MASNsports.com is your online home for the latest Orioles and Nationals news, features, and commentary. And now, you can connect with MASN on every digital level. From web and social media to our new mobile alert service, MASN has got all the bases covered.
Get the latest breaking news direct to your phone with our mobile texting service.
I had doubts about whether two-time Pro Bowl fullback Le'Ron McClain would be able to play this Sunday against the Steelers as soon as I saw him wearing a protective boot over his sprained right ankle following the Ravens' win over the Buccaneers. Those doubts increased today when the Ravens announced that they signed veteran fullback Jason McKie and waived safety Ken Hamlin. The move
We're all well aware of the Ravens' injury situation at this point. Left tackle Michael Oher (sprained knee), fullback Le'Ron McClain (sprained ankle) and safety Dawan Landry (concussion) all suffered injuries against the Buccaneers on Sunday, leaving their status for this weekend's game against the Steelers in doubt. Right guard Chris Chester has missed the last two games with a leg infection, rookie tight end
There was a lot for John Harbaugh to be pleased with from a defensive standpoint after Sunday's win over the Buccaneers. The Ravens were able to get fairly consistent pressure on quarterback Josh Freeman and made him uncomfortable in the pocket; they kept dangerous rookie wide receiver Mike Williams to just two catches for 20 yards; and if you take away Tampa Bay's final drive
You think the Cardinals regret not ponying up a little extra cash for Marc Bulger this offseason? Arizona got embarrassed on Monday Night Football last night by Troy Smith, Brian Westbrook (yes, he's still in the NFL) and the 49ers in a game that was so boring and sloppy that if you actually watched it to the end, you deserve a medal. Either that or
Fabian Washington hasn't played especially well over the last month and a half or so, but to see the sixth-year cornerback among the Ravens' gameday inactives prior to yesterday's game against the Buccaneers was still a bit surprising. After all, Washington had just been in the starting lineup three games prior, and he hadn't been battling any injuries going into the Bucs game. Today, head
The Ravens had three starters leave yesterday's game against the Bucs and not return due to injury. Fullback Le'Ron McClain suffered a sprained left ankle, left tackle Michael Oher sprained his right knee, and safety Dawan Landry suffered a concussion. Predictably, with the Ravens set to face division rival Pittsburgh on Sunday, head coach John Harbaugh offered no updates on any of the three injured
The Ravens have decided to leave running back Matt Lawrence on the Physically Unable to Perform list with a knee injury, the team announced today. That decision means that Lawrence, a second-year running back out of Massachusetts, will not play this season. Lawrence appeared in eight games with the Ravens last season, seeing action mostly on special teams. He had four carries for zero yards
Just four weeks after starting at cornerback for the Ravens, Fabian Washington was inactive yesterday against the Buccaneers. It represents quite a fall for a guy who has started 30 games in three seasons in Baltimore and who hadn't been a healthy deactivation since the 2007 season. "It's a low point, but you got to keep pushing that's what I plan on doing," Washington said
Some teams have "black outs" for big home games, where they encourage fans to wear all black to show their support for their team. When the Ravens take on the Steelers in primetime on Sunday Night Football, the team hopes to have those at M&T Bank Stadium take part in a "purple out". The Ravens and Verizon Wireless will provide every fan that enters M&T
One of the reasons why the Ravens weren't able to put the Bucs away in the third quarter of yesterday's game is because of a block in the back penalty against wide receiver Anquan Boldin, which negated Ray Rice's 76-yard touchdown reception. Officials ruled that Boldin hit Tampa Bay safety Sabby Piscitelli (great name, by the way) above the waist and spun him around, clearing
The victories over the Bills, Dolphins, Panthers and Buccaneers are fine and dandy. But, now comes the real test. In case you weren't aware, it's Steelers week. While it has rarely been pretty for the Ravens this season, they've been able to pile up the wins, and Baltimore now has an 8-3 record, which is their best start in three seasons under head coach John
Leading 17-3 at halftime and getting the ball first to start the third quarter, the Ravens had an opportunity to expand their advantage over the Buccaneers and put Tampa Bay away. Instead, as we've seen on more than a couple occasions this season, the Ravens failed to deliver the game-clinching blow. That is, until their final possession of the game. The lack of a killer
Just seven days ago, Derrick Mason confronted Joe Flacco during the Ravens' win over the Panthers, grabbed his quarterback's facemask, and the two men had to be separated during a sideline scuffle. Today, Flacco targeted Mason a team-high 13 times, over three times more than any other Ravens wide receiver, and the two connected eight times for 87 yards and a touchdown. So, will Anquan
Since I've been ripping off injury updates left and right, I figured I'd continue down that road and update the statuses of left tackle Michael Oher and strong safety Dawan Landry, both of whom left today's game against the Buccaneers due to injury and did not return. Oher suffered a sprained right knee during the third quarter of the Ravens' win over Tampa Bay, and
With the game-ending injuries to Le'Ron McClain, Michael Oher and Dawan Landry, the fact that cornerback Chris Carr missed one series because of injury might fly under the radar. But, Carr wants to draw attention to the circumstances surrounding his injury. That's because, he says, he was cheap-shotted by Buccaneers safety Corey Lynch. The hit came when Carr was back blocking on a second half
The boot on the left foot of Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain indicates that of the game-ending injuries to three Ravens' starters, his ailment is likely the most severe. But, McClain says, his sprained left ankle doesn't appear to be a serious thing, and he hopes to be able to play a week from today against the Steelers. "It's crazy, man. I've never been hurt and
The Ravens had a 14-point lead over the Bucs at halftime and appeared to be well on their way to their eight win of the season. In typical Ravens fashion, however, they didn't make it easy on themselves. The Baltimore offense was stagnant in the second half and Tampa Bay, the NFL's comeback kids, got to within one score with a Kellen Winslow touchdown reception
We've still got a 17-3 ballgame as we go to the fourth quarter, but things could be much different if two plays had stood up instead of being wiped out. Ray Rice looked like he had given the Ravens 21-point lead with a 76-yard touchdown reception mid-way through the third quarter, but the play was brought back because of a block in the back penalty
The injuries are coming fast and furious for the Ravens. After losing Pro Bowl fullback Le'Ron McClain to a sprained ankle in the second quarter, safety Dawan Landry and left tackle Michael Oher both had to leave the field with injuries early in the third quarter. Landry suffered a concussion when he put a huge hit on Buccaneers running back Carnell Williams. He is out
