Garrett Downing: This was a better showing for the Ravens, especially the offense. Joe Flacco looked in command and moved the offense down the field. They need to clean up the mistakes and score touchdowns on some of those drives where they get in the red zone, but overall the group showed improvement in the no-huddle offense. Defensively, the secondary struggled with stopping Calvin Johnson once safeties Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard came off the field. Johnson is arguably the best receiver in the NFL, but the cornerbacks have had a tough time stopping the pass in consecutive weeks. And finally, the kicking battle between Justin Tucker and Billy Cundiff continues to stay interesting as they were both perfect on Friday night. That is a competition that could come all the way down to the wire.

Sarah Ellison: That’s what a successful up-tempo, no-huddle offense is supposed to look like. What a difference from last week. The starters didn’t come up with a touchdown because of a few mistakes in the red zone, but they moved the ball between the 20s and Joe Flacco looked in command at the line of scrimmage. The fast pace was taxing on the Detroit defense and factored into two Lions offsides penalties in the first quarter. Just imagine it with Torrey Smith, Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson in the lineup. Unlike the offense, the secondary’s performance was not an improvement from the Atlanta game. The unit struggled with Julio Jones last week and wanted redemption against Calvin Johnson, but didn’t get it. “Megatron” finished with 111 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. Fans finally got to see running back Bernard Pierce in action for the first time and he looked impressive, showing explosiveness with some (correctable) rookie mistakes. Rookies Deonte Thompson and Asa Jackson had special moments to savor even though their touchdowns were brought back. Others who stood out: Matt Birk, Paul Kruger, LaQuan Williams, Omar Brown (again). Room for improvement: Jimmy Smith, Cary Williams, Courtney Upshaw, Nigel Carr and Tyrod Taylor (throwing, not rushing).

Ryan Mink: The bad news is the first-teamers on offense, defense or special teams were badly beaten. The good news is we’re still in the preseason. The Ravens won the game, but will likely leave the Georgia Dome feeling bummed. The most surprising thing was watching a secondary that has been justifiably touted as one of the best in the NFL get carved up. Atlanta has a good passing game with Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Roddy White – but still. The offense interestingly ran the no-huddle, but it didn’t go well for a while. The best offensive performance probably came from rookie free agent Bobby Rainey and the third-string offense. That’s good for Rainey, but the Ravens probably would have rather seen their first-teamers shine.

Garrett Downing: The preseason certainly didn’t start the way the Ravens had hoped. The first-team offense struggled to do much of anything against Atlanta’s starting defense, as it took Joe Flacco and company four series to get a first down. Flacco had defenders in his face throughout the first quarter because the offensive line struggled to fend off the Falcons’ pass rush. Shoring up that offensive line will be a key focus in the coming weeks. Defensively, the play of the secondary was concerning. Matt Ryan was able to move the ball through the air and Julio Jones finished with 106 receiving yards and a touchdown. The Ravens will leave this game with plenty to improve on both sides of the ball, as Head Coach John Harbaugh said at halftime, “I’m not happy with any of it.”

Sarah Ellison: The Ravens didn’t do anything to ease one of the biggest concerns heading into the season – the offensive line. Quarterback Joe Flacco was frequently on the run, getting sacked twice, and there weren’t many running lanes for Ray Rice. The first-team units struggled in all three phases of the game, with Atlanta outgaining Baltimore 191 yards to 9 in the first quarter. The good news is there’s still plenty of time to get the o-line settled as veterans Matt Birk and Bryant McKinnie didn’t get the start. The starting offense ended on a good note, finishing its night on a 77-yard touchdown drive. On defense, Falcons receiver Julio Jones abused what is considered one of the team’s strongest units – the secondary. Cary Williams, who had hip surgery in the offseason, struggled early and will need to do more if he wants to prevent Jimmy Smith from taking over his starting job.

