Inside The Ravens With Aaron Wilson

2007-08-19T08:28:00.000-04:00

5 THINGS TO WATCH RAVENS V. GIANTS

By Aaron Wilson

WESTMINSTER -- 1. As the Baltimore Ravens hit the midway point of the preseason tonight against the New York Giants at M&T Bank Stadium, the eyes of the nation will be focused on whether the Ravens' rejuvenated offense can duplicate last week's breakthrough at moving the football and scoring. Will Steve McNair and Willis McGahee continue to build chemistry in the backfield? Can the Ravens maintain their intensity and focus after a banner preseason opener?

2. The door has been cracked for rookie first-round draft pick Ben Grubbs at right guard where he'll start his first NFL game in the absence of Chris Chester. Although Chester is slated to potentially return from a sprained foot early this week, this represents a prime opportunity for Grubbs to prove to the coaching staff that he's worthy of future starting status.

3. The Ravens' base defensive philosophy is built around aggression and elaborate blitz packages. Even with a miniscule portion of their schemes unveiled last week, the NFL's top-ranked defense dominated the Philadelphia Eagles. Is Eli Manning in for a long night?

4. How will new starting outside linebacker Jarret Johnson fare against tight end Jeremy Shockey in pass coverage? Johnson had a few issues last week against Eagles running back Brian Westbrook and didn't tackle as well as he normally does.

5. Will Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith rebound from last week's ugly start to his competition with Drew Olson for the third-string job? Could Olson, who clearly outshined the rookie last week, beat the odds and overtake Smith, who has pedigree, draft status and arm strength working in his favor?

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

2007-08-18T07:24:00.000-04:00

Scattershooting here and there as the Ravens get ready to leave town

WESTMINSTER -- Wide receiver Derrick Mason was held out of the morning practice with what's being described as a minor shoulder injury.

"He had a little bit of a shoulder going on," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "We thought we should shelve him for the morning."

Nose guard Kelly Gregg returned to full-team drills with a brace around his right knee, and appears to be close to being cleared to play in preseason games. It's likely, though, that the team will hold him out Sunday against the New York Giants and possibly even longer as a precautionary measure.

"That's Kelly for you," defensive coordinator Rex Ryan said. "He's just trying to force himself out there."

Also not practicing: offensive guard Chris Chester (sprained right foot), tight end Daniel Wilcox (sprained left ankle), linebacker Antwan Barnes (sprained right ankle), offensive tackles Jonathan Ogden (turf toe) and Steve Edwards (knee) and linebackers Dan Cody (knee surgery) and Mike Smith (shoulder surgery). Ogden, who's sporting a shorter, sleeker haircut, had his foot taped up and moved around pretty well during some agility drills and pass protection sets while working on the side.

Barnes, Wilcox and Chester were all at practice with varying degrees of physical activity. Barnes seems to be the healthiest of the trio.

Chester's injury clears a path for rookie first-round pick Ben Grubbs to start Sunday night. Chester said he could play if it were a real game, but is taking it slow to be on the safe side. He described it as a one-week injury.

Quarterback Kyle Boller connected with wide receiver Demetrius Williams for a 40-yard touchdown pass up the sidelines.

Drew Olson was picked off by middle linebacker Ray Lewis, who returned it for a touchdown. Olson was picked off on the ensuing snap by Samari Rolle.

Running back Greg Pruitt Jr. dropped a pass.

For the second consecutive day, rookie quarterback Troy Smith had a pass batted down for an interception. Linebacker Prescott Burgess tipped it, and defensive tackle Keyonta Marshall picked it off.

NBC football analyst John Madden, who's broadcasting Sunday night's preseason game against the New York Giants, arrived at practice in his trademark Madden Cruiser.
The Ravens are about to leave Westminster and return to their $35 million headquarters in Owings Mills. They'll break camp after Saturday morning's practice at McDaniel College.

It has been a really quiet camp.

"Very much," Billick said. "Not a lot of distractions. When the lead article is about Rex Ryan's weight, you know camp is pretty calm. That's a good thing, it lends itself to the focus you need."The players are definitely raring to return to their palatial estate.

