Ravens cornerback Cary Williams declined a three-year contract extension offer from the Ravens worth about $15 million, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun.

The 27 year old had signed his $1.972 million second-round tender in May and said at the time that he hoped the two sides would get back to the negotiating table.

Now, he is choosing to play out that tender in hopes of getting a better offer when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

“My philosophy on doing that was just having confidence in myself,” Williams told Wilson. “I know myself, I know my ability. I know my work ethic. At the end of the day, the offer, I felt like I could always make that. I felt it wasn’t good enough and my agent said it wasn’t good enough. I love playing for the Ravens. I would love to be here, but right now we’re just in the negotiation stage.

“For me to say the money ain’t good, that wasn’t the case. It’s good money, but my job is to make the most money I possibly can for my family. I’m thinking about my daughter and any future children I want to have. I want some kind of security, and the deal we had wasn’t like that.”

Williams’ play was a pleasant surprise last season, as he emerged as a starter for the Ravens after a slow start to his NFL career. He was drafted by Tennessee in the seventh round out of Division II Washburn. The Ravens picked him up off the Titans’ practice squad in 2009.

Williams underwent surgery on his right hip last offseason after recording a career-high 77 tackles and 18 pass deflections in 2012. Williams says his hip is 100 percent, but he now favors his left hip because of overcompensation.

He will have to overcome any health obstacles, plus the competition from teammate Jimmy Smith, if he is going to get the contract he desires.

Just as he has his whole life, Williams is betting on himself.

“Cary was fired up about his value and what he’s worth after a successful year,” Marc Lillibridge, Williams’ agent, told Wilson. “We feel like if he can play as good or better than last season and lead the Ravens to a Super Bowl, then he’ll get his just due. I completely agree with that. You roll the dice on yourself your entire life.”

Wilson believes there could be  middle ground for Williams in the future, noting there are many starting cornerbacks that average above $5 million, but won’t get Nnamdi Asomugha, Darrelle Revis or even Lardarius Webb money.

Williams hopes that middle ground will be found in Baltimore.

“Although Williams turned down the Ravens’ contract offer, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s engaged in an exit strategy,” wrote Wilson. “Ideally, Williams would like to remain with the Ravens depending on the level of contract talks.”

Birk Sympathetic To Replacement Refs, Boldin Not So Much

After playing in two preseason games with the league’s replacement officials, Ravens receiver Anquan Boldin sees a need for change.

The 10-year veteran told The Sun’s Peter Schmuck, “they’ve really got to do something” about officiating. “Some of the calls out there … the way the game was being stopped. It just looked unprofessional,” Boldin said.

The officials have made a few blunders in each of the Ravens games, the most memorable from the first game when the official referred to Atlanta as Arizona on more than one occasion. In Friday’s contest against the Lions, the officiating crew needed nearly three minutes of conferences to figure out how to mark off an 18-yard facemask penalty on Detroit near the end of the first quarter.

The Lions team website writer Mike O’Hara said the refs were a “disgrace on any level of officiating football.”

But Ravens center Matt Birk is more sympathetic to the situation these men and women have suddenly found themselves in.

“They’ve been thrown into the fire on the biggest stage of the world,” he told Schmuck. “These guys have been thrown together and probably have never worked together before.”

In the CSNBaltimore.com video below, former Vice President of Officiating Mike Pereira discusses the latest in the league’s negotiations with the referees.

Zenitz: Cundiff Coming Across As ‘Very Bitter’

After Friday’s home preseason debut, in which both incumbent kicker Billy Cundiff and rookie challenger Justin Tucker were perfect on field-goal attempts, Cundiff told reporters he isn’t competing against Tucker.

Instead, he said he is competing against himself because it’s his job to lose.

“The way the coaches have approached me and the way everybody in the organization has approached it is that if I kick well, this is my job,” Cundiff said after the game. “This isn’t necessarily a competition between myself and Justin. This is really a competition with myself and how good I can be.”

The Carroll County Times’ Matt Zenitz believes Cundiff’s comments aren’t coming across in a positive light.

“Cundiff [is] coming across very bitter towards the competition with Tucker,” Zenitz tweeted. “Almost seems resentful that the comp. is even being viewed as close.”

J. Smith Developing ‘Serious Issue?’

Cornerback Jimmy Smith was right there in coverage with one of the league’s best wide receivers, Calvin Johnson, in Friday’s preseason contest. But Smith didn’t look for the ball at the last moment and ended up allowing a touchdown reception.

Turns out, he did the same thing in practice on Sunday, giving up another touchdown to 2011 Seattle Seahawks practice squad player Patrick Williams.

CSNBaltimore.com’s Ray Frager says it’s a forgivable mistake against a man called “Megatron,” but not with a receiver trying to make the roster.

“So, is this a serious issue with Smith’s technique or concentration or some other cause?” asked Frager. “Preseason is the time to figure this stuff out.

“As others have pointed out, the absence of Terrell Suggs likely means more blitzing, which means more leaving cornerbacks by their lonesome. So you can’t have a corner who’s not able to locate that oblong brown thing flying through the air.”

Dickson, Pitta Still On Schedule For Season Opener

So far, so good.

Tight ends Ed Dickson (shoulder sprain) and Dennis Pitta (broken hand) are still on schedule to play in the Ravens season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night, according to The Sun.

“It’s much better, a lot better,” Dickson said of his shoulder. “I can actually do some catching and stuff, and more conditioning. The progress is definitely pretty good. Hopefully I can get back there in a week or so. I’ll do anything possible to get out there for the season opener. I don’t want to miss those. I want to play [now], but I’m glad I still have these preseason games to get healthy.”

Pitta still isn’t cleared to catch any passes, but says he’ll be ready to go.

“With the hand, you’ve got to let the bone heal,” Pitta told The Sun. “We’re being smart with it and making sure that we’re doing all we can at the proper time. If we prepare right, we’ll be ready to go when the season starts.”

So Is T. Smith Fine Or Not?

There were some conflicting opinions about how receiver Torrey Smith looked in his return to practice yesterday after being held out of a few days of practice last week and the Lions game.

“Doesn’t look like Torrey Smith is affected by that ankle,” tweeted Ryan Mink. “He’s flying around the field.”

But CSNBaltimore.com’s J. Michael Falgoust saw something completely different, saying Smith “hobbled” through parts of practice.

“Smith clearly favored the ankle when he had to come to a sudden stop, plant and push off. When Smith had to do that, he came away with a limp. Flacco went to Smith on a short pass over the middle that went off of his hands. Smith limped away.

“That could jeopardize Smith’s ability to play in Thursday’s home game vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coach John Harbaugh is more optimistic.”

You can take a look at some footage of Smith from yesterday’s practice in the video to the right. It’s limited, but what do you think?

Quick Hits

• @RavensInsider: Calvin Johnson: ‘They were blitzing a lot. They leave their DBs on an island. When that happens our guys get wide and we can’t wait.’ [Twitter]
• mattvensel: Jacoby Jones with a big gain on an end around. Why didn’t that work the 448 times they tried that with Donte Stallworth? [Twitter]
• Tweet after Omar Brown already notched three fumble recoveries and an interception in two preseason games. … @mattvensel: Sweet Jesus. Omar Brown recovered the onside kick. Word of advice, #Ravens fans: If you’re at a wedding with Omar Brown, don’t even bother trying to catch the garter or the bouquet. [Twitter]
• @RavensInsider: Courtney Upshaw said he’s down to 274 pounds. “With the cardio and losing the weight,” Upshaw said, “it really helped me a lot.” [Twitter]
• @RavensCommunity: @Ravens Matt Birk kicks off back to school! Distributing school supplies to 150 Baltimore-area students! [Twitter]
• @BPierce_30: Love the fan base in bmore!!! Shout out to everyone that came out last night
• Hey Jamison Hensley, who will be the starters on the Ravens’ offensive line? “By the end of the season: LT McKinnie, LG Osemele, C Birk, RG Yanda, RT Oher.” [ESPN]

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).

