BALTIMORE – ATLANTA CONNECTIVITY
Since John Harbaugh and Mike Smith became head coaches of their respective teams in 2008, Baltimore and Atlanta are two of the league’s best records. In total wins over these last five seasons, the Ravens are tied with the Patriots with 63 victories for the top spot in the league. In the regular season, the Falcons produced 56 wins to the Ravens’ 54. In the playoffs during this span, Baltimore has an NFL best nine wins, almost twice as many as the next best in Green Bay and Pittsburgh (five each).
- Falcons head coach Mike Smith (1999-2002) served as both a defensive assistant/LBs coach for the Ravens. Smith is also the brother-in-law of former Ravens head coach Brian Billick.
- Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan (2001-04) served as the Ravens’ WRs coach in 2001, before spending three years (2002-04) as the team’s defensive coordinator.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Tonight marks the Ravens home debut this preseason and the paying patrons will leave around 11PM wondering why they bothered to pay for that experience.
That aside M&T has a developing reputation for being a place that opponents prefer to avoid while newcomers welcome the experience of “The Bank” with open arms.
“As soon as you walk into the building, you sense the winning tradition, a winning legacy, and that’s what they expect of you”, said safety Michael Huff.
“You just breed success and winning here. … It’s definitely the loudest stadium I’ve played in. Every time the defense was out there, you couldn’t hear anything. I’m glad I’ll be on their side now. We work on our communication every day at practice to get ready for home games.”
RAVENS RANK 11?
Speaking of the home crowd TicketCity.com recently evaluated NFL cities based upon weighted criteria that amongst other things: home attendance, home capacity and average home ticket price along with social media engagement. Here’s out the 32 teams graded out:
NGATA CHANCE HE LEAVES IN 2014
It’s highly unlikely that Haloti Ngata will be released in 2014. His cap number next season is $16M, a hefty number no doubt. But to let him go in 2014 would result in $15M in dead cap money resulting in a net gain of just $1M. But then when his roster spot is handed over to even an average defensive tackle, the temporary savings evaporates and the resulting roster is weaker. Ngata is safe in 2014.
Terrell Suggs on the other hand is approaching the 2013 season like a free agent. He’s playing for his contract. Next season the Ravens could opt to release Suggs and save $7.8M of his $12.4M cap figure. What he does this year will determine a lot. He has stepped up as a team leader during camp and his consult with CB Moe Lee after the UDFA’s interception followed by an ill-advised Ed Reed-like lateral showed that he is embracing that leadership role.
WHAT A HOSER!
Former Ravens quarterback Troy Smith is heading to Canada to play for the Montreal Alouettes, which begs the question, “What is an Alouette?” Glad you asked…
An alouette is the French word for “lark” paving the way to a stupid little French ditty by the same name. But I digress…
Smith’s NFL career was hardly what the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner bargained for and perhaps he has only himself to blame. Surely his talents suggest that he could be a serviceable backup in the NFL but the word is that Smith holds himself in higher regard than “backup” and that probably rubs the right people the wrong way.
While in Baltimore, Smith was showering one day after practice as his iPod blasted through the locker room. Someone turned it off. When Smith exited the shower he demanded to know in a profane way who turned off his music.
“I did”, said a voice behind Smith.
When Smith turned around standing in front of him was none other than Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
DID YOU KNOW THAT IN 2012…
The Ravens…
- Won back-to-back division titles for first time in franchise history
- Set a single-season franchise record for fewest turnovers (16)
- Set a single-season franchise record for most plays from scrimmage gaining 20-or-more yards (72)
Joe Flacco
- Became the first starting QB in NFL history to lead his team to the playoffs in each of his first five seasons (2008-12)
- Tied a franchise record for 300-yard passing games in a season (5, Vinny Testaverde)
- Set a franchise record for career 300-yard passing games (13)
Jacoby Jones
- Tied an NFL record with a 108-yard KOR-TD
- Became first Raven to post multiple KOR-TDs in a season and career
- Became first player in NFL history to record multiple KOR-TDs of at least 105 yards (108 and 105)
