About Kris Jones

Kris - or "Goob" as he's widely known - has turned an obsession into a career. As a media member by day and super fan by night, he reports from the Under Armour Performance Center twice per week and brings Ravens news from a fan's perspective. His popular YouTube series Goobvision propelled his career and notoriety amongst Ravens fans, even helping him win the 2010 nationwide DIRECTV Ultimate Displaced Fan contest. He's been featured on shows such as The Jim Rome Show, ProFootballTalk Live, The Sirius XM Blitz with Rich Gannon and Adam Schein, Sirius XM's MadDog Radio, The Michael Irvin Show, Tony Bruno Show, Two Live Stews and FoxSports.com to name a few (or is that a lot?). He's caught a touchdown pass from Warren Moon during a flag football game and hates the Pittsburgh Steelers more than anyone else on the face of the earth. Twitter: RavenManiac

Ravens have options at middle linebacker (and Brian Urlacher isn’t one)

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Kris Jones

For the Ravens, inside linebacker has been an area of need since even before the retirement of Ray Lewis, who arguably was the greatest to ever play the position. After the troubled Rolando McClain retired from the NFL prior to the Ravens even assigning him a uniform number, fans are now left wondering who will be thrown into the mix with Jameel McClain (health pending) and second-round pick, rookie Arthur Brown. Parts of the fan base and even local talk radio hosts have mentioned former Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher as a … Continue reading →

A Knucklehead Retires: The end to Rolando McClain’s NFL career

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Kris Jones

The Rolando McClain experiment in Baltimore is over, as the former linebacker has pulled the plug on his career full of knuckle-headed mistakes. “Rolando let me know that he plans to retire from the NFL,” Ravens general manager and executive vice president Ozzie Newsome said. “We have placed him on the Reserve/Retired list.” A once promising career is now over at the age of 23. After being drafted with the eighth overall pick in 2010 by the Oakland Raiders, McClain’s mistakes led him to being released prematurely, not even receiving … Continue reading →

Ravens waive Towson WR Gerrard Sheppard

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Kris Jones

When the Ravens announced their initial class of 14 undrafted rookie free agents, the list contained a familiar local name in Towson wide receiver Gerrard Sheppard. Along with his college quarterback Grant Enders (tryout), Sheppard made a trip a few exits around I-695 to Owings Mills to audition for the coaching staff during a mandatory rookie minicamp that concluded on May 5. Following the final practice, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh called the Towson products, “NFL-quality guys,” even though it’s possible that their professional careers may be over before they … Continue reading →

These guys get it

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Kris Jones

Based on their efforts on the field during the 2012 season, Ray Rice and Torrey Smith are already “officially” champions. However, they’ve been champions in the community ever since they showed up in Baltimore, and they proved that once again this past weekend. Already working six days per week during the football season, these men spend their off days leveraging their celebrity to help make an impact on the community they now call home. These players are idolized by both children and adults alike, but one thing that commonly slips … Continue reading →

Ravens trade for Colts center A.Q. Shipley

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Kris Jones

When the Ravens re-signed Bryant McKinnie last week, it made their offensive line better in three postitions. With McKinnie staying put in Baltimore with his new two-year contract, the only unknown on the offensive line heading into OTA’s, mini-camp and training camp is who will win the starting center spot vacated by Matt Birk, who retired after 15 seasons and six Pro Bowl appearances. Heading into camp, the favorite to win the job is Gino Gradkowski, a fourth-round selection in 2012 who backed up Birk and started and played well … Continue reading →

Facebook Q&A – Wide receiver, Jimmy Smith, and Vonta Leach

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Kris Jones

We’re back for another installment of our Facebook Q&A Session. It appears that since Bryant McKinnie resigned, most of the questions have shifted from the offensive line to the wide receiver position. After attending a few press conferences with the Ravens 2013 draft class and with one open practice to the media in the books, I’ll try to shed some light on what is happening in Owings Mills. Note: If you aren’t one of the 33,000+ people on our Facebook page, please join the party and “like” us HERE. Wide … Continue reading →

Rolando McClain’s future still in question after guilty plea

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Kris Jones

It has been an offseason to forget for linebacker Rolando McClain – an offseason that could resonate for the rest of his life, as he’s on thin ice with the Ravens and the rest of the NFL. Shortly after his season ended with the Oakland Raiders, McClain was pulled over by police for illegal window tint. McClain was upset and signed his citation, “(Expletive) Y’all,” and said that was his real name. For McClain’s smart aleck actions, he was arrested for providing false information to police. Our friend Jeff Zrebiec … Continue reading →

No competition for Sam Koch or Justin Tucker this season

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Kris Jones

For the third time in as many seasons, the Ravens’ 2012 training camp was closed to the public. However, Ravens fans still followed the action as closely as they could through every outlet possible. Last year, no storyline was greater than the kicking battle between incumbent rookie Justin Tucker and 2011 AFC Championship Game scapegoat Billy Cundiff. The Ravens couldn’t have asked for more from Tucker, who ultimately beat out Cundiff, during his near flawless rookie campaign when he hit on 30 of his 33 field goal attempts (90%). Tucker … Continue reading →

Former Towson Tigers connect as Ravens during rookie mini camp

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Kris Jones

On the third and final day of rookie mini camp, a local duo connected for a 45-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone on the final play before the air horn sounded to end practice. Whether the pass from former Towson quarterback Grant Enders to his fellow Tiger wide receiver Gerrard Sheppard was actually a touchdown is a moot point – their offensive teammates celebrated like it was. Enders’ pass appeared so far ahead of Sheppard that it looked to be way overthrown – that was when … Continue reading →

Brandon Williams won’t walk on his hands anymore; benches 500 lbs.