Newly signed veteran defensive tackle Ryan McBean underwent a successful surgery this week to repair his broken ankle, according to The Baltimore Sun.

McBean suffered the injury in the preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons. The 6-foot-5, 305-pounder knew immediately that he suffered a serious injury.

“Well when my foot was facing the direction to where it wasn’t supposed to be facing then I figured, ‘Yeah, OK. Something is wrong,’” McBean told WNST.

Dr. Robert Anderson, who also performed surgery on Terrell Suggs’ Achilles tendon, inserted metal hardware into McBean’s ankle to help the healing process, which is projected to take about four to six months to fully recover, according to The Sun.

McBean does not expect to return this season.

“I will be back around [Organized Team Activities] time – back to 100 percent,” he said. “That’s my mark and that’s what I’ll be aiming for, that’s what I’ll be going for.”

The 28 year old has not been placed on injured reserve yet, but could end up on the list.

McBean was signed by the Ravens this spring to a one-year deal reportedly worth $1.2 million, which was not guaranteed and didn’t include a signing bonus, reported Aaron Wilson. He was suspended for the first three games of the season for a violation of the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy while playing for the Denver Broncos.

With a season return seemingly out of the question, McBean is already focused on his rehab to ensure proper healing.

“It only took me 30 seconds to feel sorry for myself and then after that 30 seconds I just moved on from there,” he said.  “The coaches say, ‘Hey, just make sure [you] heal and get right and just be ready for next year.’”

McBean was listed as the primary backup to Haloti Ngata, but his absence now gives former rookie free agent and practice squad player Bryan Hall a chance to fill that role. A talented defensive lineman, Hall is also known around the halls of the Under Armour Performance Center as the player with the biggest mouth.

“Bryan brags about his 17 sacks he got at Arkansas State every chance he gets in the d-line room,” McBean said. “He’s a guy that comes out to practice and goes hard every single day – not just on the d-line, but on special teams.

“I say that’s a guy that you need to look out for. I believe he can do it and I believe he will do it.”

Ravens Expected To Get Four Compensatory Picks

After sustaining a number of free-agent losses this offseason, the Ravens are expected to receive four compensatory selections for the 2013 NFL Draft next April, according to Brian McFarland of Ravens24X7.com.

If McFarland’s projections are correct, that would give Baltimore 11 picks in the upcoming draft.

The Ravens lost a total of six free agents that should qualify for compensatory picks, including guard Ben Grubbs (Saints), linebacker Jarret Johnson (Chargers), safeties Tom Zbikowski (Colts) and Haruki Nakamura (Panthers), defensive end Cory Redding (Colts) and defensive tackle Brandon McKinney (Colts).

Those losses were countered by two Ravens signings of cornerback Corey Graham (Bears) and safety Sean Considine (Arizona).

That nets out to four picks.

“It is possible that Considine may not qualify in the evaluation but that designation is a [moot] point anyway, since the maximum number of comp picks awarded to any individual team is four,” wrote McFarland.

Note that players cut by the Ravens or by their former teams do not weigh into the compensatory pick calculations. That includes cornerback Chris Carr, wide receiver Lee Evans, guard Bobbie Williams and receiver/returner Jacoby Jones.

Rice Is Last RB Standing In Division

An injury bug has done some damage to starting running backs in the AFC North, with only Ray Rice still standing, ESPN’s Jamison Hensley points out.

Knock on wood.

A total of seven running backs are currently injured in the division, including Browns first-round pick Trent Richardson (arthroscopic knee surgery), Bengals veteran starter BenJarvus Green-Ellis (foot) and backup Bernard Scott (hand) and Steelers current top back Isaac Redman (groin).

“None of the injuries to the starting backs are considered serious. When the season begins in less than four weeks, Green-Ellis, Richardson and Redman are expected to be lining up in the backfield,” wrote Hensley. “Still, the number of injured backs heading into the second preseason game is a troublesome trend for the division.”

Also, Pittsburgh’s starting running back of the last three years, Rashard Mendenhall, is trying to come back from a torn ACL.

Ravens fans just hope Rice and the Ravens obey the first commandment of preseason play tonight: Thou shalt not get injured.

What To Watch For vs. Detroit

Oh yeah, the Ravens have their preseason home opener tonight. Seems strange it took so long to mention it this morning.

Here are some things analysts say you should watch out for:

Better communication in the offensive line, translating to better protection for quarterback Joe Flacco. After his visit to practice in Owings Mills, Md., former Ravens Head Coach Brian Billick tweeted that the Ravens front office must have a “sickening” feeling when thinking about either Tyrod Taylor or Curtis Painter being just one play away from being the starter. To prevent that from happening, Flacco can’t get hit the way he did in Atlanta last week.

The Ravens will face a new challenge Friday night against the Lions defensive line that features Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and defensive end Cliff Avril, but they should also have veteran center Matt Birk back. “The offensive line, which should have better communication with six-time Pro Bowl center Matt Birk expected to make his preseason debut after sitting out last week with back issues, needs to match the Lions’ power and toughness,” wrote Wilson.

Can kicker Billy Cundiff perform under pressure? That’s the question CBSSports.com’s Jason Butt wants to have answered tonight, as Cundiff is slated to get the first field-goal attempt tonight. “In a perfect scenario, the Ravens will have enough tries for both Cundiff and rookie Justin Tucker,” Butt wrote. “Tucker has outperformed Cundiff in practice by making 95 percent of his attempts. Still, there’s a general feeling the job is Cundiff’s to lose. If Cundiff can prove he can still hit big kicks in game situations then the safer he’ll be when Baltimore is forced to trim its roster down.”

Running back Bernard Pierce will try to make his case to become Rice’s primary backup. The third-round draft pick missed the first preseason game with a hamstring injury, but he is expected to get a chance to prove his worth against the Lions. “With Anthony Allen and Damien Berry having yet to stand out during training camp, Pierce will get an extended look Friday, and an impressive performance would go a long way in his quest to win the backup running back job behind Ray Rice,” wrote The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec.

Quick Hits

• @pkruger99: Preseason game #2 against Detroit tomorrow night.. M&T goes hard pre, regular or post-season. Can’t wait, love playing at home. [Twitter]
• @RavensSalaryCap: If Ryan McBean’s ankle is broken and he ends up on IR, he’ll still count against the team’s Salary Cap. [Twitter]
• @CoachBillick: As for #Ravens…lack of depth behind Ray Rice concerning, but filling void left by Ben Grubbs may actually be more detrimental to run game. [Twitter]
• @RavenManiac [Kris Jones, Ravens24X7]: Best moment of the day, @RayRice27 and Ray Lewis meet a child from Make-A-Wish [Twitter]
• @Ravens: #Ravens Matt Birk will host nearly 150 Baltimore-area elementary school students for a school supply distribution at Walmart this Saturday. [Twitter]
• @wbalradio: Ray Rice @RayRice27 Helps Out Local Teachers #Ravens [Twitter]
• @Ravens: Kickoff for the Ravens’ final preseason game at the St. Louis Rams on Thursday, Aug. 30, has been moved to 7 p.m [from 8pm] [Twitter]
• @Thoroughbred954 [WR Dorian Graham]: Jus downloaded my boi @Crushboy31 app y’all shud check it out called Bourre! [Twitter]
• Pierce on what it’s like to become a father (his fiancée gave birth to Bernard Jr. earlier this month): “I’d say it feels like your birthday. It comes one time a year. I know this is my day. But it’s really not your birthday. I was overwhelmed, excited. I really can’t totally explain the feeling because it’s something I’ve never felt before.” [CBSSports.com]
• Quarterback Tyrod Taylor says he’s “way ahead” of where he was last season. [CSNBaltimore.com]

How good is this year’s corps of Ravens wide receivers?