"We could have broke camp the third day," Billick said. "They've been ready to break camp. It's time to move on to another phase. They're aware of that."

The Ravens' annual rookie show was held Friday night with skits and songs along with the annual "King Ugly" contest handed out to the player or coach deemed to be the ugliest around.

Ironically, there's only money involved for the second and third-place winners and no cash for the first-place winner, who has traditionally received a crown and a scepter.

"I've learned not to handicap that," Billick said.

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

2007-08-13T07:08:00.000-04:00

Five Things to Watch

1. During the Baltimore Ravens' preseason opener tonight against the Philadelphia Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium, keep a close eye on the starters because they will be quickly ushered off the field and given a prime seat on the bench to watch the youngsters. Among the veterans worth observing is new $40 million running back Willis McGahee as he makes his preseason debut in Baltimore. He's expected to only carry the ball a few times, and offensive coordinator Rick Neuheisel said they'll attempt to feature him in the game plan briefly. He only carried it four times for nine yards during a scrimmage last week against the Washington Redskins.

2. This marks quarterback Steve McNair's second season in Baltimore, and he's much better versed in the offense as well as lighter by a few pounds. His arm strength doesn't remind you of his youth, but he is delivering the football with more zip than the end of last season when his arm looked tired.

3. Will the Ravens unveil their one-back formation and employ three wide receiver sets or will they stick to a fairly vanilla game plan? Is a more explosive version of the West Coast offense really in the cards?

4. Rookies like quarterback Troy Smith, the Heisman winner, and receiver Yamon Figurs are eager to prove themselves after some rough moments during training camp. Mammoth rookie left offensive tackle Jared Gaither (University of Maryland) is expected to acquaint himself nicely with the starters as he blocks the Eagles' Trent Cole, who registered eight sacks a year ago. Meanwhile, first-round offensive guard Ben Grubbs and speedy outside linebacker Antwan Barnes are primed to go after missing the scrimmage with a knee sprain and an ankle sprain, respectively.

5. Outside linebacker Jarret Johnson, All-Pro Adalius Thomas' replacement, is the lone new starter on the defense. Will the Ravens' confidence in the intense converted defensive lineman be borne out?

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

2007-08-10T06:58:00.000-04:00

MOORE CATCHING ON

WESTMINSTER -- Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Clarence Moore registered the top catch of training camp so far, diving for a 40-yard bomb from quarterback Kyle Boller with his body parallel to the ground in an acrobatic display.

Moore, who just returned from a hamstring injury that sidelined him in a scrimmage against the Washington Redskins, needs more plays like that. Entering the final year of his contract, he's competing to be the fourth wide receiver.

As Brian Billick pointed out after practice, Moore needs to produce this year.

Meanwhile, cornerback Samari Rolle and safety Ed Reed didn't practice. Reed has a mild ankle injury. Rolle is still recovering from being trucked by running back Mike Anderson at the goal line Tuesday.

Billick said Rolle got a "ding," adding that, "He thinks his name is Sammy and not Samari right now."

Tight end Daniel Wilcox injured his left ankle during a pile-up at the line of scrimmage and didn't return. It's not believed to be serious. He walked off under his own power, limping slightly up the stairs on his way to the training room.

"I'm not sure what Dan's situation is," Billick said.

Nose guard Kelly Gregg (right thigh bruise, knee) still isn't practicing, but he increased his activity, performing agility drills on the side.

Rookie linebacker Antwan Barnes' sprained right ankle is improving, as he participated in some team drills for the first time since suffering the injury a week ago.

Linebacker Jamar Enzor (undisclosed) didn't practice again.

Running back P.J. Daniels is practicing with his shoulder wrapped, a minor injury he incurred during the scrimmage.

Offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden (turf toe), linebackers Dan Cody (knee surgery) and Mike Smith (shoulder surgery) remain on the physically unable to perform list. Cody, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery two weeks before training camp began, was spotted getting around on crutches. Cody had been contemplating microfracture knee surgery, which would create new cartlilage.

Matt Stover had an unusual morning, missing two field goals. Stover is one of the most accurate kickers in league history, but his last attempt was wide right. It was several yards off the mark.