The Ravens got two touchdowns in the final three minutes and 15 seconds of the first half to take a 17-3 lead into the break. Here are a few quick-hit notes on the first 30 minutes of play: - I guess Joe Flacco and Derrick Mason kissed and made up. A week after their sideline scuffle in Carolina, Flacco targeted Mason 11 times in the
The Ravens might be without Pro Bowl fullback Le'Ron McClain for a little while after he limped off the field with a left leg injury late in the second quarter of their game over the Buccaneers. McClain was blocking on a kickoff return when his left leg got rolled up on from behind. He was down on the field for a few minutes, and had
Not much action in the first 25 minutes of this one, but the Buccaneers capitalized on a rare Joe Flacco home interception and have tied this game at 3-3. Flacco tried to squeeze a pass in to T.J. Houshmandzadeh on a third down, but was picked off by Tampa Bay cornerback Aqib Talib. Talib returned the INT 25 yards and gave the Bucs the ball
It's a chilly 43 degrees at kickoff, with a wind chill of 39. Glad I'm in the heated press box. Just sayin'. The crowd here at M&T Bank Stadium left off a huge cheer when the Steelers' score was posted on the big screen. Pittsburgh will head to overtime with the Bills, who have been a pesky opponent for the AFC North elite. Buffalo has
The black jerseys are out at M&T Bank Stadium, both on the field and in the stands. A number of fans are sporting their black threads today with the players doing the same, although the Ravens will not be going with the popular all-black look featuring the black pants. John Harbaugh is not a fan of the all-black, which has not been worn since he
Ray Rice has only posted one 100-yard rushing game this season, but he could be in for a big afternoon today against Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers have the NFL's fourth-worst rushing defense, allowing an average of 136 yards on the ground per game. Perhaps an even uglier statistic for the Bucs is this one: They've seen an opposing running back burn them for at least
Rookie defensive tackle Arthur Jones has yet to suit up for a game this season, but the Ravens' fifth-round pick believes today's his day. "Look out for me tomorrow night at 4:15pm. time to get my feet wet," Jones wrote on his Twitter account last night. Asked by fan if that meant he'd be active against the Buccaneers, Jones replied, "yessirr...." Defensive end Cory Redding
In an age where first and second-round draft picks are expected to make an instant impact, some might call Paul Kruger a bust. Doing so would be a mistake. Yes, the Ravens 2009 second-round pick has started just one game in his two seasons in the NFL. Yes, there have been a couple stretches where he's been a gameday inactive for a few weeks in
Standing at 6-6, 248 pounds, Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman presents a challenge similar to another big-bodied quarterback that the Ravens are kinda familiar with. Like Ben Roethlisberger, Freeman does a good job of shedding tackles and extending plays, and he's been able to turn a few near sacks into big gains for Tampa Bay this season. As a result, the Ravens will have to put
Things haven't gone exactly as T.J. Houshmandzadeh hoped they would this season. Since signing a one-year contract with the Ravens just before the start of the regular season, the Pro Bowl wide receiver has seen limited playing time as Baltimore's No. 3 wide receiver. He was coming off six straight seasons of at least 73 passes and 900 receiving yards, but this year, Houshmandzadeh has
Four Ravens are listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers. Starting right guard Chris Chester (leg infection), TE Ed Dickson (thigh), DE Cory Redding (arm) and S Tom Zbikowski (heel) all are questionable, despite the fact that only Chester missed practice today. Both Dickson and Redding were limited today, while Zbikowski and S Ed Reed (illness) had a full practice. Reed is listed
Safety Tom Zbikowski returned to practice this week for the first time in over a month after injuring his right heel in a Week 6 loss to the Patriots, and he had full practices each of the last two days. But while he says his heel is feeling good, the three-year veteran seems apprehensive about returning to the field for this Sunday's game against the
The injury questions were ripped off rapid fire in John Harbaugh's direction this afternoon. Here's what we learned from the head coach's meeting with reporters: A number of Ravens have been sick lately, and safety Ed Reed joked yesterday that he thought he might have caught his illness from cornerback Fabian Washington, but Harbaugh doesn't think the team has an issue with a bug sweeping
Feel like heading to M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday to catch the Ravens and Bucs? You've got a chance to snag a couple late tickets. The Buccaneers have returned approximately 250 tickets for this Sunday's game, which is set to kickoff at 4:15 p.m. You can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster by calling 410-547-SEAT or by visiting www.BaltimoreRavens.com/tickets. If you head to the game on Sunday,
Ugh. That about sums it up. Hope you all are feeling better this morning than I. I absolutely stuffed my face last night, and after mixing in a few drinks, I'm not in the best shape right now, both literally and figuratively. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends and got to catch some football at some point yesterday. The Ravens didn't
While safety Ed Reed returned to practice today in a limited capacity after missing Wednesday's session with an illness, two other Ravens sat out a second straight session. Defensive end Cory Redding (arm) and right guard Chris Chester (illness) missed today's brief Thanksgiving day practice. Redding told reporters that his arm injury is feeling better and he expects to play Sunday. Chester is more of
Ed Reed missed practice yesterday with a bad illness, but the Ravens' safety returned today and participated in practice in a limited capacity. "I don't know what was going on, it was the worst feeling of my life," Reed told reporters this afternoon. "It kind of carried over to today, right before practice. I had to get an IV and whatnot. I'm feeling alright." Reed
During training camp, the Ravens have what they call "plus-30" days, in which veterans who are at least 30 years of age get the day off to rest up and let their old bones heal. I'm not sure the Ravens' opponent this Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, have to worry about implementing similar rules. The Bucs are the NFL's youngest team. They start a second-year
My favorite holiday of the year is finally here. Food, family, football - you get it all on Thanksgiving, and you get it in large portions. I'll be heading back home to the Silver Spring area to spent time with my family and have a big dinner tonight, but before I do so, I'll be making the requisite stop at Ravens headquarters this afternoon. It