“Entering the 2012 season, the Ravens may have the best group of receivers they’ve ever seen,” wrote Jason Butt.

With a stable of depth at the position, combined with the Ravens looking to implement a faster tempo with the no-huddle offense, there’s a chance the team keeps six receivers.

But only four are “locks” to make the team, says the CBSSports.com scribe.

The first three are pretty much indisputable: Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones.

Boldin had another standout performance in practice yesterday, making catches with a cornerback draped on his back. “After one of them, a Ravens PR person predicted that Boldin could be in for nice yr,” tweeted Carroll County Times’ Matt Zenitz.

Smith is a burner, but has added more weapons to his game and is looking to become a more complete receiver. Jones is supposed to be what Lee Evans couldn’t become last year – a speedy outside complement to Smith to help keep defenses honest.

Usually columnists say the competition gets a little murky after those first three players, but Butt is the first I’ve seen to declare second-year receiver LaQuan Williams as the “lock” at No. 4.

“Rarely has Williams dropped a pass in training camp,” wrote Butt. “Not only that, but some of the passes Williams has caught have been nothing short of outstanding. During the NFL lockout, Williams was working at a paint store and thought about enlisting in the military. Now he’s got a good chance of entering the WR rotation on Sundays.”

Now here’s where the battle gets interesting, says Butt, with one or two open spots remaining for four “bubble” players.

Tandon Doss “should make the team again” despite a hamstring injury limiting his training camp.

Doss leaves one potential spot remaining, which Butt currently gives to rookie free agent Deonte Thompson over sixth-round choice Tommy Streeter. David Reed is then projected to go on either PUP or IR.

“Thompson has made the most of each opportunity so far and has continued to receive reps, primarily with the second team,” Butt explains. “He’s got excellent speed and is a fluid route-runner. Like most rookies, he just has to work on consistency. He can contribute on special teams in both coverage and return units, and he could be an emergency return specialist.

“Streeter has yet to prove he belongs on the roster. Yet, at 6-feet-5, 220 pounds, he has ideal size as a wideout. He also has blazing straight-ahead speed. Coach John Harbaugh has described Streeter as a project, and his potential could be too much to risk placing [him] on the practice squad.”

Lock No. 1: Anquan Boldin
Lock No. 2: Torrey Smith
Lock No. 3: Jacoby Jones
Lock No. 4: LaQuan Williams
Bubble No. 5: Tandon Doss
Bubble No. 6: Deonte Thompson
Bubble No. 7: Tommy Streeter
Bubble No. 8: David Reed

Pats To Go 16-0? Not If Ravens Have Anything To Say About It

Last month, CBSSports.com’s Pete Prisco made a bolddddd prediction: the New England Patriots will have a perfect 16-0 record in 2012.

Turns out, ESPN AFC East blogger James Walker saw Prisco at a Miami Dolphins practice this week and challenged the columnist’s projection.

“Point out a game they’re expected to lose,” Prisco responded to Walker.

So he did.

And the No. 1 team on his list to beat the Patriots? The Baltimore Ravens, of course, with a 60 percent chance of beating the Pats in an AFC championship rematch.

“Yes, the Ravens won’t have reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs, who is out with an Achilles injury, ” Walker wrote. “But I can tell you from experience that Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium is one of the NFL’s toughest venues for road teams. The Patriots will need their “A” game to beat the Ravens in their home stadium.

“This may end up being the toughest game on New England’s schedule.”

Below is a list of all the teams Walker thinks could beat New England, and their percent chance of doing so:

• Pats at Ravens: 60 percent chance of winning
• Pats at Bills: 40 percent chance of winning
• Texans at Pats: 40 percent chance of winning
• Broncos at Pats: 30 percent chance of winning
• Pats at Jets: 30 percent chance of winning
• 49ers at Pats: 30 percent chance of winning

Carr Reminded About Value Of Punter

Undrafted rookie linebacker Nigel Carr is trying to make this Ravens roster.

He knows he has to prove his worth on special teams if he’s going to get that chance, so he’s going all-out on every play.

But he may have gone overboard in Tuesday’s practice when he rushed from the left side of the defensive line to attempt to block a Sam Koch punt.  

“Immediately afterward, [Special Teams Coordinator Jerry] Rosburg grabbed Carr and spoke to him for an extended period of time,” wrote Edward Lee.

Carr confirmed that Rosburg gave him a little talk about the value of the punter.

“He told me, ‘Don’t injure the kicker,’” Carr told Lee. “But that’s part of it. As a rookie, you try to do everything right. Even on the scout team, you know that everything counts. I just told him, ‘Yes, sir, won’t happen again.’ And I moved on with my practice.

“If they see you doing that on scout team, they’ll know you really want to be here and that you really want to be on the team. A person in my position, an undrafted guy, it’s going to be hard to make this 53-man roster. So I have to do everything right. It’s not as much the defense right now. It’s more about special teams, going out there and really being perfect on special teams. That’s what’s going to put my foot in the door.”

Allen, Berry Not Relinquishing Backup RB Role

Right now, analysts’ popular picks for the No. 2 and 3 running back spots are third-round pick Bernard Pierce and rookie free agent Bobby Rainey, respectively.

In the preseason opener in Atlanta, Allen gained just 9 yards on five carries and Berry gained 17 yards on seven. Meanwhile, Rainey put together one of the best performances of the night, churning out 143 all-purpose yards.

“Allen understands that his grip as the first tailback behind Rice on the team’s depth chart could be loosening,” Lee wrote.

But the second-year back isn’t giving up.

“Being a competitor, that’s the type of thing you want to see,” Allen said of battle to backup Rice. “You don’t want it to be given to you. You want to have to come out here and work because it’s going to make you better. So I think having guys like Bernard and Bobby and Damien Berry makes me try to step up my game every time I come out here on the practice field. Every time I’m in a game, every time I walk into the meeting room, every time I’m trying to study, I have to do better.”

Quick Hits

• @CSteele32: Great pic of the #Ravens @Navyathletics practice, taken by @RDPhotoOP. @raylewis52com @pkruger99 @Artj97 @TwentyER [Twitter]
• Bernard Pollard, who’s known to enjoy laying a hit or two on opponents, loved having a little fight in practice yesterday. … @Crushboy31: Today was the best day by far this camp!!! [Twitter]
• @GerrySandusky: Great moment at end of Ravens practice. Ray Lewis and Sherman Cypress, make-a-wish recipient. Dream come true. [Twitter]
• In case you missed the video footage, it’s a must-see … @TorreySmithWR: shoutouts to @MichaelOher for catching that punt today…thanks bro haha [BaltimoreRavens.com/Twitter]
• @jtuck9 [Justin Tucker]: Big thanks to outstanding punt returners @TheRealMtCody and @MichaelOher. Got to see The Campaign tonight after a little practice film [Twitter]
• @BryantMckinnie: Currently getting a massage, gotta make sure the body is feeling right.
• Steelers linebacker James Harrison underwent left knee surgery on Wednesday, clouding his chances of returning in time for the start of the regular season. [Associated Press]
• Former Ravens Head Coach Brian Billick was at the practice in Owings Mills, Md. yesterday as the FOX crew gets ready to broadcast Friday’s game against the Lions. Billick met up with Nestor Aparicio to discuss some of the keys for the Ravens this season. [WNST]
• Is the Ravens secondary the best in NFL? Brad Jackson discusses. [CSNBaltimore.com]

When trying to project the Ravens’ final 53-man roster, most fans could easily predict about 40 spots – give or take a few – because most players are obvious virtual locks.

