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If you're a sucker for power rankings, predictions and projections, here's something for you to chew on for a little bit. Sports Illustrated has released its 2011 NFL season preview, and in it, SI writer Peter King gives his playoff predictions. Where do the Ravens factor in? Well, according to King, John Harbaugh's squad will finish with a 10-6 record, tying the Steelers for first
When Thursday's preseason finale rolls around, Marcus Smith will find himself in a familiar position - making a final attempt to try and secure a roster spot. Now a four-year veteran, Smith has become a special teams standout in his time with the Ravens. The wide receiver's size and strength has allowed him to become a quality gunner on punt coverage, and he's been a
While head coach John Harbaugh remains tight-lipped about the plan for Thursday's preseason finale against the Falcons, it appears that the Ravens will play most of their offensive starters for at least a short period. Quarterback Joe Flacco, who did not see a single snap in the Ravens' final preseason game each of the last two years, said that he expects to suit up and
For the third straight practice, wide receiver Lee Evans did not participate in drills. Evans, whose left foot was in a boot during Saturday's practice, was not on the field today. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron confirmed yesterday that Evans' injury isn't anything major, and said that he expects the wideout back "pretty quick". As you might expect, Evans will almost certainly not play in Thursday's
Needing to get to the 80-man roster limit by today's 4 p.m. deadline, the Ravens placed running back Matt Lawrence on injured reserve with a concussion. This is now Lawrence's third year in a row going on injured reserve. A knee injury caused him to miss the last six games of the regular season in 2009, and the same injury held him out of the
Apparently, the Eagles still have a little bit of money to throw around. After giving away big-money contracts like they're candy all offseason, the Eagles opened up their checkbook one more time, giving quarterback Michael Vick a six-year, $100 million contract yesterday. If you're scoring at home, that's two $100 million contracts that Vick has signed in his career. I'd gladly take one, and you'd
Cut by the Ravens two days ago, offensive lineman Oniel Cousins has latched on with another AFC North squad. Cousins has been claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns, according to multiple reports. The 2008 third-round pick was in competition for the Ravens' starting right tackle job when he entered training camp about a month ago. He was then bumped over to right guard leading
Today was Ravens center Matt Birk's first full practice since having surgery on his left knee at the beginning of August, so it's too early to tell how he'll recover from the procedure and whether he'll be ready to play against the Steelers on Sept. 11. With that said, Birk said after practice that he expects to be out there against Pittsburgh in the regular
Count offensive coordinator Cam Cameron among those who aren't worried about the severity of Lee Evans' injury. Evans had his left foot in a boot during Saturday's practice and the wide receiver has missed the Ravens' last two practices, but Cameron said he expects Evans to return to the field sometime soon. "Sure, absolutely," Cameron said. "He's in meetings, he's bouncing around pretty good. I
On Saturday, wide receiver Lee Evans was out at practice with his left foot in a walking boot. Today, he wasn't out there at all. Evans, who has caught six passes for 128 yards in his two preseason games since coming over in a trade with Buffalo, did not practice again today. Rookie wideout Torrey Smith got the reps alongside Anquan Boldin with the first-team
Ask John Harbaugh if he's comfortable with the idea of having rookie Tyrod Taylor serve as his backup quarterback this season, and the Ravens' head coach will bristle at the question. Part of that might be because Harbaugh is never interested in sharing information that he considers "tactical." Part of it is also because, during Thursday night's game against the Redskins, ESPN color commentator Ron
With 13 days left until the Ravens take on the Steelers in the regular season opener, Baltimore's offensive line now looks almost entirely different than it has for the vast majority of training camp. Here's where things stand at this point: * The new left tackle, Bryant McKinnie, was signed just five days ago. He's had exactly one practice with the team, and with minimal
Did anybody else feel like playing the Scorpions song "Rock you like a hurricane" on loop for the last 24 hours? No? Just me? Hope everyone is safe and has their homes and cars in one piece following yesterday's mess. I lucked out and didn't have any wind or water damage or lose power for one second, so that was nice. The Ravens took a
Man, the offensive line has been dominating the Ravens-related news today. Oniel Cousins getting cut, Bryant McKinnie taking part in his first practice as a Raven, now this: center Matt Birk and offensive guard Marshal Yanda returned to practice today. Birk has been out since having surgery on his left knee early this month, while Yanda has missed two weeks with back spasms, but both
Reporters were obviously not in the room when Bryant McKinnie took his physical after signing with the Ravens, so we have no idea for sure how much the burly offensive tackle weighs. But according to McKinnie, he checked in at 370 lbs., which is 17 lbs. lighter than he weighed when he was released by the Vikings earlier this month. He plans to shed another
Lee Evans has grabbed six passes for 128 yards and a touchdown in his two games as a member of the Ravens. Now, the wide receiver has grabbed a spot on the sideline. Evans was wearing a walking boot on his left foot today, and did not participate in practice. Reporters met with head coach John Harbaugh prior to today's practice, so the severity of
