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Bernard Pollard doesn't get why he was flagged for taunting during yesterday's win over the Cardinals. Same goes for Ray Rice, even though the running back might not be as vocal about expressing his frustration with the taunting penalty he received as Pollard is. You can include John Harbaugh in the group of Ravens befuddled by the unsportsmanlike conduct flags, as well. Harbaugh was asked
Last week, Bernard Pollard was flagged for an unnecessary roughness penalty, and he later expressed his displeasure with the officials for making the call. Yesterday, Pollard was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. After the game, Pollard again expressed his frustration with the officiating crew. The penalty on Pollard, which was whistled yesterday, came in the second quarter after the Ravens' safety helped bring down
I'm by no means a guru when it comes to the inner workings of NFL offenses. I've never sat in on a quarterbacks meeting, never broken down tape alongside an NFL coach or gameplanned an offense based on an opponent's defensive tendencies. But I don't think it takes any of that experience to notice that Joe Flacco and the Ravens' offense seem more comfortable when
There are two ways to view yesterday's 30-27 Ravens win. You can choose to look past a sloppy first half, focusing instead on a dominant final 30 minutes by the guys in purple in which they outscored the Cardinals 24-3, outgained them 249 yards to 56 and played at a high level on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Your other option
In need of a boost after a sloppy first half against the Cardinals, the Ravens turned to a guy who had played seven seasons alongside the Arizona players he was now opposing. And facing his former team, Anquan Boldin put on a performance that wowed teammates and coaches alike. "He's a star," said offensive coordinator Cam Cameron after the game. Boldin sure played like one
It was all going so horribly wrong. The Ravens were down 24-6 at halftime, and were poised to drop a game to a struggling, one-win team for the second straight week. Then, seemingly in an instant, it all turned. The Ravens ripped off three touchdowns in their first four second half drives, putting up 21 points over a 13-minute span. They forced two punts and
Boy, that was close. Down 21 in the second quarter and 18 at halftime, the Ravens finally woke up from their six-quarter long nap. Baltimore rattled off 24 unanswered points, capped off by a game-winning Billy Cundiff field goal, to overcome a sloppy first half and put away the one-win Cardinals 30-27. Credit Ray Rice for putting up 99 total yards from scrimmage and recording
I wasn't sure it was possible for the Ravens to repeat that stinkbomb of a performance they put up on Monday night. Today's game against the Cardinals hasn't been quite as rough as the Jacksonville debacle, but it's pretty darn close. Facing the NFL's 26th-ranked defense, the Ravens have managed just 156 yards of total offense. They also turned the ball over twice inside their
Todd Heap's return to Baltimore won't go exactly as he probably imagined it. A hamstring injury will keep Heap out of today's game against the Ravens, marking the third straight game that Heap has missed. It's too bad; it would have been cool to see Heap out on the field at M&T Bank Stadium again, and hear the "Heeeeeeeeeeeap" chants after he made a catch.
After yesterday's sloppy, gross weather, we're getting a bit of a break today, as the sun is out and shining brightly over M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens will hope to steer away the dark clouds that started creeping over their team last week when they take on the 1-5 Cardinals this afternoon. Nothing like a match-up with a one-win team to take the stench off
For 10 years, we heard the cheers echoing throughout M&T Bank Stadium. Tomorrow afternoon, assuming Todd Heap plays, it'll be interesting to see if those calls of "Heeeeeeeap" continue despite the Arizona Cardinals logo that now graces the tight end's helmet. (Thoughts, gang? Will you - or would you, if you aren't attending the game - salute Heap if he makes a catch tomorrow?) Heap
Late in the second quarter of Monday night's game against the Jaguars, Ed Reed went back to return a punt from Jacksonville's Nick Harris. The punt bounced a few yards in front of Reed, and he started signaling for his teammates to clear out and back away from the ball. It looked like Reed would just let the ball roll dead and allow it to
On Wednesday, Ravens safety Bernard Pollard said that he didn't expect to get fined for his hit on Jaguars running back Deji Karim during Monday night's game. Turns out, Pollard got that fine after all. Pollard has been docked $10,000 by the NFL for hitting a defenseless receiver in the head/neck area, according to a source. Given how confident Pollard was in his stance that
It appears two banged up Ravens safeties will be able to suit up and play against the Cardinals on Sunday. Free safety Ed Reed, who sat out yesterday's practice and seemed limited today as a result of a stinger suffered Monday night against the Jaguars, expects to be good to go against Arizona. "I'm fine," Reed said following today's practice. Head coach John Harbaugh confirmed
The NFL admitted that its officials were wrong to eject Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo in Monday night's game against the Jaguars, Ayanbadejo says. The veteran linebacker tweeted last night that he had gotten good news from the league, and followed by saying that he was informed he shouldn't have gotten the boot for his altercation with Jaguars offensive lineman Guy Whimper. "The NFL said I
