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After being released by the Ravens, Trevor Pryce says he was assured by head coach John Harbaugh that the team wanted to re-sign him this upcoming Monday. Pryce didn't take Harbaugh up on his offer. The veteran defensive end chose to head up to New York to join the Jets, because, he said, it gave him a chance to reunite with Rex Ryan, his former
Terrell Suggs is an avid movie fan, and has even started to work his way into the movie-making business. Tonight, the Ravens linebacker will make his acting debut on television. Suggs will make a guest appearance on FX's "The League", which airs at 10:30 tonight. Browns wide receiver/kick returner Josh Cribbs will join him as a guest star on the show. I've watched nearly every
While RB Ray Rice and DE Cory Redding took a positive step today, T Jared Gaither took a step backward. Rice (knee) and Redding (concussion) returned to practice in a limited capacity today after sitting out Wednesday's session. This is obviously good news for both players with the Ravens' divisional matchup with the Steelers just three days away. Rerserve T/G Tony Moll (hip) also was
Jared Gaither returned to practice yesterday for the first time since injuring the thoracic disc in his back August 5, but don't take that to mean that he'll line up at right tackle in Sunday against the Steelers. Gaither has missed nearly two months, and while he tossed on his jersey yesterday and took part in some drills, he still has a ways to go
The news that Trevor Pryce had spurned the Ravens to sign with the Jets slowly swept through the Ravens locker room today, and some of Pryce's teammates chose to pay tribute to the departed defensive end during and after practice. Safety Ed Reed wore Pryce's No. 90 jersey during the team's morning walkthrough, and on the white board in the Ravens' locker room, someone wrote:
When Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said on Monday that Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice had suffered a significant knee bruise during the recent win over the Browns, it sure seemed unlikely that Rice would be able to play this upcoming weekend against the Steelers. Three days later, Rice says he expects to suit up against Pittsburgh after all. Talking to reporters for the
Could Rex Ryan be bringing another Raven to New York with him? According to Terrell Suggs' Twitter account, defensive end Trevor Pryce, who the Ravens released yesterday, will sign with the Jets and reunite with Ryan, his former defensive coordinator in Baltimore. "kinda sad 2day. my boy trevor pryce signed wit the JETS!!!!!" Suggs Tweeted. "happy for him but would rather he be on my
T.J. Houshmandzadeh isn't necessarily unhappy. He isn't throwing a fit, he isn't demanding a trade, he isn't parading around the Ravens locker room causing a scene. The veteran wide receiver is just a little confused as to why he's not a bigger part of the Ravens' offense at this point. "It's different," Houshmandzadeh told me yesterday. "I've got the offense, for the most part, I
Today's injury report is out, and as expected, RB Ray Rice (knee) and DE Cory Redding (concussion) were held out of today's practice. Reserve OL Tony Moll (hip) was held out as well, while LB Tavares Gooden (shoulder) and WR Donte' Stallworth (foot) have been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Steelers. T Jared Gaither (back) practiced for the first time since Aug. 5,
With Trevor Pryce now off the Ravens' roster (at least for a little while) and Cory Redding coming off a concussion suffered on Sunday against the Browns, second-year defensive end Paul Kruger might finally have his chance to be active for a 2010 regular season game. Kruger has been one of the Ravens' gameday inactives each of the first three weeks of the season, but
After posting his best performance in his short time as a Raven, Anquan Boldin got a little recognition. The wide receiver was named the AFC's Offensive Player of the Week last week. This comes after Boldin made eight grabs for 142 yards and three touchdowns in the Ravens' 24-17 win over the Browns on Sunday. Asked for his thoughts on the award, Boldin shrugged. "Doesn't
There was a mysterious No. 71 out at Ravens practice today. No, the Ravens didn't make a trade. They didn't pick up a new practice squad player. Ladies and gentlemen, believe it or not, Jared Gaither is back. No pun intended. It's been nearly eight weeks since Gaither last participated in practice; a thoracic disc injury in his back has kept him off the practice
The Ravens released Trevor Pryce today, but head coach John Harbaugh said that it won't be long before the veteran defensive end is back with the team. "Oh, high possibility," Harbaugh said, when asked if there was a chance of Pryce returning. "You've got roster issues that you deal with, and that's not something we wanted to do. Trevor's a big part of what we're
Trevor Pryce totaled 26 sacks in 56 games with the Ravens, including a team-leading 6.5 last year. Now, he's gone. The question is - is he gone for good? Pryce has some options right now. He's made enough money over the course of his 14-year career, and as a vested veteran, he is guaranteed his entire 2010 base salary. Finances shouldn't factor into this decision
A week after cutting Ken Hamlin, the Ravens are bringing the veteran safety back. Surprisingly, they're letting go of a four-time Pro Bowler to make room for Hamlin on the roster. The Ravens announced this morning that they have terminated the contract of defensive end Trevor Pryce, a 14-year veteran who has spent the last five years in Baltimore. Pryce was a starter his first
After Sunday's win over the Browns, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh called kicker Billy Cundiff "a stud". Not sure how often you hear that term applied to a kicker, at least in a football sense (I'm sure kickers get the ladies, too), but you can't blame Harbaugh for being excited about Cundiff's performance against Cleveland. It might have been easy for the Ravens to give
Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant went out to dinner last night with his teammates, and got stuck with the bill as part of a little rookie hazing. The final tab reportedly came to $54,896. I took my MASNsports.com co-workers out for a Chipotle lunch a little while back. The bill was around $30 bucks, but it was Chipotle. I say the MASN crew got a
When the Ravens line up against the Steelers on Sunday, they'll see 35-year-old Charlie Batch at quarterback for Pittsburgh. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin announced today that with Ben Roethlisberger still under his four-game suspension and Dennis Dixon out with a knee injury, Batch will get his second straight start this weekend at Heinz Field. Batch, a 13-year veteran, got the call last Sunday against the
The Ravens made improving their pass rush a priority this offseason. They brought in new personnel, signing defensive end Cory Redding and using their first draft pick on outside linebacker Sergio Kindle. (We obviously know that Kindle won't be seeing the field this year, but the attempt to get a younger and more athletic pass rusher was made.) They made the extra effort in practice,
If someone had told you a month ago that the Steelers would start the 2010 season 3-0 without Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback, how many of you would have believed them? I wouldn't have. Most national media pundits wouldn't have. Many Steelers fans might not even have bought that talk. But Ravens head coach John Harbaugh insists Pittsburgh's Roethlisberger-less strong start doesn't surprise him. "You asked
We're three games into the 2010 season, and neither nose tackle Terrence Cody nor defensive end Paul Kruger has seen the field. Part of that has to do with injuries - Cody is recently back from knee surgery while Kruger had a shoulder issue at the start of the season - but head coach John Harbaugh said today that part of it also just has
I passed along an injury update on running back Ray Rice, now it's time for your Monday injury update on defensive end Cory Redding and offensive tackle Jared Gaither. Well, actually, there isn't much to update. Head coach John Harbaugh said that Redding, who suffered a concussion in yesterday's win over the Browns, has yet to be evaluated today, and the Ravens don't know anything
Ravens Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice has a "significant contusion" on his knee, according to head coach John Harbaugh, which puts Rice's status for this Sunday's battle against the AFC North-leading Steelers in question. Rice had an MRI today which confirmed that there is no ligament or cartilage damage to his knee, but that the third-year running back has a contusion. "We'll just have
This is why NFL teams need to have two capable running backs. When the starter goes down with an injury - as will almost certainly happen at some point during the course of the season - the backup needs to be able to step in and carry the load. Enter Willis McGahee. With the news that Ray Rice suffered a knee sprain in the Ravens'
After being flagged just 11 times for 88 yards through the first 10 quarters of the season, the Ravens returned to their old habits in the second half yesterday against the Browns. The Ravens were whistled for seven second half penalties against Cleveland, costing them 55 yards and making their comeback attempts significantly more difficult. Three of the seven flags stand out - wide receiver
You never really know the full story about an NFL team after three games. Teams are still working out the kinks, adjustments are only starting to be made, and there are still 13 games left to determine how everything will shake out. But with the Ravens, we really don't have any idea what type of team they are after the first three games of the
Shortly after his 262-yard, three touchdown performance in the Ravens' 24-17 win over the Browns, Joe Flacco was asked if he felt a sense of relief or redemption after getting bashed by fans and the media following the worst performance of his career a week ago. In typical Flacco fashion, the third-year quarterback flashed a wry smile. "I don't know. Obviously, you're a lot happier
Coming into today, Peyton Hillis had only rushed for more than 75 yards once in his three-year career. This afternoon, against a Ravens defense which prides itself on stopping the run, the Browns' running back ran for a whopping 144 yards. That won't sit well with this Baltimore defense, you can bet on that. "It was pretty disappointing to allow a team to come out
Coming into this afternoon's game against the Browns, the Ravens knew the one guy they needed to contain wasn't Cleveland's quarterback, running back, or a playmaker in the secondary. The one player they needed to shut down was Cleveland's kick returner, Josh Cribbs. Cribbs is the NFL's all-time leader in kickoff returns for touchdowns with eight, is a two-time Pro Bowl special teams player, and
While the Ravens earned a big division win today over the Browns, they suffered a loss as well. Running back Ray Rice had to leave the game mid-way through the fourth quarter with a knee injury. Head coach John Harbaugh said that it doesn't appear that Rice has any ligament or cartilage damage, but the Ravens' Pro Bowl running back will be re-evaluated tomorrow. "We
Trailing the Browns by three in the fourth quarter, the Ravens realized they're the Ravens, and they were trailing the Browns. Baltimore ripped off 10 straight points, limited Cleveland to minus-10 yards the final 14 minutes of the game, and held on for a tough 24-17 win. It wasn't supposed to be this difficult, not with the Browns missing their starting quarterback, running back, wide
We're six seconds into the fourth quarter, and the Ravens trail the Browns 17-14. Can't say I saw this one coming. Browns running back Peyton Hillis has been running like a perennial Pro Bowler, picking up 144 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, and Seneca Wallace's one-yard touchdown pass to Ben Watson has given Cleveland a shocking three-point lead. The Ravens have been burned
Despite a huge first half from Joe Flacco, Anquan Boldin and the Ravens' offense, Baltimore only leads the Browns 14-10 at the break. The Browns got a score right before the half, marking the first touchdown the Ravens' defense has allowed this year, and making this game a bit more interesting. Here are a few quick-hit thoughts after the first 30 minutes of play: -
After nearly throwing a pick-six on his first pass of the game and hearing some boo's from the crowd after a three-and-out, Joe Flacco has rounded back into the form that Ravens fans hope they'll see from their quarterback the rest of the season. Trailing the Browns 3-0 mid-way through the first quarter, Flacco led the Ravens on a 10-play, 85-yard drive that he capped
As if the Browns didn't have enough working against them this week - facing the Ravens in their home opener with Baltimore coming off a tough loss last Sunday - Cleveland will be without four key starters this afternoon. Among the Browns' inactives today are starting QB Jake Delhomme, RB Jerome Harrison, WR Brian Robiskie and DL Shaun Rogers. That means Cleveland will start Seneca
Football has arrived in Baltimore, and football weather has arrived in Baltimore as well. I bobbed and weaved my way through the raindrops to get into M&T Bank Stadium, but the guys down on the field won't have the benefit of an indoor press box to shield them from the elements. It looks like the Ravens and Browns will have to battle a light rain
For this week's "How well does..." segment, I talked with Ravens third-year safety Haruki Nakamura, a guy who is loving life on the football field right now. A year after suffering a gruesome leg injury which ended his 2009 season prematurely and threatened his NFL future, Nakamura is back healthy, and is making some major contributions to the Ravens both on special teams and on
The Browns made some late adjustments to their injury report for tomorrow's game, and now, their two best players might be on the sidelines when they take on the Ravens. Three-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Shaun Rogers (ankle, hip) has been downgraded from questionable to out, while two-time Pro Bowl kick returner/wide receiver Josh Cribbs (ankle) has been downgraded to questionable. Rogers is without a
The Sporting News recently came out with a list of the 20 smartest athletes in professional sports. Ravens center Matt Birk ranks No. 6 on the list, which has not gone unnoticed around Ravens headquarters. "Oh I heard that, yeah," Birk said with a smile when I asked about the ranking. "And in other news, the Sporting News folded because they lost all their credibility."
After the Ravens released safety Ken Hamlin on Wednesday, I got a question sent to my Twitter account (if you're not already following me, get on it) asking whether any of the team's cornerbacks could double as a safety considering there are only three safeties currently on the roster. Well, we got our answer to that question talking to defensive coordinator Greg Mattison this week.
The final injury report of the week is out, and here's how it looks: Three Ravens have been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Browns - OT Jared Gaither (back), WR Donte' Stallworth (foot), and LB Tavares Gooden (shoulder). The Ravens don't have any players listed as doubtful or questionable. They do have nine guys down as probable. They are: LB Dannell Ellerbe (knee),
The Ravens unanimously voted to decertify the Players Association today during a meeting with NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith, according to cornerback Chris Carr. Doing so would allow the players more legal recourse in case the owners decide to push for a lockout in 2011. The Ravens are at least the eighth team to vote on decertification. "Everybody was pretty much all together," said Carr,
Browns head coach Eric Mangini told Cleveland reporters today that while starting quarterback Jake Delhomme has yet to practice this week because of an ankle injury, there's still a chance the veteran signal caller suits up on Sunday against the Ravens. "I don't know. Each day gets a little bit better," Mangini said. "I have total confidence in his ability to operate the plan if
Having signed his rookie contract, Sergio Kindle was back at Ravens headquarters today for the first time since the end of minicamps back in June. The Ravens' second-round pick will miss the entire 2010 season after suffering a fractured skull when he fell down two flights of stairs in late-July, but there was no disappointment in his voice when he met with reporters today. Kindle
"Next man up" is a phrase you hear often around Ravens headquarters shortly after an injury. The Ravens expect that when a player goes down, regardless of how vital he was to their success, the guy who fills in for him will step up to the task and get the job done. With Tavares Gooden out for at least a few weeks with a shoulder
Terrell Suggs hasn't talked much in the days leading up to games so far this season, giving us fewer opportunities to pass along quotes from the always entertaining linebacker. Yesterday, Suggs met with reporters and had a couple interesting comments on his controversial penalty last week and why the Ravens' defense is playing so well to this point. Asked about the $15,000 fine that head
The Ravens are smack dab in the middle of three consecutive division games this week, as they follow up last Sunday's loss to the Bengals with a home game against the Browns. A disappointing road loss to Cincinnati last week has the Ravens at 1-1 through two games, but they get a chance to get back above .500 with Sunday's game against Cleveland, a team
Two of the Ravens' key starters on offense were upgraded on the team's injury report today. WR Derrick Mason (knee) and FB Le'Ron McClain (shoulder) both were limited in practice today after missing yesterday's session. Other than those two changes, the injury report reads exactly as it did yesterday. LB Tavares Gooden (shoulder) and WR Donte' Stallworth (foot) have been ruled out for Sunday's game
Nearly five months after being drafted by the Ravens, rookie linebacker Sergio Kindle has reached an agreement on a contract with the team. The former University of Texas star, who the Ravens took in the second round of April's draft, will be placed on the Reserve Non-Football Injury list, which means he will not play this season. Kindle is expected to be in Baltimore tomorrow
Last week, the Chiefs decided they weren't going to let Josh Cribbs beat them, so they kicked away from the Browns' Pro Bowl return man, sacrificing some field position in the interest of safety. Despite the success he's had against the Ravens in the past, Cribbs says he doesn't expect Baltimore to employ a tactic similar to Kansas City's this Sunday. "Having played for [Chiefs
Tavares Gooden has been told that he has a dislocated left shoulder that will keep him out for the next few weeks. But the Ravens' linebacker is going to get another opinion. "I'm not even sure what it is yet," Gooden said today, sitting at his locker with his shoulder in a sling. "The films are sent down to Coral Gables for [Dr. John] Uribe
Ray Lewis likes to call fellow linebacker Jarret Johnson a "construction worker". Why? "He's just going to always come to work," Lewis says. "He don't got the glamorous job, he just loves doing what he do." Johnson, now in his eighth season out of Alabama, will reach quite a milestone this Sunday against the Browns - he'll appear in his 100th straight game. "I knew
After nine months of waiting and countless hours of rehab, Lardarius Webb was back on a football field on Sunday for the first time since tearing his ACL last December. The end result - a 15-10 loss to the Bengals - wasn't what Webb or the Ravens would have hoped for, but the game was significant for the second-year cornerback, who got to make his
The Browns might not have many players that opposing teams truly have to design a gameplan for, but they've got one who teams have to gameplan for in about five different ways. Josh Cribbs can beat teams as a kickoff returner, punt returner, receiver, running back and quarterback. If Browns coach Eric Mangini asked Cribbs to be his field goal kicker, Cribbs could probably do
Along with the expected absences of linebacker Tavares Gooden, wide receiver Donte' Stallworth and offensive tackle Jared Gaither, there were two surprises on the Ravens' injury report today: wide receiver Derrick Mason and fullback Le'Ron McClain. Mason (knee) and McClain (shoulder) both missed today's practice, as did Gaither (back). Gooden (shoulder) and Stallworth (foot) have already been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Browns.