Boller had a rough morning, sailing a red-zone throw way over 6-foot-6, 270-pound tight end Quinn Sypniewski's head. He also fumbled a snap, much to Billick's disapproval.

Boller did hit wide receiver Demetrius Williams in stride on a post pattern, with Williams losing his helmet while running after the catch.

Former Ravens offensive tackle Orlando "Zeus" Brown visited practice, offering blocking tips to massive rookie Jared Gaither.

Billick said that camp is essentially "done," since the team is focused on preparations for the preseason games and remaining healthy.

Billick gathered the team for a brief speech during practice. He was visibly frustrated at one point, exclaiming, "We don't know what we're doing!"

Rookie tight end Marcus Freeman takes the Fighting Irish aspect of being a former Notre Dame football alum seriously. He got into a shoving match with linebacker Gary Stills in his second altercation since camp began. Freeman got into a scuffle with linebacker Jarret Johnson last week for the first fight of training camp.

The Ravens return to practice today at 9:30 a.m.

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

2007-08-07T06:08:00.000-04:00

A SCARE OVER MCNAIR

WESTMINSTER -- Quarterback Steve McNair received a scare this morning at the inadvertent hands of massive defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.The 6-foot-4, 340-pound defensive tackle accidentally tumbled into McNair's legs, making him fall to the ground. McNair wasn't hurt, but did appear to favor his hip a little after being bowled into by Ngata.

Ngata lined up at middle linebacker again later on in team drills and collapsed the pocket on a blitz with McNair quickly dumping the football short to tight end Todd Heap.Fullback Justin Green (knee surgery) and offensive tackle Mike Kracalik (ankle) were activated from the physically unable to perform list and practiced. Both were limited to mostly individual drills and aren't cleared for full-contact yet.

The Ravens cut rookie safety Donnie Johnson (Penn State) and defensive lineman Travis Leitko (Notre Dame). The team signed linebacker Ryan Riddle (Cal-Berkeley) and defensive end Bill Swancutt (Oregon State).Offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden (turf toe) and linebackers Dan Cody (knee surgery) and Mike Smith (shoulder surgery) remain on the PUP list.

Wide receiver Clarence Moore returned to practice from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the scrimmage, but he was limited. Rookie linebacker Antwan Barnes (sprained right ankle), who was held out of the scrimmage, participated in individual drills. Nose guard Kelly Gregg (thigh/knee) didn't participate in team drills.

The offense had a setback this morning, struggling in the red zone behind several misfires by quarterback Kyle Boller. Ravens coach Brian Billick was visibly upset about the offense not following up their efforts from a sharp scrimmage against the Washington Redskins. Practice went nearly 20 minutes longer, perhaps as a punitive measure.

Backup running back Mike Anderson was shut down when he tried to power in on the goal line.With the practice closed to the general public with several sponsors in attendance wearing yellow hats, it was much quieter today at McDaniel College.

Linebacker Dennis Haley intercepted a Troy Smith pass and returned it for a touchdown.Boller had a nice touchdown pass to Romby Bryant, who beat Derrick Martin upfield.Musa Smith has had a very quiet training camp so far, and is being pushed by second-year runner P.J. Daniels, who scored a touchdown in the scrimmage. Smith doesn't seem to have reported as in good shape as he was last year.For now, it's veteran Mike Anderson operating as Willis McGahee's primary backup.

Billick praised undrafted rookie defensive end Edgar Jones, who notched a sack and excelled in pursuit during the scrimmage against the Redskins. Jones led Division I-AA with 12 sacks last year for Southeast Missouri. He was a I-AA All-American.

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

2007-08-04T07:28:00.000-04:00

A little scare for Heap

It was a fairly uneventful practice the day before Saturday's scrimmage against the Washington Redskins.That is, with the notable exception of a scare involving Pro Bowl tight end Todd Heap.

He fell to the turf and was initially slow to get up, drawing a gasp from a large crowd. Although Heap was limping at first on his right ankle, he recovered quickly and got back on the field. It was a huge collective sigh of relief for the fans.

