“It’s so much better. It’s a 180-degree turn. I feel comfortable. I’m not rushing like I was last year, trying to fit in with this offense. I’ve been part of it for a year now. Last year I was thinking a lot: like, ‘Am I doing the right things? Today, I know it. It’s a big, big difference for me.†STEVE McNAIR ON HIS 2nd SEASON WITH THE RAVENS
“HAVE I EVER IN MY YEARS BEEN WORRIED ABOUT A CONTRACT? NO, I’M NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT. I’M HAPPY;I’M A RAVEN. I DON’T THINK I [WOULD] HAVE AS MUCH SUCCESS ANYWHERE ELSE [AS] I’VE HAD HERE. SO, I’M A RAVEN AT HEART AND WHENEVER THAT STUFF HAPPENS, IT HAPPENS. I’M NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT; YOU ALL ASKED ME IF I WAS GOING TO TRY TO HOLD OUT FOR ANOTHER ONE. I TOLD YOU NO, AND I WAS HERE FIVE DAYS EARLIER INSTEAD OF LIKE I USUALLY AM. I’M TRYING TO GROW UP PROFESSIONALLY. BUT I’M NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT. I HAVE MY TOTAL FAITH IN OZZIE [NEWSOME] AND WHAT THEY DO, AND THEY’RE THE BEST AT IT. SO I’M NOT EVEN WORRIED ABOUT IT.†– LB TERRELL SUGGS ON THE LAST YEAR OF HIS CONTRACT
GRUBBS ON THE BIGGEST SURPRISE OF CAMP SO FAR: “The biggest surprise would probably be just the athletes out here. Haloti [Ngata] is a beast out there. You look at him, and you think he’s slow. But, he’s swift on his feet. You have [defensive] guys like Trevor Pryce and Kelly Gregg –just the level of play that these guys play at!â€
OLB JARRET JOHNSON ON HIMSELF: “A couple of years ago, I knew where to be, but didn’t know exactly what I was doing. Today, I know where to go and exactly why I’m there. I’m not the same player A.D. [Adalius Thomas] is. He can do more things in pass coverage. I can do the pass-cover thing, but I’m more geared toward the run. We’re two completely different players, but have some similarities.â€
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/QUARTERBACKS RICK NEUHEISEL ON RB WILLIS MCGAHEE: “We’re pleased. You like the burst —that’s what he brings. It’s evident, at least in this kind ofsession where you don’t have pads on. He has the burst and ability to get the ball in space and make somethinghappen other than what you block for. There are opportunities for him to make somebody miss, and turn a 5-yard run into a 25-yard run. Obviously, the summer will have to be a concentrated time much like it was a year ago with McNair. You got to pick things up and be ready to go. You can’t be learning on the run and saying we’re ready to go by the time we get to [Cincinnati].â€
During their 3-week stay at McDaniel College for training camp, the Ravens not only spend plenty of time practicing and in meeting rooms, but they also try to keep healthy with balanced meals to refuel the energy they dispense each day. Here is a list of what the players consume on a weekly basis during training camp:
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2,800 strawberries
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700 lbs. of steamed vegetables
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630 lbs. of potatoes
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420 pancakes
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420 lbs. of fish
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360 lbs. of steak
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350 eggs
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280 rotisserie chickens
The cafeteria isn’t the only place that needs to be stocked regularly. Baltimore’s training room also goes through supplies on a daily basis to ensure that players stay healthy and safe. Here are a few items utilized during each practice:
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2,225 lbs. of ice
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75 rolls of training tape (1,350 feet of tape)
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100 bottles of Gatorade
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80 gallons of water
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100 towels