After missing yesterday's practice because of a shoulder injury, safety Ed Reed was back out there today, participating in Friday's afternoon session. Kind of. Reed took part in a walk-through during an abbreviated open media portion of practice, but he did not appear to have his helmet with him on the field. It's unclear whether Reed was planning on participating in any drills requiring a
For the second straight week, the Ravens will face a 1-5 team coming off five straight losses. Sounds harmless enough, but after Monday night's debacle against the Jaguars, we all know no team is to be overlooked the rest of the way out. The Cardinals might have dropped five in a row, but as was the case with Jacksonville, all but one of those games
Ed Reed had a full practice yesterday and wasn't even listed on the Ravens' injury report. Today, the All-Pro safety didn't practice at all because of a neck injury. Reed suffered a stinger in his shoulder/neck area Monday night against the Jaguars, but he returned to the game. The safety spoke with reporters today and didn't appear to be in much - if any -
During his Wednesday afternoon session with reporters, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco admitted that one area the team can look to improve following Monday night's loss to the Jaguars is the pace of the team's two-minute offense. Flacco said that the Ravens could probably do well to speed up their two-minute looks, which have lagged in recent games when the team has needed a late score
Wide receiver Lee Evans appears poised to miss his fifth straight game this Sunday because of a left ankle injury, but the eight-year veteran seems happy with the recent strides he's made in his rehabilitation process. Evans did not practice again yesterday, but he says he's continuing to see improvements in the injured ankle. "I'm just feeling a little better, so it's just opening up
The Ravens' fan base is clearly frustrated with the inconsistent performance of Cam Cameron's offense this season. Anquan Boldin isn't. In fact, the veteran wide receiver seems to scoff at the idea that there's something wrong with Baltimore's offense as a whole. "There's nothing to worry about," said Boldin, delivering a sarcastic smile when asked about the offense yesterday. "For us, we know exactly what
Tom Zbikowski (concussion) says he hasn't yet been cleared for contact, but the Ravens' safety was listed as a full participant in today's practice. The fourth-year man out of Notre Dame has missed the last two games since suffering the concussion against the Jets back in Week 4, but he says his symptoms have been gone for the last handful of days and he expects
One of many questionable calls in the Ravens' loss to the Jaguars Monday night came when safety Bernard Pollard was flagged for a hit on Jacksonville running back Deji Karim. The hit appeared legal, but Pollard was penalized for a helmet-to-helmet hit on a defenseless receiver, and instead of having to punt on what would have been a fourth down, the Jaguars' drive got extended
It appears Ed Reed has recovered just fine from a shoulder stinger he suffered against the Jaguars Monday night. The Ravens' All-Pro safety is taking part in today's late-afternoon practice, as is nose tackle Terrence Cody, who also suffered a shoulder injury against Jacksonville. Cornerbacks Jimmy Smith (ankle) and Chris Carr (hamstring) are both practicing today, as is safety Tom Zbikowski, who appears to be
Some have questioned John Harbaugh's decision to go for an onside kick late in Monday night's loss to the Jaguars. Some like yours truly. But in the face of some criticism, Harbaugh is standing by that call, saying he would attempt the onside kick again if he was in the same spot down the road, adding that statistics kept by the team support such a
Ravens fans held their collective breath Monday night when they saw safety Ed Reed writhing around on the turf in obvious pain after taking a hit to the shoulder area. Reed had to leave the game against the Jaguars for a brief time, but after getting checked out by team doctors, he returned to action. Turns out, Reed just suffered a stinger, and the Ravens
I wanted to get a feel for where fans were directing most of their frustration following Monday night's debacle in Jacksonville, so I took a little Twitter poll yesterday. I asked my followers (if you're not already a member of that prestigious group, feel free to join in) who they felt deserved the bulk of the blame following the Ravens' embarrassing offensive performance against the
A day after Ray Rice got the fewest number of carries he's received in over a year, head coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens need to make more of an effort to get the ball to their Pro Bowl running back. Rice saw just eight carries in last night's 12-7 loss to the Jaguars, and got 13 touches overall. He recorded only 28 rushing yards,
The Ravens' on-field offensive execution was horrific yesterday. But somehow, even with all that went wrong, Baltimore still had a shot at a victory in the closing minutes. Here's how it went down, if you needed a recap: Joe Flacco engineered a late 90-yard scoring drive that was capped by a 5-yard scoring strike to Anquan Boldin with 2:02 left in the fourth quarter, cutting
