Blog View

Ravens sign four undrafted free agents

meshakwilliams
Dennis Pitta signing his restricted free agent tender was the big news of the day, but it wasn’t the only news. The Ravens also announced that they have signed four undrafted free agent rookies. Cornerback Moe Lee was brought in for a tryout and signed. He will try to make the team as a backup secondary player in a defensive backfield that has a lot of new pieces. Lee isn’t an overall speedster, but he had decent numbers during his college career at Utah. He played at California Community College … Continue reading

These guys get it

torreyrayday
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

Should the NFL do more to help keep players out of trouble?

rookies2
Does the NFL need to step up to the plate even more to help rookies as well as vested players regarding how they conduct themselves off the field? Each year the NFL holds it’s mandated NFL Rookie Symposium, but is that enough? Let’s be honest – everyone can remember when they were younger (of if you are younger now) and what it was like to have some money in your pocket. Now, chances are the money we had pales in camparison to what NFL rookies make, but you get the … Continue reading

John Simon Should Have no Problem ‘Playing Like a Raven’

John Simon
With the likes of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed departing from the Baltimore Ravens, the main question everyone has been asking is, “Who will step up as the leader in the Ravens locker room?” To begin the search look no further than Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs. They know what it takes to lead men. They have watched it and they should have no problem using their seniority and their Super Bowl rings to prove how much work will be and should be done around the castle. But luckily for … Continue reading

Hi Mom!

Hi Mom
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

Might a Veteran Like Breaston Fill the Void Left by “Q”?

Breaston
It’s been a wild offseason in Charm City and the moves that the team has made have all been notable. Every hole has been filled except for the one that many fans wanted complete the most—another wide receiver. I have no problem with Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones being the top two on the depth chart, but it gets shaky at best after that. I previously wrote an article addressing the talent that is already on the roster and may be able to fill the void. Is it possible that … Continue reading

Colts Give Ravens a Family Discount

pagano harbaugh
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

Suddenly a two-horse race at center

ginovsaq
When the Baltimore Ravens traded for Indianapolis Colts center A.Q. Shipley on Thursday, the news came as a bit of a surprise. Just two weeks ago, the Ravens drafted Colorado State-Pueblo offensive lineman Ryan Jensen, who figured to be penciled in as the team’s backup center in 2013, assuming second-year center Gino Gradkowski is ready to assume a starting role. However, the exact opposite may be the case, as the Ravens gave up a conditional 2014 draft pick for Shipley, meaning this wasn’t just a casual move for another camp … Continue reading

Competition fuels Ravens’ progress

Gino Gradkowski
Coaches often believe that competition can make a player perform better. In football, more and more coaches want players to beat out others when it comes to their job — that way it gets the best out of people. The Ravens certainly appear to be big believers in that theory. Take a look at what they’re doing with their centers for the upcoming season. They could have easily handed the job over the Gino Gradkowski after he spent a year under the watch of veteran Matt Birk, who retired after the … Continue reading

The Baltimore Ravens Mount Rushmore

Ravens Mount Rushmore
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

Rolando McClain Raiders 55
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

Ravens trade for Colts center A.Q. Shipley

shipley
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

Ravens Acquire Center A.Q. Shipley from Colts

Shipley
The Baltimore Ravens have acquired C A.Q. Shipley, pending passing a physical, from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a conditional 2014 draft pick, general manager and executive vice president Ozzie Newsome announced Thursday morning. Shipley, a 6-1, 309-pounder, enters his second NFL season having seen action in 14 games (five starts) with the Colts in 2012. He also played on special teams in the Colts’ Wild Card contest at Baltimore last season. Originally selected by the Steelers in the seventh round (226th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft, Shipley … Continue reading

2nd Annual Ray Rice Day

Ray Rice Day
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

Large Roles Ahead for Ravens Rookies

baltimore-ravens-2013-draft-600x400
Usually when a team wins the Super Bowl, it doesn’t have to address a plethora of needs during the ensuing offseason. Unfortunately nothing could be farther from the truth far for the Baltimore Ravens. After coping with the retirements of starters Ray Lewis and Matt Birk, as well as the parting of ways with starters such as Ed Reed, Paul Kruger and Bernard Pollard, the Ravens entered free agent market with several holes that needed to be addressed. The market provided value yet the Ravens managed to sign just three … Continue reading

Ravens part ways with four UDFAs

holloway
Four undrafted free agents’ dreams of making the Ravens ended on Tuesday, as the organization waived a few of the guys they brought in for rookie minicamps. Among the cuts was tight end Murphy Holloway, who was trying to make a transition from the basketball court to the gridiron after advancing to the Sweet Sixteen in the March Madness tournament while playing at Ole Miss. Holloway will apparently try to resume his career playing basketball, as he tweeted the following when the decision: “ @Murphys_Law31: Back to the hardwood couldn’t … Continue reading

A Larger Role for Pierce in 2013?

Pierce TD v Browns 600
One of the pleasant surprises of the 2012 Baltimore Ravens season was the play of rookie running back Bernard Pierce. The third-round pick won the backup job almost by default during training camp, one that was marked by nagging injuries for the rookie from Temple. However when he began to hit his practice stride his presence was felt as a between-the-tackles runner to complement starter Ray Rice. He was active for all 16 regular season games as well as the four postseason matchups. It wasn’t until the second half of … Continue reading

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

Leach Bailey
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

McClain Arrested 600
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

Are Reed and Doss Tough Enough?

17_WilliamsReedDoss_news
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