will be dominated by the Harbaugh brother, but the organizations are linked in a number of other ways. John and Jim Harbaugh are the first pair of brothers to be NFL head coaches, but a number of other coaches, players, and personnel share ties with the opposite side in some shape or form. Struggling 49ers kicker David Akers never played in Baltimore, but he has played for both Harbaugh brothers as Akers worked with John Harbaugh in Philadelphia from 1999 through 2007 and has played in San Francisco in the last two seasons. Baltimore’s No. 3 tight end Billy Bajema was selected by the 49ers in the seventh round of the 2005 draft and spent four seasons with San Francisco, playing in 61 games. Meanwhile, former Ravens linebacker Tavares Gooden has spent the last two years in San Franciso after spending the first three seasons of his career in Baltimore. The coaching ranks of each team is strongly connected as well as San Francisco defensive coordinator Vic Fangio worked under both

Ellerbe, D. Reed sit out final practice in Owings Mills

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Conducting their final practice of the season at their Owings Mills facility before departing for New Orleans on Monday, the Ravens were without two players as linebacker Dannell Ellerbe and wide receiver David Reed rested on Saturday morning. Ellerbe has missed three practices this week as he takes advantage of the extra time between the conference championship and Super Bowl XLVII. The fourth-year linebacker acknowledged on Friday the ankle needed rest and he would have tried to push through the discomfort if the game were being played this weekend in New Orleans. Tight end Dennis Pitta (thigh) returned to the practice field on Saturday after sitting out Friday’s workout. He played catch with quarterback Joe Flacco during the open portion of practice and appeared to be fine. Reed is dealing with a hamstring issue that forced him out of the Ravens’ divisional playoff game against Denver but was listed as a full participant in Friday’s practice before sitting out a day later. The Ravens issued a final injury report of the week on Friday, even though the Super Bowl will not be played until Feb. 3 and they’ll release a new set of injury reports next

Ellerbe taking full advantage of extra week to rest ankle

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Because the Super Bowl teams were required to release a “final” injury report to simulate players’ availability if the game were being played this weekend, the Ravens listed 19 players as questionable for a game that won’t take place this weekend. Only two of those players missed any practices over the last two days, making this injury report virtually useless. Both Baltimore and the San Francisco 49ers will release a new set of injury reports next week, but it appears that linebacker Dannell Ellerbe is the only Ravens player with any real concern at this point as he missed his second straight practice Friday with the ankle injury he’s dealt with since late November. The Ravens are taking advantage of the extra week of preparation to give Ellerbe some rest as the fourth-year linebacker originally injured the ankle in the Week 12 win over the San Diego Chargers. He missed three games before returning to the lineup in Week 16. “Any time off is good for you when you’re hurting,” said Ellerbe, who estimated he’d be able to fight through the sore ankle if the Super Bowl were being played this weekend. “I’m going to need

Newsome: Harbaugh wasn't pushed to fire Cameron

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — With the Ravens overcoming their December struggles to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in 12 years, much discussion has naturally reflected on the decision to fire offensive coordinator Cam Cameron on Dec. 10. Needless to say, the move has worked beautifully for the Baltimore offense as Cameron himself even admitted it was a “brilliant” move in an interview with the New York Times, but general manager Ozzie Newsome was asked Friday how involved he and owner Steve Bisciotti were in the decision to part ways with the coordinator. Newsome acknowledged that he and Harbaugh interacted a great deal in discussing the merits and drawbacks of making such a change so late in the season, but the longtime general manager made it clear neither he nor Bisciotti pushed Harbaugh to fire Cameron. Newsome emphatically denied that notion, repeating the word no multiple times as he shook his head. “That wouldn’t be fair to John,” Newsome said. “John has to stand before his coaching staff and his players. If at any one point do they ever think that he is overly influenced by Steve and I, then he loses his staff and his players. It

Ravens issue injury report without practicing on Wednesday

Luke Jones

The Ravens did not practice on Wednesday, but that didn’t stop the NFL from releasing the first injury report ahead of Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans on Feb. 3. Since the report was only an estimation, it’s wise not to read too much into the fact that the Ravens listed 15 players as non-participants, most of them with preexisting conditions going into last Sunday’s AFC Championship game in New England. Coach John Harbaugh said in his Monday press conference that his team made it through the conference championship without any injuries of significant note. “We got through it very healthy,” Harbaugh said. “Nothing major. So, that should clear that up for the next two weeks. We’re in good shape.” Jim Harbaugh’s San Francisco 49ers practiced on Wednesday, so their report provided a more realistic portrayal of their overall state of health. The Ravens will be back on the practice field on Thursday and will conduct workouts on Friday and Saturday as well before departing for New Orleans on Monday afternoon. BALTIMORE DID NOT PARTICIPATE: WR Anquan Boldin (shoulder), LB Dannell Ellerbe (ankle/back), CB Asa Jackson (thigh), FB Vonta Leach (knee/ankle), LB Ray Lewis (triceps), LB Albert McClellan (shoulder), DE