Despite their current standing as the eight-ranked defensive unit in the NFL, the Ravens' defense hasn't turned in the same dominant performance that we're used to seeing out of this group. Baltimore is allowing 101.8 rushing yards per game, which if it holds up would be the most this defense has allowed since 2004, and they've seen Peyton Hillis and Mike Goodson, of all people,
Safety Ed Reed was among three Ravens to miss practice today, as the six-time Pro Bowler sat because of an illness. Right guard Chris Chester (illness) and defensive end Cory Redding (arm) also did not practice today, while tight end Ed Dickson (thigh) and safety Tom Zbikowski (foot) was limited. Today marked Zbikowski's first practice since injuring his heel in a Week 6 loss to
As Chris Chester explains it, he was just hanging out watching TV with his wife last Thursday night, when out of nowhere his left leg started to hurt. Initially, the Ravens' starting right guard brushed it off, but as the hours went on, he started to feel like something was wrong. "The pain got more and more intense and I noticed some swelling in my
Breaking news, Ravens fans: the Ravens will break out their popular black jerseys for this first time this season on Sunday. Live it up, Charm City. The alternate jerseys, a favorite amongst the fan base, will make their 2010 season debut against the Buccaneers. The color of the Ravens' pants that day, however, is still a secret for now. The team hasn't gone with their
The last five weeks haven't been easy on Tom Zbikowski. Since suffering a series of injuries to his right heel in the Ravens' loss to the Patriots back in Week 6, the third-year safety has spent most of his days stuck in the training room at team headquarters trying to let the heel, well, heal. "It's been terrible," Zbikowski said. "Miserable. Any other adjective you
Sunday's sideline confrontation between Derrick Mason and Joe Flacco has generated a lot of attention in the Baltimore area, largely because while Mason has been involved in similar incidents in the past, it's seemingly the first time that the mild-mannered Flacco has been involved in an in-game spat with a teammate. Mason got in Flacco's face during the third quarter of the Ravens' win over
With six games remaining in the regular season, the Ravens are in a position similar to the one they've found themselves the last two seasons. They're within striking distance of a playoff birth, and if John Harbaugh's team closes out their schedule the way they want to, they'll be among the six AFC teams to make the dance. This time, however, they sure would like
The Ravens had an opening on their practice squad after promoting offensive guard Bryan Mattison to their active roster over the weekend. That opening has now been filled. The Ravens signed offensive guard Colin Brown to their practice squad today, according to the team. Brown, a 2009 fifth-round pick of the Chiefs, stands at 6-foot-7. He spent last season on Injured Reserve with a calf
Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is suddenly only two days away. Seriously, it feels like I was at the beach two weeks ago. Where did the fall months go? With Thanksgiving upcoming, a number of Ravens players spent yesterday and today extending a helping hand in Maryland's fight against hunger by proving turkeys and Thanksgiving fixings to local families. Yesterday, safety Ed Reed went to
The Ravens are well-represented in the early Pro Bowl voting, as they have five players who currently lead their respective positions. Linebacker Ray Lewis is the Ravens' top vote-getter so far, with 165,118 votes. The four other Ravens to lead their positions with about a month left to go in the voting are T Michael Oher, FB Le'Ron McClain, DT Haloti Ngata and S Ed
I would make the claim that the Ravens' offense looked as good in the first half of Sunday's win over the Panthers as it's looked at any point in the Joe Flacco era. The Ravens were up 7-0 after their second offensive play of the game, had a 10-point lead following their second possession, and added another touchdown late in the second quarter. Baltimore didn't
Very few Ravens fans have sounded completely pleased with their team's 24-point win over the Panthers on Sunday. A majority of media reports (including a couple on this very site) have found faults in the victory as well, one in which the Ravens needed two defensive touchdowns in the final six minutes to put away a one-win Carolina team playing without a few key starters.
A number of fans down at yesterday's Ravens-Panthers game noticed a sideline argument between Derrick Mason and Joe Flacco in the third quarter, in which Mason confronted his quarterback after the Ravens had hit an offensive rough patch. The fiery veteran wide receiver apparently wasn't happy with the timing of one of Flacco's passes to him, according to The Sun, and he and Flacco needed
The Ravens got minimal help yesterday from the rest of the contending teams in the AFC, as the Colts were the only team in the top group in the conference to fall. Indy dropped a heartbreaker to the Pats in New England, with Tom Brady barely outdueling Peyton Manning in another classic game between those two teams and quarterbacks. Manning threw for 396 yards and
John Harbaugh said last week that he would like to see his offense push the ball downfield a little more and start picking up some yardage in chunks. The Ravens didn't waste any time following their head coach's wishes, as quarterback Joe Flacco completed nine passes of at least 15 yards in yesterday's 37-13 win over the Panthers. Baltimore was able to stretch the field
The Ravens entered yesterday's game against the Panthers ranked 20th in the NFL in red zone efficiency, getting touchdowns on 48.4 percent of their trips inside their opponent's 20-yard line through their first nine games. That number took another hit yesterday. Baltimore reached the end zone on just one of their four red zone trips against Carolina, dropping their red zone efficiency to 45.7 percent
It's kind of tough to gauge yesterday's performance by the Ravens in their win over the Panthers. The Ravens ended up winning by 24 points, had 300 yards passing from Joe Flacco, and got two huge plays from their defense when it mattered most. But beyond that, despite the 37-13 final score, the Ravens didn't play an especially solid game against a Carolina team that
It only took 10 games, but the Ravens finally got a big play out of their return unit. They might also have found their long-term kickoff returner in the process. Rookie David Reed, getting the kick return duties for the third straight game, started the second half with a bang, taking the opening kickoff 84 yards all the way to the Carolina 18-yard line. The
Coming into today, the Ravens' defense had blown three fourth quarter leads in their last four games, resulting in two heartbreaking losses. A month ago, in New England, the Ravens let a 10-point lead slip away in the final 15 minutes, and fell to the Patriots in overtime. Last week, Baltimore held a one-point lead over the Falcons with 65 seconds to go, but couldn't
The Ravens have put a name to the infection that hospitalized starting right guard Chris Chester and caused him to miss today's game against the Panthers - cellulitis. Cellulitis is a potentially serious infection caused by bacteria, and head coach John Harbaugh told reporters after today's game that it's a condition which could keep Chester out one to two weeks. "The fever is going down.
