OWINGS MILLS – In a surprising development given how quarterback Joe Flacco has been hobbling at practice due to a hip contusion, the Baltimore Ravens didn’t list him on their official injury report that they filed Wednesday.
Removing him from the injury report after having him on their last week can be interpreted as a strong indication that they are absolutely certain he’ll play and be virtually 100 percent for Saturday night’s AFC divisional playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts.
It’s also entirely possible that they wished to diffuse concern and attention about Flacco.
NFL guidelines state that players with “significant or noteworthy injuries” should be listed on the injury report even if the player takes every repetition in practice and his team is definitely sure that he’ll play in the next game.
Flacco emphasized that his hip isn’t affecting him anymore, expressing confidence that he’ll be able to deliver the football normally against the Colts.
“I feel great this week,” he said. “I’m moving around really good. There’s nothing really to it.”
Flacco must not spend any time listening to the radio or reading newspapers because he said he was unaware of the amount of reports devoted to his status.
“I really didn’t even know it was out there like that,” Flacco said. “I really don’t pay any attention. I don’t really laugh about it because I just don’t really know. I feel pretty good. That’s all I care about, and I’m ready to go.”
Flacco completed just 4 of 10 passes for 34 yards during the Ravens’ 33-14 win over the New England Patriots during the opening round of the playoffs, tying an NFL playoff record for fewest passing yards in a victory.
Despite his difficulty moving around during warmups, Flacco started and had a few key plays. That included a scramble for a first down and a completion to Mark Clayton.
“Not at all,” Flacco replied when asked if he was in pain while throwing. “Throwing is perfectly fine.”
After registering his season-low for attempts against New England, Flacco said he’s not concerned about whether he’ll get to throw the ball more this week in Indianapolis.
“I don’t care,” he said. “If we win, we win. That’s the bottom line. Obviously, quarterbacks like to throw the ball. But it doesn’t matter.
“I mean, c’mon, we were up 24 points after the first quarter. You really think we were going to throw the ball 30 times? I don’t think so.”
INJURY UPDATES: Offensive tackle Jared Gaither didn’t practice Wednesday due to an ankle injury.
He was the only Baltimore player not to take part in the workout. Gaither has had a foot problem this season, too.
Reserve cornerback Cary Williams (hamstring) was limited.
Tight end Todd Heap (back), wide receiver Derrick Mason (hand), safety Ed Reed (groin, foot) and inside linebacker Tavares Gooden (knee) all participated fully.
After missing four games prior to returning for the regular-season finale against the Oakland Raiders and intercepting a Tom Brady pass in New England, Reed said he’s still dealing with soreness and didn’t enter the postseason with fresh legs.
“I wouldn’t say that because my legs still hurt,” he said. “It was my leg that was bothering me, so I don’t know about the fresh leg thing. I still have pain that I’m dealing with.
“It probably helped a bit on the right leg, but I had pain in my right because I was favoring it because of the pain in my left. So, I really haven’t felt that.”
The Colts, as is their custom, listed 22 players on their injury report.
All participated fully, though.
That includes middle linebacker Gary Brackett (quadriceps), defensive ends Dwight Freeney (foot), Robert Mathis (shoulder) and Raheem Brock (hip), safety Melvin Bullitt (shoulder), wide receiver Pierre Garcon (hand), defensive tackle Dan Muir (shoulder), linebacker Clint Session (knee), wide receiver Reggie Wayne (knee) and kicker Adam Vinatieri (right hip).
SNAKEGATE: Wayne brought up the story of how Reed killed his pet snake.
During Wayne’s rookie season after playing at the University of Miami, he left a Burmese python named “Law” in the care of Reed, his former roommate, during Reed’s senior year.
Wayne told Indianapolis reporters that he got a succinct text message from Reed that read, “Law is dead.”
“He killed my snake,” Wayne said. “He neglected my snake. He was supposed to reimburse me with a new one. He hasn’t done that yet.”
Wayne and Reed are extremely close friends in spite of the death of the snake with Reed regularly referring to the wide receiver as his brother.
They talk on the phone several times per week.
Reed, though, had no interest in discussing the snake.
“Old news,” he said. “Next question.”
Meanwhile, cornerback Domonique Foxworth related his own snake tale.
The former University of Maryland player said that linebacker E.J. Henderson’s boa constrictor got lost and made a surprise appearance in his bed.
“I did wake up with a snake in my bed one time,” Foxworth said. “We shared a suite, and it was lost for like two weeks. Apparently, snakes can go a long time without eating and they like crevices.
“My bed was against the wall. So, I was fixing my bed, and I was like, ‘Hey, there’s a snake.’ There you go: snake stories.”
INTERVIEWED: The Ravens interviewed Colts coach Jim Caldwell during their search to replace Brian Billick that culminated with John Harbaugh being hired.
Caldwell met with Ravens team owner Steve Bisciotti and general manager Ozzie Newsome prior to Harbaugh’s interview.
Caldwell wound up succeeding Tony Dungy prior to Harbaugh being named as coach.
“Obviously, it’s a very impressive organization from top to bottom,” Caldwell said. “They do a tremendous job when you look at how their organization is run, how Steve operates, how Ozzie conducts business. Then, it’s a trickle-down effect.”
BLOCKING IT OUT: Last year, offensive guard Marshal Yanda tore all three major knee ligaments on the Colts’ turf.
It required two surgeries to repair the damage and several months of rehabilitation.
He didn’t regain his starting job at right guard until November.
Will the knee injury be on his mind when he returns to the scene of his devastating injury?
“Yeah, it’s where I got hurt last year, but, heck no, I’m not going to have that on my mind,” Yanda said. “I’m just going to go out there 100 miles per hour like I usually do and not even think about it. I don’t even worry about it. Stuff happens, so that’s how it goes.”