But that leaves a lot of grey area for the remaining 13 or so.

CBSSports.com’s Jason Butt projected the entire 53-man roster, noting there’s still time for a few changes. Feel free to look at his complete roster, but I’ve pulled out six predictions about decisions coaches may not have even made themselves and it will be interesting to see if they hold true.

And for those of you trying to win the You Pick The Team presented by New Era contest – a trip to see the Ravens play the Chargers in San Diego on November 25^th – these predictions could either help or hurt you (I can’t say I agree 100 percent with them all, but they’re pretty good). So use your own judgment with these predictions, and take it easy on Butt if he steers you down the wrong road.

Prediction 1: The Ravens will keep three quarterbacks on the roster, adding veteran Curtis Painter.  “Coach John Harbaugh’s stated that Baltimore likes the idea of using Taylor more within the offense this year,” wrote Butt. “Taylor’s athletic and could be a wildcat quarterback this year. Plus, his arm strength and accuracy have improved. By keeping Painter, Baltimore would feel more comfortable about using Taylor more.”

Prediction 2: Neither Anthony Allen nor Damien Berry, the two early favorites to backup Ray Rice at the beginning of the offseason, will make the team. The two rookies, Bernard Pierce (No. 2) and Bobby Rainey (No. 3), are currently outperforming the more experienced backs, but that could change … “There’s still a lot of time for Allen and Berry to make a run,” wrote Butt. “There’s also a chance Baltimore seeks a veteran free agent if it feels none of the young running backs are ready to become Rice’s primary backup. If that’s the case, Rainey and Berry could wind up on the scout team and Allen could be looking for another team.”

Prediction 3: Baltimore keeps six receivers (you can guess the first three) with LaQuan Williams, Tandon Doss and rookie free agent Deonte Thompson getting the final three spots. That means sixth-round pick Tommy Streeter is out and David Reed is a possible IR candidate. “Streeter’s a project, a 6-5, 220-pound body with blazing, straight-ahead speed. Thompson’s more versatile, but had some issues dropping the ball in college,” wrote Butt. “Thompson’s outperformed him early but Baltimore doesn’t like to cut its draft picks.”

Prediction 4: Eight of the (likely) nine roster spots for the offensive line are a lock, but that final spot comes down to four players: Ramon Harwood, Tony Wragge, Justin Boren and Jack Cornell. Harewood gets it.  “Harewood, a sixth-round draft pick in 2010, has been banged up but appears the healthiest he’s been since coming to Baltimore,” says Butt. “He would also give the Ravens another body at tackle, with Osemele and Reid being swing guys.”

Prediction 5: Linebackers are the victim of keeping three quarterbacks. Danelle Ellerbe is in, but he could be pushed by Chavis Williams or Nigel Carr. “For now, Ellerbe remains in but needs to prove he belongs through the remainder of the preseason,” wrote Butt. “Williams could be a victim of Baltimore’s desire to keep three quarterbacks, and someone deep on the depth chart at another position would have to be released to make room.”

Prediction 6: Billy Cundiff is the kicker by default. “Cundiff gets the edge for now since there’s no indication what Harbaugh and his staff will do at kicker,” wrote Butt. “But it should be noted that Tucker has out-kicked Cundiff in practice. There’s still a lot of time before a final decision will be made but this battle could go down to the wire.”

Pees The Master Of Disguise?

Ravens Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron revealed the toughest defensive coordinator he’s ever had to scheme against.

And he’s had to face this opponent every day in practice this offseason: Dean Pees.

“Dean, I’ve known about Dean, and known Dean for a long time. When he was in New England, I went against him several times. He’s the best I’ve gone against,” Cameron told reporters yesterday. “And the reason I tell you that is because you can’t decipher – or he’s very difficult to decipher – what they’re trying to do.”

With the Ravens’ top pass rusher Terrell Suggs sidelined for an indefinite amount of time this season, plus losing defensive end Cory Redding to free agency, Pees’ ability to camouflage his defense is exactly what the team needs right now.

“The Ravens defense might need to become the masters of disguise to manufacture a fierce pass rush this season,” wrote The Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson. “Generating pressure through more elaborate blitz packages and overloads is likely to be a large part of the equation.

“For Pees … hiding his intentions is pivotal.”

Pees was more humble about his ability to fool an offense. He gave credit to smart coaches and quarterbacks around the league for their football smarts. He said the key to disguise is putting in a coverage that looks exactly like a blitz.

With younger, less-experienced players stepping up this year – Paul Kruger, Courtney Upshaw, Pernell McPhee, Arthur Jones and Terrence Cody – the Ravens will rely heavily upon their new defensive coordinator.

“Known for his cerebral approach, Pees has an instant recall of opponents’ tendencies gleaned from studying countless hours of game tape,” wrote Wilson. “The Ravens are counting on Pees’ football acumen.”

No-Huddle Is The Right Plan Of Attack

You saw it Thursday night against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Ravens are using more no-huddle offense, which quarterback Joe Flacco “loves.”

And while the Ravens offense didn’t perform it to the best of its ability in its debut, ESPN’s Jamison Hensley likes the team’s decision to use it more often.

“The increased use of the no-huddle offense is the right plan of attack with Baltimore’s Joe Flacco,” he wrote.

“Flacco doesn’t gush often. So when he says he loves the no-huddle, this is significant. Flacco has a comfort level with the no-huddle and the shotgun because that’s what he ran for most of his time at Delaware.”

Hensley added that some of the fifth-year quarterback’s best moments last year came in the no-huddle, shotgun attack, including the winning drive at Pittsburgh and the almost-winning drive in the AFC championship.

“Despite Flacco’s support, I’m not sure how much more the Ravens will use the no-huddle attack this season,” the AFC North blogger wrote. “The Ravens used no huddle on 7 percent of their offensive plays, which already put them in the top half of the league.”

Highlights Of Harbs’ Fan Chat, Including Kicker Decision

In case you missed it, Coach Harbaugh chatted online with fans yesterday afternoon, answering questions for 30 minutes.

Here are some highlights (full transcript):

Lucas: What’s your opinion on the Cundiff and Tucker competition?

Harbs: It’s a good one. It’s a tight race. The great thing about it is that they’re both doing really well. I’m not concerned about it because they’re both doing well. They’re both going to be kicking for a team this year in the NFL. You let it play out and let the decision make itself.

Kelly rippeon: Do you think [Terrell] Suggs will play in the 2012-2013 football season?

Harbs: Yes, I do.

Jen: Coach is it concerning that you have to play the steelers twice in 3 weeks knowing its always a hard hitting game that takes alot out of the team?

Harbs: The Steelers have to play us twice in three weeks too, so I guess that evens it out.

Thomas: Coach have you ever seen Ray Lewis down or blue in the four years you have been with the Ravens? He always seems to talk and jump around on the sidelines.

Harbs: Never. Never seen Ray let disappointment or frustration get the best of him. When he does feel he’s being challenged he’ll get quiet. He’ll pray. That’s good advice for all of us.

Mohamed: Do you feel that Flacco has the potential to become within the top 3 quarterbacks this year?

Harbs: Absolutely.