The Ravens didn't just earn a 37-13 win over the Panthers today, they also re-wrote the record books in about 2,000 different categories. Take a look at how many milestones were reached today during Baltimore's win over Carolina: - With his three catches on the day, wide receiver Derrick Mason topped the 900-reception mark for his career, becoming just the 13th player in NFL history
With just under 15 minutes remaining in this afternoon's game against Carolina, the Ravens' lead over the 1-8 Panthers had been trimmed to seven points. The Baltimore defense had allowed another fourth quarter touchdown, the offense was scuffling, and the Ravens looked like they could be on the verge of letting a far inferior Panthers team get back into the game. Within a span of
Don't look now, but with the fourth quarter just underway, the Ravens lead the Panthers by just seven. Yes, that's the 1-8 Panthers trailing the 6-3 Ravens by only seven points. Panthers quarterback Brian St. Pierre, making his first career start, had thrown for 51 yards on the day through three quarters, but he unleashed an 88-yard touchdown bomb to wide receiver David Gettis early
The Ravens jumped out on top of the Panthers early, and they hold a 14-point lead at the half. Here are a few quick-hit notes after the first 30 minutes of play: - I expected the Ravens to come out and pound the ball on the ground against a Carolina run defense that allows over 130 yards per game, but offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has
Last week, it took over 38 minutes for the Ravens to get on the scoreboard. This week, it took just two minutes and 34 seconds. I guess the slow starts on the road aren't going to be a problem this week, huh? On the Ravens' second offensive play of the game, Joe Flacco hit T.J. Houshmandzadeh on a 56-yard touchdown pass, giving Baltimore an early
The Ravens' offensive line will see its first change of the 2010 season today. Right guard Chris Chester is inactive because of a skin issue that left him hospitalized on Thursday, leaving Tony Moll to start in Chester's place. Moll, who got all the reps at right guard during Friday's practice, will be making his first start since the 2008 season, when he was with
We're just a few hours from kickoff in Carolina, where the Ravens hope to get back in the win column with a victory over the struggling Panthers. Carolina is beat up by injuries and sits at just 1-8, so this should be a good opportunity for the Ravens to take care of business and improve to 7-3 on the season. Here are a few keys
The Ravens waived offensive tackle Scott Kooistra and signed guard Bryan Mattison from their practice squad today, a move predicated by an injury issue with starting right guard Chris Chester. Chester was taken to the hospital Thursday night and missed practice yesterday after coming down with what head coach John Harbaugh called a "skin issue". He is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the
While the carousel continues to turn at the punt return position, the Ravens, for now, have found their kickoff returner. Wide receiver David Reed has gotten the call the last two games, and special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg said this week that Reed will be the guy again this Sunday against the Panthers. That news obviously thrilled the rookie out of Utah, who is still
Starting in 2012, Nike will replace Reebok as the league's official uniform provider. We've seen how Nike has put a wacky spin on Oregon's football uniforms, and their funky looking NCAA Pro Combat unis, released this year, got a mixed reaction from college football fans. Personally, I kinda liked 'em, but that's just me. Nike has promised to dramatically redesign the current NFL uniforms, so
The Ravens have listed starting right guard Chris Chester (illness) as questionable for Sunday's game against the Panthers. As I mentioned earlier, Chester was taken to the hospital last night because of what head coach John Harbaugh called a "skin issue". Chester missed practice today and while Harbaugh said that he thinks Chester should be able to play Sunday, the team will have to see
It's been four weeks since Tom Zbikowski injured his heel in a loss to the Patriots, but the third-year safety still is not healthy enough to play this Sunday against the Panthers. Head coach John Harbaugh said today that the Ravens are optimistic about Zbikowski's chances for next Sunday against the Buccaneers, however, and said that the team is not considering putting Zbikowski on season-ending
Marshal Yanda was back at Ravens headquarters today after missing yesterday's practice, and he was sporting a giant smile on his face. The Ravens' starting right tackle was excused from practice and meetings on Thursday to be with his fiancé as she gave birth to their first child. The big moment came at 7:43 p.m. last night when Marshal and Shannon welcomed Graham Yanda into
Starting right guard Chris Chester was sent to the hospital Thursday night because of what head coach John Harbaugh called a "skin issue", and his status for Sunday's game against the Panthers is uncertain. Chester, 27, has started all nine games for the Ravens at right guard this year. He did not take part in this afternoon's practice. Harbaugh said that he thinks Chester should
Many coaches and NFL minds believe that turnover ratio is the statistic that best predicts a team's success. When you win the turnover battle, more often than not, you'll get the win. If not, you're likely to see an "L" next to your team name in the box score the next morning. Through nine games, the Ravens are minus-one in the turnover ratio department, yet
Here's how I began our weekly Friday prediction entry as the Ravens were preparing to face the Bills four weeks ago: "The Bills are 0-5. They've been outscored 161-87 this season. They're coming into Baltimore, where the Ravens don't lose too often. Don't know how many people in their right mind would pick Buffalo to pull off the road upset this weekend." I then followed
Starting right tackle Marshal Yanda wasn't at practice today, but there's no reason for concern. In fact, stop by CVS on the way home and pick up a greeting card for him. Yanda has been excused from the team to be with his wife as she gives birth to their first child. The Ravens' right tackle is expected to play this Sunday against the Panthers,
When Rex Ryan was the Ravens' defensive coordinator, he was known for bringing "organized chaos", with blitzes coming on any down from any direction involving any number of personnel. Under current defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, the Ravens appear to have adjusted their blitzing strategy, using more base sets and rushing four more frequently. But Mattison says that's not necessarily the case. He still sees Ryan's
The Panthers have named a starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Ravens. It isn't rookie Jimmy Clausen, who has started four games this year but suffered a concussion last week against the Buccaneers. It isn't Tony Pike, the Panthers' other rookie QB, who Carolina selected in the sixth round of this year's draft. It isn't wide receiver Armanti Edwards, a third rookie, who played
As a third-year starter for a team which has only been in existence since 1996, Joe Flacco has already set a couple franchise records. He could very well end with another after this weekend. If Flacco throws for two touchdowns this Sunday against the Panthers, he would pass Vinny Testaverde for most TD passes in team history. The Delaware product currently has 50 touchdown strikes,
Following the Ravens' dramatic last-minute loss to the Falcons last Thursday night, a host of fans and media members (this one included) began talking about how the Baltimore defense isn't what it used to be, especially in crunch time. Members of that defense choose to disagree. Safety Ed Reed, who has been a part of some of the best defensive units in team history during
Panthers head coach John Fox told Baltimore reporters on a conference call today that rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen is "day-to-day" and is considered a game-time decision for Sunday's game against the Ravens. Fox apparently told Carolina reporters otherwise, however. According to the AP, Fox said it's likely that either Tony Pike, this year's sixth-round pick out of Cincinnati, or Brian St. Pierre, who was activated