As you might imagine, NFL teams aren't too fond of having to cut ties with high draft picks. Today, the Ravens gritted their proverbial teeth and released offensive lineman Oniel Cousins. A third-round pick in 2008, Cousins never developed as the Ravens had planned at offensive tackle. The team moved him over to guard last week, but he became expendable after the signings of left
A month ago, Oniel Cousins was competing for the Ravens' starting right tackle job. Today, he's no longer on the roster. The Ravens waived Cousins today, cutting ties with the 2008 third-round pick. The team also waived wide receiver and seventh-round 2008 pick Justin Harper, offensive tackle Brady Bond, tight end Jonathan Stupar and five rookie free agents: DT Cornell Banks (Fresno State), C Ryan
Imagine you're sprinting out of the tunnel before an NFL game at M&T Bank Stadium, hearing your name called in front of over 70,000 raucous fans. Do you break out in a dance, Ray Lewis style? Do you point to the crowd, or up to a family member? Or maybe you pound your chest to get yourself pumped up. If you're Cary Williams, you don't
It's no secret that rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith has struggled through the first month of his NFL career. Smith, the speedy wideout who the Ravens selected in the second-round of this year's draft, had two more drops last night against the Redskins, and while he brought in a reception mid-way through the first quarter, it went for just six yards and marked only his
Following last night's game, head coach John Harbaugh confirmed what probably didn't need confirmation: Tyrod Taylor has secured himself a spot on the Ravens' 53-man roster. "Tyrod, I would say he's made the team," Harbaugh said, a smile creeping across his face. "Newsflash: Tyrod played well." Taylor is one of two quarterbacks on the Ravens' 90-man roster not named Joe Flacco. The other, Hunter Cantwell,
Was last night's Battle of the Beltways not the best possible preseason football game you could ask for? It had a ton of points, most starters playing into the third quarter, a late comeback and a thrilling last-minute game-winner. The 20,000 or so who stuck around M&T Bank Stadium to watch the end of the Ravens' 34-31 win over the Redskins sure got their money's
Some NFL players get fired up for a game by smacking a teammate in the head. Tandon Doss apparently does the opposite. The Ravens' rookie wide receiver was down at the Inner Harbor early this evening before tonight's game against the Redskins when a fight broke out at Five Guys (a fantastic burger place, if you happen to be out of the loop). According to
After signing with the Ravens earlier this week, Bryant McKinnie said that the team had informed him that he was going to play left tackle, a move which would bump Michael Oher back to the right tackle spot. Tonight, head coach John Harbaugh confirmed that news. "Our plan right now is to move Michael to right and to put Bryant at left," Harbaugh said. "And
Things didn't exactly start so smoothly for Joe Flacco and the Ravens tonight. Four plays into their first offensive series, Flacco's pass for Anquan Boldin was picked off by Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who returned the interception 52 yards for a touchdown. Luckily for Flacco and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, things got much better from there. Flacco finished 17-of-27 for 219 yards, two touchdowns and
Here are a handful of quick-hit notes as the Ravens trail the Redskins 21-14 after 30 minutes of play: - How many times have "speedy, big-play" wide receivers made their way to Baltimore only to fail to deliver big plays? I can count quite a few. Through two games, however, Lee Evans has looked like the real deal. Evans made three catches for 68 yards
The Ravens are going with an interesting offensive line alignment tonight against the Redskins, as they've slotted new offensive tackle/guard Mark LeVoir in at right guard and rookie Jah Reid at right tackle with the first-team offense. LeVoir has been getting the bulk of the first-team reps at right tackle since signing with the Ravens on Saturday, but he'll slide over to guard tonight, at
It was nearly a year ago that one of the highest points of Dannell Ellerbe's NFL career quickly turned into one of the lowest. In the Ravens' final preseason game of the 2010 season, Ellerbe, then a second-year linebacker, intercepted a pass against the Rams and returned it 57 yards for his first NFL touchdown. Just before reaching the end zone, Ellerbe stopped and extended
Before I begin this morning, I'd like to say goodbye to a beloved member of the Orioles and MASN families, Mike Flanagan, who died yesterday at the age of 59. I did not know Mike well, and I'll leave the eulogies to those who did, but I will say that I've often heard how incredibly kind, generous and quick-witted the former Cy Young award winner
The Ravens officially have a new offensive tackle. Bryant McKinnie has passed his physical, the Ravens announced, and the 10-year veteran is now on board with a two-year contract worth up to $7.5 million. It's not clear at what weight McKinnie reported; the Ravens are listing the tackle at 345-lbs., but reporters won't be able to see or talk to McKinnie until after tomorrow's preseason
After playing a quarter in their preseason opener against the Eagles and just over a full half Friday against the Chiefs, the majority of the Ravens' starters will see even more playing time Thursday in Baltimore's third preseason game. The third game of the preseason is considered the biggest tune-up for the regular season. As such, head coach John Harbaugh will give his starters increased
The big question surrounding the Ravens' decision to sign offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie - I'll spare everyone yet another play on words with the word "big" - is whether the former Viking will play left or right tackle once he's ready to suit up in Baltimore. McKinnie has played left tackle, and played it at a pretty high level, throughout his entire nine-year career. But