With cornerback Cary Williams rejoining the Ravens after a two-game suspension, the team needed to make a roster cut to get down to the 53-man limit. The guy to get the ax was veteran safety Ken Hamlin. Hamlin was signed this offseason as insurance for injured safety Ed Reed, and he was also expected to compete with Tom Zbikowski for the starting free safety spot
If anyone has questioned whether offensive tackle Jared Gaither is truly injured or whether he is just making a "power play" of sorts after watching Michael Oher take over his left tackle position this offseason, Gaither has a response. "Uh, I would hope you would know better than that," Gaither firmly said today. Gaither hasn't practiced since August 5 after suffering a thoracic disc injury
T.J. Houshmandzadeh just signed with the Ravens two weeks ago, so he might not know Joe Flacco too well just yet. But the veteran wide receiver does know that quarterbacks are constantly under the microscope in the NFL. That's why Houshmandzadeh says that people should take it easy on his new quarterback. Despite Flacco's rough start to the season, Houshmandzadeh claims everyone should wait to
In the Ravens' first comments since assistant offensive line coach Andy Moeller's arrest for DUI early Saturday morning, head coach John Harbaugh said today that the Ravens are complying with both team and NFL policies. "We've followed the procedures that we have internally for that and also that the National Football League has in place," Harbaugh said. "We're obligated to do that. They have a
Rice Rice suffered a minor ankle injury in Sunday's loss to the Bengals, but the Ravens' Pro Bowl running back said earlier today that the ankle is feeling better and he expected to practice today. I'm just now getting in from this afternoon's practice, which, as he had promised, Rice took part in. "My ankle's great," Rice said. "I'm going to go out here and
Cary Williams has returned from his two-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy, and is eligible to practice this week and play on Sunday against the Browns. But we still don't know who will be released to make room for Williams on the Ravens' 53-man roster. The Ravens will have until 4 p.m. today to trim one player from the roster because they
The start to Terrence Cody's NFL career has been delayed because of a knee injury, but the rookie nose tackle said he feels like Sunday's game against the Browns will be his first chance to toss on his Ravens jersey in a regular season contest. "I feel it's doing better," Cody said. "I'm not 100 percent yet, but I feel like it's a lot better
While about 99.9 percent of the conversation on John Harbaugh's WBAL radio show last night centered around the struggles of Joe Flacco (at least, it seemed that way), Harbaugh did get time to update the status of offensive tackle Jared Gaither. Gaither has been out since August 5 with a thoracic disc injury in his back, and the Ravens had been hoping that he would
John Harbaugh will have to break out the checkbook. The Ravens' head coach has been fined $15,000 for impermissible verbal and physical contact during Sunday's loss to the Bengals, according to the NFL. Harbaugh got heated following a fourth quarter roughing the passer penalty on linebacker Terrell Suggs, and made contact with line judge Ron Marinucci. Asked about the incident yesterday, Harbaugh admitted he crossed
Ray Rice was the Ravens' only real offensive bright spot in Sunday's loss to the Bengals, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. But the Pro Bowl running back got only 16 carries all game, while quarterback Joe Flacco put the ball in the air 39 times. That has led many to wonder whether the Ravens have started to change their offensive philosophy from a run-based team
The Ravens are scuffling. They're having trouble moving the ball, they can't put points on the board, and they haven't been winning the turnover battle. So, who better to face back at home this Sunday than a team that has one winning season since 2002, and who has already lost two games this year to squads who finished a combined 7-25 in 2009? The Cleveland
You hear all the time about NFL players getting fined for illegal hits, excessive celebrations, and in Chad Ochocinco's case, improper Tweeting. You rarely hear about NFL coaches getting fined, but that's what happened today to Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Harbaugh will be fined for making contact with an official during the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the
Cornerback Cary Williams returned to the Ravens today after sitting out the last two weeks because of a league-imposed suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. He'll join a suddenly crowded cornerback group, which now features Fabian Washington, Chris Carr, Lardarius Webb, John Wilson, Prince Miller and Williams. Williams has not been allowed at team headquarters or at the Ravens' games during his suspension,
Ray Rice was really the only bright spot on the offensive side of the ball yesterday, which is why it's scary to even hear the word "injury" in the same sentence as his name. The Ravens' Pro Bowl running back suffered an ankle injury in Sunday's loss to the Bengals, but head coach John Harbaugh says it doesn't look to be anything serious. "He's got
Head coach John Harbaugh stood by his starting quarterback today, saying that he has faith in third-year signal caller Joe Flacco and has confidence that he'll rebound after a slow start to the 2010 season. Flacco threw a career-high four interceptions in yesterday's loss to the Bengals, prompting some among the Baltimore fan base to wonder whether the team should turn to backup quarterback Marc
Lost in the shuffle amidst the Ravens' offensive woes, their inability to hang onto the football, and the questionable penalty calls in yesterday's game was the second straight solid performance out of the Baltimore defense. Against a potent, well-rounded Bengals offense which features two physical, playmaking wide receivers, an athletic young tight end, and a running back who torched the Ravens twice last year, defensive
Remember back in August after the Ravens' second preseason game when some fans were calling for Marc Bulger to replace Joe Flacco as the starting quarterback? That was when the games didn't matter. I wonder how Charm City is feeling about the Ravens' quarterback situation this morning after Flacco's four interception performance in yesterday's 15-10 loss to the Bengals. Flacco was expected to take a
If you look at the Ravens' turnover ratio through these first two games of the season, you'll see a scary number: minus-six. If this team has any serious Super Bowl aspirations (and I have a hunch that they do), that's something that needs to get fixed. Immediately. A week after turning the ball over three times in a win over the Jets, the Ravens had
I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that we're going to hear Gene Steratore's name quite a few times this week. The referee of this afternoon's Ravens-Bengals game likely didn't make too many friends in the Baltimore area when he called the Ravens for two questionable penalties that led to Bengals field goals. The more controversial penalty of the two came
The Ravens' new high-octane offense sputtered to a halt this afternoon. Quarterback Joe Flacco threw a career-high four interceptions, had just 154 yards passing, and finished with a quarterback rating of 23.8, and the Ravens will leave Cincinnati with a 15-10 loss. With the exception of one sharp drive at the start of the third quarter, the Ravens looked lost against the Bengals defense and
There's a decent chance Sam Koch's leg falls off before this game is over. Koch has now punted seven times today, evidence of the Ravens' offensive struggles today. With about 10 minutes to play in this one, the Bengals have a 9-7 lead. This reminds me of Monday night's game against the Jets, when the Ravens couldn't do much offensively, let their defense carry them