The fact that Falcons wide receiver Roddy White wasn't called for offensive pass interference for pushing off on his game winning touchdown reception last Thursday might have upset Josh Wilson initially. The Ravens' cornerback was knocked to the ground on the play, and after White crossed the goal line to give Atlanta a late lead, Wilson ran to the nearest official and started pleading his
It might seem tough for an NFL receiver to play with a broken finger, what with passes being fired his direction at high speeds and him needing to, you know, catch them and all. But Derrick Mason, who has now broken his right pinky finger twice in the span of a handful of weeks, says it actually isn't that difficult to play through the pain,
Statistically, the Panthers have the NFL's 24th-ranked rushing offense, and are averaging just 93.8 yards on the ground per game. But when Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was asked what aspect of Carolina's team concerns him the most, he pointed to the Panthers' running game. "They run the ball as well as anybody in the league," Harbaugh said. "Offensive line, combination blocks, gap-scheme combination blocks
Hunter Cantwell has a little extra work on his plate this week. In addition to his normal duties of working with the scout team and throwing passes to the receivers lower on the depth chart, the 24-year-old quarterback, who is a member of the Ravens' practice squad, has also sat down with members of the coaching staff to provide some inside information on the Carolina
As you get settled in this morning, I'd like you to take a second and think about where the Ravens would be without Marshal Yanda. Go ahead, I'll wait. OK, you good? Here's my take on that topic: It wouldn't be pretty. When Jared Gaither came down with a back injury in training camp which essentially ended his season before it began, the Ravens had
The Dolphins lost their top two quarterbacks to injuries this last Sunday in a game against the Titans, and as a result, they had to turn to third-stringer Tyler Thigpen to finish the game. Under similar circumstances, the Ravens would rely on ... Anquan Boldin? Yup. The Ravens only have two quarterbacks on their active roster, meaning if both Joe Flacco and backup Marc Bulger
Going into last Thursday's game against the Falcons, the Ravens had allowed an average of 111 rushing yards in their previous three contests. They had seen their once-feared run defense drop to 13th-best in the NFL, and were giving up over 100 rushing yards per game on the season, which would have been nearly unheard of in previous years. To top it off, they were
If you were planning on attending the Ravens' Week 12 game against the Buccaneers, you'll have to make some schedule adjustments. That game has been moved from a 1:00 p.m. start to a 4:15 p.m. start. It will be aired on FOX for those of you planning on watching at home. I guess this is what happens when a Buccaneers team that was expected to
Is it possible that the Ravens were better off without Ed Reed? That seems blasphemous to even type, and I'm not suggesting that there's any truth behind it for fear of getting beaten down when I decide to leave my house. But the statistics, surprisingly enough, indicate that something has changed over the last three games, and changed for the negative. When Reed was taken
That sounds like a movie title. "Preparing for two rookies", starring Denzel Washington. Why Denzel? Because he's money, that's why. As I mentioned a little bit earlier, the Panthers could be without quarterback Jimmy Clausen on Sunday when they take on the Ravens because of a concussion that Clausen suffered yesterday, which means that Baltimore could face Carolina's other rookie signal-caller, Tony Pike. It's unclear
Derrick Mason told reporters after last Thursday's game against the Falcons that he thought he had broken the pinky finger on his right hand that he had surgically repaired during the Ravens' bye week. Despite Mason re-aggravating the finger injury, head coach John Harbaugh said today that the veteran wide receiver should be able to play this Sunday against the Panthers. Harbaugh said that Mason
The Panthers have already lost starting quarterback Matt Moore for the season with a shoulder injury. Now, the team tied with the Bills with the NFL's worst record at 1-8 might be without their replacement quarterback, rookie Jimmy Clausen, for this Sunday's game against the Ravens. Carolina head coach John Fox told reporters today that Clausen suffered a concussion in the Panthers' loss to the
Since arriving to training camp in late-July for his first practice as a member of the Ravens, Marc Bulger has spent the last four months side-by-side with Joe Flacco. As the only two quarterbacks on the Ravens' active roster, Bulger and Flacco are in meetings together, they're next to each other on the practice field, and they converge on the sidelines during games to talk
Life is a little different for Marc Bulger these days than it had been in years past. The longtime NFL quarterback isn't bombarded with interview requests on a daily basis. He doesn't see his face printed on billboards and splashed across the TV screen as a part of local ads. And, most notably, he isn't getting the snaps from center when his team takes the
The Ravens lost the AFC North division lead for three days. Now, they're back in the saddle, and first place, yet again. I would guess that not many Ravens fans are too fond of Tom Brady (just taking a wild shot at that one), but you should all send thank you cards to the Patriots quarterback today for the beatdown that he and his teammates
Here go the Browns yet again, hanging with an NFL powerhouse. First, they top the Saints. Then they stun the Patriots. Is an upset over the Jets next for Cleveland? They currently trail the Jets by four with the fourth quarter just underway in Cleveland. Colt McCoy would become a popular guy in Baltimore (and New England, and Pittsburgh...) if he could pull that one
This Thursday night game has completely thrown off my body clock. Thursday felt like a Sunday because it was gameday, Friday felt like a Monday because of all the postgame wrap-up coverage and whatnot, and now today, we're right back in the middle of NFL action with a full slate of games throughout the day. And for the second time in three weeks, I get
In a season in which the Ravens have gotten minimal contributions from their rookie class, one first-year player stepped up on Thursday with his best game as a pro. Defensive tackle Terrence Cody, selected by the Ravens with the second of their two second-round picks in this year's draft, saw his most extended playing time of the season against the Falcons on Thursday night, and
I feel like every single week for the last month and a half I've ended up writing a post about how the Ravens' return unit is struggling and needs to find a spark. Seriously, before posting this, I had to go back through my last few weeks of entries to make sure that I wasn't using the same headline that I'd used previously. John Harbaugh
I just re-watched the end of last night's game on my DVR, and if I hear Joe Theismann call defensive tackle Haloti Ngata "Ha-la-ti Ngo-ta" one more time, I might lose it. I know from personal experience that calling games isn't easy, and I don't often criticize fellow media members because I would hope that I'd be cut some slack when I err, which can
Those who were complaining about the lack of a consistent pass rush out of Terrell Suggs a few weeks ago can't make those complaints anymore. Suggs has been on fire lately, and after last night's two-sack effort, the Ravens' Pro Bowl outside linebacker has posted three sacks in two games and 6.5 on the season. The problem now is that Suggs doesn't appear to be
OK, so it took the Ravens' offense four legitimate drives to finally realize that last night's game had actually started. Not counting a Joe Flacco kneel down at the end of the first half, Baltimore first four possessions of the game went like this: Five plays, 29 yards and a punt. Six plays, 22 yards and a punt. Five plays, 26 yards and a punt.
Despite allowing the Falcons to convert 12-of-20 third downs, letting Matt Ryan pick them apart through the air to the tune of 316 yards, and not forcing a single turnover on the night, the Ravens' defense still had a chance to make up for it all. All they needed to do was stop Atlanta from driving for a game-winning score with about a minute left.