Thursday, July 12

Steelers In Ireland?
Steelers Owner Dan Rooney, who is also the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, wants his team to play one game in his foreign country. Rooney has discussed the possibility with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. [Pittsburgh Tribune]

Browns Should Be Motivated By Snub
Despite drafting a big-time quarterback and running back in the first round of this year’s draft, ProFootballTalk still ranked the Cleveland Browns at 32nd in it’s preseason power rankings. That shows the team has a long way to go to restore faith. [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

Bengals Will Get Hot Start?
Clark Judge ranked the Bengals as one of three teams that should get a fast start this year. Cincinnati starts in Baltimore, but then faces Cleveland twice, Washington, Jacksonville and Miami in its next five games. [CBSSports.com]

NFL’s Second Draft Kicks Off Today
The supplemental draft is this afternoon, and there are eight players eligable. Baylor wide receiver Josh Gordon leads the pack. Teams will submit bids this afternoon before finding out who had the highest offer for a particular prospect. [NFL.com]

Wednesday, July 11

Dwyer Intent On Losing Weight, Increasing Role
Steelers running back Jonathan Dwyer is set to be the backup at the start of the season, and he’s focused on slimming down heading into training camp. He was 30 pounds overweight at the start of training camp last year, and he vowed not to let that happen again. [Pittsburgh Tribune]

Gordon Impresses During Pro Day
Former Baylor wide receiver Josh Gordon had an impressive workout Tuesday in front of NFL scouts, and he is expected to draw plenty of interest in Thursday’s supplemental draft. The Browns are one of the teams showing interest in Gordon, who had 21 teams watch him work out on Tuesday. [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

Bengals Single-Game Tickets To Go On Sale
The Bengals will begin selling single-game tickets on Saturday at 10 a.m. Cincinnati struggled to sell out several of their home games last year and plenty of tickets are expected to be available when they go on sale. The Ravens make the trip to Cincinnati in the season-finale on Dec. 30. [Cincinnati Enquirer]

Packers Post $42.7 Million In Profits
The Green Bay Packers announced yesterday that the team brought in 42.7 million in net income in 2011-12. The record profits were spurned by the team’s Super Bowl victory and starting last season 13-0. As the NFL’s only publicly-owned franchise, the Packers are the only team required to reveal financial data. [SI.com]

Tuesday, July 10

WR Brown Calls OC Haley Friendly Guy
When the Steelers first hired Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley, reports suggested that the coach was difficult to work with. Wide receiver Antonio Brown hasn’t seen that side of Haley this offseason, and said that his new coach seems like a “real friendly guy.” [NFL.com]

Browns Considering Former Baylor WR Gordon
The Browns are considering former Baylor wide receiver Josh Gordon in Thursday’s supplemental draft. Cleveland didn’t take a receiver until the fourth round of this year’s draft and they’re looking to upgrade at the position, which could make the 6-foot-4 Gordon an attractive prospect. [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

Bengals To Charge $10 For Pep Rally
The Cincinnati Bengals are taking heat for asking season ticket holders buy a $10 ticket to attend a pep rally, concert and fireworks to open the team’s training camp. Critics have argued that hosting a pep rally for season-ticket holders should be a free event, rather than charging them admission. [Cincinnati Enquirer]

Harbaugh Calls Moss Team’s Top WR
The San Francisco 49ers made a splash this offseason by signing free-agent wide receiver Randy Moss, after he spent a year away from the game. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has been impressed by the veteran wideout and recently said that Moss is the team’s best receiver right now. [SI.com]

Monday, July 9

No Progress With WR Wallace
The Steelers have reportedly made no progress in contract negotiations with wide receiver Mike Wallace. The fourth-year wideout was given a first-round tender this offseason, but he has yet to sign the offer sheet and is hoping for a long-term contract. [ESPN.com]

Tripp Expects Charges To Be Dropped
Cleveland Browns backup defensive tackle Kiante Tripp was recently arrested on burglary and firearm possession charges, but his agent believes the charges will be dropped. The Browns have not commented about the arrest and his standing with the team in unclear at this time. [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

Back-to-Back Playoffs Appearances Next Step
The Bengals surprised some people last season by making the playoffs, and now the next step for the franchise is to make back-to-back playoff trips for the first time in 30 years. [Cincinnati Enquirer]

RB Peterson Arrested In Houston
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was arrested over the weekend in Houston after reportedly getting into a scuffle with some police officers at a club. The star running back was charged with resisting arrest, although the details about the incident are still limited. [Pro Fotball Talk]

The 2009 NFL Draft netted the Ravens a starting offensive tackle and the best cornerback in the draft.