Quick Hits

• “There apparently won’t be a Round 3 in the training-camp fight between wide receiver Antonio Brown and cornerback Ike Taylor,” wrote Hensley. “After their second skirmish of camp, Brown said he and Taylor went to breakfast on their day off and ‘ironed out our differences.’”[ESPN] 
• @jeffzrebiecsun: Torrey Smith was really slowed by sprained ankle [Monday] in practice so him not being out there [Tuesday] is no surprise. #Ravens [Twitter]
• @Ravens: Cam Cameron said that Michael Oher & Marshal Yanda graded at nearly 100 percent in last week’s game. [Twitter]
• @Ravens: Cam Cameron said they have not yet determined how long the starters will play on Friday. [Twitter]
• @mzenitz: According to Ed Lee at the Sun, Tucker now 82-of-87 during camp. Cundiff 74-of-89. [Twitter]
• Gross! … @TMO_90 [DE Terrence Moore]: I’ve worn the same shirt for the past four days and I.. don’t.. care…. #CampLife [Twitter]
• @AnquanBoldin: Congrats to my friend @LarryFitzgerald on winning the Arthur K. Arkush Humanitarian Award. Tremendous accomplishment. [Twitter]
• @Dgorrer36: Some of my teammates are “jerks” im not gone say no names @Crushboy31 [Twitter]
• @Crushboy31 [Bernard Pollard]: @Dgorrer36 lol how am I a “jerk” because I corrected you? You’re out! I hope you catch a full body cramp tonight while you sleeping… [Twitter]
• @Dgorrer36: @Crushboy31 the things u say sometimes just make me want to punch u n yo big lips….lol [Twitter]
• @Crushboy31: @Dgorrer36 lol!!! My lips are normal size. [Twitter]
• @brendon310: Never been scared of thunder b4. Until today!! Sleeping in the basement tonight [Twitter]
• @brendon310: Every one calling me a baby. You guys would be wearing diapers! Lol I been I’m hurricanes less violent than these storms tonight [Twitter]

A few scuffles during training camp are a pretty regular occurrence in the NFL, especially since players endure regular three-hour practices in the intense heat of the sun.

But the fight between wide receiver Antonio Brown and cornerback Ike Taylor – for the second time at Steelers training camp – was not considered “normal.”

“[T]his went beyond the usual training-camp tussle,” wrote Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The altercation began when Taylor tried to wrestle a ball away from Brown in the end zone, according to the report. They fought for the ball on the ground, and when they eventually got back on their feet, Brown threw a punch at Taylor.

Several teammates intervened, but it didn’t stop there.

A “spirited” goal-line drill toward the end of practice seemed to further incite the players, especially safety Ryan Clark and Taylor.

Once practice concluded, Taylor went after Brown in the middle of the field and the players had to be separated again, this time even by Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert.

The teammates eventually walked off the field together with Taylor holding an ice pack to his forehead.

Head Coach Mike Tomlin downplayed the Sunday fight.

“These guys understand what we’re working for, and when we step into stadiums, we’re together,” Tomlin said. “When you fight your brother, sometimes, it gets a little heated … the guys understand what that’s about, and they’ll leave it on the grass where it should be.”

But he won’t be able to give the same speech if a third brawl occurs, says ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.

“If a third altercation occurs between Brown and Taylor, head coach Mike Tomlin can’t chalk it up to ‘those things happen’ like he did Sunday,” wrote the AFC North blogger. “Brown and Taylor are the best at their positions on this team. Tomlin can’t allow them to keep butting heads (sorry, Chad Johnson).”

Does Thompson Have Edge Over Streeter?

It’s unclear how many receivers the Ravens will keep on the roster in 2012.

If they keep six like they did the two last seasons, that final spot could come down to undrafted rookie free agent Deonte Thompson and sixth-round draft pick Tommy Streeter. (David Reed could also be in the mix once he returns from an ACL injury.)

In order to get that sixth spot, if available, Head Coach John Harbaugh said each competing receiver will have to 1) make plays on offense and 2) play an important role on special teams.

“Thompson would appear to be the more capable of the two to help out on special teams,” wrote the Carroll County Times’ Matt Zenitz.

The undrafted rookie also appears to be making more plays on offense. After a standout performance in the preseason opener with three catches for 53 yards and a touchdown, Thompson continued his streak in practice. He’s since caught a few more touchdown grabs from quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

Harbaugh said that Thompson had a lull for a couple days in camp prior to the contest in Atlanta, but said he’s enjoyed another big spark.

“He’s making a little bit of a move,” the head coach added.

But don’t count out Streeter.

He’s still a little raw and lacks polish as a route runner, say Zenitz, but he’s 6-foot-5, 220 pounds and ran a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash at the combine.

“Streeter, though, could be tough to get rid of because of his combination of size and speed,” wrote Zenitz. “[He] has big upside as both a deep threat and a weapon inside the red zone.”

C. Williams Losing Ground, Has A Weakness To Correct

Cornerback Cary Williams is losing ground to second-year player Jimmy Smith in the battle for starting cornerback, says Hensley.

Despite not playing in the Ravens preseason game (back), Smith may have helped his chances because Williams struggled to cover Falcons receiver Julio Jones. Williams gave up five passes for 79 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter.

“The numbers are worse than the effort,” wrote Hensley. “On the first catch allowed, Williams tried to jam Julio Jones, who was able to get inside position for a 26-yard gain on a slant. The next two passes were completions to Jones when Williams played seven to eight yards off the line.”

The five year veteran’s weakness, according to Hensley, is that he plays the receiver rather than the ball. There were two plays in which Williams ran stride for stride with the receiver and was in good position, but just needed to turn to deflect the pass.

“When the regular season begins next month, Williams could look back at this game as a missed opportunity,” wrote Hensley. “The Ravens need to give Smith, a first-round pick from a year ago, a hard look with the first-team defense over the next three preseason games.”

Reed Sneaks Into Offensive Huddle

A playful Ed Reed was on display during Monday’s practice.

The veteran safety snuck into the offensive huddle as quarterback Joe Flacco was calling a play during 11-on-11 drills.

He found a nice little hiding place, standing next to the gigantic Bryant McKinnie (6-foot-8, 360 pounds).

“Reed blended in nicely. However, he was eventually noticed, prompting him to jog away,” wrote The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec.

Reed’s shenanigans come just a few days after the Ravens announced he wouldn’t play in the preseason opener, but the All-Pro ended up out there anyway because he didn’t have anything else to do and he needed to break in his jersey.

Which Defender Should Play On Offense?

With the New York Jets allowing cornerback Antonio Cromartie get some action at receiver, CSNBaltimore.com’s Ray Frager wonders which Ravens defender fans would like to see play some offense.

He throws out a few ideas:

Reed = a pass-catching running back
Ngata = fullback
Terrence Cody = guard
Lardarius Webb = wideout
Ray Lewis = tight end

Quick Hits

• This has got to be the first time Ma’ake Kemoeatu (6-foot-5, 345 pounds) was called a mini anything … mzenitz: P. McPhee on Kemoeatu: “Dude’s a beast. He’s a mini Haloti Ngata.” [Twitter]
• Oh perfect, just when he is switched back to left guard in practice yesterday … mzenitz: [Kelechi] Osemele on position he’s most comfortable at: “I feel like I’m actually more comfortable at tackle in general. … But, I’ve been hearing from a lot people that my frame would work really well at guard.” [Twitter]
• Marshal Yanda brought in a T-shirt with a saying that players are embracing … KOsevendeuce: Just posted a photo [Twitter]
• Haloti Ngata feels much more comfortable with his added weight. He’s gone from 335 at the end of the season to 342 now. Not only does he feel stronger with opponents double-teaming him, but he doesn’t feel like his conditioning is any worse. He says he is breathing just fine in camp. Listen to more of his explanation. [CSNBaltimore.com]

If you have a story to tell in the locker room, you better make sure it’s a good one.