Giving an overweight offensive tackle with a checkered past a two-year contract worth up to $7.5 million with $1 million guaranteed would certainly be characterized as a risk. But given the current makeup of the Ravens' offensive line, it was a risk that GM Ozzie Newsome felt he needed to make. In signing former Vikings tackle Bryant McKinnie, the Ravens get a talented player who
Bryant McKinnie, all nearly 400-lbs. of him, is a Baltimore Raven. The 31-year-old offensive tackle confirmed on his Twitter account that he has agreed to terms with the Ravens, giving the team a huge presence (literally) along their O-line. The agreement was initially reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. UPDATE: The Ravens have announced it's a two-year agreement with McKinnie. He will need to pass a
All 32 NFL teams passed on UNC defensive end Michael McAdoo in yesterday's supplemental draft. Once the draft was over, the Ravens didn't take a pass a second time. The Ravens have agreed to terms with McAdoo, a guy who recorded 29 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in his two years at North Carolina. The NCAA declared McAdoo permanently ineligible last season
The Ravens bolstered their depth at offensive tackle earlier this week when they signed former Patriots lineman Mark LeVoir. But GM Ozzie Newsome might not be done looking for reinforcements at tackle just yet. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Ravens are "very interested" in free agent tackle Bryant McKinnie, who was released by the Vikings earlier this month. McKinnie, 31, had his share of
As a rookie, David Reed spent the vast majority of his on-field time on gamedays returning kickoffs and participating in the Ravens' other special teams units. The wide receiver had one rush for 15 yards last year, but he didn't have a catch all season and rarely factored into the Ravens' offensive gameplan. Going into Reed's second season, the Ravens drafted wide receivers Torrey Smith
One day after officially joining the Ravens, offensive tackle Mark LeVoir was lining up at right tackle with the first-team offense during this afternoon's practice. Hope you studied you playbook last night, Mr. LeVoir. The former Patriots tackle got the bulk of the reps at right tackle, with rookie Jah Reid, who had been the first-team right tackle all of last week, getting most of
On an absolutely gorgeous day in Owings Mills, Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano shook things up a bit this afternoon, changing some of his starting personnel from the lineup that we saw last week. Cornerback Domonique Foxworth, who is still slowly working back from ACL surgery, rotated in with Jimmy Smith and Cary Williams with the first-team defense today. Smith and Williams had gotten all
Fresh off a preseason opener which saw the Ravens' offensive line allow six sacks in a loss to the Eagles, that unit appeared to make significant progress in Friday's win over the Chiefs. Playing without starting center Matt Birk (knee surgery) and right guard Marshal Yanda (back spasms), the Ravens allowed just two sacks against Kansas City, neither of which came with starting quarterback Joe
It certainly sets up as quite the Cinderella story. From Division II college player to seventh-round draft pick to starting cornerback on one of the NFL's top defenses. The last line of that script hasn't been written just yet, but if Cary Williams keeps playing like he has so far this training camp, the previously little-known corner might be lining up with the Ravens' first-team
The Ravens had two new faces among their cluster of offensive linemen today, as newly signed tackle Mark LeVoir and guard Jason Murphy took part in their first practice at team headquarters in Owings Mills. LeVoir comes to the Ravens with 32 games of experience, including two starts. He played the last three seasons for the Patriots after being signed by the Bears as an
After missing Thursday's practice and Friday's preseason game against the Chiefs as he dealt with an illness in his family, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was back at team headquarters today. The Ravens had given Lewis the last few days off to deal spend time with his aunt, who is seriously ill, but the veteran linebacker was back on the practice field this afternoon. "Family always
When Matt Birk had surgery to clean up the bursa sac in his left knee earlier this month, the Ravens said that their starting center would be out 3-4 weeks, but that he was expected to be back in time to play Week 1 against the Steelers. It's now been nearly three weeks since Birk's surgery, but the 35-year-old center has not yet returned to
You already know that the Ravens have signed offensive tackle Mark LeVoir. The team announced today that it has also added center Jason Murphy. Murphy, a Baltimore native and Edmondson graduate, has spent time on the Titans, Seahawks and Chargers practice squads. The 29-year-old also played two seasons of UFL ball. Of the two new offensive linemen, LeVoir has more of a chance to make
If you're a fan of hard-hitting safeties that aren't afraid to throw their weight around, I've got a feeling you're going to like Bernard Pollard. Don't believe me? Check out how Pollard describes his on-field mentality: "My thing is, I better not catch you slipping, because I'm gonna put you out." Told you. You're going to like this guy. Pollard has only been a part
The Ravens have agreed to terms with former Patriots offensive tackle Mark LeVoir, who has appeared in 32 games over a five-year NFL career. Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Bears back in 2006, LeVoir started two games for New England in 2008, and has appeared in 16 games without a start in the last two seasons. He was released by the Patriots
Still in search of that first "welcome back" play, Sergio Kindle nearly had two of them last night. The Ravens' top selection in the 2010 draft, who is still working back from a fractured skull suffered over a year ago, nearly put on a dominating special teams display last night, as he got oh-so-close to blocking two separate punts. Both times, Kindle broke in on