Early in the third quarter of last night's game, with the Jaguars in possession and holding a 6-0 lead, Jacksonville quarterback Blaine Gabbert looked for running back Deji Karim over the middle on a third-and-7 play. Just as Gabbert's pass got to Karim, so did Bernard Pollard. The Ravens safety blew up Karim, crushing him with a huge hit which knocked the ball to the
We can talk about the Ravens' offensive deficiencies against the Jaguars until we're blue in the face. And over the next handful of days, we'll likely do so. But for now, let's try and find some solutions to the problem. Why are the Ravens so inconsistent on the offensive side of the ball? How can they move the ball more effectively and get themselves into
Where to begin? The horrendous performance by the officials? The special teams miscues that pretty much cost the Ravens six points? John Harbaugh's decision to go for an onside kick with just over two minutes to play when Baltimore essentially had three timeouts (including the two-minute warning) and needed only a field goal to win? No, no, no. Believe me, we'll get to that stuff
It happened in Week 2 against the Titans, but it couldn't possibly happen again tonight, could it? Not facing a one-win Jaguars team, not on "Monday Night Football" with the whole country watching. Whoops. Two road games against AFC South opponents, two excruciatingly frustrating and surprising losses. The Ravens laid an absolute egg on national television, putting up just 146 total yards of total offense
The offensive play by both the Ravens and Jaguars tonight has been atrocious. The officiating is now approaching that level, as well. Three times tonight a ruling on the field has been overturned after review, we've had a handful of silly penalties (the personal foul whistled on Bernard Pollard for a helmet-to-helmet hit on a defenseless receiver was just uncalled for) and now we've had
Normally, I call my halftime notes entry something like: "Halftime notes as Ravens lead Team X 13-7". That just wouldn't do tonight. The Ravens have been so horrendous offensively that I needed to go another route. If Baltimore was facing even an average offensive team, they'd be in serious trouble right now. Instead, they're down just 6-0 as we head to the half. Here are
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back Jimmy Smith. The Ravens' rookie cornerback, who has missed the last five games with a high left ankle sprain, is active for tonight's game against the Jaguars. Smith returned to practice this week after a nearly six-week layoff, and he'll get his first legitimate taste of NFL action in primetime. It will be interesting to see how the coaches opt
Hank Williams Jr. isn't ready for some football, but I'm guessing most of the Baltimore area is. We're just a couple hours away from kickoff as the Ravens are set to take on the 1-5 Jaguars, hoping to avoid their second surprising road loss of the season. Anyone actually taking Jacksonville in this one? No? Didn't think so. Here are three keys to tonight's game
The knock on Torrey Smith coming out of college was that he wasn't able to run the full route tree at a high level. Smith's speed allowed him to excel on vertical routes, where he could blow by his defender and make a play deep down the field. But the other routes that receivers need to be able to run at the NFL level -
Is it possible for a player to earn Most Valuable Player honors without lining up for a single snap all year? If so, we might as well just give this year's award to Peyton Manning right now. The Colts lost 62-7 to the Saints last night, dropping their record to 0-7 on the season and illustrating yet again how vital Manning is to that franchise.
Historically, the Ravens haven't made a big effort to re-sign safeties who have played opposite Ed Reed. Will Demps and Jim Leonhard both were let go after reaching free agency, with the Ravens opting to fill their void through alternative means rather than give out a multi-year deal to the solid but unspectacular safeties. Dawan Landry's situation was no different. Even after starting 64 games
Ben Grubbs will be a free agent at the end of this season. Boy, did the Ravens' starting left guard pick a bad time to miss five games (and counting) with a nagging toe injury. Coming into this year, Grubbs had not missed a game in his NFL career. Considered one of the tougher guys in the Ravens' locker room, he'd played a full four
The final injury report of the week came out a bit early today, rendering any of the early-afternoon injury predictions I was planning on making moot. As expected, wide receiver Lee Evans (ankle) and guard Ben Grubbs (toe) have yet again been ruled out, meaning Monday will mark Evans' fourth straight game missed due to injury, and Grubbs' fifth. "It's just probably slower than any
Rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith was a full participant in yesterday's practice, and appears to be getting close to full strength after sitting out the last five-plus weeks with a high left ankle sprain. The question now is if the Ravens' first-round pick will play Monday night against the Jaguars. Smith said today that he's made progress in his rehab, but he's unsure of his status
In his first game back from a shoulder injury, wide receiver David Reed was not given the Ravens' kickoff return duties last week against the Texans. Expect that to change this week. A team source said that Reed will return kicks when the Ravens take on the Jaguars Monday night. Reed will replace cornerback Bryan McCann, who filled in as Baltimore's kickoff returner against Houston.