Otherwise teammate quarterback Joe Flacco will call you out, bro.

That’s the message his receiver and good friend Torrey Smith is conveying with a T-shirt he had made and posted on Twitter.

The shirt has a large illustration of Flacco sporting his iconic Fu Manchu on the front with the words, “Cool Story Bro” and “You should tell it at practice” printed to the side of his face.

Reporters asked Smith for the story behind the T-shirt after practice in Annapolis yesterday.

“O-hoooo. The T-shirt!” Smith responded.

“My man Joe, he says ‘bro’ more than anyone on the earth.”

Teammates have been known to tell a story or two that they think will elicit a positive reaction, but many have failed to meet the high standards of the team’s tough critic.

And Flacco will use sarcasm to get out of hearing more lame stories.

“‘Cool story bro’ has been a thing this summer so I just got them to make a shirt and put Joe’s face on the side and said, ‘you should tell it at practice,’ meaning he’s being very sarcastic. It’s a very lame joke and look at that face, it’s perfect.”

Jaguars Release WR Lee Evans

The Jacksonville Jaguars released former Ravens wide receiver Lee Evans on Sunday.

And guess who they signed to replace him?

Another former Ravens receiver: Demetrius Williams. The six-year veteran was selected by Baltimore in the fourth round of the 2006 draft and was expected to become the badly needed deep threat at the time, but injuries derailed his career with the purple and black.

Evans signed with the Jags early in the offseason, hoping for a chance to redeem his legacy after unsuccessfully securing the game-winning touchdown catch in the AFC championship last season.

I hope Evans does get a chance to redeem himself (not in Baltimore), otherwise he will continue to be the butt of jokes, as showcased in the tweet below.

“Guess you can say they decided to ‘drop’ him from the roster,” tweeted ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.

Dickson Nervous About Starting Role?

Is Ed Dickson nervous he could lose his starting role to Dennis Pitta?

After reading that Dickson doesn’t necessarily agree that he will miss the remainder of the preseason with a sprained right shoulder and wants to return sooner to work on chemistry with Flacco, that’s the impression Hensley came away with.

“You get the sense that Dickson has this urgency to return because he doesn’t want to lose his hold on the starting job to Dennis Pitta, who is also expected to be ready for the regular season after breaking his hand,” the AFC North blogger wrote.

“Dickson was the preferred tight end target early last season, but Pitta was the more effective tight end later in the season.”

Injury Hurting Doss In WR Competition?

Receiver Tandon Doss’ return was brief.

He worked back to practice early last week, but didn’t finish the week out as he continues to battle a hamstring injury. He was held out of the preseason opener and hasn’t returned since.

The Baltimore Sun’s Matt Vensel thinks Doss’ continued absence could be hurting his chances in the tight battle at wide receiver. Especially since LaQuan Williams shined in front of a 20,000-person crowd in Annapolis.

“[It's] a situation that could cause him to fall behind other competitors for the fourth receiver spot,” Wilson wrote. “LaQuan Williams caught a few touchdowns Sunday.”

Proof Ravens Are Getting Healthier

The Ravens were bitten by the injury bug early in training camp, but as long as they continue on their current trajectory, they should be relatively healthy for the season.

Over the weekend, the number of players with varying injury concerns dropped to 11 – that’s 10 less than the 21 that existed just after the preseason opener in Atlanta Thursday night, according to Joe Platania of pressboxonline.com.

Among those that returned are center Matt Birk, rookie running back Bernard Pierce, cornerback Jimmy Smith, defensive tackle Arthur Jones, outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw and T. Smith.

After reporting the full list of non-participants for the Annapolis practice (David Reed, Tandon Doss, Ed Dickson, Dennis Pitta, Jah Reid, Chykie Brown, Asa Jackson, Josh Bynes, Darryl Blackstock, Terrell Suggs, and Ryan McBean) in one tweet, Vensel noted the vast improvement.

“The fact that I’m finally able to get all non-participants easily into one Tweet is proof the Ravens are trending toward the healthy side,” he wrote.

Things Looking Up For McKinnie, As Weight Goes Down

With a controversial start to training camp for left tackle Bryant McKinnie, things look to be on the up-and-up.

Here’s the positive, according to The Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson:

• After working hard and showing progress, McKinnie is “beginning to rebuild some equity with the coaching staff.”
• His weight is “headed south” and he should know better how to approach his weight issues with results of his medical exam from a week ago to discover whether he has metabolism issues.
• He’s performing well. Still playing with the second-team offense, the 11-year veteran hasn’t let a defender anywhere near quarterback Tyrod Taylor. “Bryant McKinnie stonewalled Sergio Kindle repeatedly,” Wilson wrote after practice yesterday. “Kindle isn’t big and strong enough to bull rush big tackles.”

McKinnie still anticipates regaining his left tackle position, but Wilson says there’s still room for improvement when creating movement in the running game and getting to the second level to block linebackers.

Part Of O-Line’s Problems = Communication

After going back and reviewing some of the breakdowns with the first-team offensive line during Thursday night’s preseason game, CBSSports.com’s Jason Butt noticed some missed assignments partly due to miscommunication between some of the newest offensive linemen.

With Matt Birk out nursing his back, rookie center Gino Gradkowski filled in at center, working with newly signed left guard Bobbie Williams.

“Gradkowski had a couple of miscues, none bigger than missing a block during a toss sweep play to Ray Rice on Baltimore’s second drive,” Butt wrote. “Gradkowski’s job was to take LB Stephen Nicholas, but he whiffed — bad. Nicholas burst through the line and tackled Rice for a loss of 1 yard.

“While Gradkowski is learning the ropes as a rookie, veteran LG Bobbie Williams is still soaking up Baltimore’s terminology. During the Ravens’ fourth drive, Atlanta brought a stunt with defensive tackles Travian Robertson and Peria Jerry. Gradkowski engaged Robertson first, but Williams appeared confused, thinking Robertson was his assignment too.”

Both Gradkowski and Williams acknowledged that they need to work on communication, which is correctable.

In addition to working with Gradkowski, Williams says he’s trying to talk more with McKinnie, who is a little more quiet.

“I find myself talking to [McKinnie] more,” Williams said. “I definitely gotta make sure I know what I’m doing so I don’t steer him wrong. He knows that I’m a guy that likes to talk, so I find myself talking to him because he ain’t gonna talk to me too much. And it’s not that he doesn’t like me, he’s just quiet.”

Quick Hits

• “Vonta Leach pulled his best impression of former Ravens linebacker Bart Scott when he pulled an official’s penalty flag out of his pocket and threw it after Sean Considine had practically tackled a receiver,” wrote Platania. “Scott famously threw an official’s flag into the M&T Bank Stadium stands during a 2007 loss to New England.” [PressBoxOnline.com]
• @mattvensel: Jah Reid (calf) did blocking work with blocking pads off to the side. He acknowledged that he is getting closer to returning. No timeline. [Twitter]
• @jtuck9: S/O to my roomie @balasavage89, or as we all know him: #Shredder [Twitter]
• @mvpbig [Ramon Harewood]: How I feel right now? Like I could fall asleep to a massage… Good lawd bless my body ! Lol #sore #trainingcampwoes [Twitter]
• “Someone who is flying under the radar is guard Justin Boren, an undrafted player from a year ago who has become a favorite with the coaching staff,” wrote Hensley. “Bobbie Williams remains the starter at left guard, but Boren is receiving some reps with the starters at that spot.” [ESPN]
• “The Steelers, despite using their first two picks on a needy offensive line, still have major problems there,” wrote Peter King. [SI.com]

Safety Omar Brown was running back to the sideline after nabbing his second of three – yes three – turnovers when Head Coach John Harbaugh stopped him.