Kelly Gregg was back in his normal place last night, waddling out of the tunnel at M&T Bank Stadium and lining up directly across from the center under the bright lights, ready to battle it out in the trenches. Things looked exactly as they had for the last 10 years ... well, with two major changes. Instead of sporting the purple and black, Gregg was
If Lee Evans and Vonta Leach can deliver the type of performances they did last night, every time they step foot on the field at M&T Bank Stadium, the Ravens might be in decent shape this season. In their debut performances for the Baltimore fans last night, the Ravens' newest offensive acquisitions shined brightly, carrying the offense to 10 first half points. During that time,
Don't let the score of the Ravens' 31-13 win over the Chiefs confuse you - it was a mixed bag last night for head coach John Harbaugh. There were some positive performances by those in purple and black, but some negative ones sure were there, as well. Let's take a look at some of the winners and (I hate to say "losers", but...) losers from
If tonight was a regular season game, and the Ravens got the ball with five minutes and change left in the fourth quarter holding onto a four-point lead, they probably try and milk the clock a bit and slowly flip field position. If tonight was a regular season game, and the Ravens got the ball with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter
Thank goodness for Lee Evans. In his debut in a Ravens' jersey, the newly acquired Evans turned in a stylish performance, making three grabs for 68 yards, but there were few other offensive highlights out of the first-team offense in Baltimore's 31-13 win over the Chiefs. It might seem like nitpicking with a final score as lopsided as the one listed above, but the Ravens'
Here are a few observations as the Ravens head into halftime tied with the Chiefs tied at 10-10: - Lardarius Webb hasn't had a spectacular training camp from a defensive perspective, and he made a poor decision early in the first quarter on special teams, opting to return a punt with a Chiefs player right in his face. Webb never had complete control of the
We're about 15 minutes from kickoff here at M&T Bank Stadium, and there are about 15 people here. I imagine a large portion of those who will be in attendance tonight are still out in the lots enjoying their choice beverages and some food, and the weather might have scared a couple people away, but it's still unusual to see so few people in the
Prior to a regular season NFL game, teams spend hours upon hours gameplanning for their opponent, studying the team's tendencies and trying to find ways they can capitalize on the weaknesses they see on film. If you were curious as to how much of that goes on before preseason games, you're in luck. I have an answer for you. Or, more accurately, Ravens head coach
Ray Lewis was excused from Wednesday's practice to deal with a family matter. According to The NFL Network, the Ravens' 12-time Pro Bowl linebacker has also been excused from tonight's preseason game against the Chiefs. Lewis apparently has a family member who is ill, which is the reason for his absence. Head coach John Harbaugh had said that even if Lewis had been available tonight,
How excited is tight end Ed Dickson about making his 2011 debut tonight? Excited enough that he's referring to himself in the third-person. After missing the Ravens' preseason opener against the Eagles because of a nagging hamstring injury, Dickson returned to practice this week. With the second-year tight end back close to 100 percent healthy, he'll be out on the field tonight when the Ravens
It'll be a homecoming of sorts for a number of members of the Chiefs organization when the boys from Kansas City roll into M&T Bank Stadium tonight to face the Ravens in the second preseason game of 2011. Given the makeup of the Chiefs' roster, you could joke that if the Jets are Baltimore-north, Kansas City is Baltimore-midwest. Defensive tackle Kelly Gregg, fullback Le'Ron McClain,
When Lee Evans takes the field at M&T Bank Stadium for tomorrow's preseason game against the Chiefs, it'll mark exactly one week since the wide receiver was traded to the Ravens from Buffalo. In that time, the wideout says he's started to settle in and feel comfortable with his new organization. There's just one problem, however - it's taking a little time for Evans to
I've commented at a couple points throughout training camp, both on here and on my Twitter account (if you aren't already following me, get with it, would ya?) that Joe Flacco looks like a different guy this summer. The fourth-year quarterback seems to have a swagger about him, on the field and off it. He's unafraid to march up to a wide receiver during practice
No surprise here, but linebacker Terrell Suggs delivered the quote of the day during today's practice. Wouldn't be the first time, certainly won't be the last. Here's how it went down: Early in practice, during a light positional drill, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata saw general manager Ozzie Newsome watching from a nearby shaded spot, and called out to Newsome, attempting to say hello. Suggs heard
In the Ravens' preseason opener last Thursday, the majority of the team's starters played a full first quarter. This Friday against the Chiefs, the playing time for the "ones" will get bumped up a bit. Head coach John Harbaugh said today that he plans on increasing the reps for the first-team guys, and many could play close to the full first half. "I think the
Ravens offensive guard/tackle Marshal Yanda has missed the last five days of practice with back spasms, but head coach John Harbaugh said today he isn't worried about Yanda possibly missing any regular season action. Yanda will be held out of Friday's preseason game against the Chiefs, Harbaugh said, but the coaching staff is not planning on being without the burly offensive lineman for much longer.