I'm not sure who that guy was playing quarterback in the first half, but it appears that the real Joe Flacco has returned to the Ravens huddle. After posting an atrocious stat line in the first half, Flacco came out of the locker room looking like a new man. He went 4-of-5 for 69 yards on the opening drive of the third quarter, and finally
The Ravens have done nothing offensively through the first 30 minutes. Joe Flacco is a horrendous 5-of-17 for 23 yards and an interception, only one Ravens wide receiver has caught a pass, and the purple and black haven't had the ball long enough to capitalize on Ray Rice's strong start (Rice is averaging nearly five yards per carry). Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is probably racking
There were times last year when it appeared that the Ravens left their passing attack on the team bus on gamedays. Joe Flacco would struggle out of the gate, and it would take a few drives for the aerial game to get into a rhythm. It looks like that problem popped up again today. Through two drives, Flacco is 0-for-4 and looks like he's having
For the first time since tearing his ACL last December, Lardarius Webb will suit up for an NFL game today when the Ravens take the field against the Bengals. After missing all of training camp, the preseason and the Ravens' regular season opener on Monday night, Webb is active for today's game, according to the team. The second-year cornerback was not listed on the Ravens'
Ray Lewis says he'll remember Monday night's win over the Jets for a long time. Lewis admitted this week that beating his former defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan, on Monday Night Football in the Jets' first game at the new Meadowlands Stadium will rank high on his list of favorite wins in his 15-year career. And he's been telling his teammates to be sure they appreciate
Cut by the Ravens nearly two weeks ago, rookie cornerback/punt returner Prince Miller is now back with the team that signed him as an undrafted free agent back in April. "It's good to be back," Miller said this week. "It seems like I was only gone for a little while. It's definitely good to be back around the guys." Miller initially made the Ravens' 53-man
If you want to look to one reason why the Ravens got swept by the Bengals last season, I think I've found one for you. In their two contests against Cincinnati in 2009, the Ravens rushed for an average of 69 yards per game. How many rushing yards did they allow in those two games on average? 144. Yikes. If the Ravens hope to take
The final injury report of the week is out, and a number of Ravens are listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bengals, including three of their starting linebackers. NT Terrence Cody (knee), LB Tavares Gooden (thigh), TE Todd Heap (shoulder), LB Jarret Johnson (back), LB Ray Lewis (foot) and LB Jameel McClain (knee) are all considered 50-50 for Sunday. Johnson missed practice today
Ravens fans likely won't see their team's top 2010 draft pick this season. Head coach John Harbaugh told reporters today that rookie linebacker Sergio Kindle, who fractured his skull falling down two flights of stairs in late July, is unlikely to play this season. "He's got some serious issues that he's dealing with," Harbaugh said. "The chances of him playing this year are slim. We're
The Ravens' secondary, a much maligned group coming into this season, looked pretty darn sharp against the Jets on Monday night. Yes, I just said "pretty darn". Didn't sound smooth when I was typing it, but I went for it anyway. The Ravens allowed just 60 net passing yards against the Jets, held quarterback Mark Sanchez to just 10 completions, and only allowed one passing
Ray Lewis had 504 total yards of offense this weekend. No, that's not a typo. It's just not the Ray Lewis you're thinking about. Ray Lewis III, the son of the Ravens linebacker, posted a ridiculous stat line a few days ago for Lake Mary Prep High School in Florida, one which drew national attention. Here's the breakdown: Lewis had 206 total yards and two
The Bengals are the reigning AFC North champions and went a perfect 6-0 against division foes last season. The Ravens have won three playoff games in the last two years, and outlasted Cincinnati in the postseason in 2009. Yeah, there might be a little bit of pride on the line this weekend when these two teams square off. The first big AFC North battle of
Continuing the run of injury updates, here's a note on Donte' Stallworth for you: The wide receiver was walking around without crutches today, and seemed to be moving pretty well. Stallworth broke his left foot in the Ravens' third preseason game, and was on crutches and in a walking boot when we talked to him a week ago. Today, he appeared to be walking without
Offensive tackle Jared Gaither hasn't practiced since August 5 because of a thoracic disc injury in his back, and he's already been ruled out of this Sunday's game against the Bengals. But Gaither says that his rehab is coming along well and is continuing to work towards a return to the practice fields. "I'm doing well," Gaither said today. "Pretty good. Recovering great." Gaither said
Tight end Todd Heap missed practice yesterday with a shoulder strain, but he remains optimistic that he'll be able to suit up and play when the Ravens face the Bengals in a big divisional matchup on Sunday. "It's getting better every day," Heap said of the shoulder. "Hopefully, it continues going on that track." Heap suffered the injury late in Monday night's win over the
Here are some extra tidbits from Ed Reed's meeting with reporters a bit ago On how he feels Tom Zbikowski played on Monday, despite the poor punt return: "Really good. That takes you down really bad, but he's doing awesome, man. Like I told him, 'Just concentrate on playing safety right now. We play you to play safety.' But I know he's a hell of
Ed Reed has been fairly quiet during his rehab from offseason hip surgery, but the Ravens' six-time Pro Bowl safety held court in front of his locker today, discussing his health and his current role with the team. Reed is on the Physcially Unable to Perform list, meaning he must miss the Ravens' first six games of the season. But apparently, he feels like he's
Back in training camp, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron was asked if Marshal Yanda was an option as the Ravens' right tackle with Jared Gaither out with a back injury. Here was Cameron's response: "Absolutely, but you can move guys around too much. I think Marshal Yanda can be as good a right guard as there is in the league. I believe that. And if you
T.J. Houshmandzadeh admits that he's not sure how he'll react when he walks into Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday. In eight years as a member of the Bengals, Houshmandzadeh posted five seasons of over 900 receiving yards, made a Pro Bowl in 2007, and helped lead the franchise from perennial cellar-dweller to respectability. Now, the Ravens' newest wide receiver will return to Cincinnati to take
For the second straight week, offensive tackle Jared Gaither will miss a game due to his back injury. But will Lardarius Webb be ready to make his 2010 debut against the Bengals on Sunday? While Gaither has been ruled out for the Cincinnati contest, Webb, the Ravens' second-year cornerback is not listed on the Ravens' injury report. Webb was on the injury report all last
Tight end Todd Heap was out at practice this afternoon after suffering a shoulder strain during the Ravens' win over the Jets on Monday night, but he did not have his helmet with him. It looks like Heap will take it easy today, and the Ravens hope he'll be able to suit up on Sunday against the Bengals. Nose tackle Terrence Cody was also out
Head coach John Harbaugh acknowledged today that part of the reason the Ravens decided to sign cornerback Prince Miller off the Patriots' practice squad was because of his abilities as a punt returner. Harbaugh still seemed to indicate, however, that the Ravens have confidence in Tom Zbikowski as their primary punt returner, and expect him to bounce back after a poor performance on Monday night.