“You’re trying to make this team, aren’t you?” Harbaugh asked.

“Yes, sir,” Brown simply replied.

The Ravens have to be feeling good about their rookie free agent class – which Harbaugh declared the best he’s seen since coming to Baltimore in 2008. Brown wasn’t the only one to make the head coach think twice about cutting him from the roster.

Below are four players – three being rookie free agents – that are longshots to make the team, but had glowing performances in the Ravens’ preseason opening 31-17 win in Atlanta.

Brown: “Omar Brown again?” tweeted Matt Vensel after the Marshall alumnus notched the trifecta  in his first NFL game. He recovered two fumbles and nabbed an interception, the first three-turnover game since high school. He also he tied Albert McClellan for the team lead with five tackles. Brown was a key contributor in the Ravens’ ability to come from behind and outscore Atlanta 31-3 down the stretch to secure the victory.

Receiver Deonte Thompson: This Florida rookie free agent’s standout performance didn’t come as a surprise to fans that have been following his buzz in training camp. Thursday night’s performance, in which Thompson led all Ravens receivers with three catches for 53 yards, was just a continuation of what he’s done in practice. He consistently got behind the Atlanta secondary and his biggest highlight was a 22-yard touchdown grab that gave the Ravens the lead for the first time. “[He] wore out the Falcons’ backup defensive backs, who simply couldn’t cover him,” wrote CSNBaltimore.com’s John Eisenberg.

But his bid for a roster spot is still far from over in a crowded receiving corps. In addition to Tandon Doss, LaQuan Williams and David Reed, Thompson is also competing against Ravens sixth-round pick Tommy Streeter. Baltimore rarely likes to cut its draft selections. “[Streeter] has the size and speed (6-5, 4.4) that NFL teams covet,” wrote CBSSports.com’s Jason Butt. “But undrafted rookie Deonte Thompson might be leading him at this time in the race for the final receiver spot on the 53-man roster. His speed is unquestioned, and he certainly raised some eyebrows with his play.”

Running back Bobby Rainey: What a night for the compact 5-foot-8, 212-pounder who is competing  with rookie Bernard Pierce, first-year back Damien Berry and second-year vet Anthony Allen for the No. 2 job behind Ray Rice. “[Rainey] won this first game easily,” Eisenberg wrote of the competition.

Not only is the Western Kentucky star built like Rice (same height and weight), but he produced like the Pro Bowler too. He rushed for 36 yards on 12 carries and also caught three passes for 28 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown pass was Rice-like too, pulling in a screen pass and then zigging and zagging his way through defenders for the 18-yard score. Oh, and he added 76 yards on special teams. “Rainey made a case that he should be given some second-team reps next week, that is if third-round rookie Bernard Pierce remains out with a hamstring injury,” wrote Butt.

Quarterback Curtis Painter: The former Peyton Manning backup is trying to convince the Ravens to allocate a third coveted roster spot to the quarterback position. Painter threw three second-half touchdown passes to lead the Ravens in the come-from-behind win. He finished the night completing 7-of-14 passes for 76 yards and a 106.0 quarterback rating. “Curtis Painter, where has this been all training camp?” asked Vensel. For real. If the four-year veteran is going to stick around, he will need to do more of the same over the next several weeks.

‘Loving’ WR Smith’s New Tools

The chemistry between quarterback Joe Flacco and Torrey Smith picked up where it left off last season. The two combined for 43 yards on three catches, one going for 25, in a little more than a quarter of play Thursday night.

But there is something new with Smith – the weapons he’s added to his arsenal. Not only does he have more consistent hands, but he’s showing he is more than just a deep threat.

“I liked – make that loved – how the Ravens used Torrey Smith underneath. Those crossing patterns can be really dangerous,” tweeted Vensel.

“Also, if Torrey learns to run the comeback route half as well as Derrick Mason did, that might be unstoppable with DBs fearing his speed.”

Anthony Allen Didn’t Take Advantage

Thursday night was supposed to be Allen’s chance to separate from the rest of the field in the running back competition.

There ended up being separation, but it was Rainey who was ahead by the end of the night.

“In the battle for the backup running back job, Anthony Allen didn’t take advantage of Bernard Pierce being out with a hamstring injury,” wrote Eisenberg.

The team’s 2011 seventh-round draft pick only churned out nine yards on five carries, an average of 1.8 yards per rush. He also dropped a potential first-down pass in the first quarter while looking to avoid contact, and he gave up a sack.

Bryant McKinnie Didn’t Start, But Looked Good

The Ravens didn’t give incumbent left tackle Bryant McKinnie the start Thursday night, choosing instead to go with Michael Oher in his spot and Kelechi Osemele on the right side.

But that didn’t surprise McKinnie; he knew he needed the reps with the second team.

“Just started back practicing on Monday, only had 1 day n pads. So I needed the extra work 2nite 2 get back n rhythm. Felt good!” the 11-year veteran tweeted.

Not only did he feel good, but he looked good.

“The veteran appeared to move well and handle his assignments easily, with no breakdowns,” wrote Eisenberg.

Granted, the former Pro Bowler was playing against the Falcons’ reserves, but he is on his way.

Quick Hits

• Replacement referee, Craig Ochoa, just couldn’t get it right Thursday night as he had his birds confused and kept referring to Atlanta as the Arizona Falcons. [NFL.com]
• @MyMoment_Rainey: I want to thank everyone who came to support me at the game 2night! Thanks! I appreciate that! Felt great playing back at home! Thanks again [Twitter]
• @_KIDRaven_[CB Asa Jackson]: Tonight was an amazing experience. I couldn’t be more grateful… Thank u God and #Ravensnation for giving me this chance…. Man!!! [Twitter]
• @RayRice27: Great first pre season win now it’s time to get back to work can’t forget it’s still training camp #Ravens [Twitter]
• @TorreySmithWR: Had fun playing in a real game again..looking forward to finishing up camp strong….FYI I’m ok stop mixing me up with ED haha [Twitter]
• @brendon310: Just went head up on chicken sandwiches with Haloti. 3 each. I think he snuck in a 4th when I wasn’t looking. 230 vs 330 lol [Twitter]
• “Baltimore’s punt coverage team, which ranked 24th last season and gave up two touchdowns, is still a concern,” wrote Jamison Hensley. “The Ravens gave up a 45-yard return in the first quarter after Albert McClellan and Emanuel Cook missed tackles.” [ESPN]
• Without Terrell Suggs and Courtney Upshaw, the pressure on the quarterback wasn’t there … “The defensive front got little pressure on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, allowing him to throw for 155 yards and a touchdown,” wrote Butt. “Ryan could have done more damage if it wasn’t for a sneaky interception from linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, who Ryan never saw. The Ravens’ defensive line failed to penetrate Atlanta’s offensive line, which was seen as makeshift heading in.” [CBSSports.com]
• @ProFootballTalk: Jared Gaither still can’t get on the field at Chargers camp [Twitter]
• @mattvensel: Corey Graham has looked good in camp, too, and at least three DBs have pointed out to be me unsolicited how impressed they are by him. [Twitter]
• Pretty sweet Ravens video set to the music from “The Dark Night Rises.” Created by reed20xhawk. [YouTube]

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.