The Ravens took Michael Oher in the first round and Lardarius Webb in the third, but even those selections weren’t enough to earn the Ravens a favorable grade from ESPN’s Jamison Hensely.

The AFC North blogger gave Baltimore a C+ for the 2009 draft, saying that they fell short with every pick outside of Webb.

“The Ravens got the AFC North’s second-best player out of the 2009 draft in Webb (who still ranks behind the Steelers’ Mike Wallace in this draft), but they fell short everywhere else,” Hensley wrote.

Here’s a look at the Ravens 2009 draft class:

First round: Michael Oher, OT

Second round: Paul Kruger, OLB

Third Round: Lardarius Webb, CB

Fifth round: Jason Phillips, LB and Davon Drew, TE

Sixth round: Cedric Peerman, RB

Taking Kruger in the second round has been the most disappointing pick in Hensley’s mind.

“The big miss for the Ravens was Kruger, who was supposed to be a high-motor pass rusher,” Hensley wrote. “The team even gave him Michael McCrary’s No. 99 jersey. All Kruger has produced in three seasons is 6.5 sacks and one start.”

Kruger showed signs of breaking out last season when he collected a career-high 5.5 sacks, and the Ravens will lean heavily on him this year.

The other missed pick, according to Hensley, was Oher at No. 23.

“He can be viewed as a disappointment,” Hensley wrote. “The Ravens traded a fifth-round pick to move three spots up to get Oher at No. 23, and teams do that with the expectation of getting a left tackle.”

While Oher has switched between right and left tackle during his first three years in the league, he has been a consistent lineman and started every game since coming into the league. The Ravens value his versatility to play on either side, and Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron has said that he sees Oher maturing into a great player this season. 

If Kruger shows he’s able to move into a starting role and Oher continues to develop like the coaches expect, then that C+ ranking from Hensley may turn out to be too low.

Pass Rush A Lingering Concern?

From the time last season ended, the Ravens wanted to add another pass rusher. 

They addressed that need in the draft by taking Courtney Upshaw with the No. 35 pick, but they also lost a critical piece with the injury to reigning Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs.

So where do they stand now in the pass-rush department?

ESPN’s draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. believes that question remains unanswered.

“There has been something of a misconception regarding the Baltimore pass rush,” Kiper wrote. “People talk glowingly about the Ravens and their ability to get to the quarterback, as if the big names and the system make it an inevitability, but it’s actually been a weakness in recent years.”

The Ravens finished third in the NFL with 48 sacks last season, their highest total since 2006. Before last year, they had gone four seasons without cracking the top 10.

Suggs’ 14 sacks were a big part of last season’s uptick, but now the Ravens will have to replace that production. Upshaw is expected to help in that area, but Kiper sees him starting in the SAM outside linebacker spot vacated by free agent Jarret Johnson, leaving Paul Kruger and Sergio Kindle to step in for Suggs.

“Can Upshaw show pass-rush skills early in his career? Hard to say,” Kiper wrote. “He is limited as a pass rusher, but that’s not really his main role.”

Much of the expectation to keep the pressure on opposing quarterbacks will fall on new Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees, who “has work on his hands,” Kiper wrote.

Also, the development of Kruger and Kindle will be critical for the Ravens to once again have one of the best pass rushes in the league, especially without Suggs.

“Can Paul Kruger continue to improve as a pass rusher?” Kiper asked. “Can Sergio Kindle finally emerge and become the player the Ravens believed they were drafting in 2010?”

Both remain to be seen.