Terrence Cody has missed the last two weeks after having minor knee surgery, but the rookie defensive tackle says he's making progress in his rehab. "It's getting better," Cody said. "I'm able to do a lot of things, a lot of running. Doing a lot of things. Getting physical, getting back on it." Cody had a positive outlook when asked about his status for Sunday's
After engaging members of the Ravens in a war of words via Twitter last night, Chad Ochocinco was surprisingly quiet during a conference call with members of the Baltimore media today. In previous years, Ochocinco has been talkative as can be during the conference calls leading up to the Ravens-Bengals matchups. But today, the Bengals wide receiver was not interested in sharing his thoughts on
The rollercoaster first two weeks of Prince Miller's NFL career has taken yet another turn. The Ravens have signed Miller off the Patriots' practice squad today, and he will re-join Baltimore's active roster, the team announced. The Ravens released cornerback Bryan McCann to make room for Miller on the 53-man roster. The undrafted rookie cornerback was with the Ravens throughout OTAs and training camp, and
I've got a couple notes that I passed along yesterday on my Twitter account (if you're not already following me, get on that) but forgot to share here as well. Please accept my apologies. The Ravens reached injury settlements with offensive linemen David Hale and Stefan Rodgers yesterday, waiving them from the roster and releasing them from Injured Reserve. Hale suffered a bruised tailbone late
The days leading up to the Ravens' Week 1 contest were filled with chatter. Not surprisingly, with Chad Ochocinco and the Bengals next on the Ravens' schedule, the chatter has already begun. Ochocinco took to Twitter last night to start some smack talk, leading to an interesting back-and-forth between the Bengals wide receiver and Ravens running back Willis McGahee and fullback Le'Ron McClain. For those
Tom Zbikowski averaged 11.5 yards per punt return this preseason, and looked really comfortable and sharp in that facet of the game. Last night, he looked neither comfortable nor sharp on his four punt returns. Zbikowski averaged just 1.3 yards per return last night, and the low point of his evening came when he caught a punt at his own five-yard-line, danced around towards the
Todd Heap suffered a shoulder strain when he stretched out to make a big fourth quarter catch in last night's win over the Jets, but head coach John Harbaugh said today that the injury isn't expected to sideline the Ravens' tight end this week. "He should practice tomorrow," Harbaugh said. "We'll see as the week goes on. If it flares up and he doesn't practice,
The Ravens handed out two game balls last night - one to tight end Ed Dickson, whose girlfriend gave birth to a baby boy just before kickoff, and one to GM Ozzie Newsome, who, as head coach John Harbaugh put it, "established what it means to be a Raven". If you want to know Dickson's son's name, you're going to have to wait. The rookie
As I was walking out of the new Meadowlands Stadium last night, I asked myself a question. Yes, I was that guy talking to myself as I walked alone out of a football stadium. Don't judge me. That question was: Would the Ravens have won their game against the Jets if Anquan Boldin had not been in a purple jersey? The answer that I came
Before I ask for your take on last night's game (as is tradition around here), I thought I'd pass along a quote from safety Haruki Nakamura on the Ravens' mindset going into the Monday night contest against the Jets. With all the chatter that had gone on the week leading up to last night's game, Nakamura told me that head coach John Harbaugh gave his
The Ravens came out of the new Meadowlands Stadium with a win and without many serious bumps and bruises. The only injury that the team reported was to tight end Todd Heap, who has a right shoulder strain. He had a bag of ice on the shoulder after the game, but told me he felt OK. The injury occurred on Heap's 35-yard diving catch late
The members of the Ravens secondary have heard time and again how they're the weak link of this team. Tonight, without arguably their top three members in safety Ed Reed and cornerbacks Domonique Foxworth and Lardarius Webb, the Ravens' defensive backs made a statement, clamping down and allowing the Jets just 60 total passing yards. "It's really sweet because this whole offseason all you heard
When you scan the stat sheet after tonight's 10-9 Ravens win, one large disparity jumps out. I won't actually make you scan the stat sheet to find that disparity. I'll pass it along to you myself. That's just the kind of guy I am. Here it is: On third downs, the Ravens were able to move the chains 11-of-19 times. That's 58 percent. The Jets,
Rex Ryan did a lot of talking this week. You might have heard. But when the clock hit triple zeros tonight, the Ravens were the ones who were able to do the talking about the quality of their football team. "It felt great to beat 'em," linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "I think we showed who the No. 1 defense is. [Ryan] knows the caliber of
With a brutally physical game on the line in the second half, the Ravens turned to one of their new weapons, and their reliable old one, to earn a big 10-9 road win over the Jets. Anquan Boldin, brought in this season to give new life to the Baltimore passing attack, did just that, making seven catches for 110 yards, including two big-time grabs in
We've played three quarters, and as expected, this one will come down to the wire. The Jets have done nothing through the air, and penalties have killed them. The Ravens, who lead 10-6, have done nothing on the ground, and turnovers have put them in a bad spot. One big play will likely determine the outcome of this one. The Baltimore defense has been spectacular
Yes, it's ugly. Yes, it's sloppy. Yes, there are penalties seemingly every other play, and fumbles seemingly every other drive. But this is Ravens-Jets. We knew this is what we'd see tonight. Hard-hitting, physical, football with very few points and lots of defense. That said, both teams have shot themselves in the foot a handful of times through the first two quarters. The Jets have
We've played 22 minutes, and the Ravens are incredibly lucky to only be down 6-0. They've fumbled twice (both of which have been recovered by the Jets), have had a couple big penalties go against them, and have yet to get into any rhythm offensively whatsoever. Through the first quarter, the Ravens had five - count 'em, five - rushing yards. Joe Flacco was running
This is not what the Ravens were expecting when they opted to start Marshal Yanda at right tackle tonight. On the Ravens' first offensive play from scrimmage, Yanda was burned by Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis, who broke past the offensive tackle and absolutely leveled Joe Flacco. Flacco fumbled the ball, and the Jets recovered inside the Baltimore 20-yard line. The fact that the Ravens'
The much-anticipated Monday night matchup between the Ravens and Jets will be put on hold for a little bit. It's just been announced here in the press box that the game has been delayed for a minimum of 30 minutes because of a severe storm that has swept through the New York/New Jersey area. Rain is pouring down, and lightning has forced the stadium crew
Despite being listed as probable for tonight's game, second-year cornerback Lardarius Webb is down as one of the Ravens' eight inactives, meaning he will not play. The Ravens will continue to take it slow with Webb, who is nine months removed from tearing his ACL last December. Rookie cornerback Bryan McCann, who was signed a little over a week ago, is also inactive, which means
I'll say this about the new Meadowlands Stadium - John Harbaugh wasn't lying when he said it looked like a spaceship. This place is huge and it has a very futuristic look to it, both from the outside and once you've stepped onto the concourse. Maybe it's because both the Jets and Giants have to play their home games here, so they couldn't give it
I just checked into my hotel up here in beautiful New Jersey (no, there's no sarcasm in there whatsoever), and will head over to the new Meadowlands stadium in about half an hour or so. Before I do, I wanted to check in with some keys to tonight's game for the Ravens. If they're able to take care of the three areas that I list
Two years ago, as a fun change-of-pace type of blog entry, I picked a new player each week and asked him about his gameday superstitions and rituals. Last year, I came up with "10 Not-So-Hard Questions", and would ask guys about their favorite movies, which athletes they idolized growing up, and other non-football topics. This year, I decided to switch it up again. I'm planning
Mark Clayton had 10 catches for 119 yards yesterday for the St. Louis Rams. In five years with the Ravens, Clayton never had 10 catches in a game, and had at least 119 yards receiving only four times. Was Clayton a bit of a disappointment in Baltimore? Yes, you could say that. Am I happy he seems to be making the most of his fresh
