As I’ve said on this page before, Ed Reed is my favorite football player of all time. Rather than a full closet of Ravens jerseys, I only have three – a home #20, an away #20, and a black #5. As a matter of superstition, I wear whatever color the team is wearing that game; since they only wear black once or twice a year, I spend the majority of game days with the name “Reed” on my back. In the past, when Ed was his surly, difficult self – … Continue reading →

With the Ravens up against the salary cap while they try to negotiate the long-term contract of Super Bowl MVP quarterback Joe Flacco, a number of players could find themselves cut by the team to create needed cap space. Names like Anquan Boldin, Jacoby Jones, Vonta Leach, and other fan favorites have been floated out there, and the purple and black faithful – while still getting over their Super Bowl hangover – are getting a bit restless. Let’s take a look at those Ravens who could find themselves on the … Continue reading →

What an incredible ~six month ride this has been for Baltimore sports, and for us lucky fans of the purple and black and orange. First, we watched our Orioles shock the baseball world all season, but especially into September and October by continuing their improbable run, not only making the playoffs, but winning the Wild Card play-in game in Arlington against the defending American League Champions. Watching the “Buckle Up Birds,” as they were dubbed, thumb their noses at the stat geeks and analysts who said all year that they … Continue reading →

Anquan Boldin had his most productive regular season as a Baltimore Raven in 2011, catching 65 passes for 921 yards and four touchdowns. It was the most receptions and yards Boldin had put up since leaving the Arizona Cardinals to come to Baltimore following the 2009 season (he caught 7 touchdowns for the Ravens in 2010). Still, many felt that this would be Boldin’s final season as a Raven, as he would be entering the final season of a 3-year, $25 million extension that he signed upon arriving in Charm … Continue reading →

Your Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens have been all over the television this week, and not in the usual places. Joe Flacco was on with David Letterman on Monday night. Wednesday, Ray Rice was on LIVE with Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan. Then on Thursday night, in addition to Jacoby Jones appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, head coach John Harbaugh also stopped by to chat with Letterman. John had Dave laughing several times, including when he explained that the players who “don’t dress” for game days actually do get dressed, … Continue reading →

Ravens’ postseason hero Jacoby Jones was on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday night. Kimmel said that he felt that Jacoby should have been the Super Bowl MVP. Jacoby deferred to his quarterback, pointing out that Joe Flacco had an incredible postseason run overall, and saying that Joe “deserves it.” The Ravens’ All-Pro return man was his usual jovial, charismatic, downright hilarious self. He talked about being relieved that the lights went out, because he was still tired from his 108-yard kickoff return, and about how he is going to edit … Continue reading →

On the NFL Network program “Sound FX,” players and coaches are mic’d up to give fans a behind-the-scenes look at games. In this week’s edition, Super Bowl XLVII was covered. Ravens and 49ers players and coaches were featured, most prominent among them Joe Flacco, Patrick Willis, Ray Lewis, and the brothers Harbaugh. While everyone is always getting on Flacco’s case for being “boring” or not having enough personality, he actually came across as one of the more interesting and charismatic of all those shown. One instance in particular stood out … Continue reading →

As is customary for the defending Super Bowl champions, the Ravens will host the first regular season game of the 2013 NFL season. Start planning your tailgates for Thursday, September 5 now, Baltimore. While the opponent has not been announced, there are several “juicy” matchups on the Ravens’ schedule next season that the league would be champing at the bit to showcase. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun names the most likely opponents for the opener as the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, or Green Bay Packers. I’d … Continue reading →

When Ray Lewis announced that the Ravens’ 2012 playoff run would be his “last ride,” Baltimore fans were forced to accept the fact that the one constant of our team would not be around next year. The Ravens started play in 1996. Ray Lewis began his career in 1996. His interception of Oakland Raiders quarterback Billie Joe Hobert in the end zone was a key play in the team’s very first game – and very first victory. There has never been a Baltimore Ravens roster without #52. As Ravens fans, … Continue reading →