OK, so Ravens-Jaguars might not be the type of matchup which will have you excitedly counting down the hours from now until 8:30 Monday night. Jacksonville is 1-5 on the season, they have the NFL's worst offense and a dwindling fan base which has still yet to make Monday's game a sell-out. This isn't exactly Ravens-Steelers we're working with here. Still, the Jags have been
Not only has rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith now practiced on back-to-back days, he's also made it through a practice as a "full participant". Smith, who has missed the Ravens' last four games with a high left ankle sprain, was not limited during today's afternoon session. He's down on the team's injury report as having fully participated. This doesn't adjust my earlier thoughts on whether the
How would you describe Jaguars 5-foot-7, 208-lb. running back Maurice Jones-Drew? Powerful? Stout? Robust? Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano has his own way of characterizing Jones-Drew, and I guarantee his terminology stands on its own. "This guy is like a rolling ball of butcher knives," Pagano said. "He's scary." Quote of the day honors go to Mr. Pagano. Jones-Drew is certainly a tough running back
The one surprise holdout from yesterday's practice - linebacker Jarret Johnson - was back on the field today participating in the Ravens' afternoon session. Johnson got yesterday off to rest his injured back, but returned to action today. Rest assured, the veteran linebacker and resident tough guy will increase his streak of 118 straight games played (which is a franchise record, by the way) Monday
Chris Carr is done trying to come back and play when he's less than 100 percent healthy. He's tried that a few times before, with negative results. Carr's injured hamstring has started to improve over the last few weeks, and the veteran cornerback was finally able to return to practice yesterday in a limited capacity. Carr said today that he hopes to play Monday night
Playing on "Monday Night Football" is nothing new to Ray Lewis. Over the course of his 16-year career, the Ravens linebacker has lined up on Monday night 13 times. In those 13 games, Lewis has recorded 120 tackles. He's defended eight passes. He's grabbed one interception and forced one fumble. He's been a part of six Monday night wins and seven Monday night losses. Does
While cornerbacks Jimmy Smith and Chris Carr returned to practice today, a handful of Ravens still were held out today. Wide receiver Lee Evans (ankle), left guard Ben Grubbs (toe) and linebacker Jarret Johnson (back) all did not practice today, while two reserve players - running back Anthony Allen (thigh) and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (hamstring) - have already been ruled out for Monday night's game
Here's how the typical mid-week routine works in the NFL, for those who are unaware: The head coach and one key player have to take part in a conference call with the opposing team's media every Wednesday. If the teams are playing on Monday night, those conference calls take place on Thursday. Following standard protocol, the reporters here at Ravens headquarters chatted with Jaguars coach
While David Reed appeared in last Sunday's game against the Texans after missing the Ravens' two previous games with a shoulder injury, the second-year wide receiver/kickoff returner didn't play a large role in the gameplan in his return. Reed got some time on special teams against Houston, but the kickoff return duties were given to newcomer Bryan McCann, and rookie LaQuan Williams got the reps
It had been nearly six weeks since Jimmy Smith last took part in an NFL practice. That streak ended today, when the rookie cornerback took to the field at the Ravens' practice facility. Smith has been kept out by a high left ankle sprain since the Ravens' Week 1 win over the Steelers, and his progress has been slow. But finally, Baltimore's first-round pick was
Ray Rice and Courtney Greene have known each other nearly their entire lives. The two New Rochelle, N.Y., natives went to elementary school together, middle school together and high school together. The running back and safety won a state championship together their junior season, and then when it came time for the two football stars to pick a college they both decided on Rutgers University.
