Going to M&T Bank Stadium for Ravens’ home games is a Baltimore favorite for over 70,000 people in Charm City. Many like to enjoy the game at their own home with the dozens of camera angles and couch, but the stadium in Baltimore makes it easy to spend the money on some pricey tickets. Much has been made about enhancing fan experience at NFL stadiums to reel in more fans, but the great folks in Baltimore haven’t, and won’t be having any issue selling out games any time soon as … Continue reading →

Two teams square off for nearly 60 minutes fighting each other, the elements and through the pain of injuries in order to secure the win. The game is close and winds down to the final seconds. One play, one kick will define the victors and the losers. Millions of eyes descend upon the player with the cleanest uniform on the field – the kicker. His teammates say next to nothing to him leaving him alone in thought and hopefully in focus. Opponents try to disrupt his concentration and his rhythm. … Continue reading →

The retirement of recently signed Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Rolando McClain on Wednesday came as a complete surprise, mainly because McClain is only 23 years old. However, it shouldn’t be a surprise that he won’t be playing for the Ravens this season. In what was considered a “low risk” signing, the organization gave McClain a second chance in the NFL (even though he didn’t really deserve one). While it was a low risk move in terms of money (no guaranteed pay), it wasn’t low risk in terms of preparing the … Continue reading →

Like many of you after hearing about the retirement of Rolando McClain, my eyes rolled back in my head like it was a slot machine. And for the Ravens, they may have hit the jackpot when the lazy underachiever decided to call it a career at the highly advanced age of 23. Immediately the skeptical among you wondered… Did he get arrested again? Will he have to do time on some priors? Did he flunk a drug test? Time will tell but THANKFULLY the polar opposite of Ray Lewis IS … Continue reading →

It is often said that three years is a sufficient waiting period before grading an NFL team’s draft class. While that amount of time isn’t gospel, it is a fairly useful metric to determine the success of a draft. Three years ago, the Baltimore Ravens hauled in a 2010 group of prospects that consisted of seven players. They traded out of the first round, but ended up with two second-round picks. Let’s take a look at each pick with a grade for each: Sergio Kindle, Linebacker (Round 2, Pick 43) … Continue reading →

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 →

Full Disclosure – I’ve been a huge sports fan all my life. I would be watching a lot of sports and sporting events even if I didn’t work in the sports world.  I started collecting sports memorabilia when I was in my teens and I am proud of my collection.  I understand the mind of the sports fan. At least…I thought I did. Then Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones became a contestant on Dancing With the Stars. I have not watched one second of the show and frankly don’t plan … Continue reading →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →