OWINGS MILLS — Should the free agent signing period ever launch after a nasty labor dispute is eventually resolved, the Baltimore Ravens have a specific wish list.
General manager Ozzie Newsome indicated that the Ravens are looking for an experienced backup quarterback, a fullback and a pass rusher.
They might not need a fullback if Pro Bowl fullback Le’Ron McClain is back as a restricted free agent, provided that the 2010 free agent rules are in effect again.
"We had a meeting, and those are the areas we talked about as we move forward that we will try to get better at," Newsome said during a conference call with season ticket holders. "It’s going to be a unique situation because we don’t know whether the four-year guys are going to be free or the six-year guys are going to be free. We’ve been working on formulas where we can deal with both."
At fullback, the Ravens could also go with veteran Jason McKie. The former Chicago Bears starter was signed to a one-year contract after last season.
Houston Texans Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach is the best of the free agent fullbacks.
Last year, the Ravens had three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Marc Bulger back up Joe Flacco.
Bulger isn’t expected to be back as he’ll be pursued by several teams as a free agent commodity, including the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals reportedly already have an understanding with Bulger.
"We need a backup," said Newsome, who drafted Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor in the sixth round.
Among the free agent quarterbacks: Todd Bouman, Kerry Collins, Todd Collins, Charlie Frye, Bruce Gradkowski, Rex Grossman, J.P. Losman, J.T. O’Sullivan, Patrick Ramsey, Jim Sorgi, Brian St. Pierre and Billy Volek.
Among the free agent defensive ends: Jason Babin, Dave Ball, Raheem Brock, Jacques Cesaire, Shaun Ellis, Jonathan Fanene, Cullen Jenkins, Travis Johnson, Bobby McCray, Robaire Smith and Marcus Spears.
Among the free agent outside linebackers: Charlie Anderson, Keith Bulluck, Thomas Davis, Travis LaBoy and Matt Roth
"We could use another rusher," Newsome said. "Someone to put pressure on the passer."
IT’S FLACCO’S OFFENSE: If the Baltimore Ravens’ offense is going to take the next step in its development, then it’s up to quarterback Joe Flacco to lead them.
And general manager Ozzie Newsome reinforced previous statements from coach John Harbaugh that Flacco will be granted greater responsibility this year in terms of audibles and direction of the offense.
"I think he’s more than ready to do it," Newsome said during a conference call with season ticket holders. "As we move forward this year, this will become Joe’s offense. It won’t be Cam’s offense, it will be Joe’s offense.
"Cam may call the plays, but I think Joe’s going to have more of an opportunity to change some things. This has to be Joe’s offense."
Last season, Flacco registered career-high numbers with 3,622 yards and 25 touchdown passes.
After a strong game in an AFC wild-card playoff win against the Kansas City Chiefs, he faltered in the Ravens’ divisional playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"We’ve seen him do it," Newsome said. "What he has to do after three years is take ownership of the offense. That’s where Joe Flacco has to get to. I think he’s more than ready to do it. "What he has to do now, after three years, is take the ownership of the offense.
"I’ve been in the huddle with some great quarterbacks. And all of the great ones, they take ownership of the offense. It’s their offense. Right now, that’s where Joe Flacco has to get to in order for him to take it to the next step."
Last season, he engineered a game-winning drive against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field capped with his touchdown pass to wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. It was Flacco’s play-call. And Flacco nearly led the Ravens to a comeback against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome with Matt Ryan ultimately outdueling him.
"If you want to know the reasons why, you just think about the Pittsburgh game at Pittsburgh, when we came back with the great throw he had to T.J." Newsome said. "You think about down in Atlanta on a Thursday night, when we couldn’t get anything going. But in the second half he’s just hot and brings us back. We’ve seen him do it."
A LONG-TIME MEMBER OF THE RAVENS FAMILY CALLS IT A DAY: Baltimore Ravens head trainer Bill Tessendorf has informed the team that he’s retiring. The Carroll County resident has been with the organization for 38 seasons.
He’ll be replaced by Mark Smith, who’s being promoted from assistant trainer after spending the past two decades with the franchise.
Tessendorf is an award-winning trainer who’s regarded as one of the top trainers in the league.
He won the National Athletic Trainers Association’s Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award in 1998.
Two years ago, he won the NFL Physician Society’s Fain Cain Memorial Award.
Tessendorf’s contribution to the AFC North franchise included supervising the rehabilitation of numerous players from major injuries as well as taking a major hand in the construction details of the Ravens’ ultra-modern training complex.