For the fifth straight day, offensive tackle Marshal Yanda is not taking part in practice. Yanda, who is battling back spasms, is absent from today's afternoon session, and as has been the case this entire week, he is not on the field watching from the sidelines. With Yanda out, rookie Jah Reid continues to get all the reps at right tackle - both with the
A couple days after the Ravens' preseason opener against the Eagles, a game in which we saw six touchbacks on seven kickoffs, I wrote that I was - how should I say this? - less than pleased with the NFL's new kickoff rules. Head coach John Harbaugh subsequently said that he, also, wasn't a fan of the offseason rule change, which pushed kickoffs from the
Ravens coach John Harbaugh made sure to stress the fact that the number of veteran players who were held out of practice Tuesday were simply given a day to rest. Players on both sides of the ball, including linebackers Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs and offensive weapons Ray Rice and Anquan Boldin, were given the day off, allowing the younger guys some much-needed repetitions. "Some
A number of veterans are being held out of today's practice, including linebackers Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and running back Ray Rice. All are watching practice from the sidelines, giving some of the younger guys a chance to take the bulk of the reps. With Rice out, running backs Jalen Parmele and Ricky Williams have taken most of the carries,
Rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith was limited through much of the first two weeks of training camp by a groin injury. Now that he's back to full health, Smith is working his way up the depth chart, and he should see increased playing time in Friday's preseason game against the Chiefs. Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano said yesterday that while the lockout and injury set Smith back
Get ready for an entry filled with numbers. I know it's summer break, so I'll make sure no math will be necessary. After wearing No. 85 for his first three practices as a Raven, wide receiver Lee Evans has finagled No. 83 away from tight end Ed Dickson. Evans, who wore 83 with the Bills, will get his previous number back starting tomorrow, while Dickson
If you're a sucker for stories about low-round draft picks who have the potential to become key contributors early on in their pro careers (and who isn't a sucker for that, really?), I might have this year's guy for you. Pernell McPhee was selected by the Ravens with the 165th overall pick in this year's draft. Three years ago at this time, he was preparing
It might not be unreasonable to make the claim that today, David Reed felt like he was completely a part of the Ravens for the first time since Dec. 19 of last year. Reed injured his left wrist during that December game against the Saints, and the wide receiver was unable to make it back on the field for the Ravens' final two regular season
An already less-than-ideal Ravens offensive line makeup has taken a hit this week, as offensive guard/tackle Marshal Yanda has missed the last three practices with back spasms. With Yanda out, offensive tackle Oniel Cousins has moved inside to Yanda's normal right guard spot, and rookie Jah Reid has taken the right tackle spot with the first-team offense. It's a rotation that doesn't feature a lot
Coming off a frustrating preseason opener against the Eagles in which the Ravens' offensive line allowed six sacks and failed to give quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Tyrod Taylor any type of comfort zone in the pocket, the Ravens know they need to improve in that area. Playing without starting center Matt Birk and with a rotation of Oniel Cousins and rookie Jah Reid at right
The last remaining Raven on the Physically Unable to Perform list has passed his physical and been cleared to practice. David Reed, the Ravens' fifth-round pick last season, is now a part of the team's active roster after missing the last two and a half weeks of practice as he recovered from offseason wrist surgery. The Utah product led the NFL in kickoff return average
There's been a heavy dose of criticism regarding the league's new policy to have kickoffs start at the 35-yard line, a rule put into effect in order to decrease the chance of injuries on kickoffs. After six of the seven kickoffs in Thursday's preseason game against the Eagles went for touchbacks, the rule change, which in theory may have sounded like a good idea, proved
The Lee Evans trade gives the Ravens improved speed and a wide receiver who runs smooth routes and has plenty of experience, all of which will help the team on the field this season. Beyond that, however, Evans' presence will allow the Ravens to do something which could impact the organization in a positive way for years to come - develop rookie wide receivers Torrey
Lee Evans has played seven seasons in the NFL. In that time, he hasn't sniffed the playoffs once. Following yesterday's trade that sent Evans from the playoff-starved Bills to the Ravens, the 30-year-old receiver is now on a team that has been to the second-round of the postseason three years in a row. And he seems pretty pleased about that. "I've been in the league
Acquired yesterday in a trade with the Bills, new Ravens wide receiver Lee Evans has passed his physical and is out on the practice field today in Owings Mills. The trade was not officially complete until the Ravens brought Evans in and had their doctors take a look at him. Now that they've done so, the Ravens will ship a 2012 fourth-round pick to Buffalo
Remember the glory days, where kickers like Billy Cundiff gave their teams a distinct edge on kickoffs and electric returners like Devin Hester and Josh Cribbs could turn a game around in the blink of an eye? I sure hope those days aren't over. It's far too early to say with certainty that the NFL's new kickoff rules - which move kicks up five yards
It might be temporarily forgotten because of the trade for wide receiver Lee Evans, but a Ravens offensive line that has struggled throughout much of training camp continued to look lost last night in Baltimore's preseason opener against the Eagles. The O-line allowed six sacks, got flagged for four pre-snap penalties, and gave up a seemingly endless stream of "Look-out blocks", You know those; the
For the second straight year, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome has made a trade to acquire a wide receiver. Last spring, Newsome got Anquan Boldin and a fifth-round pick in return for the Ravens' third and fourth-round selections. Today, Newsome gave a fourth-round pick to the Bills in order to bring in Lee Evans. Evans is a guy that apparently feels pretty comfortable playing at
After watching their first-string wide receivers struggle last night in their preseason opener, the Ravens acquired some help today. Baltimore has traded a 2012 draft pick to the Bills for wide receiver Lee Evans, the team announced. The trade was first reported by ESPN, and according to the report, it's a fourth-round pick heading to Buffalo in exchange for the wideout. Evans, 30, brings some
It didn't take long for Ravens fans to witness the type of impact that safety Bernard Pollard can make on a defense. The heavy-hitter earned the nickname "Bonecrusher" back in college (now that's a football nickname, if I've ever heard one), and we saw why last night, as Pollard threw his body around against the Eagles, delivering a couple big hits and making two big
Here's a quick look at three guys who made a positive impression last night in the Ravens' 13-6 loss to the Eagles, and three guys who failed to step up to the plate, so to speak. Three up * Paul Kruger - I feel like this guy needs a nickname, especially if he keeps playing at a high level. "The Kruginator"? Let's work on that.
Making his debut in an NFL jersey, rookie quarterback Tyrod Taylor played much as you would expect a rookie quarterback to play in his first professional game under the bright lights. There was the good (Taylor rushing for a team-high 59 yards and keeping a number of plays alive with his legs), the bad (a poorly-timed throw on a deep pass for wide receiver Torrey
It wasn't the most thrilling NFL action ever, but no one should have expected it to be. Coming off an offseason that lacked OTAs and minicamps, the Ravens showed some rust, as they missed tackles, committed 11 penalties, and were unable to get much of an offensive rhythm in a 13-6 loss to the Eagles. There were plenty of moments and areas that head coach
We're just hours away from the first real NFL action in quite some time. That is, if you call the first week of the preseason "real action". There's a good chance that tonight's Ravens-Eagles game will be one of the sloppiest games you've seen. Players have had very minimal practice time since the end of the 2010 season, veterans won't play much tonight, and with
Preseason games seem to have a bad reputation. Whether it's the fact that the games don't count in the standings, or the expected dip in overall quality on the field, fans are quick to turn their noses at the mention of the four annual scrimmages used to tune up for the regular season. True, thoughts of the preseason don't exactly conjure up ideas of spectacular
There's a good chance that the Ravens end up bringing in a veteran quarterback sometime in the next few weeks to serve as the backup to Joe Flacco. For now, however, 2011 sixth-round pick Tyrod Taylor has a hold on the No. 2 spot. And tonight, the rookie will get a chance to prove that he can handle whatever workload the coaches choose to give
If you can't beat 'em, sign their entire roster. That must be the philosophy held by Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli and head coach Todd Haley after the Ravens stomped Kansas City 30-7 in the Wild Card round of the playoffs last year. The Chiefs signed former Ravens offensive tackle Jared Gaither today, giving them three members of the Baltimore's 2010 roster that are now
The list of free agent wide receivers that the Ravens have not signed, for one reason or another, is growing. We can now add Jerricho Cotchery and Steve Smith to the group. After bringing Cotchery in for a visit and a physical on Tuesday, the Ravens have decided to pass on the former Jets wide receiver, according to The Sun. While Cotchery was the best
Ricky Williams showed up to work on his first day as a Raven clean-shaven and without the dreadlocks which have hung out of the veteran running back's helmet for much of his NFL career. Williams might look a little different than how we're used to seeing him, but it's clear from talking with the 34-year-old that he's still the same philosophical guy who is often
After today's slightly shortened practice - the Ravens' last before their preseason opener Thursday against the Eagles - head coach John Harbaugh announced that a handful of his key veterans will likely just play one series in Philadelphia. Harbaugh said that linebacker Ray Lewis, safety Ed Reed, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and linebacker Terrell Suggs will see minimal time, while guys on the offensive side
We got to see our first training camp skirmish today. If not for that, I'm not sure I'd have much to discuss right now. In the middle of a very quiet practice this afternoon at Ravens headquarters, things quickly turned heated between linebacker Albert McClellan and offensive tackle Andre Ramsey during full squad drills. McClellan and Ramsey got locked up during a passing play, and
It's a done deal - Ricky Williams is a Baltimore Raven. Williams passed his physical today, and is on the Ravens' roster prior to today's afternoon practice in Owings Mills. He is out on the field today, participating in drills. The veteran running back will wear No. 38 for now, as Jalen Parmele is planning on hanging onto No. 34, Williams' old number. We'll see
As the Ravens take the field against the Eagles in the preseason opener on Thursday, expect to see linebacker Sergio Kindle participating in the first game action of his pro career. Kindle, the Ravens' top draft pick last year, fractured his skull last July and missed the entire 2010 season. He seemingly hasn't been held back at all in practices this camp, however, and defensive
Ask Jarret Johnson to name a member of the Ravens' front-seven that he expects to have a breakout season, and the veteran linebacker barely lets you finish putting together the question before delivering his answer. Paul Kruger. "Kruger has been killing it," Johnson said of the third-year defensive end/outside linebacker. "Kruger is the guy nobody has been talking about that's been killing people. You can
Ricky Williams' numbers (which can be found by clicking his name ... isn't technology wonderful?) indicate that the veteran running back still has a good bit left in the tank and could help give the Ravens a proven, physical backup to Ray Rice. Williams averaged 4.2 yards per carry last season with the Dolphins, a number which was a half-yard higher in 2009, when he
Prior to today, the Ravens lacked a proven, physical running back that they could team with Ray Rice. That's no longer a void on the Baltimore roster. The Ravens have signed Ricky Williams to a two-year contract that could be worth up to $4 million, according to ProFootballTalk.com. Smoke 'em if you got 'em. Williams (5-foot-10, 230 lbs.) is now the biggest running back on
The way Damien Berry explains it, the fact that he's wearing No. 23 is purely a coincidence. Berry is a running back out of the University of Miami. Willis McGahee, who wore No. 23 the last four seasons with the Ravens before being released two weeks ago, is also a running back from "The U". But Berry, an undrafted rookie, insists that he's not trying
While he's currently stuck on the Physically Unable to Perform list as he works back from knee surgery, offensive tackle Ramon Harewood says he expects to return to the practice field within the next few days. And once he does, Harewood is ready to throw his hat into the competition for the Ravens' starting right tackle job. "You hear 'right tackle battle' and you hear
How's that headline for some sweet alliteration? Yes, I'm quite proud of myself for that one. Back to topics of actual importance ... A year after taking part in one of the more talked-about battles in training camp, Billy Cundiff is flying under the radar this summer. Cundiff spent last camp duking it out with Shayne Graham for the Ravens' kicking job, trying to match
