GRAPEVINE

THE GRAPEVINE: Baltimore Ravens News & Notes

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The Ravens have agreed to a one-year, $700,000 deal with troubled but promising linebacker Rolando McClain. When McClain is officially signed it will leave the Ravens with $3,920,252 in cap space. Approximately $1M – $1.5M of that figure will be set aside for signing draft picks. The Ravens will receive an additional $2.5M in cap space on June 2 tied to the release of Bernard Pollard. It’s interesting how some fans have adopted a holier-than-thou attitude when it comes to McClain, expecting him to somehow contaminate a well-cultivated locker room. … Continue reading →

RUMOR MILL: A Ray Lewis Comeback? Draft Day Trades and More

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In the 2013 NFL Draft the Baltimore Ravens have 12 picks and given the depth on the roster, it is highly unlikely that the team will have room on their 53-man roster to accommodate them all. Therefore don’t be surprised to see them trade up and sacrifice a couple of picks or trade 2013 picks for higher selections in 2014. Word is the Ravens will look to take a quarterback in 2014 as they prepare for the possible departure of Joe Flacco. Keep in mind that Flacco’s deal is structured … Continue reading →

Super Bowl Fun Facts: History Favors the Ravens in XLVII

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The Harbowl. The Bro Bowl. The Battle of Bays. Call Super Bowl XLVII what you will but one thing is certain. It will be a match-up of evenly matched teams, similar on many levels except at the game’s most important position – quarterback. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is a classic drop back passer while Colin Kaepernick is a new breed of quarterback whose legs present a bigger concern than even his capable laser-like arm. Kaepernick is the sexier pick. He’s the new breed and the flavor of the 2012 … Continue reading →

Ravens postseason numbers to rave about plus 2 tix to paradise!

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On Monday at the Inner Harbor we witnessed Ed Reed’s inner Eddie Money burst out in song and many who listened wish that they too had two tickets to paradise. And for Ravens fans, paradise for the time being is The Crescent City – N’Awlins! Unfortunately tickets have been very expensive, averaging close to $3,200 per ticket with an entry point (aka the nosiest of nosebleed seats) of $1,900. From what we’ve been able to determine for purposes of Super Bowl ticket distribution, the Super Dome uses a capacity level … Continue reading →

Super Random Thoughts: Part I

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Business Trip
ODDS & ENDS Immediately following the AFC Championship Game the Baltimore Ravens opened as 4 ½ point underdogs in Super Bowl XLVII according to NFL Betting Lines. Today the line sits at 3 ½ and the bet here (pun intended) is that the line will drop to an even 3 by kickoff. Looking back prior to the conference championships the odds to win the Super Bowl among the then four remaining teams were:   Ravens 7:1 Falcons 13:2 49ers 9:5 Patriots 6:5 WHEN THEY LAST MET Harbowl I took place on Thanksgiving … Continue reading →

Bye comes at opportune time for your Baltimore Ravens

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So Nnamdi Asomugha doesn’t like the defensive play calling and he shares those concerns with the media. The next day Eagles’ defensive coordinator Juan Castillo is fired. Cam Newton, frustrated by the Panthers 1-5 start and his passer rating of 79.3 and proceeds to cry a river to anyone who will listen. And then he champions the concept of a suggestion box looking for someone’s, anyone’s recommendations to help change Carolina’s losing ways. “I’m going to bring in a suggestion box. And I want your suggestions in that suggestion box, … Continue reading →

CRAB BAG: Ravens @ Chiefs

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IT’S 1 O’CLOCK SOMEWHERE After playing three primetime games in September, the Ravens begin a string of five-consecutive 1 p.m. ET games, starting with a battle at Kansas City this Sunday, Oct. 7, at Arrowhead Stadium.   ON THE AIR National Radio: Compass Media Networks -       Gregg Daniels (play-by-play) -       Dale Hellestrae (analyst) TV: CBS / WJZ (Ch. 13) -       Ian Eagle (play-by-play) -       Dan Fouts (analyst) -       Bob Mansbach (producer) -       Suzanne Smith (director)   GONNA RUN LIKE THE WIND Two of the NFL’s most dynamic backs square off … Continue reading →

Jacoby Jones compares Browns to “pregnant possum”

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The Ravens host the Cleveland Browns tonight, a team that John Harbaugh has yet to lose to as Baltimore’s skipper. But despite the Browns 0-3 start and chatter about the team already looking towards 2013 when head coach Pat Shurmur and President Mike Holmgren are both likely to be gone, it doesn’t mean that the Ravens will take the plant operators of The Factory of Sadness lightly. “You ever seen a pregnant possum?” Jacoby Jones asked this week while a guest on NFL Network. Jones explained the unusual metaphor. “Angry. … Continue reading →

THE GRAPEVINE: Refs are back while Williams turns his

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So we learned this morning that the NFLRA reached an agreement with puppet Roger Goodell on a new eight year deal and that the authentic zebras will take the field tonight at M&T Bank Stadium. Never before and never again will NFL officials ever be as welcomed as they are today. This phenomenon is a bit on par with the dating scene. Think about it…a guy is dating a girl but only during the week because he wants to keep his options open, hang out with his buddies on weekends … Continue reading →

CRAB BAG: Ravens v. Browns

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Ray Rice v Browns
News & Notes to prepare you for this week’s game against the Cleveland Browns M&T Bank Stadium, Thursday September 27, 2012 Kickoff at 8:20 PM POSITIVE MOJO Baltimore has won 12-straight games at home (13 including postseason). The Ravens’ 29-5 home record (.853) under John Harbaugh (since 2008) ranks as the NFL’s best home mark during this span. ON THE AIR GAME’S BROADCAST CREWS National Radio: Dial Global Sports - Ian Eagle (play-by-play) – Boomer Esiason (analyst) - Laura Okmin (sideline) TV: NFL Network / WBAL (Ch. 11) - Brad … Continue reading →

GRAPEVINE: Flacco injury a factor in Philly?