There were two calls on the Falcons' game-winning drive with a minute left in the fourth quarter which will be talked about in the Baltimore area at length in the days to come. Here's how Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reacted to those calls after the game, when asked by reporters in Atlanta: Play No. 1: Michael Jenkins' fingertip grab With the Falcons facing a
Early in the third quarter tonight, when the Ravens trailed 13-0 and had nothing going for them on offense, defense or special teams, this game looked over. Ravens fans might wish that the game had actually ended at that point. If it had, they would have been saved some heartbreak. After Joe Flacco led the Ravens all the way back to take a 21-20 with
Trailing by 13 mid-way through the third quarter, the Ravens were able to cut the Falcons' lead to one possession with a sharp 10-play, 65-yard drive that was capped by Joe Flacco's five-yard touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin. Atlanta answered right back, getting a four-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan to Roddy White to get the lead back to 13. With time starting to tick
Not much went right for the Ravens through the first 30 minutes, as they have put up just 76 total yards, and trail 10-0 at the break. Here are a few quick-hit notes on the first half of play: - We're seeing tonight why Matt Ryan is considered the more polished quarterback when compared to his fellow 2008 first-round QB, Joe Flacco. Ryan appears calm
We're through the first 15 minutes of this one and the Ravens and Falcons are tied 0-0. The first quarter looked a lot like a boxing match where the fighters spend the first round mostly feeling each other out and trying to get a read on one another. Each offense moved the ball a bit, but neither team has taken many shots. The Falcons looked
After starting four games in a row between Week 4 and Week 7, defensive tackle Brandon McKinney has now been declared a gameday inactive for the Ravens' last two games. McKinney, who appeared to have taken over the starting job at defensive end entering the Ravens' bye week, will now spend his second straight game on the sidelines out of uniform. For the Falcons, star
If you want to win in the NFL, and especially if you want to win on the road, you have to come out on top in the turnover battle. So far this season, the Ravens are just +1 in the turnover department, although they've come on strong lately. That trend will have to continue tonight, because the Falcons have shown that when they win the
When the Ravens and Falcons square off tonight, we'll have quite an impressive display of offensive talent on the field regardless of which team has the ball. Baltimore and Atlanta are two of only four teams that feature a 1,900-yard passer, a 600-yard rusher and a 500-yard receiver, which means that we could be in for some fireworks if the defenses don't come to play
The Ravens have enjoyed some tasty home cooking the last few seasons, going 16-4 at M&T Bank Stadium during the John Harbaugh era. Pretty impressive, but the Falcons can top it. Under third-year head coach Mike Smith, the Falcons are 17-3 (.850) at the Georgia Dome, tied for the league's highest winning percentage at home. Those numbers become even more impressive, however, when you consider
Happy gameday, everyone. This came around quickly, huh? After getting just three days to rest their bumps and bruises and prepare mentally following their games on Sunday, the Ravens and Falcons will take the field tonight for the first Thursday night game of the season. Both teams have a 6-2 record, and both are being talked about as the top team in their conference. Is
For parts of this season, the red zone has been more like the no-fly zone for the Ravens' offense. Baltimore is tied for 23rd in the NFL in red zone efficiency, turning only 12 of their 28 trips inside their opponents' 20-yard line (42.9 percent) into touchdowns. The Ravens' red zone issues reached a new low in Sunday's win over the Dolphins, when they got
We can put Spitgate behind us, folks. The NFL has looked into the incident that took place on Sunday between Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain and Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder, and has determined that there was not visual evidence to back Crowder's claim that McClain spit in his face. As a result, McClain will not be fined. The league looked at video that was taken during
During a conference call with Baltimore reporters yesterday afternoon, Atlanta head coach Mike Smith sounded confident that wide receiver Roddy White would play in Thursday night's game against the Ravens despite a knee injury. Today, the Falcons listed White as questionable after he took part in practice for the first time this week. White, who ranks second in the NFL with 796 yards and has
It wasn't the finest game of his season. In fact, it wasn't even close. But Haloti Ngata's performance in Sunday's 26-10 win over the Dolphins was enough to earn the Ravens' defensive tackle AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Ngata posted four tackles and had a sack in the win. It's a far cry from his seven-tackle, two-sack effort in the Ravens' Week 6
You want to see something freaky? No, I won't link to another bizarre Ray Lewis Old Spice commercial or provide a frame-by-frame, 360 degree view of spit flying (or not flying, depending on who you believe) from Le'Ron McClain's mouth into the face of Channing Crowder. Here's what's freaky: Looking at the career numbers of Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan side-by-side.
For the second straight day, safety Tom Zbikowski missed practice today because of a heel injury. That almost certainly means that Zbikowski will miss his third straight game when the Ravens face the Falcons this Thursday. "He hasn't practiced, so [he's] probably not going to make it," head coach John Harbaugh said today. While things don't look good for Zbikowski, every other member of the
Before taking questions from reporters this afternoon, Ray Rice wanted to clear something up. The Ravens' running back clarified a post that he put on Twitter last night, in which he indicated that he hadn't gotten a ticket from a police officer after giving the officer an autograph for his son. Rice said today that he was only given a warning after getting pulled over
Yesterday, cornerback Fabian Washington said that he expected Josh Wilson to replace him in the starting lineup this Thursday against the Falcons. "I don't know. I really don't. I think they're leaning toward Josh," Washington said. "So, that's what I'm thinking. I'm not sure." Today, Wilson declined to offer his prediction on who will be in the starting lineup when the Ravens take on Atlanta.