It might have gotten overshadowed a bit by all the Derrick Mason news that broke last night, but the Ravens gave thousands of fans a sneak peak at the makeup of their 2011 roster by holding an open practice at M&T Bank Stadium. It was just a standard training camp practice, but in front of an announced crowd of 24,078, the Ravens' defense delivered the
While Derrick Mason naturally felt a bit slighted by the Ravens releasing him and then shopping around looking for his replacement, the veteran wide receiver's decision to sign with the Jets boiled down to family, not ego, a source close to Mason said. The source said that Mason strongly considered returning to the Ravens and he doesn't hold a grudge toward the organization, but that
Cut by the Ravens almost two weeks ago, Derrick Mason has left his former team in the lurch. Mason has decided to sign with the Jets, he announced. The 37-year-old wide receiver signed a one-year deal. The Ravens made an attempt to get Mason back to Baltimore, and those efforts likely increased once Malcolm Floyd signed with the Chargers yesterday. Instead of returning to an
The Ravens will continue to take things slow with first-round cornerback Jimmy Smith. That's why, even though Smith feels like he's closing in on full strength after battling a groin injury, he was held out of full-team drills today in his first time back on the practice field in the last five days. "I got to do individual (drills), so it wasn't that much, but
As free agent wide receiver Derrick Mason weighs his options and tries to decide where he'd like to sign, Joe Flacco, Mason's former quarterback, says he hopes the veteran receiver comes back to the Ravens. "Derrick's a great guy, a great locker room guy," Flacco said after today's practice. "He can be a little bit of a diva sometimes, but that's all good and fun
After missing the last four practices with a groin injury, rookie first-round cornerback Jimmy Smith is back and participating in today's session at M&T Bank Stadium. Smith, whose injury head coach John Harbaugh referred to as a "minor groin tweak", will be eased back into the action so as not to aggravate the injury. While Smith is back in pads and a helmet today, wide
Twenty-four hours ago, the Ravens appeared poised to bolster their wide receiving corps by adding a 6-foot-5 playmaker who has the ability to stretch the field. Things have changed a bit since then. Once thought of as the frontrunners for Malcom Floyd, the top wide receiver available on the free agent, the Ravens were spurned yesterday. Floyd chose to re-sign with the Chargers for a
Despite the loss of coveted free agent Malcom Floyd, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Friday the team is still open to the possibility of signing one of the veteran free agent wide receivers still on the market. Earlier this week and into today, the Ravens were reported to be the front-runners for Floyd, but hopes for that acquisition came to a halt when the receiver
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, free agent wide receiver Malcom Floyd has signed a two-year contract with the San Diego Chargers. No word yet on the financial terms of the deal. Floyd, who was thought to be close to a deal with the Ravens, will remain in San Diego where he has spent his entire career spanning seven years. As recently as an hour ago,
We're just a few minutes away from the start of Friday's practice session and the Ravens still have plenty of things to figure out before next week's opening preseason game against the Eagles. This will be the team's final practice before fans get their one and only look at the on-field product, and as the Ravens' rookies told reporters yesterday, it's a day they're looking
Through the first week of Ravens training camp, one question has been bandied about by reporters more than any other. That question has nothing to do with the Ravens' pass rush, the competition for the starting right tackle job or whether the team needs to go get another wide receiver. So, what's been on reporters' minds while out at practice the last handful of days?
Bernard Pollard didn't want to waste any time after agreeing to terms with the Ravens on a two-year contract Wednesday night. The newest Raven hopped a red-eye at 10:40 p.m., and arrived in Baltimore around 7 a.m. Thursday morning. Pollard's eyes might have been a bit heavy yesterday, but the five-year veteran safety wasn't going to let a little jet lag keep him from being
The Ravens have released veteran fullback Jason McKie, the team announced Friday morning. McKie became expendable when the Ravens signed fullback Vonta Leach to a three-year contract on Monday. Originally signed by the Ravens in late November of last season, McKie did not appear in a game for Baltimore. He was a gameday inactive for the final five contests of the regular season as well
It's finally over. The owners and players have officially signed off on a new collective bargaining agreement, meaning we can put the whole labor mess behind us. The 2011 league year has officially started and all players under contract are now able to participate in practice. The Ravens pushed back their 1:30 p.m. practice time to wait on the ratification of the CBA. By waiting,
Here are a few tidbits I wanted to pass along before popping out to today's practice: * Wide receivers James Hardy and Torrey Smith are both battling minor hamstring injuries, and while they participated in some drills yesterday, the Ravens are taking things slow with both guys. Each will be eased back into action slowly, rather than getting thrown into the fire and risk the
With Marc Bulger announcing yesterday that he's retiring, the Ravens now have a glaring need for a backup quarterback. The problem is, there are very few legitimate options out there on the free agent market. And when I say very few options, I mean very few options. The current free agent quarterback crop consists of names like Todd Collins, Brodie Croyle, Jake Delhomme, J.P Losman,
The market for two free agent wide receivers linked to the Ravens took an interesting turn late last night. Reports indicate that Derrick Mason, who was cut by the Ravens last week but is still an option to return, will visit the Jets today. Meanwhile, the Ravens are now considered the leading candidates to sign former Chargers receiver Malcom Floyd, who is mulling over offers