Ravens, Steelers Go Different Directions With Offensive Line

The Ravens and Steelers have plenty of similarities at first glance. Both teams play a hard-nosed brand of football and have a tradition of dominant defenses. 

But one major difference this season is how the two teams are built along the offensive lines. The Ravens favor experience, while the Steelers have decided to go with a youth movement.

The Ravens will have an average age of 31.8 years old for the projected starters on the line (Bryant McKinnie, Bobbie Williams, Matt Birk, Marshal Yanda and Oher). The average age for Pittsburgh’s projected starting lineup is 24 years old.

“Which team is making the right decision for this season?”Hensley asked. “The final standings will let everyone know… the offensive lines will go a long way in determining whether the Ravens are better than the Steelers, or vice versa.”

A case can be made for either approach, as the Ravens’ group has experience together and has proven itself at the NFL level. Pittsburgh has rookies like guard David DeCastro and tackle Mike Adams who both come into the NFL with plenty of potential, but still need to show they can make the jump to the pros.

“There are risks and rewards with both strategies, because Baltimore and Pittsburgh are going to extremes,” Hensley wrote.

Reed Still NFL’s Best Safety

Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu have been regarded as two of the NFL’s top safeties for much of the last decade.

While they’re both getting closer to the ends of their careers, The Baltimore Sun’s Matt Vensel still believes that they’re the best in the game, with Reed having the upper hand.

“As time catches up to them, so will some of the league’s top young safeties, but they are still unique defenders who alter enemy game plans,” Vensel wrote about the two stars.

Reed’s production took a hit in some areas last season, as he had three interceptions compared to eight in 2010. His tackling was also suspect at times. Despite a slight drop-off, Reed is still a premier defender and had some of his best performances on the biggest stages.

“Reed’s tackling was rightfully scrutinized last season, but his range as a center fielder still remains elite,” Vensel wrote.

Vensel ranked the top 12 safeties in the NFL, and here is a look at the complete list:

1. Ed Reed, Ravens
2. Troy Polamalu, Steelers
3. Earl Thomas, Seahawks
4. Eric Weddle, Chargers
5. Eric Berry, Chiefs
6. Dashon Goldson, 49ers
7. Louis Delmas, Lions
8. Adrian Wilson, Cardinals
9. Kam Chancellor, Seahawks
10. Mark Barron, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
11. Antrel Rolle, Giants
12. Michael Griffin, Titans

Quick Hits

• General Manager Ozzie Newsome believes that former Ravens quarterback Troy Smith “definitely can” still play in the NFL. Smith is trying to revive his NFL career after spending last season in the United Football League. “He’s a playmaker,” Newsome said. “He can extend the play. He has a real strong arm, and people like to knock him for his height, but he knows how to find throwing lanes in the pocket.” [Cleveland Plain Dealer]
• The Joe Flacco Passing Academy originally scheduled for this weekend has been cancelled “due to unresolved student-athlete compliance and NFL guideline details.” [Carroll County Times]
• TorreySmithWR: #randomthought football season is almost here!!!! [Twitter]
• KOsevendeuce: Good workout…on a roll this week #SORE #STEAMROOM [Twitter]
• Ravens left tackle Bryant McKinnie used some of the downtime to watch a little tennis, another interest of his… BryantMcKinnie: Wow @serenawilliams had 24 aces n this match! Great serving! [Twitter]
• MichaelOher: Running outside in 100 degree is no joke!! [Twitter]

Friday, July 6

WR Brown Sends Jersey To Hall Of Fame
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and kick returner Antonio Brown has sent his jersey that he wore in last year’s regular season finale to the Hall of Fame. Brown became the first player in NFL history to surpass 1,000 receiving yards and 1,000 return yards in a season. [Mlive.com]

McCoy Wants To Stay In Cleveland
When the Browns drafted quarterback Brandon Weeded in the first round of this year’s draft, it looked like the end of Colt McCoy’s time in Cleveland. But the team has yet to move him, and the third-year quarterback said recently that he would like to remain in Cleveland. [Abilene Reporter-News]

