BALTIMORE — Bart Scott busted into the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive backfield Monday, accelerating rapidly toward quarterback Joe Flacco on a blitz up the middle.
And the New York Jets’ $48 million inside linebacker made an impact in his first game against his old team Monday night at M&T Bank Stadium. He roughly deposited Flacco on the ground, knocking off his helmet while hurrying him into an incomplete pass and
The former Ravens defensive standout finished the game with two quarterback hits and no tackles.
"It was good to see a lot of my friends again," Scott said following the Ravens’ 24-23 victory. "I have nothing but happy feelings about here."
And Scott gave an over-the-top salute to Jets coach Rex Ryan, the former Ravens defensive coordinator.
"He was always the head coach," Scott said in reference to Ryan’s tenure in Baltimore. "He was the head coach of that football team last year, whether you guys know it or not. He kept that team together. The defense leads that team over there, and he controls that defense."
Ryan joked that he was worried that Scott’s intensity might bubble over against his old teammates.
"I just didn’t want him to get into a fight," Ryan said. "Sometimes, I just know that he wants to hit somebody so hard and all that kind of jazz. He loves competing with those guys. We respect those guys obviously."
From Ryan’s standpoint, it was an emotional return after spending a decade in Baltimore.
“I got a new home, so it’s good to see a lot of guys, friendly faces,” Ryan said. “People that I recognize are great, but my home is in New York, New Jersey, so that’s my football team in green and white.”
Meanwhile, former Ravens strong safety Jim Leonhard registered four tackles by halftime. That included one tackle for a loss. And former Ravens defensive end Marques Douglas had one tackle.
Leonhard, who became a starter last season for Baltimore when strong safety Dawan Landry suffered a spinal cord concussion, also had a 17-yard punt return. It was called back, though, because of an illegal block.
"It was good to come back and see the old guys," Leonhard said. "We faced a great team. They’re the AFC championship team from last year, so we’re going to learn a lot from this."
INJURY UPDATES: The Ravens deactivated several injured players, including cornerback Samari Rolle (neck), wide receivers Mark Clayton (strained left hamstring) and Biren Ealy (groin), linebackers Terrell Suggs (strained left heel, Achilles’ tendon) and Dannell Ellerbe (sprained medial collateral ligament) and offensive tackle Stefan Rodgers (right leg).
Demetrius Williams started in place of Clayton and caught two passes for 20 yards.
Tight end L.J. Smith suffered a minor hamstring injury, but didn’t return.
Offensive lineman David Hale suffered a shoulder bruise and didn’t return, but it’s not considered to be serious.
NO. 99 STARTS SECOND GAME: Following a minor controversy launched by Ryan when he complained about retired defensive end Michael McCrary’s No. 99 jersey being given to rookie outside linebacker-defensive end Paul Kruger, the second-round draft pick started for the second time in a row in place of Suggs.
Kruger, who recorded two tackles in the first half, initially bristled at Ryan’s criticism before being counseled by older players to let it go.
Kruger also batted down a pass in the third quarter in the red zone to force the Jets to settle for a chip-shot field goal.
QUICK HITS: The Jets deactivated cornerback Darrelle Revis, kicker Jay Feely, cornerback Donald Strickland, running back Jehuu Caulcrick, linebacker Joshua Mauga, offensive lineman Damien Woody and defensive tackle Kris Jenkins (University of Maryland). … Wide receiver Jayson Foster dropped a pass all by himself, a perfect spiral delivered by Troy Smith with one minute remaining in the first quarter. Foster was pummeled by the Jets’ secondary for his trouble.
Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times and the Annapolis Capital.