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Kris Jones

Now that the draft has concluded and rookie mini-camps have began, Ravens fans will begin to familiarize themselves with the team’s freshest faces. During the week since Brandon Williams was taken off the board by the Ravens in the third round (94th overall), no one on the roster has received more attention. Even though most haven’t heard of Williams before last week, the 335 pound defensive tackle has found himself routinely standing out in small places. While in school at Missouri Southern State, Williams played his way into being named … Continue reading →

First Impression: Arthur Brown’s size shouldn’t be an issue

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Kris Jones

For second-round pick Arthur Brown, tape has significantly both helped, and hurt, his career. During his collegiate days at Kansas State, Brown’s game tape showed a linebacker with a tremendous amount of upside, projecting well for a transition to the NFL. However, the tape measure has hurt Brown, as the majority of his criticisms lie within the fact that he can be labeled as “small” by traditional linebacking standards. At first glance, Brown’s 6-0, 241-pound frame is likely the reason he slid down the board in the second round before … Continue reading →

Ravens agree to new two-year deal with Bryant McKinnie

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Kris Jones

After a 48 hour tour that took free agent left tackle Bryant McKinnie from coast to coast in search of a new job, it appears that the anchor of the Ravens offensive line isn’t going anywhere. On Tuesday, McKinnie commuted 15 minutes from his Miami home for a workout with the Dolphins. Without a contract offer in hand, McKinnie traveled across the country to another tropical paradise and worked out for the San Diego Chargers. After undergoing a physical with the Chargers, many believed that the free agency tour was … Continue reading →

Do you care if 30% of the NFL uses HGH?

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Kris Jones

After my first trip into the Ravens locker room, I had already came to grips with the fact that I was never blessed with the athletic ability to play football professionally. At 6’0″, 195 pounds, I’m bigger than a few NFL players, but the best shot I ever had at receiving a scholorship in college would have came from playing the wimpiest of all the macho football player positions - placekicker. The best way to classify NFL players up close and personal is to call them “superhuman man-beasts.” While Major … Continue reading →

Free-agent Bryant McKinnie visiting the Miami Dolphins

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Kris Jones

Now that the draft has come and gone, former Raven and current free agent left tackle Bryant McKinnie is expected to find himself a new employer shortly. NFL Network’s Jeff Darlington reports that McKinnie is on his way to Miami to visit the Dolphins today. For the past few weeks, the Dolphins have been trying to work out a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs for their eft tackle, Glen Burnie’s own Brandon Albert. With the two sides unable to agree on compensation, they did not strike a deal this … Continue reading →

Fourth-round pick Simon a favorite of college coach Urban Meyer

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Kris Jones

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome and the rest of his front office evaluators – including Eric DeCosta, Joe Hortiz and head coach John Harbaugh – have essentially turned the draft into child’s play. As the majority of fans become uninterested in later rounds of the draft, for Ozzie & Co. they’re almost so good at it that it becomes like stealing candy from a baby. It’ll take three years to gain a good grasp on just how well the Ravens drafted this past weekend, but that doesn’t mean that the … Continue reading →

EXTREME MAKEOVER: Torrey Smith Edition

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Kris Jones

For years he’s teased Ravens fans that he’d do it – and now its been done. Torrey Smith cut off his dreadlocks. The third-year receiver decided to chop off his signature dreadlocks because he was just, “getting tired of them” as he stated on Twitter. Not only will the 205-pound wideout likely weigh a few pounds less when he reports to the Under Armour Performance Center for workouts, he’ll probably need a new helmet as well. Smith’s hair became a major talking point during his rookie season as he was … Continue reading →

Elam may need to adjust playing style to avoid penalties, fines

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Kris Jones

As he met with the local media for the first time, Ravens first round draft pick Matt Elam, a safety from the University of Florida, made quite an impression. Elam was glowing and wore a smile that stretched from cheek to cheek. Also smiling were members of the Ravens front office, who all unanimously had regarded Elam as the highest priority on their draft board. The Ravens got their man. Elam drew praise from his defensive coordinator, Dean Pees, who accompanied him at his press conference (the rest of the … Continue reading →

Matt Elam has a “big, big chip” on his shoulder

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Kris Jones

Matt Elam may have some loose ties to the Ravens (Dean Pees recruited his brother Abram, and secondary coach Teryl Austin coached him at the University of Florida briefly), but as Thursday’s draft began, he didn’t really think that the Ravens were a team he’d be calling his “family” sometime in the future. Even though he’ll have a shot to make an immediate impact with the Ravens, Elam was heavily courted by the Cincinnati Beganls and Carolina Panthers – clouding his vision to just exactly where he may end up. … Continue reading →

McClain tells his side of the story following arrest

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Kris Jones

With the Ravens “still working [their] way through it” according to Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, Rolando McClain told the Madison Weekly News his side of the story as his football future hangs in limbo. McClain claims the police arrested the wrong man on Sunday, when he was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. “The situation could have been avoided on my part,” McClain told the paper. “I was at the park in an attempt to keep my brother out of trouble as he said he was going to … Continue reading →

Ravens have plenty of ammo to move up in second round

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Kris Jones

For Ozzie Newsome & Co. the first round of the 2013 draft couldn’t have gone any better. Not only did they select the top rated player on their board – Florida safety Matt Elam – with the 32nd and final pick in the first round, they still have 11 picks remaining. Just as it is every year, the draft was unpredictable. It left plenty of first round-graded talent on the board for teams to take advantage of early in the second round on Friday. One of those teams should be … Continue reading →