Welker's wife apologizes for derogatory comments about Ray Lewis

Luke Jones

Last year it was Tom Brady’s wife Gisele Bündchen ranting after the Patriots’ Super Bowl XLVI loss to the New York Giants, but the wife of wide receiver Wes Welker may have topped her comments in trashing Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis following Sunday’s AFC Championship. Anna Burns Welker took to Facebook to bash the future Hall of Fame linebacker following the Ravens’ 28-13 win over New England, citing Lewis having children with four different women and the events in Atlanta 13 years ago. “Proud of my husband and the Pats,” she wrote. “By the way, if anyone is bored, please go to Ray Lewis’ Wikipedia page. 6 kids 4 wives. Acquitted for murder. Paid a family off. Yay. What a hall of fame player! A true role model!” Despite her claim, Lewis has never been married. She apologized for those comments on Monday evening and has since deleted her original Facebook post. She is a former Miss Hooters International winner. “I let the competitiveness of the game and the comments people were making about a team I dearly love get the best of me,” Welker’s wife said in a statement to Larry Brown Sports. “My actions were emotional and irrational

D&L Window Tinting Morning Reaction Picks and Comment – Conference Championship Weekend

Luke Jones

Here are this weekend’s picks as The D&L Window Tinting Morning Reaction will pick every NFL game this season. Drew Forrester finished 2-2 last week and Luke Jones was also 2-2 in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. Forrester is now 166-80 and Jones is 158-88 overall. Jones holds the edge in the postseason, however, with a 6-2 mark compared to Forrester’s 5-3 record. Official standings are only kept based on the NFL picks. To hear their full explanation, click HERE. Ravens at Patriots: Baltimore 33-24 (Drew), New England 31-27 (Luke) 49ers at Falcons: San Francisco 38-24 (Drew), San Francisco 30-24 (Luke)

Backup running back Pierce sits out Thursday's practice

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The uncertain status of running back Bernard Pierce took another dip as the rookie did not take part in Thursday’s practice as the Ravens continued preparations for the New England Patriots in Sunday’s AFC Championship. A day after practicing on a limited basis, Pierce was again sidelined as he continues to deal with a sore right knee. The 2012 third-round pick told reporters on Wednesday that he will be ready to play in Sunday’s game. Cornerback Asa Jackson (thigh) was the only other Ravens player not to participate in Thursday’s workout. Fullback Vonta Leach (knee/ankle) and wide receiver David Reed (thigh) each practiced on a limited basis. The Pro Bowl fullback was a full participant on Wednesday, but he’s dealt with a sore ankle since the early portion of December and has periodically missed practices or been limited to rest over the last several weeks. Running back Anthony Allen and offensive lineman Gino Gradkowski were upgraded to full participation and were no longer wearing red-contact jerseys during Thursday’s practice, an indication that each had passed a baseline neurological test required to clear a player for contact. Both worked on a limited basis a day earlier. Meanwhile,

Pierce "feeling good" in Harbaugh's words, but status of knee unknown

Luke Jones

The only apparent injury concern to come out of the Ravens’ 38-35 double-overtime win over Denver on Saturday night was running back Bernard Pierce, who continues to deal with a sore knee. The rookie carried the ball only five times for 14 times after rushing for a game-high 103 yards in the wild-card round win over the Indianapolis Colts. Pierce took only 16 offensive snaps and last carried the ball roughly midway through the third quarter before failing to finish the game. Coach John Harbaugh would not address Pierce’s knee specifically when asked how the backup running back was feeling on Monday. “He seems like he is feeling good,” Harbaugh said as he smiled. “He was in good spirits. He had a big smile on his face. He had a nice big lunch today. He seemed like he was happy. His son is doing well. His son slept well last night. I think his son slept through the whole night last night, so he was happy.” The first injury report of the week will be released on Wednesday afternoon and based on Harbaugh’s comments, it will be the only tangible information we can expect regarding the Ravens’ overall state of

Ayanbadejo takes shots at Patriots offense on Twitter

Luke Jones

Even before the Ravens were officially set to travel to New England for an AFC Championship rematch next Sunday, linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo couldn’t help but stir the pot against the Patriots. Using Twitter, the veteran was critical of the Patriots’ hurry-up offense that includes quick snaps and a no-huddle approach. “In a sport that is predicated on mano y mano, ‘let’s hurry-up n snap it’ = b-tcha–ness,” the linebacker tweeted. An active participant on his verified Twitter account, Ayanbadejo began taking shots at the New England offense during the Patriots’ 41-28 victory over the Houston Texans in Sunday’s divisional playoff. The Ravens will travel to Gillette Stadium to face New England in a postseason game for the third time in four years. “New England does some suspect stuff on offense,” wrote Ayanbadejo, a three-time Pro Bowl special-teams player. “Can’t really respect it. Comparable to a cheap shot [before] a fight. “… the hurry snap offense catch [them before] they set up,” the 36-year-old continued. “It’s a gimmick … Their offense is good enough to be successful without that.” Poking the bear that beat the Ravens in last year’s conference championship appears unwise for a group that was praised for the

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