He might not have made a catch in his 2010 debut, but wide receiver Donte' Stallworth still impressed the Ravens' coaching staff with his play this last Sunday against the Dolphins. The Miami game marked Stallworth's first regular season game action since December of 2008. He missed the first seven games this season because of a broken left foot, but was able to put on
Most NFL players say that they let a game sit with them for about 12 hours before they put it behind them and start to focus on their upcoming opponent. Karlos Dansby apparently doesn't believe in that policy. The Dolphins' linebacker, who called Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain a "coward" after Sunday's game for allegedly spitting in the face of Dansby's teammate Channing Crowder, continued his
The Pittsburgh Steelers have never blown a 20-point lead in the history of their franchise. Not once. Not in 77 years. Is anyone else as blown away by that as I was when that stat flashed across my TV screen last night? Pittsburgh's insanely impressive streak was almost broken last night, as the Bengals had an opportunity to score a go-ahead touchdown in the final
The Ravens will only have two days of practice this week, but luckily for the purple and black, they are in good shape health-wise as they prepare for Thursday night's game against the Falcons. Only one player is listed on today's injury report, and that's safety Tom Zbikowski, who did not practice today because of a heel injury. Other than that, the Ravens had their
The NFL is currently investigating whether Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain spit in the face of Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder yesterday afternoon, which means that the Spitgate saga continues. Goody. A day after denying that he spit in Crowder's face during the third quarter of the Ravens' 26-10 win over Miami, McClain said today that he might have accidentally spit at the Dolphins' linebacker when the
Ladies and gentlemen, we have an update in the Spitgate situation. While Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain denied that he spit in the face of Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder during Baltimore's 26-10 win yesterday afternoon, some video of the incident between the two men has hit the internet, and it doesn't appear to back McClain's story. Here is the clip, which appears to show McClain spit
Yesterday wasn't exactly a normal day at the office for punter Sam Koch. He botched the hold on a field goal, took a vicious hit to the chest from Dolphins safety Chris Clemons, and completed his first pass in a game at any level of his football career. Oh yeah, and he didn't actually punt the ball a single time. "Very interesting day," a smiling
When he was benched two weeks ago in favor of Josh Wilson, cornerback Fabian Washington knew it was deserved. He had allowed Bills wide receiver Lee Evans to beat him for three touchdown receptions, and called the performance the worst of his career. The coaches stuck with Washington, giving him the start in yesterday's 26-10 win over the Dolphins, but at halftime, the six-year veteran
The Ravens entered their bye week to a host of questions. They came out of the bye with all the right answers. The Baltimore secondary rebounded from a dreadful performance against the Bills two weeks ago, held Brandon Marshall and a dangerous Dolphins wide receiving corps in check, and grabbed three interceptions. The front-seven beefed up their pass rush and did a better job of
Since the Ravens' Week 2 loss to the Bengals, in which Joe Flacco threw four interceptions, the Baltimore signal caller has been on an absolute tear. How hot has Joe Cool been? Well, in his last six games, (five of which have been wins), Flacco has thrown for over 1,500 yards, and has tossed 11 touchdowns to just one interception. Yeah, that'll do. Flacco's recent
In the Ravens' previous two games, they let a 10-point fourth quarter lead slip away late, and needed to go to overtime. Today, they had no such problem. Leading 20-10 entering the final 15 minutes, the Ravens turned things into high gear. They grabbed two interceptions, added six extra points to give themselves some insurance, and limited Miami to 65 total yards in the final
We were not lacking entertainment after the Ravens' 26-10 win over the Dolphins. Miami linebacker Channing Crowder accused Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain of spitting in his face. McClain said that didn't happen. Then, Derrick Mason went off. Mason, who was called "old man" by Crowder earlier this week (which is what started this whole chain of events), did not have the kindest things to say
The war of words between Channing Crowder and Derrick Mason became a full-blown soap opera this afternoon. Spitgate is upon us. Crowder, the Dolphins linebacker who called Mason "old man" earlier this week, got into an altercation with Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain late in the third quarter of the Ravens' 26-10 win over Miami. The two had words, and then, Crowder claims, things crossed a
Two weeks after a shaky performance against a winless Bills team, all is now well in Ravens land. Joe Flacco is tearing apart opposing defenses and spreading the ball to his myriad of pass catching threats, Ray Rice is back in 2009 form, and the members of the Baltimore secondary - at least for a week - won't need to hide their faces while in
For the second time in as many games, it appears that cornerback Fabian Washington has been benched in favor of Josh Wilson. Washington, who was replaced two weeks ago after allowing three touchdowns in a win over the Bills, was pulled from today's game against the Dolphins after a poor first half. The sixth-year cornerback appeared to have some trouble with his footing today, as
As we sit here at the half, the Ravens have a 13-10 lead over the visiting Dolphins. Here are a few quick-hit notes on the first 30 minutes of play: - It's been a big day for rookie David Reed. With the Ravens still searching for a spark from their return unit, they went with Reed as their kickoff returner in the first half, marking
There have been three drives so far. All three have resulted in scores. We could be in for a shootout here today. The Ravens have a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter after they've traded scores with Dolphins through the first 16 minutes. Not sure if the defenses didn't get the memo that the game starts at 1 p.m., or if Baltimore took the
We've got some great football weather here today in Baltimore - 50 degrees and sunny. That's probably a bit colder than Miami right now, but a good number of Dolphins fans made the trek up from the Sunshine State for today's game. I see a good bit of teal and orange throughout the seats here at M&T Bank Stadium. The wind might be a little
Welcome back from the bye week, everybody. We've got Ravens football today. Is it just me, or does that Bills game two weeks back feel like it happened a year and a half ago? I bet Fabian Washington and the Ravens' defensive backs agree with me, at least. As expected, wide receiver Donte' Stallworth is active today and will make his 2010 debut after missing
Signed this offseason to become the Ravens' top defensive end, Cory Redding has cracked the starting lineup just once in his last four games played. Redding has seemingly lost his starting job to Brandon McKinney, who has primarily played nose tackle in his five years in the NFL. The 6-2, 350-pound McKinney has now started four straight games, including three at D-end. But Redding says
He still isn't willing to declare himself ready to play on Sunday against the Dolphins, but it sure looks like Donte' Stallworth will be making his 2010 debut at M&T Bank Stadium this weekend. The wide receiver, who is coming off a broken foot that he suffered during the Ravens' third preseason game, had a full week of practice, and barring any setbacks in the
As expected, safety Tom Zbikowski, who did not practice all week because of a heel injury, has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins. Other than the third-year safety, however, the Ravens' injury report is pretty limited. Rookie TE Dennis Pitta (concussion) is listed as doubtful after being limited in practice the last two days, while WR Donte' Stallworth (foot), who had full
The lone Ravens player still on the Physically Unable to Perform list, running back Matt Lawrence has not practiced with the team since suffering a torn ACL last November. That's about to change. Lawrence, who has been out since the start of training camp because of the knee issue, will begin practicing with the Ravens this upcoming Monday, according to head coach John Harbaugh. "He'll
Talking to Miami reporters yesterday, Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder referred to Derrick Mason as "old man". Mason didn't take too kindly to that, and the Ravens' 36-year-old wide receiver fired back at Crowder today. "He's what, 20-something?" Mason said. "He was still peeing on himself when I was playing football. So, it is what it is." Answering questions about Baltimore's offense yesterday, Crowder complimented the
One thing that reporters have learned to deal with in today's NFL is that you'll rarely get a straight answer from coaches when they're asked about personnel decisions leading into a game. That's just the nature of things in a league that values secrecy and surprise. Who will be starting at cornerback this Sunday? - There are a lot of guys in the mix. What's
It might not be as wild as it used to be, but the Wildcat offense is still a threat anytime you face the Dolphins. That's why, despite the fact that Miami has yet to utilize their Wildcat formation nearly as much this season as they had in the previous two, the Ravens are still spending practice time this week preparing for the unorthodox offensive look.
