About Tony Lombardi

Tony is 24x7 Networks, LLC's founder (the parent of EutawStreetReport.com and RussellStreetReport.com) and has been contributing columns, blogs and inside scoops for the organization since its inception on July 3, 2003. His work has been featured on various sports websites and he has been a guest on several local and out of town sports radio programs. A diehard Fab Four fan, Tony aspires to settle down on a Florida Coast, is a frustrated musician who thinks beating on the steering wheel is akin to being John Bonham and no, he isn't related to THAT Vince Lombardi although his grandfather, uncle and cousin all share the name. Follow Tony on Twitter @RussellStReport or @RSRLombardi

Hi Mom!

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

For years TV cameras have zoomed in on football players along the sidelines after they’ve scored a big touchdown. Some engage in trash talking, others pound their chests and some hold up that famous digit. And then there are those who simply say, “Hi Mom!” It’s a very simple response to the presence and pressures of the camera really. It’s also very honest and genuine because when you stop and think about it and you remove all of the other distractions, fan hoopla and window dressing, the most vital, natural, … Continue reading →

Colts Give Ravens a Family Discount

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

Today we learned that the Ravens acquired center A.Q. Shipley from the Indianapolis Colts for a conditional seventh round pick. The condition? Shipley has to make the team, otherwise the Ravens owe the Colts nothing. The acquisition of Shipley should NOT be interpreted as a lack of confidence in the team’s probable starting center Gino Gradkowski but more as an acquisition of value and one that can elevate the level of competition in camp. If Shipley earns a spot on the team’s 53-man roster, the Ravens essentially get a 26 … Continue reading →

The Baltimore Ravens Mount Rushmore

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

One of the favorite debates amongst Baltimore area sports fans is metaphorical in nature and it involves the crowning jewel of Black Hills, South Dakota – Mount Rushmore. What if you could replace the faces of the majestic sculpture and give it a Baltimore sports theme. Whose likenesses would then adorn the hand carved cliff? Of course ground rules are often set (in stone). Some will welcome the addition of all types of sports figures. If you are an announcer, a coach, a manager or player, c’mon down and toss … Continue reading →

Ravens Smart to Extend 2nd Chance to McClain

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

I’ll admit that when I heard of his most recent arrest, like many of you, I was ready to kick Rolando McClain to the curb and drive the final nail into a coffin called Rolando’s Ravens career – one dead on arrival. But Ozzie Newsome and John Harbaugh have so far refrained from doing that and you have to wonder why. After all isn’t a John Harbaugh team supposed to be rich with character consisting of over-achieving, hard-working Mighty Men who love the game of football? Such a description doesn’t … Continue reading →

2nd Annual Ray Rice Day

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

Ray Rice will be hosting his 2nd Annual Ray Rice Day at Calvert Hall College High School on Saturday May 11 from 8am until noon. The day will feature football related activities, skills drills, and non-contact 7 on 7′s, as well as fitness and nutrition information for both boys and girls ages 7-13 provided by Ray, his teammates, his high school coaches, and other volunteer coaches from the Towson University football program. Approximately 600 kids are expected to attend this free event, one that was filled via online registration within … Continue reading →

Are Reed and Doss Tough Enough?

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

When the Ravens drafted David Reed in 2010 they believed the Ute would be a player with precise route running skills and good hands. He wasn’t and isn’t a burner and won’t often gain separation on deep routes but he does possess good ball skills and has the ability to make a catch in traffic. Add it up and at best Reed could be a No. 2 wide receiver in the NFL. Running with the scout team, Reed has had a tremendous amount of success competing against the Ravens No. … Continue reading →

To be Successful it Takes More Than Talent in the NFL

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

The Ravens were on the clock during the 2009 NFL Draft as they prepared to make the 88th overall selection in Round 3. They turned in the pick: Lardarius Webb, a 5’10”, 179 pound cornerback from Thibodaux, Louisiana’s Nicholls State. Immediately I thought back to a conversation I had with Ravens Assistant GM Eric DeCosta about a very similar selection they made back in 2006. Then while on the clock with the 87th overall pick the Ravens chose 5’11”, 182-pound cornerback from Natchitoches, Louisiana’s Northwestern State, David Pittman. DeCosta shared … Continue reading →

Ravens Keep a Step Ahead by Hiring Spagnuolo

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

After the Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV it was no small secret that the key to the team’s success CLEARLY was found on the defensive side of the football. During the 2000 season head coach Brian Billick fielded arguably the greatest defense of all time and the maestro of the unit was none other than Marvin Lewis. Predictably, Lewis was courted by a few organizations to be their new head coach, but it’s often difficult for teams to wait on Super Bowl winners. Many clubs just believe that there’s not … Continue reading →

An Undrafted Free Agent Who Could Become a Fan Favorite

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

Ray Holly Orange Coast College Running Back

Baltimore has always had an affinity for the underdog. We embrace the lunch pail guys – players who get the most out of relatively limited physical skills, constantly delivering maximum effort and eventually exceeding expectations. Players like Kelly Gregg and Jim Leonhard come to mind. Last season, a player who during training camp was often referred to as “a poor man’s Ray Rice”, Bobby Rainey became a fan favorite. While Rice backups Anthony Allen and Damien Berry struggled to make an impact, Rainey flourished and tapped into Baltimore’s underdog affinity. … Continue reading →