Carson Palmer's going to start for the Raiders on Sunday despite not playing organized football in 10 months and having just five days of practice under his belt with his new team? Raiders coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Al Saunders must really love the job Kyle Boller has done in Oakland. Or not. When the Ravens opened training camp this summer, the coaches kicked
Five games into his pro career, it seems all Pernell McPhee does is make plays. Check out this stat line the rookie defensive end has put up so far this season: two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass defended. Not too shabby for a fifth-round pick. "Young guy, but huge upside," linebacker Jarret Johnson said. "He's got a ton of talent,
Wide receiver Lee Evans has now missed the Ravens' last three games with an ankle injury, and he's clearly getting frustrated with his lack of progress as far as his rehabilitation goes. Still, Evans said today that he expects to play again this season, and said that he's not considering surgery as an option at this point. "I've got to be effective out there," Evans
When the Ravens' 2011 schedule was released, fans and pundits looked at the first five games on Baltimore's docket and wondered how the team would make out. In that time, the Ravens were set to face the two teams who were in the AFC championship game last year (the Steelers and Jets), another legitimate playoff contender (the Texans) and a young team which looked very
With linebacker Dannell Ellerbe dealing with a lingering hamstring injury, the Ravens have decided to bring back linebacker Prescott Burgess. If you feel like we've been down this road before ... well, it's because we have. Ellerbe initially suffered the hamstring injury in the Ravens' Week 3 win over the Rams. Baltimore subsequently signed Burgess, who they had released in their final roster cuts at
It's a good thing Joe Flacco's a tough guy and has the frame of a tree trunk. If that wasn't the case, the Ravens' quarterback might be receiving some heavy-duty medical treatment this week. Flacco posted a decent enough stat line in the Ravens' win over the Texans on Sunday, going 20-of-33 for 305 yards with an interception and a rushing touchdown, but he also
I guess Carson Palmer won't be staying retired, after all. The former Bengals quarterback, who has tormented the Ravens over the years, has been traded to the Raiders, according to reports. In return for the possibly-washed-up, two-time Pro Bowl QB, the Bengals will apparently receive Oakland's first-round pick in 2012 and a conditional first-rounder in 2013. Bengals owner Mike Brown has been ripped quite a
So far this season, the Ravens rank fifth in the league in scoring, putting up an average of 29.6 points per contest. Think about the numbers they could be posting if their red zone offense wasn't so brutal. The Ravens are scoring touchdowns just 36.8 percent of the time that they cross the opposing team's 20-yard line, a number which puts them 29th in the
49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has found himself smack dab in the middle of his first NFL controversy after his postgame run-in with Lions coach Jim Schwartz yesterday. You might have heard about it. If not, get out from under that rock from which you've been living and watch this video. Last night, when Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked about his brother's handshake incident, he
If I were an NFL player, I'd be extra fired up to play against my former team. I'd be looking to lay a big hit on my old teammates, make a few big plays, dance around and show my former organization that it was a mistake not to keep me. Bernard Pollard and Vonta Leach say they didn't feel any of that yesterday when they
The final score of yesterday's Ravens-Texans game might give those who didn't actually watch the AFC battle the impression Baltimore coasted to victory. Those of us who did watch the Ravens' 29-14 win know that's not the case. By no means did the Ravens dominate the pesky Texans yesterday. In fact, were it not for a couple key in-game adjustments - one offensively, one defensively
So far this season, the Harbaugh brothers have both done two things: win and cause some postgame conflict with opposing coaches. Back in the preseason, Chiefs coach Todd Haley accused John Harbaugh of running up the score on his team. Then, following a Week 3 win over the Rams, St. Louis coach Steve Spagnuolo was so frustrated with Harbaugh's decision to attack late in the
Derrick Mason was back at M&T Bank Stadium as a visitor. Again. Traded from the Jets to the Texans last week, Mason got a chance to return to Baltimore for a second time in three weeks. He posted a similar stat line to the one he put up with New York two Sundays ago, making three grabs for 27 yards. Mason didn't get into any
When the Ravens last saw Arian Foster, the Texans' running back was putting up 100 yards on just 20 carries against the Baltimore defense in a 2010 Ravens win. Ten months later, Foster had a much tougher go of it against Ray Lewis and company. Last year's NFL rushing leader recorded just 49 rushing yards on 15 carries today, and while he led Houston with
In the Ravens' three wins prior to today, they'd coasted to victory. A 28-point win over Pittsburgh. A 30-point win at St. Louis. A 17-point victory against the Jets. There was no coasting today. This afternoon, the Ravens needed one of those good old fashioned grind-it-out performances. They trailed midway through the third quarter, had just a five-point lead entering the fourth and needed a
For a while Sunday, the Ravens looked like they just couldn't shake free of the feisty, undermanned Texans. Then they rattled off 16 straight points and put Houston away. Easy enough. Baltimore trailed 14-13 midway through the third quarter, but they handled things from there, using big games from Joe Flacco, Anquan Boldin, Ray Rice and kicker Billy Cundiff to roll to a 29-14 win
We knew the Texans were a pesky bunch, and they've proved that through the first 30 minutes. Playing without Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson and Pro Bowl defensive end Mario Williams, Houston is hanging with the Ravens, and they trail Baltimore just 10-7 at the break. Here are a few quick-hit notes on the first half of play: * If you needed another example
Lee Evans apparently didn't benefit from the bye week too much, as the wide receiver's ankle injury is still holding him out of today's game against the Texans. Same deal with Ben Grubbs. Grubbs is one of the Ravens' seven gameday inactives today, marking the fourth straight game that Baltimore's starting left guard has missed a game because of a toe injury. Andre Gurode will
I love 4 p.m. start times. Late enough for you to sleep in a bit, relax in the morning and watch the 1 p.m. games, and not too late that when you leave the press box after the game, it's not 2 a.m. Oh, does that just apply to me? The Ravens host the Texans this afternoon in a big AFC battle, and with games
To a lot of NFL fans, Ray Lewis is known for his pregame dances and his longtime dominance at inside linebacker. To a lot of NFL players, Lewis is known as a mentor, a friend and a confidant who can be counted on for advice and support regardless of team allegiances. Houston's Arian Foster is one of countless players who have Lewis' number in his
When you play on an offense that features a five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, last year's NFL rushing leader and a quarterback who has topped 4,300 yards passing in each of his last two seasons, it's easy to get overlooked. Texans tight end Owen Daniels is probably used to taking a backseat to Andre Johnson, Arian Foster and Matt Schaub when it comes to public
The Ravens will be without four players - including three defensive backs - Sunday when they take on the Texans. Wide receiver Lee Evans (ankle), cornerback Chris Carr (hamstring), cornerback Jimmy Smith (ankle) and safety Tom Zbikowski (concussion) have all been ruled out for this weekend's game against Houston. Left guard Ben Grubbs (toe) is listed as questionable, while running back Anthony Allen (thigh), linebacker
Every week, you hear about defensive players getting fined for late hits, helmet-to-helmet contact, hitting a defenseless receiver or countless other infractions. You almost never hear about an offensive player getting fined for a stiff arm. Unfortunately for Ray Rice, he's one of the few. Rice said on 105.7 The Fan that he has been fined $7,500 for a stiff arm that turned into a
Despite having three weeks to rest his injured ankle, Lee Evans is still not close to full strength. Evans did not practice yesterday or today, and following the Ravens' afternoon session, head coach John Harbaugh essentially ruled the wide receiver out for Sunday's game against the Texans. "We thought it would be fine by now, and it's just going a lot slower than we thought,"
The bye week might not have helped wide receiver Lee Evans and left guard Ben Grubbs as much as the Ravens had hoped it would. Neither player took part in this afternoon's practice during the portion open to the media. This is the second straight practice that Evans has missed as he continues to be plagued by a left ankle injury. Grubbs (toe) was limited
A casual NFL fan might look at Sunday's Ravens-Texans match-up and make the claim that without Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson and Pro Bowl defensive end Mario Williams, Houston doesn't stand a chance against a 3-1 Baltimore team playing at home. Anyone who has actually studied the Texans this season, however, knows that isn't the case. The Texans will be without two of their
I've got two quick notes before I pass along today's injury report. The first is that the Ravens will have a moment of silence for the late Pat Modell before Sunday's game against the Texans. The wife of former Ravens owner Art Modell passed away yesterday at the age of 80. Also, the Ravens have released a statement on the enhanced security measures the NFL
When you can run the ball as effectively as the Texans do, your offensive playbook opens up in a big way. Feel like running a fly route deep down the field? Want to send your quarterback out of the pocket on a bootleg and have him look for a big gain? Have a desire to slip a tight end out down the seam and hit
Given the nature of Michael Oher's job, the Ravens offensive tackle didn't get to see his adopted brother play very often during his high school basketball career. Starting next winter, Oher won't have any excuses when he misses Sean Tuohy Jr.'s games. Sean Jr., Oher's younger brother, has orally committed to play basketball at Loyola University starting during the 2012 season. "It's big," Oher said
When Derrick Mason faced his former Ravens teammates two weeks ago, things didn't go so well for the veteran wide receiver. Mason was held to two catches for 37 yards, he frustratingly scuffled with cornerback Cary Williams and linebacker Paul Kruger, and he left M&T Bank Stadium with a loss. Now, after being traded from the Jets to Houston two days ago, Mason will be
Even without Andre Johnson on the field, the Texans have a dangerous receiving corps. Wideouts Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter have plenty of speed, and are able to stretch the field vertically and shake free of tacklers. Owen Daniels is one of the premier pass-catching tight ends in the league, and his backup, Joel Dreessen, is also a threat in the passing game. Running back
Despite the fact the Ravens are coming off their bye week, they're still battling a number of lingering injuries. But they're not alone. The Texans listed a whopping 18 players on today's injury report, including a number of big-time players. Wide receiver Andre Johnson (hamstring), quarterback Matt Schaub (right shoulder) and fullback James Casey (chest) all missed practice today for Houston. In addition to those