While the rest of the NFL got to kick things off yesterday, the Ravens had to watch from their hotel rooms in the New York/New Jersey area. But the boys in the purple and black will be able to get their season underway soon enough, as they'll take on the Jets at 7 p.m. tonight in a much-anticipated Monday Night Football showdown. Here's how the
I'm watching the Giants-Panthers game right now because one of my friends is a die-hard G-Men fan (believe me, I wouldn't be watching this game if I had a choice), and even from my couch, I can tell it's loud as heck up at the new Meadowlands Stadium. The Ravens will get a taste of that noise tomorrow night when they head up north to
Quick Promotional Note: It's still not too late to register for MASN's Pigskin Pick'Em. You can click here to sign up for your chance to win a bunch of cool prizes, and you can compete against myself and a bunch of MASN's writers. The purple and black will face the green and white on Monday night, but another color might play a major factor in
Cornerback Lardarius Webb (knee), offensive tackle Oniel Cousins (head) and defensive end Paul Kruger (shoulder) are all listed as probably for Monday night's game against the Jets. Webb and Cousins both had full practices all week, and while head coach John Harbaugh implied that Webb would be a game-time decision for the Jets game, it appears the Ravens expect him to play. Kruger was limited
T.J. Houshmandzadeh has only had four days of practice since signing with the Ravens on Tuesday, but the veteran wide receiver said he feels like he's made progress in picking up the Ravens' scheme and terminology in that short time. "Got it down like I've been in the offense forever," Houshmandzadeh joked today. "It's going to be tough, but I'll be alright." How much does
Head coach John Harbaugh said today that he expects offensive tackle Oniel Cousins to suit up on Monday night against the Jets after missing much of the last three and a half weeks with concussion symptoms. "I don't believe Oniel is touch-and-go," Harbaugh said. "I would expect him to play. I shouldn't speak for the doctors, but it looks to me like he's ready to
It's perfect fall football weather in the Baltimore area today and we've got a handful of great college football matchups this afternoon and evening. One of those games will be have the attention of a number of players in the Ravens locker room. At 3:30 pm today, 12th ranked Miami will square off against No. 2 Ohio State for the first time since the 2002
Monday night's regular season opener at the new Meadowlands stadium might be a road game for the Ravens, but for Ray Rice, it will feel like he's playing in his backyard. Rice, a native of New Rochelle, New York and a former star at Rutgers University in New Jersey, will not only be taking the field in a stadium near where he grew up, but
Defensive end Paul Kruger returned to practice today after missing yesterday's session with a shoulder injury. Kruger was upgraded to limited participation today. He injured his shoulder in the preseason finale against the Rams, but has been feeling better lately and said he could play on Monday night against the Jets. "Absolutely. It just depends on how the coaches feel," Kruger said. "I feel like
Probably the main concern that teams have when they're considering being the focus of HBO's "Hard Knocks" is that some of the information that they display on the show could be used against them in the regular season. That concern might become a reality for the Jets. Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron admitted today that in the little that he watched this season of "Hard
Tom Zbikowski was the Ravens' first-team punt returner throughout training camp and the preseason, and he performed well, averaging 11.5 yards per return. But now that the Ravens have improved their depth at cornerback by adding Josh Wilson in a trade with the Seahawks, Chris Carr might be freed up to get back into the punt return mix. Carr was the Ravens' punt returner last
As defensive coordinator Greg Mattison walked to the podium to meet with reporters this afternoon, linebacker Ray Lewis walked by and shouted a few sarcastic words of advice. "Keep your composure," Lewis said to Mattison. "Don't go off." Lewis has done enough "going off" for both of them. Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley was here today, and he had a brief talk with the team at
The Ravens' offensive line will face a tough test on Monday night when they square off against an aggressive Jets front-seven which prides itself on getting after the quarterback. As of today, it's unclear from an outside perspective who will line up at right tackle against that New York front. The possibilities include Oniel Cousins, who is coming off a concussion suffered late in training
I mentioned yesterday that the Ravens don't plan on avoiding Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis on Monday night, saying that while Revis is a very talented player, they won't re-structure their offense just because of one defender. The Jets like the sound of that strategy. On a conference call with Baltimore reporters yesterday, Jets linebacker Bart Scott was asked if he thinks the Ravens will test
Ray Lewis might not like all the hype that's surrounding the Jets heading into the regular season opener, but Lewis' Ravens are getting a good amount of national attention as well. After beefing up their offense this offseason, the Ravens have grown into somewhat of a media darling, and have been picked to either reach or win the Super Bowl this season by a handful
You know the regular season is here when I'm passing along injury reports. Try and contain your excitement. Here's how today's injury report reads for the Ravens and Jets: For Baltimore, DT Terrence Cody (knee), OT Jared Gaither (back) and WR Donte' Stallworth (foot) have been ruled out for Monday night's game. DE Paul Kruger (shoulder) did not participate today, while CB Lardarius Webb (knee)
The Ravens made another adjustment to their practice squad today, signing offensive tackle Andrew Gardner to their developmental roster, and waiving quarterback Hunter Cantwell. Gardner (6-6, 305), was a sixth-round pick by the Dolphins last year. "I'm just real happy to have that opportunity to be with the Ravens," Garnder said today. "They're a good football team. I'm ready to get to work. Whatever coach
Doctors have told Donte' Stallworth he'll be out around eight weeks after breaking the fifth metatarsal in his left foot. Stallworth is shooting to return to the field in half that time. "The doctor that did my surgery, he told me there was one crazy guy who came back in four weeks and that guy is Jeremy Shockey," Stallworth said. "We all know him. That's
After a lengthy contract dispute with the Jets, two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis is back with the team and will be on the field when the Ravens head to the Meadowlands for the regular season opener Monday night. Just in case you hadn't gotten that piece of news via the internet, SportsCenter, text message alerts, emails or last night's episode of "Hard Knocks", now
I've got a quick promotional note to pass along: If you haven't yet signed up for MASNsports.com's Pigskin Pick'Em, be sure to do so. You can get a chance to show off your football knowledge, win some pretty sweet prizes, and compete with myself and other MASN writers. It's free to sign up, and the regular season obviously kicks off tonight, so get on it,
Rex Ryan has been talking. Antonio Cromartie has been talking. For the most part, the Ravens have been quiet. Until today. Ray Lewis went off on Ryan, the Jets, and the hype surrounding the Ravens' Monday night opponent today, letting loose on a four-minute rant. "The bottom line is - and I'm going to be very careful with this - we're talking about the Jets
When the Ravens gave Billy Cundiff a low restricted free agent tender back in March, the veteran kicker had a talk with members of the team's front office. He told them that he didn't want to sign the tender until he knew what the Ravens' plans were as far as bringing in another kicker to compete for the job. Here's Cundiff's recollection of the Ravens'
There's an air of confidence that surrounds Tom Zbikowski these days. That's not to say the Ravens' safety ever was without any sort of self-belief; most two-time captains at Notre Dame and Golden Gloves boxers have a decent amount of swagger. (By the way, if you've never seen Zbikowski's professional boxing debut, be sure to check it out. It doesn't last long ... meaning Zibby
Le'Ron McClain has gotten caught up in a little verbal back and forth with Jets head coach Rex Ryan the last couple days, but the Ravens fullback cleared the air today, saying he has no issues with Ryan. On Monday, McClain said that the Jets have "no excuses" now that Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis is signed and will play in Monday's regular season opener.
