OWINGS MILLS — The Baltimore Ravens remain optimistic that All-Pro offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden will return for a 12th season.
Ogden has been pondering retirement and hasn’t publicly indicated what his plans are. However, he has told several teammates that he plans to return.
Former Ravens offensive guard Edwin Mulitalo, a longtime friend of the nine-time Pro Bowl selection, has predicted that Ogden will play one more season.
Since the season ended, the Ravens exercised a mechanism in Ogden’s contract that guarantees his $6 million base salary.
Ravens coach Brian Billick met with Ogden in Las Vegas prior to the NFL owners meetings, and he reiterated Tuesday that he’s hopeful that Ogden will return provided he continues to progress from a late-season toe injury.
“I think he feels pretty good about himself, sounds like the toe is coming along very well,†Billick said. “He has started very aggressively to condition, which I think is a good sign. Outside of that, it would be conjecture at this point.â€
QUICK HITS: One day after revealing that the Ravens plan to submit a contract extension proposal to Pro Bowl outside linebacker Terrell Suggs’ agent prior to the draft, general manager Ozzie Newsome acknowledged that it will be a difficult proposition. Because of the rise in the NFL salary cap, signing Suggs could be extremely expensive. “We’re going to try to be aggressive in getting Suggs signed,†Newsome said. “But we also realize that the climate in the league has changed a little bit and that could prohibit us from getting it done.†Suggs’ agent, Gary Wichard, didn’t return telephone calls. … The Ravens worked out five local draft prospects at their training complex, including outside linebacker/defensive end Victor Abiamiri (Notre Dame, Gilman), fullback Stan White Jr. (Ohio State), offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod (Towson University), defensive lineman Robert Armstrong (Morgan State) and kicker/punter Ben Scott (Johns Hopkins). … The Ravens have scheduled their first training camp practice for July 30 at McDaniel College. … The Ravens are scheduled to scrimmage the Washington Redskins at M&T Bank Stadium on Aug. 4. … The Ravens will hold a rookie minicamp May 4-5 and team minicamps May 16-May 18, May 21-23, May 30-June 1 and June 12-14. All of those dates are subject to change.
Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times in Westminster, Maryland.