Patricia Modell, wife of former Ravens and Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell, passed away today. She was 80. Pat had been battling an illness for some time now, and her passing is not unexpected. The Ravens announced that Pat was "fighting for her life" following their Week 4 win over the Jets. The team gave Pat a game ball after that victory. An accomplished actress,
How badly does Chris Carr want to put his lingering hamstring injury behind him? He's bought a hyperbaric chamber for his house. Seriously. The Ravens cornerback has been getting increasingly frustrated with his inability to shake free of his hamstring issues, and after missing the Jets game two weekends ago, he wants to make it clear that he's rehabbing as intensely as possible. "I know
The bye week looks like it's improved the overall health of the Ravens, at least to an extent. Six injured Ravens players returned to the practice field in some capacity today, with only cornerbacks Jimmy Smith and Chris Carr still being completely held out of the afternoon session. Wide receiver Lee Evans (ankle), left guard Ben Grubbs (toe), wide receiver/kick returner David Reed (shoulder), safety
As NFL fines go, $5,000 isn't that hefty of a punishment. But Matt Birk will still appeal the $5,000 fine he received for removing a microphone inside his pads prior to the Ravens' game against the Jets two weeks ago. "I have my sixth kid on the way," Birk joked. "I need all my money for diapers and Cheerios." Under the new collective bargaining agreement,
It was just nine days ago that Derrick Mason made his return to Baltimore as a member of the Jets. The former Ravens wide receiver had two catches for 37 yards, was booed both times he touched the ball and got involved in some intense pushing and shoving with a couple former teammates. Now, Ravens fans and players will see Mason stepping on the field
As the Ravens returned to Owings Mills on Monday following their week-long vacation, head coach John Harbaugh sat his players down for a team meeting. Harbaugh's message was simple, yet one which isn't always verbalized by a coach. He wanted his players to know exactly what type of team the 2011 Ravens are going to be. Even after a 3-1 start to the regular season
Despite the fact that the Ravens signed Bryan McCann just a week ago, the second-year cornerback could end up becoming a fairly significant part of the team's game plan as soon as this Sunday. McCann not only provides another healthy corner to a team lacking just that, but he also has experience as both a kickoff and punt returner. With the Ravens' top kickoff returner,
In case you missed it, we learned yesterday that rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith is unlikely to play this Sunday against the Texans as he works his way back from a high left ankle sprain. Smith isn't alone. While last week's bye certainly allowed some players to rest their respective injuries, there are still a number of guys who are questionable for this weekend's game against
Ravens rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith says he's made progress in his rehab from a high left ankle sprain. He returned to the practice field today and ran for the first time with his full body weight coming down on his ankle. Still, Smith admits that he's not all that close to full strength, and as a result, his chances of playing Sunday against the Texans
Those who have spent time around second-year nose tackle Terrence Cody this season have noticed two main changes in the Alabama product compared to his rookie season. The first is how Cody is approaching the game with a more business-like mentality, studying the finer points of his craft, giving his all in practice and taking care of himself off the field. Then there's that whole
First Andre Johnson, now Mario Williams. The Ravens are catching a huge break on both sides of the ball entering their matchup with Houston. The Texans lost Johnson - their top offensive playmaker - to a hamstring injury last week, and yesterday, they lost Williams - their All-Pro defensive end and top defensive playmaker - to a torn pectoral muscle. That means Gary Kubiak's team
For much of the first four weeks of the season, the Ravens have been working with an offense which features a recently constructed offensive line and a passing attack composed of two fairly inexperienced second-year tight ends, a host of rookie wide receivers and just one veteran wideout. Doesn't exactly sound like an ideal situation, does it? Through it all, one player has carried the
The Ravens have hit the quarter pole of the 2011 season, and have an impressive 3-1 record to show for their effort to this point. Home wins over both of the teams that appeared in the 2010 AFC Championship (the Steelers and Jets) have made that record seem particularly impressive, and with Pittsburgh struggling and battling injuries, Baltimore's early division lead has a little extra
How banged up are the Ravens at this point? Banged up enough that every single healthy player on the 53-man roster had to suit up for last Sunday's game against the Jets. Teams are forced to dress 46 players and name seven inactives on gamedays; all seven of those who the Ravens deactivated Sunday night were held out because of injuries. And that was going
More than 18 months after becoming the Ravens' top draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, Sergio Kindle finally made his professional debut in Sunday's win over the Jets. Asked about his first NFL action after the game, the outside linebacker was so excited he had trouble finding the right words to describe the experience. "I think happy is an understatement. You've got to put