The Ravens have put the finishing touches on their practice squad, signing cornerback David Pender today to complete the eight-man roster. Pender (6-0, 180 pounds) was let go by the Eagles on Sept. 3. The undrafted rookie played his college ball at Purdue, posting 129 tackles and three interceptions in three years as a starter. The 22-year-old ran a 4.37 40 leading up to the
Head coach John Harbaugh said last night on the aptly named "The John Harbaugh Show" that he "wasn't anticipating" cornerback Lardarius Webb being able to play in Monday's season opener against the Jets. While Webb has been taken off the Physically Unable to Perform list and has returned to practice within the last couple weeks, he still hasn't fully recovered from ACL surgery, putting his
On Monday, Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain made a comment about how he was happy the Jets had signed cornerback Darrelle Revis. Revis' presence, McClain said, meant that the Jets would have "no excuses", presumably for when the Ravens beat them on Monday night. Predictably, Jets coach Rex Ryan fired back, because, well, that's what Rex Ryan does. "I don't know what's wrong with LeRon," Ryan
I can't believe it's been two days since the Ravens signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh and I've yet to post a link to this video until this point. That final line still cracks me up. Houshmandzadeh doesn't have much time to watch YouTube videos this week; he kinda has to get to work. The newly-acquired wide receiver has only five more days to get acclimated to the
The Ravens had hoped to retain undrafted rookie cornerback Prince Miller as a member of their practice squad after waiving him on Sunday. It wasn't to be. Miller was offered a spot on the Patriots' practice squad, and he's decided to take it. This means that the Ravens still have one open spot on their practice squad. Don't be surprised if the team finds another
Those who have watched T.J. Houshmandzadeh play know that he's got swagger. Some might think that confidence was passed to Houshmandzadeh from his former teammate in Cincinnati, Chad Ochocinco. T.J. says that's not the case. If anything, he says, he helped make Ochocinco, arguably the NFL's biggest personality, into what he is today. "I rubbed off on him," Houshmandzadeh said, drawing some laughs from the
We just stepped out of T.J. Houshmandzadeh's introductory press conference, and I'll start by saying this: Baltimore is going to love this guy. Some Ravens fans might have negative memories of Houshmandzadeh from his years with the Bengals, either because of his performance on the field or his confident personality off it. But now that the Pro Bowl wide receiver is in purple and black,
Terrence Cody is a week removed from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, and while the Ravens' rookie nose tackle feels like he's making progress in his rehab, he says he won't be able to suit up in the regular season opener against the Jets next Monday. "I'll probably be back for the second game," Cody said. "It's too soon to
Troy Smith to the 49ers, huh? I hear they're considering implementing the "Patrick Willis Package" into their offense out in San Francisco. Yesterday was a busy day in Ravens land. Those in the team's front office might have misinterpreted the meaning of Labor Day. The signing of T.J. Houshmandzadeh and the trade of Mark Clayton gives the Ravens' wide receiving corps a new, and almost
Mark Clayton was a popular guy in the Ravens' locker room. That's why there was a there was an interesting vibe around the team today. The 53 guys on the Ravens' active roster were happy to be out at practice and excited about the addition of wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, yet their voices dropped when Clayton's name was broached. Joe Flacco, Derrick Mason, Ray Rice,
The Jets are thrilled that they've signed Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis and will have him ready for the regular season opener against the Ravens a week from today. Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain is thrilled that Revis will suit up on Monday night as well. Asked about his reaction to Revis' return to the Jets, McClain tossed a little fuel on an already large Ravens-Jets
Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome was a busy man today, signing T.J. Houshmandzadeh and trading Mark Clayton to the Rams for a late-round draft pick. In Houshmandzadeh (whose name I now feel comfortable spelling without having to look it up), Newsome acquired a proven wide receiver who the Ravens have seen up close and personal from his eight years with division rival Cincinnati. "The first things
The T.J. Houshmandzadeh acquisition has directly affected Mark Clayton, who is now leaving Baltimore. Clayton has been traded to the Rams for a draft pick, the Ravens announced this afternoon. UPDATE: It looks like the Ravens and Rams will swap picks in a round instead of Baltimore receiving an additional selection. The Ravens also officially announced their signing of Houshmandzadeh, and the former Bengals and
Assuming the T.J. Houshmandzadeh deal becomes official (the Ravens have not yet announced the signing), the team will have to make a roster move to get back down to the 53-man limit. It seems like wide receiver Mark Clayton could be the guy to go. The Ravens have told the six-year veteran that they are attempting to trade him, and will release him if they
The Ravens have added yet another proven wide receiver to the mix. The team has agreed to terms with veteran receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh on a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum of $855,000, according to ESPN. How's that for a counter to the news that the Jets will have cornerback Darrell Revis when the two teams square off to open the regular season a week
I'm out with some friends last night, trying to enjoy one of the few free nights I've had in the last couple months, when I get a text message that cornerback Darrelle Revis is poised to sign a new contract with the Jets. That means, of course, that the two-time Pro Bowler, who is widely considered the top cornerback in the league, will almost certainly
The Ravens have started to put together their practice squad, which can consist of eight players. Here are the six who have been signed to the developmental roster at this point: TE Davon Drew, WR Justin Harper, C Bryan Mattison, LB Albert McClellan, CB Curtis Steele, OT Devin Tyler. The Ravens also officially announced the signing of CB Bryan McCann and the corresponding cut of
The Ravens have added another cornerback to their active roster, claiming Bryan McCann off waivers from the Cowboys, according to ESPNDallas.com. UPDATE: McCann's agent has confirmed the report. Cornerback Prince Miller, who initially made the Ravens' 53-man roster, has been cut to make room for McCann. The Ravens will sign Miller to their practice squad. McCann, who checks in at 5-10, 189 pounds, signed with
Brendon Ayanbadejo had expected to be back from his torn quadriceps tendon by the end of OTAs, or at the very least by the beginning of training camp. OTAs past by, training camp came and went, and Ayanabdejo still wasn't healthy enough to begin practicing with the full team. That's why the Ravens opted to put the inside linebacker/special teams ace on the Reserve Physically
Yesterday's trade that sent linebacker Antwan Barnes to the Eagles in return for an undisclosed 2011 draft pick came as a bit of a surprise. The Ravens have made improving their pass rush a priority this offseason, and hope to do a better job this year of getting pressure on the quarterback. So why would they decide to ship off one of their best pass
The Ravens have made their final round of cuts and have settled on this 53-man roster. But that doesn't mean they're done making moves just yet. Over the next couple days, the Ravens will sift through the players that have been let go by the other 31 teams, and they could continue to tweak their roster. In other words, the 53 players who remain with
Two of the more difficult roster moves that the Ravens had to make today were deciding on a kicker and figuring out of they wanted to keep two quarterbacks or go with three. In the end, the Ravens went with Billy Cundiff as their kicker over Shayne Graham. Graham has a better track record, but Cundiff outperformed him throughout camp and the preseason and won
I've passed along the Ravens' roster moves, including cuts and guys being placed on Injured Reserve and the Physically Unable to Perform list. So who does that leave, you ask? Here are the guys that are left standing and, at least at this point, will make up the team's 53-man roster: QBs (2): Joe Flacco, Marc Bulger RBs (4): Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, Le'Ron McClain,
Here we go: The Ravens put T Ramon Harewood (knees), G/C David Hale (back), G/T Stefan Rodgers (ankle) and DT Kelly Talavou (knee) on Injured Reserve.Those four are done for the year. As expected, S Ed Reed was placed on the Reserve Physically Unable to Perform list. He'll miss at least the first six games of the year. CB Cary Williams, who was suspended for
The Ravens shook up their roster today, trading outside linebacker Antwan Barnes to the Eagles for an undisclosed 2011 draft pick. A pass-rush specialist with lots of speed, Barnes was expected to back up Terrell Suggs at the rush linebacker spot and get playing time on third downs. The Ravens made improving their pass rush a priority this season, and Barnes figured to play a
The Shayne Graham era has ended before it begun. Graham, signed this offseason, was released by the Ravens today, according to National Football Post, which means Billy Cundiff has won the team's kicking job. The decision likely wasn't an easy one. Both kickers performed well throughout training camp and the preseason, and neither had a clear edge going into today's final round of roster cuts.