Gresham A Different Man
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham went to the Pro Bowl for the first time last year and Head Coach Marvin Lewis believes that experience has made Gresham a different man. “Jermaine going to the Pro Bowl last year was the best teaching, coaching experience we could ever have with him for him to mature,” Lewis said. [ESPN.com]

Tebow Explores MMA Training
Football players have been exploring unique workout routines in the offseasons, and Jets quarterback Tim Tebow is the latest to go the route of MMA training. He has reportedly been training with UFC fighters to get ready for the upcoming season, his first with the Jets. [SI.com]

Thursday, July 5

Steelers Announce Training Camp Schedule
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced their training camp schedule, which begins later this month. The Steelers hold their training camp at St. Vincent’s College.
[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Fujita Loses Appeal, To Miss Three Games
Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita lost his appeal to the NFL to have his Bountygate suspensions reduced from three games. Fujita said that he’s no surprised by the league’s verdict and he is planning to meet with the players association to pursue possible litigation.  [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

Lewis Makes Ochocinco Tear Up
Chad Ochocinco married his longtime girlfriend Evelyn Lozada on Wednesday, and he said that a text message from Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis brought tears to his eyes. Ochocinco is currently playing for the Miami Dolphins and he told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that he wants to play until he’s 40. [Cincinnati Enquirer]

Bucs CB Wright Arrested On Felony DUI Charge
Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Eric Wright was arrested in Los Angeles earlier this week for allegedly driving under the influence. Wright rear-ended a pickup truck near the Staples Center and refused sobriety tests. He was booked on a felony DUI charge and had bail set at $100,000. [SI.com/ Associated Press]

Thursday, June 21

Rooney Wants Steelers To Play In Ireland
Pittsburgh Steelers President Dan Rooney expressed interest this week in bringing an NFL regular-season game in Ireland. Rooney is a U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, and he expressed interest in having the Steelers play on the Emerald Isle. [Pittsburgh Tribune]

Hughes Looking To Prove People Wrong
Browns third-round draft pick John Hughes, a defensive tackle out of Cincinnati, is looking to prove people wrong after the team was criticized for drafting him. “I know my capabilities and I can’t wait to go out there and show them,” Hughes said. [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

Tate A Surprise Of Camp
This time of the offseason is a time for undrafted free agents and overlooked players to make a name for themselves during OTAs and minicamps. One of the standouts for Cincinnati was receiver Brandon Tate, and Offensive Coordinator Jay Gruden called him the “one of the best surprises of camp.” [CincinnatiBengals.com]

Atogwe Signs Deal With Eagles
Safety O.J. Atogwe has signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. The firmer third-round pick spent last season with the Redskins after playing his first six years in St. Louis. The veteran safety could compete for a starting spot during training camp. [SI.com/ Associated Press]

Wednesday, June 20

Steelers Still Eyeing Long-Term Deal For Wallace
 Wide receiver Mike Wallace has yet to participate in offseason workouts, as he’s holding out for a long-term contract, rather than signing a first-round restricted free-agent tender. “All I can say is we’re in negotiations, and our goal has always been to do a long-term deal,” General Manager Kevin Colbert said. [Pittsburgh Tribune]

Cribbs Says He’s Ready For 2012
Cleveland Browns receiver/returner Josh Cribbs says that spending a full offseason learning Pat Shurmur’s West Coast offense will pay dividends for the 2012 season. Cribbs also said that some of the additions to the roster have made for increased competition. [ClevelandBrowns.com]

Bengals Waive RB Stewart
The Bengals have waived rookie running back Rodney Stewart in an injury settlement. The undrafted free agent joined the team on May 2 and tore his ACL during the team’s rookie minicamp. [Cincinnati Enquirer]

Ochocinco Excited About Fresh Start
Wide receiver Chad Ochocinco made his debut with the Miami Dolphins this week, and said that he’s looking forward to a “fresh start” in Miami. He spoke with the media for the first time since joining the team, and finished the interview by telling reporters, “I love you. Enjoy the show.” [SI.com/ Associated Press]

