WHY THE RAVENS WON'T PURSUE DAUNTE CULPEPPER

There are several reasons why the Baltimore Ravens are extremely unlikely to pursue Miami Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper, not the least of which is financial reasons. Here's the situation as I see it.

1. Culpepper isn't healthy and is regarded around the league as damaged goods with his chronically bad knee. The Ravens were scared off by his health problems a year ago prior to acquiring Steve McNair and had similar concerns about Drew Brees. Culpepper became expendable in Miami when they acquired Trent Green, but isn't it even more troubling when a team thinks a 36-year-old has more upside than a 30-year-old. Plus, Culpepper is due a $5.5 million base salary this year.

2. Contractually, the Ravens are in a deal with McNair that would be hard to extricate themselves from until after the 2008 season. It's essentially a three-year arrangement at minimum in a maximum value $32 million contract.

3. The Ravens are satisfied with McNair's play and team officials are encouraged by his leaner physical and improved arm strength during minicamps.

4. They still have confidence in Kyle Boller as a backup and want to get something out of their investment in the former first-round bust. Plus, Boller is scheduled to make about $1.75 million in base salary this year in the last year of his rookie contract. As a backup, he's more than adequate. As a starter, it's a different story altogether.

5. Culpepper has become a locker room lawyer, literally. He acts as his own agent, sometimes clumsily, by handing out bold press releases and e-mailing beat writers. While that's great for stirring up controversy, something reporters have been known to enjoy from time to time, it's disruptive to locker room chemistry as a rule. What's that saying about a lawyer who represents himself having a fool for a client? Seems to fit in this case. Trading a low-round draft pick or signing a released Culpepper would be a splashy acquisition. It's really not the Ravens' style. There's also that pesky Love Boat scandal that marred Culpepper's formerly squeaky-clean image.

6. Although several national reporters erroneously described the Ravens as a leading candidate for Culpepper's services, I think they were guilty of connect-the-dots journalism. Just because McNair is old and Boller essentially has one foot out the door doesn't make Baltimore desperate for a quarterback. Do they need to find a McNair successor eventually? Sure they do. And they need to find out in the next year if Heisman Trophy winning fifth-round pick Troy Smith can really play at this level.Just an aside: Sports Illustrated's Rick Reilly and the ESPN guys that have been linking Baltimore to Culpepper haven't been at minicamp to observe McNair's progress. They're basically down on him because of his horrendous playoff meltdown against the Indianapolis Colts, which is reasonable, but just because they think Culpepper makes sense for Baltimore doesn't mean it's going to happen. Trust me, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome doesn't ask reporters for advice on who to sign or not sign.

7. As far as where Culpepper ultimately winds up, my money remains on the Jacksonville Jaguars. They've already informed all three of their quarterbacks -- Byron Leftwich, David Garrard and Quinn Gray -- that the team is going to pursue Culpepper, who has filed a grievance with the NFL Players Association in an attempt to be released from his Dolphins contract. Garrard told Jacksonville reporters: "I was told we have to bring him in to look at him. He has a good relationship with Mike Tice from their days together in Minnesota. If I'm the owner and I can get somebody cheap like that, it'd be dumb not to consider it. They said it's not anything directed at me or toward my performance. If he can get back to his Pro Bowl level, that's a top-five quarterback in this league."

8. I've heard that Jaguars vice president James "Shack" Harris has liked Culpepper dating back to the 1999 NFL draft when Baltimore drafted Pro Bowl cornerback Chris McAlister 10th overall and the Minnesota Vikings acquired Culpepper with the 11th pick. Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio, the former Baltimore linebackers coach, was cagey in his response to reporters about Culpepper. Read between the lines, though, and you can tell they're very interested and just wish it had stayed quiet. "I don't really have a whole lot to say,'' Del Rio said. "The guy is under contract. There's really not a whole lot I can add to the story. We continually look for opportunities to strengthen our roster and investigate things all the time. Many don't pan out. We're doing our due diligence as an organization, I wouldn't make anything more of it than that."

9. Sorry, I'm going to not take Del Rio's advice. I'm going to draw a strong conclusion based on the fact that Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter took aside all three quarterbacks on the roster and told them not to be offended or worried, but that the team really likes this Culpepper guy and might sign him or trade for him if they can.

Bottom line: I'll be officially shocked if Baltimore opts to pursue Culpepper.

Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times and the Annapolis Capital.

OWINGS MILLS -- Veteran former NFL defensive coordinator Vic Fangio remains with the Baltimore Ravens this year as a special assistant.The former Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans and Baltimore/Philadelphia Stars (USFL) defensive boss was credited by Ravens coach Brian Billick last year for his ultra-meticulous nature in documenting opponents' tendencies.

Fangio is regarded as a potential candidate to succeed defensive coordinator Rex Ryan if he gets a head coaching job, but Fangio's serious personality would be a huge change from Ryan's fun-loving approach. Fangio is all business, and this is a veteran-laden defense filled with accomplished players with their own ideas about how to do things. Not sure it would be a great fit.

It's been extremely quiet on the Donnie Henderson front as far as the former Ravens secondary coach coming aboard as a consultant and word is that it's not going to happen. Sometimes, a visit is just a friendly visit.I won't be surprised, though, if Henderson gets a crack at interviewing to be the Ravens' next defensive coordinator if Ryan departs.

Linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald at least deserves an interview for the job if Ryan ultimately leaves. FitzGerald is a high-energy type who's all over the field, just like his proteges. I think he has definite leadership qualities, and he leaves the impression of being a progressive, intense players' coach.

Plus, all of his starters got Pro Bowl recognition last year. Not bad. He's also a race car driver in the offseason, not your typical hobby for an NFL assistant.

Meanwhile, new starting outside linebacker Jarret Johnson has been getting prepared for the job, showing up at minicamp with a much leaner physique. He also got a much shorter haircut. The former Alabama defensive lineman obviously has big shoes to fill as departed All-Pro Adalius Thomas' replacement.Return specialist B.J. Sams is moving very quickly for a guy coming off a fractured ankle that required surgery.

I'm sure the presence of speedster Yamon Figurs is a major motivating factor for Sams, who expressed joy that he was off the hook in his DUI trial and out of jeopardy with the courts and, apparently, with law-and-order NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Sams said he embraces competition. After all, he noted how he was once the undrafted rookie free agent from little McNeese State (La.) who outplayed seventh-round pick Derek Abney out of Kentucky.

It's a contract year for Sams, who's due a one-year, $850,000 restricted tender.If you're undrafted rookie safeties Donnie Johnson (Penn State) and Bobby Blackshire (Tulsa), you've got to like your chances to make the roster. The Ravens only have three veteran safeties under contract: Ed Reed, Dawan Landry and Gerome Sapp.

Opportunity knocks.Both have reputations for being hard hitters, and both have good size with Johnson standing 6-0, 209 pounds and Blackshire at 6-1, 196 pounds. It's funny how Blackshire lost two inches and nine pounds from the Tulsa sports information department's official biography.

So far, Blackshire has made more plays in pass coverage. It's early, and we'll know more during August in Westminster.

One more thing: Sapp has been playing a glorified linebacker spot at times in nickel packages. It's one more way to account for the loss of All-Pro linebacker Adalius Thomas, a versatile athlete who requires more than one person to replace him.

You could say that Johnson is essentially the first-down and second-down replacement with Sapp, Bart Scott and others picking up the slack in obvious passing situations. Look for Scott to be used all over the field this season. As a former dime back and college safety, he's capable of doing many of the tasks Thomas performed so adeptly.

Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times and the Annapolis Capital.