Many observers have considered Shayne Graham the favorite to win the Ravens' kicking job since the day he signed with Baltimore this offseason. But when the Ravens make their final roster cuts today, many (including myself) now believe Billy Cundiff will be the guy left standing. Cundiff, a six-year veteran, has outperformed Graham throughout training camp and the preseason. Once somewhat of an afterthought, Cundiff
Ed Reed might not step foot on a football field until at least seven weeks into the regular season. According to Jason La Canfora of NFL.com, Reed will be placed on the Reserve Physically Unable to Perform list, meaning the Ravens' six-time Pro Bowl safety will have to sit out at least the first six games of the season. Reed underwent offseason reconstructive surgery on
Mark Clayton said a few days ago that he hoped the NFL wouldn't fine Giants safety Antrel Rolle for an illegal hit that left Clayton concussed in the teams' third preseason game last Saturday. The Ravens' wide receiver must not have a lot of pull in the league office. Rolle was fined $7,500 for the hit this afternoon. Back to roster-related topics, as the Ravens
The highlight of last night's preseason finale from a Ravens perspective was clearly Dannell Ellerbe's 57-yard interception return for a touchdown. Unfortunately for Ellerbe, that play was the lowlight of the night as well. Ellerbe drew the ire of his head coach for taunting the Rams just prior to reaching the goal line, and he got quite an earful from John Harbaugh as he got
Terrence Cody was hobbling around the locker room on crutches today, three days after having surgery on his left knee to repair a torn meniscus. The massive nose tackle was moving slowly, and he spoke quietly and with a sense of frustration in his voice, but he had positive things to say about the surgery and his status at this point. "It went good, everything
The Ravens made a late addition to their roster on Tuesday, acquiring cornerback Josh Wilson in a trade with the Seahawks. But what are the chances that the Ravens have another new face on their roster when they report back to Owings Mills on Monday? Could they end up with a guy on their 53-man squad who is currently with another team? "There's a chance
Throughout training camp and the preseason, head coach John Harbaugh has been good about answering injury-related questions. Now that the preseason is over and the regular season opener against the Jets is 10 days away, Harbaugh is going to clamp down on the information. In today's press conference with reporters, Harbaugh was asked about defensive end Paul Kruger, who was not out at practice this
Here it is. With final cuts just a day away, it's time to put on my projection hat and take a guess at what the Ravens' final 53-man roster will look like. I'll say this: putting this roster together was incredibly difficult. Seriously, I agonized over a couple decisions for much longer than I should have. If it's difficult for me, I can't even imagine
The preseason is now in the books, and in less than two days, at least 22 of the 75 players currently on the Ravens roster will be looking for new jobs. Unfortunately for the Ravens, not many guys on the roster bubble showed too much tonight. The kickers didn't get the opportunity to make much of a final statement, Troy Smith had just an average
In what could be his final game as a Raven, Troy Smith didn't do much tonight to force the coaching staff and front office personnel to keep him on the team. The Ravens' third-string quarterback, who is battling for a spot on the 53-man roster, had a shaky outing in tonight's preseason finale against the Rams, going 18-of-38 for 237 yards and two interceptions. Smith
It's over, ladies and gentlemen. The preseason is now behind us. And not a minute too soon. It felt to me like tonight's preseason finale against the Rams went on for about 17 hours, and it might have felt the same way for Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. Harbaugh saw his defense give up touchdowns on back-to-back drives to start the game, and before the
We're now over 50 minutes into tonight's preseason finale, and the most Billy Cundiff and Shayne Graham have done so far this evening is each take an extra point, take a kickoff or two, and have a few sips of Gatorade. Both kickers came into tonight's game against the Rams hoping to lock up a spot on the Ravens' 53-man roster, but neither has had
Dannell Ellerbe is in the mix for extended playing time at inside linebacker, but he might have done some serious damage to his stock with the Ravens' coaching staff tonight. Mid-way through the second quarter with the Ravens trailing 14-0, Ellerbe, a second-year man out of Georgia, picked off a pass by Rams quarterback Keith Null. Ellerbe took off down the sideline, and as he
Through the first quarter of play tonight, the Ravens have done nothing. Well, that's not true. They've done something, just nothing good. Defensively, the Ravens' second-teamers, who got the start tonight, allowed Rams quarterbacks to go a perfect 11-for-11 for 133 yards and two touchdowns. After 15 minutes, the Ravens trail 14-0. To be fair, the Rams had their first-team offense on the field for
The Ravens will have a lot at stake tonight when they take the field against the Rams in the preseason finale. Forgot about guys trying to win jobs. Forget about settling on a kicker, deciding if Troy Smith will stay around, and picking a wide receiver to fill in for Donte' Stallworth. How about finishing the preseason undefeated? Huh? How's that for an ultimate goal?
Prince Miller has gone from little-known undrafted free agent to the verge of a spot on an NFL roster. But the cornerback needs to have a strong performance in tonight's preseason finale to give himself a legitimate chance at a place on the Ravens' final 53-man squad. Head coach John Harbaugh said this week that Miller will get the bulk of the punt return opportunities
Normally, the morning of each of the Ravens' preseason games, I list five players to watch in that night's contest. Today, with the preseason nearing its finale and final cuts looming, I thought I would switch it up and list five position battles which still could be determined tonight. Here are the positions - and guys on the bubble at those positions - that I'll
A day after acquiring being acquired by the Ravens in a trade, cornerback Josh Wilson has passed his physical and was added to the team's 75-man roster. To made room for Wilson, the Ravens announced that they have placed fullback Mike McLaughlin on Injured Reserve. McLaughlin, an undrafted rookie of out Boston College, has missed the last few days of practice with a hip injury.
In an earlier post, I detailed how Troy Smith is battling for a spot on the 53-man roster as the third quarterback. Well, unfortunately for Smith and the other players hoping to earn one of the final roster spots, the Ravens' injury issues will provide a bit of an obstacle for them to make the team. In essence, they could be blocked by players who
Two years ago, the Ravens went into St. Louis for a preseason game preparing to start Troy Smith at quarterback. With Kyle Boller dealing with a shoulder injury and then-rookie Joe Flacco seemingly too inexperienced to take the first-team reps, Smith had a huge opportunity in front of him. If he could play well against the Rams, Smith hoped to show the Ravens' coaches that
Since July 29, the day that Domonique Foxworth was lost for the season with a torn ACL, Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome knew he needed to acquire another cornerback. With Fabian Washington and Lardarius Webb coming off ACL tears of their own and with little proven depth on the roster behind Chris Carr, the Ravens badly needed a guy who could play in sub packages and
