Temple
running back Bernard Pierce had a good feeling that the Ravens would select him
based on the feedback he got from coaches and team officials during his visit
to team headquarters before the draft. "I had a hunch," said Pierce,
a third-round draft pick who also visited the San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati
Bengals, New York Giants, Chicago Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles. "I
took their word for it, kept my mouth shut and waited. It all worked out in the
end." Pierce said he’s completely healthy now after dealing with hamstring
problems and a separated shoulder in college.
Newsome
was noncommittal on whether the Ravens will have three quarterbacks on the
roster for the regular season after recently signing former Indianapolis Colts
quarterback Curtis Painter. The Ravens signed Painter to a one-year, $615,000
contract after auditioning him, former Ravens starter Kyle Boller and former
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dennis Dixon. "This time of the year, you’ve
got to have enough arms to be able to go through all through the
minicamps," Newsome said. "Having the opportunity to bring in
Painter, Kyle and Dennis Dixon, they all did a very good job. We just thought
the best fit for us right now was Painter. Whether we end up carrying three
quarterbacks, I don’t know. Do you put a young guy on the practice squad, try
to get him to the practice squad, and keep the third quarterback? Or do you
just go with two because you don’t want to expose a young player through the
waiver process and somebody else claims him. So, that’s part of putting
together the 53."
Newsome
was complimentary of the drafts of the Ravens’ AFC North competitors. The
Cleveland Browns drafted Alabama running back Trent Richardson and Oklahoma
State quarterback Brandon Weeden. The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Alabama
cornerback Dre’ Kirkpatrick and Wisconsin offensive guard Kevin Zeitler. And
the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Stanford offensive guard David DeCastro and
Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams. "I think all three teams really
helped themselves in this year’s draft," Newsome said. "And they just
made competing in the AFC North that much tougher.”
The
Ravens didn’t draft an inside linebacker after bringing in Mychal Kendricks and
Bobby Wagner in for visits before the draft. Kendricks and Wagner were drafted
by the Philadelphia Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks in the second round prior
to the Ravens’ second second-round draft pick where they drafted Iowa State
offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele. Asked why the Ravens didn’t draft an inside
linebacker, Newsome replied: "I think Jameel McClain, Albert McClellan,
Dannell Ellerbe and Brendon Ayanbadejo had a whole lot to do with that.”