Here's something to digest, a scorecard of who won't be playing tomorrow at noon at M&T Bank Stadium:Ravens coach Brian Billick ruled out rookie guard Ben Grubbs (right knee sprain) and rookie linebacker Antwan Barnes (sprained right ankle). He was optimistic that they could be available next week and for the first preseason game.

Also not playing in the scrimmage: nose guard Kelly Gregg (right thigh bruise, improving markedly), offensive tackles Jonathan Ogden (toe) and Mike Kracalik (ankle), linebackers Dan Cody (knee surgery), Mike Smith (shoulder surgery) and fullback Justin Green (knee surgery).

A group of NFL officials worked practice today, pointing out penalties and points of emphasis. Billick was friendly with them, politicking a little bit before the season when the colorful langauge ensues.

2007-08-01T08:09:00.000-04:00

Gregg sidelined with thigh injury

WESTMINSTER -- Nose guard Kelly Gregg left the field with a bag of ice wrapped around his right knee, an injury that Ravens coach Brian Billick described as a thigh bruise. However, the bag was placed around the knee.

As he left the field in response to a question about his leg, Gregg replied: "I'm good."

Meanwhile, rookie linebacker Prescott Burgess missed practice with a case of stomach flu. One day after he decked franchise running back Willis McGahee, the sixth-round draft pick from Michigan was confined to the team hotel.

I ran into Burgess prior to lunch and he was up and around. No, there's no truth to the rumor that McGahee put something in Burgess' food.

"I'm feeling better," Burgess said although he still looked fairly queasy.

McGahee said that there are no hard feelings but he was surprised by the hit.

"I had better buckle up and be ready," McGahee said. "It taught me a lesson to be better prepared."

Wide receiver Mark Clayton was back on the field after missing Monday's afternoon workout with an abscess on his finger caused by nail-biting.

Offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden (toe) attended practice and did a few pass protection sets off to the side. He seems to be on schedule, although he's slated to miss training camp on the physically unable to perform list.

Offensive tackle Mike Kracalik (ankle), linebacker Mike Smith (shoulder) and fullback Justin Green (knee) worked on the sidelines with Green and Smith running. Kracalik performed ankle flexion exercises with trainer Bill Tessendorf.

The only injured player on the PUP list that isn't doing some drills is linebacker Dan Cody, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery two weeks ago.

Derrick Martin got a big round of applause from his defensive teammates when he delivered a fairly hard tackle to running back P.J. Daniels on a sweep.

Nickel back Ronnie Prude intercepted Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith's out pass and scampered up field for a touchdown. It was the first of two interceptions for Smith along with some errant throws.

The rookie quarterback has flashed arm strength, but has made some bad decisions during the first two days of training camp. Billick said he needs to anticipate better to keep the defense from reading his intentions.

The Ravens are showing a commitment to opening up their passing game, utilizing some three wide receiver alignments.

Typically, they used Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams outside with veteran Derrick Mason lining up inside as the slot receiver.

Mason said he's comfortable at either spot. He also emphasized that he could have handled his complaints better at the end of last season about his lack of involvement in the offense. Mason, 34, noted that several older players have continued to excel, citing examples like Jerry Rice and Darrell Green.

At one point, Billick halted practice and counseled the players that they needed to listen better and adjust to changes between drills.

Offensive tackle Adam Terry got bull-rushed by hefty defensive tackle Haloti Ngata during pass-rush drills.

Massive rookie offensive tackle Jared Gaither slammed speedy rookie outside linebacker Antwan Barnes to the ground. Barnes kept crawling on the ground a la Michael McCrary to touch the orange cone that was acting as the quarterback. Gaither's athleticism is rare for a 6-foot-9, 350-pounder.

Rookie offensive guard Ben Grubbs was solid with good leverage and technique.
Working behind Mike Flynn as the second-string center, starting right guard Chris Chester flubbed a snap to quarterback Kyle Boller on the wrong count. It made Boller's hand sore, and it caused a fumble.

It looks like Flynn could hold onto his job, at least at this point.

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

2007-07-13T18:51:00.000-04:00

What does Freeney's deal mean for Suggs?

