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]

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]

He’s 6-foot-6, 340 pounds, smart and athletic.

Problem is, Baltimore hasn’t gotten to see much of that potential in action.

Harewood has spent the past two seasons on injured reserve. The first was due to procedures on each of his knees. This past season, a preseason ankle injury forced him out.

“Such is life. I can’t go back and take it back,” he said.

Now Harewood says he’s healthy and is preparing to finally prove himself.

While almost all of his teammates have vacated the team’s Owings Mills facility, Harewood has been a frequent visitor, strengthening his ankle as much as possible and preparing to show what he can do in 2012.

“To be honest, the excitement has gone away,” Harewood said of making his return.

“Right now, it’s just a matter of getting to work. I wouldn’t call it excitement at all. In my mind I’ve got a job to do and I need to do it. My goal is set.”

Harewood, 25, said his sights are set on becoming a starter.

It’s likely a long-shot considering he hasn’t played a regular-season snap yet and Baltimore has Michael Oher and Bryant McKinnie set to return next year at tackle. But Harewood has the potential to work into the mix and eventually a larger role.

The Ravens knew Harewood was a developmental player when they drafted him. He had very little football under his belt before moving to America in 2006 from Barbados, where he played volleyball, track and field, cricket and soccer.

He became a dominant force while at small, all-male, historically black Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga., and did enough to convince Baltimore to invest a draft pick in him.

Two years later, Harewood’s still confident he can make it.

“There’s nothing that I’ve seen the last two years that would tell me that I can’t play in the NFL,” he said. “There’s no doubt in my mind. I feel like if I get through camp healthy, sky’s the limit.”

Lardarius Webb joined John Harbaugh in questioning reports that indicated the starting corner wouldn’t play this Sunday because of a toe injury.

“Yes, I’m playing Sunday,” Webb said last night during his “Cover 2″ radio show on 105.7 The FAN, via MASN. “If I don’t play Sunday, it’s going to be something that is holding me back. As of now, I’m planning on playing.”

After reports came out Monday indicating that Webb would miss one to three weeks, Harbaugh responded by saying everyone who played against the Colts is planning to play in San Diego – that includes the Ravens’ top cover corner.

Webb explained that he injured his toe during the third quarter of last Sunday’s win over the Colts, but it wasn’t enough to take him off the field. He nearly played the remainder of the game.

“I’m feeling good, just taking it day-by-day,” said Webb. “We’ve got to take precaution and just take care of a little soreness.”

Webb “made it clear” he was wearing a protective boot, wrote Dan Kolko.

Ravens fans shouldn’t be alarmed if Webb doesn’t practice today, says The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec.

“Obviously, we’ll see how the week goes but I would think that Webb will be held out of practice earlier in the week.”

Middle Linebacker Still A ‘Big Need’ In Draft

The Ravens are 4-0 without All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis.

Backups Jameel McClain and Dannell Ellerbe are both big reasons the defense has succeeded – even dominated – without Lewis. Some have speculated whether McClain will be the heir to the throne.

But former NFL general manager and CSN analyst Charley Casserly believes the Ravens still need to target a middle linebacker.

“I think you’re going to find another middle linebacker. I think it is a big need for them,” said Casserly. “I think with Ellerbe and McClain I think you have two guys in there. Ellerbe I think this is a guy who’s got talent, I think he’s undisciplined. I think McClain is a solid player, not a spectacular player. I think this is a primary need for them going forward.”

Casserly envisions Baltimore using its first-round selection to find Lewis’ replacement.

“The good thing about it, when you’re taking middle linebackers, they usually don’t go high in the draft,” he said. “You got Ray Lewis in the later part of the first [round], they might get a good one in the later part of the first with this year’s junior class.”

Chargers’ Sack Artist ‘Learned How To Play Football’ In Baltimore

Antwan Barnes is the Chargers’ new sack artist.

As he leads his defense with seven of the team’s 22 sacks, he gives credit to the Ravens as the place “I learned how to play football.”

In Baltimore, he said he learned how to be “impenetrable” and how to his control emotions.

Barnes always felt Baltimore was a “special place” to be a linebacker – being able to study, practice and play with Lewis and Terrell Suggs. But his time with them came to an end after three years when the Ravens traded him to the Eagles at the start of the 2010 season. Philadelphia released Barnes a month later, allowing San Diego to quickly sign him.

“As much as Baltimore’s the place to be an NFL linebacker, however, it’s also among the toughest franchises to become a regular,” wrote San Diego Union-Tribune’s Chris Jenkins. “Barnes wasn’t altogether disappointed about the trade, then.”

“As far as my leaving, it was time,” Barnes said. “I didn’t think I was going to get to play if I didn’t leave. I wanted to be a No. 1 guy.”

Now that he’s become the Chargers’ top pass rusher, he will want to show his former mentors that he’s applied what they taught. He’ll be determined to get to quarterback Joe Flacco, even if it takes until the end of the game.

“The connection that’s always on Barnes’ own mind is between him and the opposing quarterback,” wrote Jenkins. “He’s clearly quick on the jump, but also said the sack is a game-long process, starting with the methodical, play-by-play set-up of the offensive tackle across from him. By crunch time, Barnes said, he’s figured out which maneuver will work best and when to spring it.”

If Steelers Want Division, Big Ben Must Play

With a Grade 1 high ankle sprain, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is wearing a walking boot and his status for Monday Night Football against the 49ers is questionable.

Right?

“Only it’s not. He absolutely, positively must play if the Steelers are going to win a game and maybe, just maybe, their division,” wrote CBSSports.com’s Clark Judge.