It seems Ravens fans are still coping with the loss of Todd Heap. Message boards, Facebook walls and Twitter feeds continue to send out comments mourning the departure of the franchise's longest-tenured tight end. Fans are certainly entitled some time to grieve, particularly after watching Heap sign a two-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals, finalizing the sober fact that Heap is a Raven nevermore. But
In an effort to bolster the back end of their defensive backfield, the Ravens are poised to sign safety Bernard Pollard, according to Sports Radio 610 in Houston. Pollard, a five-year veteran, would give the Ravens a hard-hitting safety they could add to a secondary that lost Dawan Landry to the Jaguars last week. A former second-round pick, Pollard has started 59 games in his
The Ravens need an insurance policy for their insurance policy. Veteran center Casey Rabach, who was signed yesterday to provide support for injured starting center Matt Birk, failed his physical, according to head coach John Harbaugh. As a result, the Ravens will continue searching for a center who can fill in as Birk recovers from a surgical procedure to clean up the bursa sac in
One injured Smith returned to practice today, while another remained on the sideline. Rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith is back on the field today after missing yesterday's practice with what is believed to be a hamstring injury. Smith took part in some drills, but did not participate in full 11-on-11 work during the early part of today's session. Jimmy Smith, however, is missing practice for
Two days ago, the Giants told defensive end Osi Umenyiora that he had permission to seek a trade. Not liking the trade offers that they got back from teams who were interested in Umenyiora's services, the Giants have now rescinded Umenyiora's ability to look for a deal. The Ravens were reportedly interested in Umenyiora, although they were not willing to part with a first-round pick,
The Casey Rabach signing is starting to make even more sense. Ravens center Matt Birk will have his left knee scoped and will miss two weeks, according to his agent. As a result, Rabach, who the Ravens signed yesterday, will be counted on to fill in with Birk sidelined. Birk, a six-time Pro Bowler, has battled knee injuries recently, and said at the end of
As NFL free agents hopped from one team to another over the last week, there had been very little talk about veteran quarterback Marc Bulger. Turns out, that's because Bulger has opted to retire. The Ravens' backup quarterback has decided to step away from the game after 11 seasons and two Pro Bowl appearances. Bulger earned $3.8 million as the Ravens' backup to Joe Flacco
As far as Ravens left guard Ben Grubbs is concerned, the start of every training camp is a rocky process. This one's just a little rougher than most. Grubbs had offseason surgery to remove bone spurs in his ankle, and he was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list at the start of camp. Grubbs returned to practice yesterday, and while he now has
Sidelined for the start of training camp while on the Physically Unable to Perform list, wide receiver David Reed says he expects to return in about a week. Reed, who had offseason surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist, said that he's feeling good, and is excited to get back on the field and take part in practice. "It's strong. It's real
Neither of the Ravens' top two draft picks - first-round cornerback Jimmy Smith and second-round wide receiver Torrey Smith - are practicing this afternoon. The former Smith is being held out after injuring his groin in practice yesterday. Jimmy Smith tweeted last night that his injury is "minor" and that he doesn't expect to miss much time. The reason for the Torrey Smith's absence is
With starting center Matt Birk battling knee injuries and getting up there in age, the Ravens added insurance to the middle of their offensive line today, signing veteran center Casey Rabach to a two-year contract. This is Rabach's second stint with the Ravens; he was originally drafted by Baltimore in the third round in 2001. He played four seasons for the Ravens and started every
A handful of hours after leaving yesterday's practice with a groin injury, rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith tweeted that he expects to be back on the field fairly soon. "Ill be fine," Smith wrote last night. "its a minor (injury).. I will be playin in the preseason don't worry" When told by a fan that head coach John Harbaugh might not appreciate Smith commenting on his
How pumped are the Ravens about Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach joining their backfield? Pumped enough for running back Ray Rice to sing the Pointer Sisters song, "I'm So Excited" and do a dance in front of a host of cameras. Yes, that actually happened yesterday. Pumped enough for running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery to call Leach a "powerful stud" and say he'll raise a
After missing the first three practices of training camp as he recovered from offseason ankle surgery, Ravens left guard Ben Grubbs was activated off the Physically Unable to Perform list and returned to the practice field today. Grubbs wasn't exactly eased back into action slowly, as he lined up with the first-team offense during 11-on-11 drills, in between left tackle Michael Oher and undrafted rookie
It wasn't a big surprise to see Terrence Cody come into training camp having slimmed down a bit, given the constant pressure the Ravens have put on their big-bodied defensive tackle to keep his weight in check. It was a little more surprising, however, to see Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata show up looking more like a tight end than a run-stuffing defensive lineman.
In the Ravens' search for a pass rusher, Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora's name has gotten tossed around by fans and media members quite a bit. Up until now, all that talk had been meaningless, because Umenyiora is under contract in New York, and while he was clashing with Giants management in his quest for a new deal, the Giants had not said they were
We could try, but I'm not sure we'd be able to count the number of times over the last three years that Joe Flacco connected with Todd Heap on third down, in the red zone, or in a crucial situation when he needed a few big yards. In a lot of ways, Heap was Flacco's security blanket, a giant presence over the middle of the