The Face of Ravens’ OC Jim Caldwell

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

Whether it was on the sidelines as the skipper of the Indianapolis Colts or in the coach’s booth above the field as the interim offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, the look on Jim Caldwell’s face was always the same. Stoic. Seemingly detached. Expressionless. Unemotional. Dispassionate. Dazed and confused. Recently the media was invited to a chalk talk session with the team’s coordinators: Jim Caldwell (now, officially the “OC”); Dean Pees; and Jerry Rosburg. Not having had any real exposure to Caldwell I expected his portion of the session to … Continue reading →

Ravens Could Lack Sizzle in 2014

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

Terrell Suggs proved many wrong when he returned to the Ravens line-up in Week 7 of the 2012 season despite partially tearing his Achilles tendon. Most thought he would be lost for the season yet 6 months after suffering the injury he sacked Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub in his 2012 debut. The seemingly early return was criticized by many and labeled too risky. So called medical experts thought the Ravens all-time sack leader might suffer further damage to his Achilles and miss even more significant playing time. Fortunately for … Continue reading →

HELP WANTED: Super Bowl Champ Seeking a New Green Dotsman

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

Give the Ravens credit for not resting on their laurels. Bringing back as many from the Super Bowl XLVII winning roster as humanly possible would have been the easy thing to do and clearly from the perspective of the team’s fan base, it would have been the path of least resistance. It would also have been the path to a .500 season – or worse. Instead Ozzie Newsome and his top-notch front office colleagues were determined to reclaim the team’s long-standing reputation as a defensive juggernaut by gutting the defense … Continue reading →

Draft Grades are a Joke!

Posted on April 27, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

A couple of days ago I mocked the mock drafts despite the fact that a few of our bloggers took turns providing mocks. Oh the irony… Today, I’ll turn my attention towards another rather amusing NFL Draft media byproduct – Draft Grades. How funny are they? Draft analysts and NFL GM wannabes nationwide will take out their red pens and assess what each team has done during draft weekend. You or me or the guy at the corner of the bar critiquing Ozzie Newsome is akin to giving Larry Bird … Continue reading →

Funny things on Day 1 of the NFL Draft

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

I’m from the school that religiously drinks from the Ozzie KoolAid fountain when it comes to the NFL Draft. I liked the idea of drafting a safety but from what I’ve read my preference was S Jonathan Cyprien from Florida International. That said I think that Ozzie Newsome, Eric DeCosta, Joe Hortiz and Company have individually forgotten more about football than I’ll ever know. That’s code for if they are happy with the pick of Matt Elam than so am I. Clearly his college coach at the University of Florida … Continue reading →

Mocking the Mockers

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

Mock drafts for me aren’t worth the time that it takes to read them. Seriously! Making matters worse this year is the fact that there are so few blue chip prospects. Are high-end athletes focusing on sports other than football that aren’t as taxing on their bodies both in the short-term and long-term? Baseball is clearly a safer and more lucrative sport. So is basketball. But back on point, with so few studs in the 2013 NFL Draft how can any mock draft produce anything but more mockery? I also … Continue reading →

McClain’s Career in Baltimore Over?

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

Many of us praised Ozzie Newsome for acquiring a player with a high ceiling, a former first round pick who is just 23 years old. Rolando McClain could potentially fill a need at inside linebacker and deliver extreme value on a near league minimum investment. The Ravens gave McClain a second chance. They gave him an opportunity to play on a high profile team and resurrect a once promising career. Last week when asked about the former defensive leader of the Alabama Crimson Tide Ozzie said, “Rolando is being given … Continue reading →

The State of the Ravens: A Look Back, A Look Ahead

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

Andy Tellijohn from Zoneblitz.com does a Q&A with bloggers from around the country who for all intents and purposes provide a “State of the Team” address vis-à-vis their answers. As he did last season prior to the NFL Draft Andy sought out my take on the current status of the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens had some ups and downs during the season but got it done with a championship in the end. How would you describe the 2012 ride? The Ravens 2012 season was a clinic on handling adversity. The … Continue reading →

Ravens 2013 Schedule

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

The Ravens 2013 schedule (see below) has been released and based upon the 2012 records of their opponents (137-119, .535), the Ravens face the NFL’s fifth-toughest schedule. Traditionally the Super Bowl Champion hosts the season opener but due to apparently unresolvable scheduling conflicts with the Orioles and a greedy commissioner unwilling to move the game to Wednesday night instead of Thursday night (a more profitable one vis-à-vis higher TV ratings) the Ravens open the season in Denver on September 5. For the second time in three years the Ravens will … Continue reading →

It’s Called Patience DeMaurice Not Collusion!

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

The NFL Players Union and its executive director DeMaurice Smith are tossing around the C-word – collusion. According to reports Smith authored a memo to player agents, the intent of which was basically to sniff around to see if the league’s owners where in cahoots to keep free agent salaries down. “We have heard reports of a concern that teams are working in concert to ‘peg’, ‘rig’ or ‘set’ market prices on player contracts. If you believe or have information that the teams have been colluding during this free agency … Continue reading →

OFFENSIVE LINE: Finding the Right Combination

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Tony Lombardi

Many are quick to give credit to Bryant McKinnie for the Ravens improved offensive line play down the homestretch of the 2012 season – a homestretch that placed them first at the finish line. It’s not that simple. The upgrade to the team’s offensive front was really the result of finding the right combination of players. Michael Oher is just more comfortable at right tackle and apparently that’s where he should and will stay. Perhaps you noticed during the Pre-Draft Press Conference on Tuesday that not a single syllable was … Continue reading →