By Aaron Wilson

OWINGS MILLS -- The ante may have just been increased in the contract negotiations between Terrell Suggs and the Baltimore Ravens.

While the Ravens' talented young pass rusher isn't likely to approach the bag of gold Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney just hauled in Friday -- a reported six-year, $72 million bundle that included a $30 million signing bonus -- he's likely to be rewarded with a virtual treasure of his own.

Suggs has 40 career sacks in 64 career games compared to Freeney's 56 1/2 over five seasons. Both are extremely disruptive forces rushing off the edge. And Suggs emerged as an all-around defender last season, improving markedly against the run.

Both players share the same agent: Gary Wichard.

While I'm not saying Suggs, a two-time Pro selection, will receive the same type of contract as the more established and game-impacting Freeney, he's obviously still going to break the bank figuratively speaking.

While Suggs won't become the highest paid defensive player in NFL history like Freeney, he'll likely earn more than the $35 million package that All-Pro linebacker Adalius Thomas received from the New England Patriots this offseason. Thomas received $20 million in guaranteed money, and that appears to be the bench mark for elite defensive ends and outside linebackers nowadays.

No word on when a deal might be struck for Suggs, but negotiations have remained amicable and out of the press. That's usually a good sign.

The Ravens have made it clear that retaining Suggs long-term is a big-time priority, and he's likely to get the Todd Heap or Ed Reed treatment at some point in the future as he heads into the final year of his rookie contract.

Stay tuned.

2007-06-14T20:12:00.000-04:00

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.

2007-06-08T02:29:00.000-04:00

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.

2007-05-27T08:36:00.000-04:00

Will Hartwell succeed where others have failed?

It should be interesting to see how former Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Ed Hartwell does lining up for the Cincinnati Bengals this season, provided his iffy health holds up.

Hartwell recently signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract to wear the striped helmet with pride.

When he was in Baltimore, Hartwell never hid the fact that he resented his lack of star status and was extremely jealous of Ray Lewis' tackle statistics. Hartwell repeatedly claimed that he was robbed of tackles by statisticians during games and coaches during film reviews.

Hartwell is a very nice guy and a gritty tackler when healthy, but he had an unhealthy chip on his shoulder about that perceived snub and really needed to get over it.

Hopefully, it's all behind him now.

It's unproductive to hold grudges, even when it feels justified.

Hartwell was usually hurt and didn't produce at all in Atlanta. Certainly not up to the expectations of a $25 million contract. Now, he gets a third chance with Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, the former Finksburg resident.
Hello Finksburg!

Always wanted to say that.

I've got to hand it to Big Ed, though. He had one of the best recruiting lines ever for a departing free agent when he told us that if you love the wires in your wall or the engine in your car that a football team would love Ed Hartwell, the helpful, hard-hitting hardware man.

Gotta love Hartwell's alma mater, Western Illinois, for having the best nickname in college sports outside of the Ragin' Cajuns formerly of Southwestern Louisiana. The sports teams at WIU, in Normal, Ill., where it's, um, normal I guess, are called the Leathernecks.

But I digress.

Meanwhile, it seems like defensive players who leave Baltimore as free agents never seem to blossom elsewhere. Re: Duane Starks, Hartwell, Sam Adams, Kim Herring, Corey Harris, Will Demps, Keith Washington and Lional Dalton, among others.

Jury's still out on Maake Kemoeatu, who might pan out pretty well for the Carolina Panthers, and Tony Weaver of the Houston Texans. Plus, Marques Douglas has done pretty well with the San Francisco 49ers as an undersized, run-stopping defensive tackle.

Here's a safe bet: All-Pro linebacker Adalius Thomas will find success with Bill Belichick's New England Patriots. If anything, he'll represent the exception to the rule about ex-Ravens defensive free agents.

Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times in Westminster, Maryland

2007-05-23T09:09:00.000-04:00

OWINGS MILLS -- The NFL is finally starting to get serious about assisting the tired, the ailing and the tragically disabled

No, it's not another admirable outreach with the United Way.This is a series of new initiatives designed to assist broken-down retired players in desperate need of medical care. Guys like retired Baltimore Colts legendary tight end John Mackey, who suffers from acute dementia.