Tuesday, June 19

Mendenhall, Hampton Likely To Open Season on PUP List
The Steelers will likely open the 2012 season without running back Rashard Mendenhall and nose tackle Casey Hampton, who both are coming back from torn ACLs that occurred near the end of last season. General Manager Kevin Colbert recently said he expects them to be placed on the PUP list to start the year. [Pittsburgh Tribune]

Fujita Calls NFL’s Bounty Investigation A ‘Smear Campaign’
Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita has been suspended by the NFL for three games for his role in the bounty scandal when he played for the New Orleans Saints. Yesterday Fujita said that the NFL is conducting a “smear campaign” against the players accused of participating in the bounty program. [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

Burfict Impressing Bengals?
The Bengals signed linebacker Vontaze Burfict as an undrafted free agent this offseason and he appears to be drawing some attention after OTAs and minicamp. Burfict was once regarded as a first-round pick, and the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Joe Reedy believes he is an undrafted player that has a shot at making the roster.  [Cincinnati Enquirer]

NFL Releases Evidence In Bounty Case
The NFL released evidence to the media and Saints players yesterday that the league said proves guilt in the bounty scandal. As part of the evidence, the league revealed that the Saints allegedly had a $35,000 prize for knocking Vikings quarterback Brett Favre out of the NFC championship game in January 2010. [SI.com/ Associated Press]

Monday, June 18

Receivers Looking To Fill Void Left By Ward
The Pittsburgh Steelers are going through an offseason without wide receiver Hines Ward for the first time in 14 years. With Ward gone, some of the younger receivers like Antonio Brown are now working to fill that leadership void. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Browns Looking To Deal McCoy
The Browns are reportedly looking to trade Colt McCoy after rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden appears to have a hold on the starting job. In dealing McCoy, the Browns are reportedly looking for minimal compensation and hope to avoid releasing the third-year signal caller. [ProFootballTalk.com]

Pacman To Speak To NFL Rookies
Cincinnati cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones has been invited to speak to this year’s rookies at this year’s NFL Rookie Symposium. Jones is hoping to convince the rookies to avoid making the same mistakes that he made earlier in his career. [Cincinnati Enquirer]

Tomlinson To Retire As A Charger
Running back LaDainian Tomlinson’s NFL career will officially come to a close on Monday, as he is scheduled to announce his retirement as a member of the San Diego Chargers. The fifth-leading rusher in league history played 11 NFL seasons, nine with the Chargers and the last two with the Jets.  [SI.com]

Earlier in the week we highlighted five things to watch for at OTAs, and here we review the results:

Joe Flacco Attended, Ray Rice Did Not

Flacco was in attendance during the OTAs and said that he plans to attend the rest of them throughout the offseason.

“It’s good for me to be here because I’m the one that needs to make those guys go and I’m the one that needs to make our offense go and bring those guys along as fast as we can,” he said.

Rice, like a number of the team’s star players, did not attend the OTAs. His absence was not a surprise or a concern to his teammates or coaches.

“We’d love for every guy to be here, but it’s not realistic in today’s business environment and all that,” Harbaugh said. “We’re just moving forward.”

How do the rookies look next to veterans? 

When the Ravens held rookie minicamp earlier this month, some of the team’s draft picks, [add] like outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw and offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele, [add] outshined their peers.  When they took the field for OTAs this week, it was a slightly different story, as Upshaw and Osemele didn’t have the same kind of size advantage they did during minicamp.

Both Upshaw and Osemele still performed well against the veterans, taking a number of reps with the first teams. Fourth-round lineman Gino Gradkowski also worked with the first team at times. They will all likely compete for starting jobs this offseason.

Some of the other draft picks like Bernard Pierce, Christian Thompson and Tommy Streeter didn’t have as many reps.

Who stands out at wide receiver?

After watching practice, the wide receiver spot may be one of the strongest positions of the roster. Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith are clearly the top two receivers, but there are a handful of players clamoring for time behind them.

