According to Marshall Faulk, he was nearly traded to the Ravens instead of the Rams, but a source of ours tells us that is false. Sam Koch is changing the punting game. John Harbaugh says the Ravens will re-evaluate their training regimens. Zero Ravens make it to the Pro Bowl in the fan vote. We look at some potential draft picks for the Ravens. And Andy Reid isn’t about to take it easy on his buddy, John Harbaugh.
Apparently, Marshall Faulk thinks he was almost traded to the Ravens
Yesterday afternoon, Rich Eisen tweeted this:
So, @marshallfaulk just told me @RichEisenShow, he almost got traded to @Ravens instead of the Rams. Known him 10 years, never heard that.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) December 17, 2015
That would have been an interesting wrinkle for NFL history. The Rams probably would not have been able to be The Greatest Show on Turf without Faulk, and the Ravens would have had a legendary Hall of Famer on their team for both 1999 and 2000, which would have probably kept them –Â because of their record and maybe because it wouldn’t have been even close to an area of need – from drafting Jamal Lewis in 2000.
But it isn’t true. A high-ranking Ravens source tells us that story is false. The Ravens may have been better off without him. With the pick that they would have had to trade to get him (the 10th overall pick), the Ravens selected Chris McAlister, who was an integral part of the legendary 2000 defense.
Passing on Faulk, Ravens stand pat
Perhaps this is what Marshall Faulk was confusing for almost being traded. Jim Irsay apparently contacted Art Modell more than once to try to get their 10th overall pick, but the Ravens weren’t buying it, according to this article by Mike Preston of The Baltimore Sun from 1999.
Sam Koch has changed the punting game and almost no one noticed
Never has a more interesting piece about punting ever been written…probably. Anyway, last year in Week 9 against the Steelers, Sam Koch added a variation to his punt where he would angle his body toward one side of the field and punt it toward the other. He now has 10 different types of punts according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. The ones he details include the hook punt, the liner punt, the knuckler, and my personal favorite, the boomerang.
Ravens Will Evaluate Offseason Training Methods After So Many Injuries
Garrett Downing of Ravens media reports that the Ravens will re-evaluate their training methods this offseason, but they won’t make any changes just to make them. Garrett explains that many of the injuries are structural (i.e. broken bones and torn ligaments) rather than muscular. Structural injuries are harder to prevent with training.
Fans Vote Zero Ravens Into Pro Bowl
This is disappointing news considering Marshal Yanda, Sam Koch, and Brandon Williams are all deserving of the honor. As Ryan Mink of Ravens media says, it is up for the players and coaches to get a Raven into the big game. If none of those three make it, then it would be an absolute travesty. I’m not sure who is most deserving.
Potential Top Five Draft Picks for the Ravens at Every Position
Okay, it’s not every position – it doesn’t include kickers and punters – but it’s close enough. Phil Gentile of Purple Reign even gives a quarterback option, which is obviously a long shot. The obvious choices of Vernon Hargreaves, Jalen Ramsey and Joey Bosa are, of course, included.
Chiefs’ Reid can’t take it easy Sunday on buddy Harbaugh
As Clifton Brown of CSN Mid-Atlantic points out, Andy Reid and John Harbaugh go back a little to both of their days in Philadelphia with the Eagles. Both teams started 1-5, but they have taken drastically different routes since. The Ravens have continued to lose, but the Chiefs have not.