At the league meetings in Nashville, Tenn., NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced that: "All of us in the NFL want to help former players that now find themselves in need of medical care through no fault of their own. We are trying to determine how we can creatively approach the medical issues of former players and guarantee their access to high-quality medical care at reasonable cost.

"In January, the league was rightfully embarrassed by an outcry from retired players who complained that the NFL wasn't doing nearly enough to help them with their inadequate pensions and disability payments. Plus, there have been several disturbing revelations on HBO's "Real Sports," detailing the plight of retired football players.

Many of them are in wheelchairs. Some of them no longer remember their families or their football-playing days due to severe brain damage.One nearly disabled tough guy, Conrad "They Call Me Dirty" Dobler, said if his standard of living decreases any further, he'll seriously contemplate ending it all with a gunshot to the head.

Grimly, Dobler said, "They shoot horses, don't they?"

So, the NFL has formed an alliance with the NFL Players Association, NFL Retired Players Association, NFL Alumni Association, NFL charities and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Just as important, the league is going to require neuropsychological baseline testing for all players starting this year. There will also be a whistle blower system to allow anonymous reporting from doctors being pressured to clear players back onto the field following a concussion or players with concussions being pressured to play by the team.This is likely a direct response to former New England Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson's controversial situation where he claims he was forced back onto the field by Patriots coach Bill Belichick shortly after suffering a debilitating concussion.

Is the NFL doing enough? Probably not. Especially in terms of helping guys out with financial problems who are unable to work due to permanent disability.At least the league is beginning to wake up, though. They really needed to.Especially in light of the death of former Philadelphia Eagles safety Andre Waters, whose history of concussions allegedly played a role in his depression that prompted him to commit suicide.

The league needs to take part openly in a study of deceased players' brains, a ground-breaking medical research project that could save lives.I met Waters when I was a rookie sportswriter in Brooksville, Fla., interviewing him at the football camp of his late, former All-Pro teammate, Jerome Brown.Although Waters had an intimidating reputation on the field and was dubbed "Dirty Waters" as a renowned cheap-shot artist, he was a very nice guy away from football who was just getting into coaching when I met him.

It's a real shame to see what happens to these football heroes when they can no longer run, block or tackle.Baltimore Ravens linebacker Bart Scott reflected on the sad state of affairs at a voluntary minicamp Tuesday.

"Wow, these guys are the guys who laid the foundation," Scott said. "It's because of those guys that I'm able to sit here and make the type of living that I make. I feel bad for those guys, anyone who has bled for this game or this league who's doing bad now.

"A lot of those guys are Hall of Famers and great players who put a lot on the line for us and for this league when it wasn't the most popular league in the country. I hope we can get something done to assist those guys in whatever way we can."

2007-05-21T08:38:00.000-04:00

OWINGS MILLS -- At first glance, it might appear to the untrained eye that the Baltimore Ravens still have a gaping hole at outside linebacker created by All-Pro Adalius Thomas' departure.

However, Thomas' migration to the New England Patriots isn't going to necessarily curtail production dramatically at this critical position for the defending AFC North champions.

Yes, new starter Jarret Johnson lacks the elite mobility and athleticism that Thomas possesses. He's a hard-nosed, blue-collar converted Alabama defensive end who's very good against the run and won't embarrass himself in short-area coverage
.
He was an excellent pass rusher for the Crimson Tide, but that has only translated into three career sacks in limited pass rushing opportunities in the NFL. It's unclear if he's going to be more than a five to six sack guy annually as a starter.

The Ravens might lose some sack production with Thomas leaving, but I don't think they're going to suffer against the run because Johnson is a very good run-stopper. Judging from his condition at last week's minicamp, Johnson has gotten himself into lean, mean shape. Including a much shorter haircut.

On third downs, he's going to need some help, though – at least some of the time.

That means a more multi-faceted role for Pro Bowl inside linebacker Bart Scott in terms of pass coverage and blitzing even more than last year when he led all NFL inside linebackers in sacks. As a former dime back and college safety, Scott is the best candidate to make up for Thomas' loss in specialized situations where he thrived because of his ability to morph seamlessly between outside linebacker, safety and defensive end.