Potential Criticism For Offering Flacco Too Much

When asked about quarterback Joe Flacco’s contract negotiations, which are still ongoing with nothing imminent at this point, Owner Steve Biscotti told WBAL Radio’s Brett Hollander:

“I don’t really care about the contract.”

Well that makes two people – the Ravens owner and the franchise quarterback himself. They are both letting their representatives, Ravens Vice President of Football Administration Pat Moriarty and agent Joe Linta, take care of that side of the business.

That doesn’t mean neither Bisciotti nor Flacco care about extending their relationship. On the contrary, they both appear so confident that it will work out that they can focus on other things.

“What I care about is Joe and the demeanor that he’s showing and the ownership of the offense that people here believe in him,” Bisciotti said. “He’s a father and a husband and I see his maturation and I think we’re going to see the best that Joe Flacco has to offer right now.”

While Bisciotti didn’t reveal any more about contract negotiations, CBSSports.com’s Pat Kirwan said he learned during his visit to Owings Mills, Md., that the Ravens feel very good about their offer on the table.

One unnamed Ravens executive told him, “We might have some fans that will criticize us for the offer we have on the table because it’s too much.”

While Kirwan doesn’t believe that offer will change much between now and the end of the season, he did say the Ravens are prepared to raise their offer if he has a great season. But if he doesn’t, the deal on the table will stand and Flacco can choose to sign it or take the franchise tag.

Bisciotti Defends McKinnie, Says He’s In Shape

Offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie has come under intense scrutiny this offseason, and Bisciotti isn’t sure he deserves it.

“I honestly think it’s a little unfair to him,” he said.

The media’s microscope has focused tightly in on the 11-year veteran after Head Coach John Harbaugh held the offensive lineman from full participation during the offseason mandatory minicamp for “conditioning purposes.” McKinnie says he has also been given a target weight of 348 pounds – which was his college weight. He hasn’t yet been able to achieve that goal, but he is about 10 pounds lighter than where he played last season.

When McKinnie surprisingly missed the first four days of training camp and failed his conditioning test, the bright lights only got hotter.

But Bisciotti points to McKinnie’s long-term track record to show he deserves more credit than people are giving him.

“He’s been a great teammate,” Bisciotti said. “We brought him in [and] last year he played heavier than he is right now and he started 18 games for us. I don’t know that the guy’s missed a game in his entire career.”

Bisciotti is just about right. McKinnie hasn’t missed a game due to injury in his 10-year NFL career, playing in 132 consecutive games. He missed the first four games of the 2008 season due to an NFL suspension for violation of the personal conduct policy.

“So he’s a very prideful guy,” the owner added. “He wants to get to the weight that Coach Harbaugh wants and I believe he’s going to get there.”

While he admits that he doesn’t know football as well as the men he’s hired to manage his team, Bisciotti believes that McKinnie is in good conditioning shape.

“[There's] people that know football better than me and talk about knee bend and all those things,” Bisciott said. “Bryant McKinnie is an enormous man and at 6-foot-8, I don’t know the difference and I don’t think I would know the difference whether he’s 360 or 345. So if that’s their goal …

“But for a 360-pound man to go out and pass our conditioning test, which is brutal, he’s in pretty good shape.”

McKinnie To Play A Lot In Atlanta

Harbaugh said that generally starters will only play one quarter in the Ravens preseason opener in Atlanta, but some may play more or less depending on individual circumstances.

Count McKinnie as one who will play more, and maybe a lot more.

When asked on Twitter whether he will play in the game, Big Mac responded:

“Yup! Gonna play a lot, haven’t had much practice.”

Ravens’ Attack Package Similar To Patriots’

After watching the Ravens offense in action, Kirwan came away feeling impressed with what he saw.

The analyst saw key offensive weapons that can be as dangerous as the folks in New England.

“From Flacco to Ed Dickson to Torrey Smith, there is real excitement about how good this team can be in the no-huddle,” wrote Kirwan. “Baltimore has a chance to have a similar attack package that the Patriots use.”

When the unit gets into a 12- personnel set with one running back, two tight ends, two wide receivers it can “really present problems for any defense.”

The tight ends can pose as matchup problems for a base defense, says Kirwan, as they can both block and flex as slot receivers. And opponents will have to choose between trying to stop the passing game or Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice.

“At practice the offense featured the no-huddle, two-minute package and it was effective, especially if defenses overplay the passing game and let Rice dominate,” Kirwan concluded.

Upshaw Isn’t Only AFC North Rookie Off To Rough Start

Harbaugh admitted that Ravens 2012 top rookie pick Courtney Upshaw’s development has been a little delayed after missing a week of training camp practice with a shoulder injury.

But Upshaw is back and has time to get plenty of reps at outside linebacker.

Interestingly enough, Upshaw isn’t the only top rookie in the AFC North who is off to a “rough start,” says ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.

Browns No. 3 overall pick in running back Trent Richardson is tentatively scheduled to have minor arthroscopic surgery to remove a “hang nail particle” of loose cartilage, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. He is expected to return for the season opener.

The Bengals’ top pick of 2012, cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, is on the non-football injury list. He hurt his leg before camp began, and will also miss the preseason.

Steelers rookie guard David DeCastro is healthy, and expected to start in their preseason game tonight against the Eagles, but he is experiencing some growing pains. He told quarterback Ben Roethlisberger that he is struggling with the physical part of the game.

Quick Hits

• “Haloti Ngata told me early in camp he fell into the trap of thinking he had to do more to overcome the loss of Suggs but now realizes he has to just do his job,” wrote Kirwan. [CBSSports.com]
• Ray Lewis may already be nurturing his successor as the leader of the Ravens. “[I]t is clear to me that Rice is closing in on the inspirational leader role,” wrote Kirwan. “Rice said with a big smile that he doesn’t think he’ll ever be able to do the Ray Lewis pregame routine on the field but he knows his day is coming and it comes with Lewis’ blessing.”
• Fans have to be itching to see the new Joe Flacco that everyone is talking about. Here’s another interesting quote about how different he is this season, this time from Harbaugh: “He’s not a different guy, but it’s almost like, ‘Is this the real Joe Flacco now?’ He’s funny, and he’s engaged more. I think he’s coming out. He’s different. I don’t know what it is. He’s blossoming, I guess. His personality is starting to pop. Maybe it comes with confidence. Maybe he feels, OK, it’s starting to fall in place for him. It’s starting to click maybe somehow.” [ESPN]
• Receiver Torrey Smith liked the picture sent to him, in which is he making a diving touchdown leap both in high school and the pros … @TorreySmithWR: #staffordhigh #baltimoreravens pretty cool  [Twitter]
• @Dgorrer36: It brings water to my eyes to see me on the TV….yall wouldn understand the route it took me to get here tho! I Deserve It…. [Twitter]
• @MaakeKemoeatu: I’m excited to play tomorrow preseason game in ATL. after missing a full season of football last year. I can’t wait lets get it on GO RAVENS [Twitter]
• @Tandondoss: So @TorreySmithWR is my roomate as always… This dude has his security guards outside the room.. I had to get patted down jus to get in… [Twitter]
• Fans are trying to make enough noise for the Ravens and Harbaugh to hear that they want to keep Billy Cundiff. But that noise might be canceled out by the clamor from another group of fans that want Harbaugh to know that Justin Tucker should be the new kicker. You can join either group – they’re both asking you to sign your name on their petition. [Ravens Flock Message Boards]
• Last but not least … you didn’t think we were going to have a Ravens-Falcons matchup without a Flacco-Matt Ryan debate did you? Well here it is: which 2008 draft pick will have a better season? [NFL.com]