Well, Ravens Nation, it’s finally here. It’s been over 12 years since we last got to watch our team on football’s biggest stage. None of us expected it to take this long to get back to the Super Bowl. Brian Billick could never quite put together an offense to support his incredible defenses again, and his teams bowed out of the playoffs early in 2001 and 2003. It looked like the 2006 team finally had the offense to challenge for another Lombardi Trophy, but they flamed out in spectacular fashion … Continue reading →

A few weeks ago, we told you about how Denver’s mayor, Michael Hancock, had failed to pay up on his end of a bet with Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. The deal was that Hancock would do the Ray Lewis dance if the Ravens were able to beat the Broncos in the AFC Divisional playoff game…which, of course, they did. Thanks to Joe Flacco, Jacoby Jones, Corey Graham, and Justin Tucker (among others, of course), the Ravens pulled off the stunning upset and are now in New Orleans preparing for Super … Continue reading →

I don’t think Ed Reed has stopped smiling since the two-minute warning of the AFC Championship Game in Foxboro. He was grinning from ear-to-ear on the field post-game. He was smiling like a goof in the locker room during the Lamar Hunt Trophy presentation. And yesterday at the Ravens send-off rally, Reed was singing “Two Tickets to Paradise,” and laughing it up with the Baltimore crowd. Not that I blame the guy at all. I’m ecstatic to be seeing this side of my favorite Raven as he prepares for his … Continue reading →

On Monday morning, thousands of Ravens fans gathered at the Inner Harbor for a rally to send the team off to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans in style. It was, in a word…awesome. Despite the cold, rainy weather, the crowd was huge and excited. Video boards showed highlights of the Ravens’ playoff wins over Indianapolis, Denver, and New England. The Ravens broadcast team, including Gerry Sandusky, Qadry Ismail, and Stan White, then worked the crowd into a frenzy. Ravens cheerleaders performed. The loudspeakers were, of course, blaring “Seven Nation … Continue reading →

The NBC Sports Network gives viewers a closer look into football games, including behind-the-scenes footage and mic’d up players, on their weekly show NFL Turning Point.  Hosted by Dan Patrick, NFL Turning Point is just one more show for Ravens junkies who can’t get enough, along with Rave TV programs like 1 Winning Drive and Game Plan. The Ravens have been featured on several episodes in the past, and they were of course featured in this week’s episode, which covered the conference title games. If you missed it, the show … Continue reading →

While preparing for games against the Houston Texans in both the regular season and playoffs this year, the New England Patriots employed an interesting tactic at practice. In order to try to simulate the pass-swatting ability of the Texans’ linemen – in particular J.J. Watt – they had their own defensive linemen wield tennis racquets at the line of scrimmage. The idea was to help quarterback Tom Brady get used to having even more obstacles in his passing windows. It worked. Watt did not bat down a single pass in … Continue reading →

While many Ravens fans liked the team’s chances in Foxborough in the AFC Championship Game, even the most optimistic of purple faithful foresaw a hard fought high-scoring affair, with the Ravens winning somewhere along the lines of 38-35 or 31-28. Back in Week 3 when the Ravens beat New England 31-30 in Baltimore, the Ravens’ best cornerback, Lardarius Webb, had yet to suffer his season-ending knee injury. Webb has been a one-man Wes Welker-stopper for the Ravens in the past, lining up on the Patriots’ diminutive wideout in the slot, … Continue reading →

I’ve been filming Goob’s shenanigans for three seasons now, and they’ve taken us to some pretty amazing places. From our first expedition around the tailgate lots of M&T Bank Stadium, to road trips all over the country, stomping on terrible towels all around Baltimore, and even to hanging out with Ray Rice at Super Bowl XLV in Dallas, it’s been a crazy ride. But last night may be the one I’ll remember most. Thousands of Ravens fans took to the streets to celebrate the franchise’s second AFC title and a trip … Continue reading →

Well Ravens fans, this is it. It’s like playing Madden on your PS3. You make it all the way to the AFC Championship Game, and throw what should be the game-winning pass, only to see your wide receiver drop it. You stand up, ready to reset the game, but decide to go ahead and kick a short field goal and try to force overtime. Then your finger slips and you miss that too. You throw the controller in frustration and slam your finger down on the reset button. Same teams, same … Continue reading →