Plus, the Ravens can employ third-year outside linebacker/defensive end Dan Cody as a situational pass rusher. After two-injury plagued seasons, Cody is finally healthy. He informed me that he's bigger and stronger than ever and he didn't appear to favor his knees at minicamp. His mobility looked like it's all the way back.

Obviously, the former Oklahoma star has to hold up physically to produce at an optimal level. The Ravens are banking on that happening this year.

Meanwhile, rookie outside linebacker Antwan Barnes represents an X-factor in reserve. At 6-foot-1, 240 pounds, Barnes has 4.45 speed, fastest among all incoming rookie linebackers, and did 31 bench presses of 225 pounds. Although he might cut his teeth on special teams, the Ravens have plans for him as a pass rusher and want to see how he handles his special-teams assignments before they get him on the field defensively.

There's a big upside with Barnes. This kid is definitely hungry.

Veteran special teams ace Gary Stills has proven pass rush skills, but is up there in years. He still has the skills to get to the quarterback, but it might be asking a lot of him to bust the wedge and burst past offensive tackles on a regular basis. He's still one of the top athletes and toughest guys on this team.

Bottom line: It takes more than one man to replace Adalius Thomas, but the Ravens appear to have the right people to do so collectively. They also have the right coach in defensive coordinator Rex Ryan to get the most out of the available personnel.

One more thing to keep in mind: If the NFL's top-ranked defense does take a half-step or full step back at one position, will it be a noticeable drop off?

The smart money says, 'Nope.'

2006-09-12T13:40:00.000-04:00

Locker room D.J.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The authoritative sounds of Crime Boss are emanating from the locker room D.J.'s stall, sending out shout-outs to Snoop Dogg and other rap luminaries in a fusion between Southern crunk and smooth West Coast-influenced bass lines.
It's Baltimore Ravens tight end Daniel Wilcox's party, and pretty much anyone is invited to listen.
Everyone seems to be enjoying the beat, although it's kind of loud and eventually running back Jamal Lewis turns the volume way down before a round of interviews with reporters inquiring about his nagging hip injury.
Ever since Wilcox signed with the team, he's been pumping out music from his locker.
Hey, it soothes the savage beast, right?
Although the Atlanta native's favorite tunes are rap and R&B, especially Snoop Dogg, Outkast and Nas, he mixes in a few other artists popular with his rock-loving teammates.
On any given day, Wilcox might crank up some Stain or Creed. Those two choices were met with guitar-loving approval by tight end Todd Heap.
"There you go, Todd," Wilcox said while pantomining a guitar solo.
Heap gives him a high-five.
Wilcox has always been into music, which is pretty much a mecca in some circles of his hometown.
And a few tunes seems to keep the team happy, at least the ones who aren't crowding around wide receiver Derrick Mason's locker to play Madden 2007 on the XBox 360.
"I've always found that music is a positive thing," Wilcox said. "Not everybody has the same taste, but that's fine. Football is a hard sport, and this is just a good way to relax."

2006-09-12T08:29:00.000-04:00

Fun and games
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Derrick Mason's locker stall has become the most popular spot in the Baltimore Ravens' locker room.
It's not because of the two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver's friendly personality, either.
It's because he has the Xbox 360 system hooked up, and John Madden 2007 is always in rotation along with EA Sports' Fight Night.
Let the games, and trash talking begin.
Mason and fellow receivers Mark Clayton, Clarence Moore and Demetrius Williams are regulars in an ongoing video games tournament. The boxing game, because of the violent knockout aspect and colorful graphics and sound effects, seems to draw the biggest crowd.
"It's just something to wind down with and relax after practice," Mason said. "We all like the competitive aspect of it, and it's something we can do for fun. Football is very serious and this is a way to hang out and just see who's the best."
It's probably Clayton, hands down. He was the runnerup at the NFL players' challenge at the past Super Bowl, finishing second only to Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Alex Smith.
"I try to think about the game like a coach," Clayton said. "It's something I get a lot of enjoyment out of. In that sense, we're just like the kids who play these games."