Jacoby Jones got the bulk of the reps as the No. 3 receiver and he looked good, even though he’s still getting acclimated to Flacco and the offense. His speed is evident and he could certainly bring another vertical threat on the opposite side of Smith.

“He’s done really well,” Harbaugh said. “Great attitude. Really hard worker, really, really hard worker. Very fast, big, physical guy.”

Who’s healthy? 

The Ravens are mostly healthy at this point, as only Cary Williams and David Reed were forced to watch from the sidelines because of injury. Williams is recovering from hip surgery and Reed is working his way back from a torn ACL.

Torrey Smith, who had offseason surgery to repair a double sports hernia, says he is healthy and doesn’t appear hindered at all. He participated in all of the drills and still has his breakaway speed.

Chavis Williams and Ramon Harewood, who both ended last season on injured reserve, were back practicing and participating in all of the drills.

Who’s filling in for Terrell Suggs? 

As expected, Paul Kruger, Sergio Kindle and Upshaw are all getting reps at the rush linebacker position that Suggs plays. They also all worked in at SAM linebacker, which is also open after Jarret Johnson left via free agency, so it’s tough to tell who has an edge at either spot right now. The competition for both of those spots will likely last throughout the offseason.

Upshaw did perform well against the veterans, and Harbaugh likes what he sees in the Ravens top draft pick.

“He’s a very smart player – very football-knowledgeable guy,” Harbaugh said. “He has been very well-coached down there. He understands the game, he works hard. He has been everything that we anticipated he’d be so far.”

Other impressions

• Second-year cornerback Chykie Brown looked good in the secondary, as he had a number of interceptions and displayed strong cover skills. He will likely compete for the dime back position.
• Jacoby Jones has good hands. He was catching passes out of the jugs machine coming at 35 miles per hour from about five yards away.
• Anthony Allen appears to be leading the pack to win the No. 2 running back job, ahead of Damien Berry and Bernard Pierce.
• Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson both look comfortable and ready to build on strong second seasons.

Harbaugh will receive one of five Outstanding Civilian Service Awards from Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the Chief of Staff of the Army. The award will be presented during a ceremony at 6 p.m. at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va.

“We all have our battles and fights, but these guys in the military, they fight all of our battles,” Harbaugh said Wednesday after practice. “They fight the battle for each and every one of us who are Americans every day to keep us safe and to keep us secure and to give us the opportunity to live a life in freedom. What greater mission is there than that?

“To me, it’s not really particularly deserved, but it will be enjoyed and appreciated.”

The citation that will be presented to Harbaugh will read:

“For outstanding service to the United States Army, Soldiers, families, veterans and military communities. Your visit to Iraq and your initiatives to show thanks to service members for their service through appreciation days, opportunities to attend Baltimore Ravens practices and games and to meet team members have improved morale and created a sense of pride and appreciation among our servicemen and women. Through your visits to military installations you have increased morale, inspired leadership and created a mutual sense of respect and appreciation between the U.S. Army and the National Football League. Your voluntary efforts to purchase, package and send care packages around the world have had direct, positive impacts on our deployed Soldiers living in austere conditions. Your selfless, outstanding contributions have improved the health and readiness of the United States Army.”

Odierno and Harbaugh met on the USO tour in 2009, and since then Harbaugh has invited Odierno to the Ravens facility to deliver motivational messages to the team. Also, during the holidays last year, Harbaugh organized an effort within the Ravens to send care packages and Christmas cards to military personnel in Afghanistan.

“We’ll do anything we can do to help in some small way,” Harbaugh said.

Rice and the Ravens are in the midst of contract negotiations, and the fifth-year running back has opted not to participate in the voluntary workouts this offseason.

Despite Rice’s decision not to participate, Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh and a number of veteran players aren’t worried about it. 

“It’s really not a problem at all,” Harbaugh said. “You still run practice, it’s no different. The young guys are doing a great job. I’d love to have all the guys here. We’d love for every guy to be here, but it’s not realistic in today’s business environment and all that. We’re just moving forward.”