Imagine you're a 260-lb. outside linebacker who plays 70 snaps a game, or that you're a 320-lb. defensive tackle who plays 60 snaps a game. You might be the best player on your team at your position, and you might be in fantastic shape, but over the course of a 60-minute contest, you'll get worn out. Your pass rush skills will fade, your technique will
At the quarter pole of the 2011 season, the Ravens appear to be in a pretty good spot. They're sporting a 3-1 record. They've got sole possession of first place in the AFC North and hold the tiebreaker over the Steelers courtesy of the Week 1 victory over Pittsburgh. They're tied for the best record in the conference, and this is after playing the two
Another Ravens linebacker has earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Jarret Johnson is the latest to have won the award, after his performance in Sunday night's 34-17 win over the Jets. The outside linebacker returned a fumble 26 yards for a touchdown, had two quarterback hits and three tackles (including one tackle for loss) in the Ravens' victory. If you're counting, that marks
Having only six healthy defensive backs on their roster, the Ravens added one more today, signing former Cowboys cornerback Bryan McCann to a two-year contract, according to his agent, John Biggins. The signing was originally reported by ESPNDallas.com. UPDATE: The Ravens have announced the McCann signing is official. Linebacker Prescott Burgess, signed last week, has been waived to make room for McCann on the 53-man
Over the last 36 hours or so, we've heard a number of people start to make comparisons between the current Ravens defense and the 2000 and 2006 units, which in many ways remain the gold standard for defensive domination both here in Baltimore and around the league. Those comparisons are even coming from Trent Dilfer, the quarterback on the Ravens' 2000 team which won the
Under the new collective bargaining agreement, NFL teams are limited in the number of practices that they can put their players through during the bye week. The Ravens aren't messing around with any of that. John Harbaugh is just giving his team the full week off. Following a 34-17 win over the Jets last night and a sit-down with key veterans and the coaches today,
The Ravens were well aware of Derrick Mason's penchant for talking trash during a game. After all, they saw it up close for six years during Mason's tenure in Baltimore. Yesterday, they were on the other side of the veteran wide receiver's yapping in Mason's first game back at M&T Bank Stadium since being released by the Ravens in July. And no one was surprised
What does it say about a team when just 13 of its 34 points scored were put up by the offense? Ray Rice, your thoughts? "From a defensive standpoint, it says that those guys are phenomenal," the Ravens running back said. "But from an offensive standpoint, it wasn't pretty on our part, but we got the job done." It sure wasn't textbook offensive execution for
Just a few more notes, then I'm done for the night and will pick up with more tomorrow. The banged up Ravens only had one new injury issue coming out of their 34-17 win over the Jets, and that issue involved safety Tom Zbikowski. Zbikowski left the game because of a concussion, and did not return. The four-year veteran started at strong safety but worked
I can't imagine how Mark Sanchez is going to feel when he rolls out of bed tomorrow morning. The poor guy will probably be covered in bruises from head to toe after tonight's beatdown in Baltimore. Sanchez's offensive linemen should hire an entire massage team to help nurse him back to health. The Ravens delivered shot after shot on the Jets quarterback tonight, sacking him
It wasn't pretty, at least not from an offensive perspective. In fact, it was downright gross at times. But the Ravens got the job done against Rex Ryan and the Jets, using a franchise-record three defensive touchdowns to roll to a 34-17 win. Linebackers Jameel McClain and Jarret Johnson and cornerback Lardarius Webb all reached paydirt for Baltimore, with Webb's 73-yard interception return for a
We're through what seems like the slowest-moving half in the history of the NFL, with the Ravens leading the Jets 27-17. Here are a handful of quick-hit notes on the first 30 minutes of play: * Despite absolutely dominating the Jets for the better part the half, the Ravens only lead by 10. The Ravens look faster, they look tougher, and they look better, especially
The Ravens' depth at cornerback is getting seriously tested. First Jimmy Smith goes down, then Domonique Foxworth gets put on injured reserve. Now, Chris Carr's bum hamstring keeps causing problems. Carr is inactive for tonight's game against the Jets because of the hamstring, leaving the Ravens with four healthy corners - two of which have played in a combined six NFL games. Starters Lardarius Webb
Are the Eagles, the squad dubbed "The Dream Team" two months ago, really 1-3? You've got to love the NFL. The Ravens can boost their record to 3-1 heading into their bye week with a win over the Jets tonight, and if they're able to top Rex Ryan's bunch, they'd take over sole possession of first place in the AFC North. Here are three keys
When you face a Rex Ryan-coached defense, you know the blitzes are coming. You don't know who will be blitzing, or from where, you just know bodies will be flying toward your quarterback from all angles. Ryan's aggressive defensive scheme, which was dubbed "organized chaos" during his tenure with the Ravens, is now a major part of what makes the Jets so tough to match
The last time the Ravens wore their all-black uniforms, they toppled the then-reigning Super Bowl champion Saints 30-24. Maybe the black unis will bring a similar result tomorrow. The Ravens will wear their black jerseys and black pants for Sunday night's nationally televised game against the Jets, marking the first time they've gone with the all-black look since the Week 15 win over New Orleans