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After looking like a world-beater while directing the Ravens fast break offense on Opening Night against the Bengals, Joe Flacco inconsistencies on the road reared their ugly heads when the team visited The Linc last Sunday. The Ravens failed to make second half adjustments while encountering the double man approach the Eagles used in their secondary. Besides the questionable play calling, there may be a reason why Flacco struggled to find the strike zone – a rib injury. Word is that during the first play of the second half, Joe … Continue reading →

RAVENS CRAB BAG: Week 2 v. Eagles

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK “It would be foolish to say Lewis is the same as he was a decade ago, but it would be equally silly not to be impressed with what he’s doing. The ability to play his position at such a high level all these years later after having long reached his status as the best middle linebacker of all time remains a remarkable feat. … Maybe this defense will continue to be dominant because its still-quick leader continues to beat down running backs. And time.” ~ CBS SPORTS’ … Continue reading →

RAVENS CRAB BAG: Week 1 v. Bengals

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK Torrey Smith on identify coverage… “The corner lies, safeties don’t. You don’t really play the corners in your mind; it’s the safeties that tell you what’s going on.” DID YOU KNOW? Monday’s game against Cincinnati is the first of four in 18 days for the Ravens. Baltimore is at Philadelphia on Sept. 16, hosts the Patriots in a Sunday night special on Sept. 23 and plays the Browns on Sept. 27 at M&T Bank Stadium. THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME ~ The Ravens have won 10-consecutive … Continue reading →

Say sayonara to hopes of Umenyiora

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umenyiora
Bernard Pierce was an interesting choice for the Ravens in the 2012 NFL Draft. Granted the Ravens have always practiced what they’ve preached on draft day and that is to trust in their board and select the best player available. But moving up 7 spots to get Pierce and foregoing a fifth round pick to do so while Anthony Allen and Damien Berry wait in the wings is no less than intriguing. A message to the franchised Ray Rice? At the very least thoughts of veterans with John Harbaugh connectivity … Continue reading →

GRAPEVINE: Torrey Smith to donate a dread for every TD?

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Ravens fans have grown frustrated with the team’s inability to make much of an impact during the free agency signing period. Some have even taken to criticizing one of the league’s best GM’s, Ozzie Newsome. What fans aren’t aware of is that there’s more to the Ravens’ penny-pinching than limited cap space. Word is the club’s cash flow has slowed to a drip. Insiders have suggested that while the team’s stadium deal was once a very good one, by today’s standards it’s a bit obsolete and there is talk of … Continue reading →

Ravens Spiderman is going nowhere!

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The New England Patriots have a glaring hole(s) to fill at cornerback. After Tom Brady recently re-structured his contract it left the Patriots with about $18M in cap space to play with. The Patriots have 2 first round picks – one of which they acquired from the Saints during a draft day deal in 2011 and their own, the 31st overall. Lardarius Webb is a rapidly developing corner, a restricted free agent whose current team has less than $4M in cap space. Signing him to an offer sheet would cost the … Continue reading →

Ravens Rumors & The Inside Skinny

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Like the spring every offseason spawns a new season and along with that newness comes change. NFL rosters generally churn and burn at the rate of 25% from one NFL calendar year to the next. Teams look to get younger and create value on their rosters in order to manage the cap effectively. As Steve Bisciotti once told us, “If I can get an Ed Dickson who performs at 80% of a Todd Heap but costs a fraction of what Heap does, I have to make that move.” You can … Continue reading →

Press Conference Observations & an extra draft pick(s)?

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The Ravens lost Dawan Landry, Chris Chester, Josh Wilson and Le’Ron McClain to free agency but signed Vonte Leach, Bernard Pollard and Ricky Williams. They did lose a few others: Donte Stallworth, Fabian Washington, Jared Gaither & Tony Moll but they all signed minimum deals and probably won’t factor into the compensatory pick equation. So according to our capologist Brian McFarland, the Ravens will more than likely receive only 1 comp pick, probably a 4th or 5th rounder. That said one Ravens’ source has indicated that the team could receive … Continue reading →

Top 10 Ravens Moments of 2011

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Every year when the calendar winds down to its end, reminiscing runs rampant. So why should we be any different, right? Earlier this week I posted a thread on our message board (which by the way if you haven’t seen the new one, check it out – without a doubt the finest Ravens community on the planet and I’m allowed to say it because I had nothing to do with it) polling asking our members their thoughts on the Top 10 Ravens Moments in 2011. And they delivered. Now I … Continue reading →

Drama Queen!

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Ben Roethlisberger is a pretty tough dude. Even his teammates think so. He’s also a very dramatic one. After his heroic return to the game during the second half of the Steelers’ game against the Browns on Thursday Night, Roethlisberger stood at his locker, presumably on a swollen ankle, and addressed the media. He said things like, “[my ankle felt like] it was about to explode.” “I thought my leg was broken.” “I felt like my foot was outside my leg.” Whatever that means… QUESTION: If all those things Ben … Continue reading →