So, here we go. After a week off, the Ravens get a chance to put their surprisingly difficult win over the now 0-7 Bills in the rearview mirror when they face the 4-3 Dolphins on Sunday. While they certainly enjoyed the rest and time off last week, Fabian Washington and the rest of the members of the Baltimore defense have been itching to get back
The merry-go-round of former Ravens wide receivers signing with new teams continues. The Chargers, who are having serious depth issues at the receiver spot, signed Kelley Washington today. Washington spent last season here in Baltimore as the Ravens' third wide receiver. He joined the team after a successful May tryout. The now 31-year-old wideout appeared in 15 games for the Ravens, starting two, and made
The Ravens continue to get healthier. Third-year S Tom Zbikowski (heel) was the only player to miss today's practice after reserve TE Dennis Pitta (concussion) was upgraded to limited participation today. Zbikowski will almost certainly not play this Sunday against the Dolphins. WR Donte' Stallworth (foot) had a full practice for the second straight day and appears on track to play against Miami. Meanwhile, TE
Earlier today, I wrote about the impact that Brandon Marshall has had on the Dolphins from a playmaking standpoint, but even when Marshall doesn't touch the ball, he's making positive things happen for Miami's offense. Because he often draws double teams and extra attention from defenses, Marshall is opening things up for the Dolphins' other passing options, specifically wide receivers Davone Bess and Brian Hartline
It's only been a little over three months since Domonique Foxworth tore his ACL during the first practice of training camp, but already, the Ravens' cornerback is making great strides in his rehab. "I've been running, changing directions. I squatted 315 [pounds] yesterday," Foxworth said this afternoon. "I'm feeling pretty good right now." The Ravens' top cornerback won't be playing this year - he was
Two years ago, Cameron Wake was playing for the Canadian Football League's BC Lions. Today, Wake has 6.5 sacks for the Dolphins, tied for 8th-best in the NFL, and has become one of the more feared pass rushers in the league. Ask about Wake around the Ravens locker room and you'll hear accolades tossed out left and right. Guys call him relentless, say he's got
A month ago, the Ravens had the NFL's top-ranked passing defense. Now, that part of their game has become a bit of a liability. Since halftime of the Patriots game two contests ago, the Ravens' defense has allowed 558 passing yards and five touchdowns through the air. They've had issues with missed tackles, and are coming off a frustrating performance against the Bills, who entered
Ravens fans anxious to see Donte' Stallworth make his debut in the purple and black might very well get their wish this Sunday. Stallworth, who has been out with a broken foot since the Ravens' third preseason game back in August, had a full practice today. He took part in Monday's session, which was not considered a full-tempo practice, but the fact that he participated
Just like that, all the Shawne Merriman to the Ravens talk is over. For some reason, one which is beyond me, the Bills have put in a waiver claim on Merriman, and have been awarded the former Chargers linebacker. Buffalo will be responsible for paying the prorated portion of Merriman's $3.269 million salary for this year. The former AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year will
After a rough 2009 season in which he posted a career-low 4.5 sacks, linebacker Terrell Suggs showed up to training camp in shape and looking like he was ready to return to his peak form. Seven games into the 2010 season, Suggs has 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble, but he wants to see those numbers improve as the Ravens embark on the latter portion
Count Ray Lewis among those who would like to see former Chargers outside linebacker Shawne Merriman join the Ravens. Lewis, who is a mentor of Merriman and talks with him often, said he spoke to the former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year last night after he was waived by San Diego. The unquestioned leader of the Ravens' defense said today that he endorses the
He's lost his starting job because of the return of Ed Reed, and at least for now, safety Tom Zbikowski has also lost the ability to practice with his teammates. Zbikowski is still bothered by a heel injury that he suffered two games ago against New England. While he's out of the walking boot that he was sporting yesterday, the third-year safety says he isn't
As you might have heard, head coach John Harbaugh confirmed on his radio show last night that the Ravens do indeed have some interest in former Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman, who was officially waived yesterday. Harbaugh said that the Ravens won't put in a waiver claim on Merriman because of salary issues, but if he clears waivers, as I had written yesterday, Baltimore is a
Injuries are going to happen in the NFL, and if they do, you want them to happen leading into a bye week. That was the message delivered by tight end Todd Heap and wide receiver Derrick Mason after both used their time off during the bye week to deal with various bumps and bruises. Heap said that his neck and shoulder are feeling much better
There has been speculation that the Ravens might be a good landing spot for Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman once he is declared healthy and put on waivers, which is expected to happen today. Merriman is from the Maryland area and wants to play for the Ravens, and after getting minimal pass rush out of his front-seven the last few weeks, Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome could
I mentioned a bit ago that wide receiver Donte' Stallworth hopes to return from an extended absence this Sunday against the Dolphins. He's not alone. Linebacker Tavares Gooden, who has been out since suffering a shoulder injury in the Ravens' Week 2 loss to the Bengals, says he is progressing well in his rehab and is hopeful he can play against Miami this weekend. "It's
He took part in some light team drills last week, but wide receiver Donte' Stallworth had what he called his first real practice yesterday since breaking his foot over two months ago. Stallworth says he feels like the injured left foot is coming along and responding well to the increased work, and he considers himself a game-time decision for Sunday's game against the Dolphins. "As
The Ravens avoided Randy Moss the first time when he was traded away by the Patriots just a week prior to Baltimore's game in New England. It's possible, however, that Baltimore will face the All-Pro receiver this Sunday if Moss is claimed off waivers by the Dolphins. Miami is reportedly considering putting in a claim on Moss, who was shockingly let go by the Vikings
After having over a week to stew on what he calls the worst performance of his NFL career, cornerback Fabian Washington was back on the practice field today trying to put last Sunday's outing against the Bills behind him. It wasn't easy, but the Ravens' sixth-year cornerback says he's moved on from a performance in which he allowed three touchdowns to Buffalo wide receiver Lee
You hear in the NFL that if a team can take care of business at home the bulk of the time and earn wins in half of their road games, they'll be in good shape. The Miami Dolphins don't abide by that rule. Strangely enough, following yesterday's win over the Bengals in Cincinnati, the Dolphins are a perfect 4-0 on the road, and are still
Boy, the NFC really helped the Ravens out yesterday, huh? The Charm City faithful should pool their money this afternoon and send gift baskets to Saints coach Sean Payton and Packers coach Mike McCarthy after those two men led their teams to wins over the previously-scalding hot Steelers and Jets, respectively. New Orleans frustrated Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense in a way that no
Keeping with the Halloween theme yesterday, ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown crew spent time going through their top-10 scariest players currently in the league. Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata ranked No. 7, and linebacker Ray Lewis topped the list at No. 1. Congratulations to those two ... I guess? When the Ravens' schedule was released this offseason, it looked like if John Harbaugh's group could get