Rice’s decision not to attend was hardly a surprise, as it’s common for veteran players to skip voluntary offseason activities, especially if they’re in the midst of contract negotiations.

Other veterans like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Haloti Ngata and Matt Birk also did not participate.

“We’ve got a lot of guys that aren’t here,” quarterback Joe Flacco said. “We’re professional football players, no matter what, we know how to play football. We didn’t have anything last year and we came out here and went to the AFC championship game.”

In Rice’s case, the desire for a long-term contract is likely a factor behind his decision not to attend. The Ravens applied the franchise tag to him, but he has yet to sign the tag and is hoping to get a new deal in place before the start of the season.

Harbaugh isn’t worried about the contract negotiations between the two sides becoming a distraction for the team.

“Our guys don’t seem distracted,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t think our situations are serious situations. They are just part of doing business. It’s the way it works. It’s the nature of it. I think the players have handled it really well.”

At a recent event in the Baltimore area, Rice emphasized that he’ll be ready to go when he does arrive and his coach and teammates echoed that belief on Wednesday.

“I don’t worry about Ray,” Harbaugh said. “Ray Rice is working hard.”

“He’s working out what he’s got to work out and what’s best for him, and I’m in his corner,” Flacco added. “The only thing I know is that his contract is up and we should probably pay him.”

The veteran wide receiver knows his words carry weight amongst the young players on the Ravens roster, and as he heads into his 10th NFL season, he is the unquestioned leader of the receiving corps.

The role is one that he relishes.

“It’s something that you embrace,” Boldin said as voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) opened this week. “It’s also a responsibility that I take seriously because I feel like it’s definitely on me to get those guys ready to play.”

Outside of Boldin, the Ravens receivers are young.

The bulk of the receiving corps – Torrey Smith, Tandon Doss, LaQuan Williams, David Reed and rookie Tommy Streeter – don’t even have as much combined playing experience as Boldin.

“Those guys keep me youthful,” Boldin joked.

Free-agent acquisition Jacoby Jones has spent five years in the NFL, but is new to the Ravens and still learning the system, which means he’ll also likely look to Boldin for guidance throughout the offseason.

Boldin has a firm grasp on the Ravens offense and he values the opportunity he has now to help pass that on to new and younger players.  

“I feel like the more prepared they are, the better we’ll be as a team,” he said.

When he first arrived in Baltimore in 2010, the receivers were older. The team had Derrick Mason and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Boldin was a new face on a roster full of veterans.

Then last year they let Mason and Houshmandzadeh go, and Boldin quickly found himself as the elder presence amongst a young group of receivers.

“I had to be a lot more hands on, pretty much be like a big brother to some of the guys,” Boldin said. “I think they responded real well because we have a great group of guys that are willing to learn, guys that are willing to listen and just guys that want to get better.”

Boldin is also more than just an emotional leader.

He was the team’s top receiver last season with 887 receiving yards on 57 catches. He also showed the ability to take over games, like he did against the Cardinals when his seven catches and 145 receiving yards helped the Ravens rally back from a 21-point deficit.

That talent combined with his experience gives him an eager audience with players like Smith, Doss, Williams and Reed. 

Working with them is part of the reason Boldin wanted to come back to Baltimore for the start of OTAs this week.  Some veterans opt not to participate in offseason team activities until they are mandated, but Boldin saw this as a chance to work with his teammates and help further digest the offense.

“I think for all of the guys, getting in to learn and the playbook, learn the language [is important],” Boldin said. “We’re fast paced, especially when camp hits, there’s no turning back for us.

“For those guys to be able to come in and learn as much as possible right now while things are a little slowed down, I think that’s important.”

Although the group is still young, Boldin knows they have players fighting to make the roster and he is looking forward to what they might accomplish this season.

“I like the group overall,” Boldin said. “I think we have a lot of great, young talent, guys that are hungry, guys that really want to prove themselves. I’m excited to see them.

“You have guys that are ready to go out and show fans they can play in this league.”