The columnist believes the Steelers can win their final two games – against St. Louis and Cleveland – without Big Ben. But they can’t be victorious in San Francisco without him.

“The way I see it, Pittsburgh is staring at a one-game season,” wrote Judge. “Win Monday, and it probably runs the table, finishing 13-3. It might win the division, too, gaining a first-round bye and, possibly, home-field advantage. But lose? Well, then they risk ceding the AFC North to archrival Baltimore and entering the playoffs as a wild card.”

Since the Steelers play 24 hours after the Ravens do, they will know the result of the game in San Diego. But win or lose, Pittsburgh will still need to play Roethlisberger – either to force Baltimore to finish perfect or to take the lead in the AFC North.

“That’s a lot of time off between now and the divisional playoffs, and that’s just what a quarterback with a bad ankle needs. Only to make it there, Pittsburgh must somehow, some way, get Roethlisberger through its game with San Francisco,” Judge concluded.

Week 14 Power Rankings

Former Ravens head coach and Fox analyst Brian Billick and NFL.com’s Elliot Harrison are the only two writers below who don’t have the Ravens listed as the second-best team in their rankings. Both believe Baltimore is the third best.

That said, Harrison gave a huge bump to the Ravens this week, sending them from No. 6 to No. 3. Harrison took a lot of heat the last two weeks for putting the Steelers and 49ers ahead of Baltimore, despite head-to-head victories over both. But a victory over the winless Colts, combined with a tight Steelers-Browns matchup and a San Francisco loss, was enough to push the Ravens up.

Below is the Week 14 list, with this week’s and last week’s rankings in parentheses:

ESPN.com (2/2): “Insert LB/DE Terrell Suggs (three sacks against Indy) into the MVP conversation.”

SI.com’s Peter King (2/3): “Terrell Suggs: three sacks, three forced fumbles. The only questions about Suggs and the All-Pro team is wondering if he’ll be classified as an outside linebacker or defensive end. Either way, he’s an All-Pro.”

CBSSports.com’s Pete Prisco (2/2): “They are closing in on a division title, which would mean a home playoff game. Joe Flacco has never had one of those.”

FoxSports.com’s Brian Billick (3/3): “It may not have been as dominant as some would have thought, but the Ravens finally stopped playing down to their opponents. There isn’t a defensive player in all of the NFL that is playing as well as Terrell Suggs, and it looks like Ray Lewis is ready to return. The rich get richer in Baltimore.”

ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio (2/2): “Baltimore residents have never been so glad the Colts left.”

NFL.com’s Elliot Harrison (3/6): “The Ravens keep winning. No snarky remarks about beating the Colts not counting as a win here. The Ravens D, particularly Terrell Suggs, was solid if not suffocating. Baltimore is making a play for the top seed, with a road game versus the suddenly resurgent Chargers up next, before an AFC North run of the Ohio teams. That Week 17 matchup in Cincinnati might be one of the more important games of the year. Should be a good one.”

Quick Hits

• The 49ers (and Ravens) get a welcomed break for the Monday Night Football matchup with James Harrison’s suspension. [ESPN]
• The stock is up on Ray Rice’s carries. “The Ravens have a history of turning to their running back in December, and it’s no different this year,” wrote Jamison Hensley. “In the first nine games of the season, the Ravens running back averaged 15.3 carries. In the last four – all wins – Rice has received 24 carries per game. During this stretch, he has run for 470 yards and scored four touchdowns. Baltimore is 6-0 when Rice gets at least 20 carries and 4-3 when he does not.” [ESPN]
• In this Q&A, backup running back Ricky Williams chats about his relationship with Ray Rice and his plans for life after football. [The Baltimore Sun]
• The Chargers are facing the possibility of a second straight blackout, 2,000 tickets short of a sellout for Sunday Night Football.  ”The desire to have a marquee game seen locally should, in theory, be enough to persuade ownership to buy the unsold tickets at 34 cents on the dollar,” wrote Mike Florio. “But if ownership plans to fire coach Norv Turner, and possibly G.M. A.J. Smith, limping into the offseason with a pair of local blackouts could help ensure that the locals will be on board with the changes that could be made.” [ProFootballTalk.com]

Starting left guard Ben Grubbs returned to practice Wednesday on a limited basis. It’s not his first time practicing since he started missing games, however.

Grubbs briefly came back after the bye, but had his toe stepped on during a limited practice on Oct. 13. He hadn’t practice since. Grubbs hasn’t played since Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers after never missing a game in his previous four seasons.

His toe has taken longer to heal than Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh expected, and the minor setback didn’t help either.

With converted center Andre Gurode filling in for Grubbs, Baltimore’s offensive line has had some tough outings recently. It allowed quarterback Joe Flacco to be hit seven times by the Texans and sacked three times by the Jaguars and Cardinals. Flacco fumbled three times on those six sacks.

If Grubbs can return, it would be a boon for the line, which could also get some help if Pittsburgh pass rushers LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison aren’t able to suit up.

While Grubbs made it back to the field during Steelers week, wide receiver Lee Evans has not yet.

Evans, who has sat out since Week 2, was still sidelined Wednesday after saying late last week that he was trying to get over the “last little hump” in his ankle recuperation.

There were a couple surprises on the Ravens’ injury report. Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (thigh) and wide receiver David Reed (knee) both did not practice. Neither suffered a reported injury last Sunday.

Center Matt Birk (neck) was limited. Running back Anthony Allen (thigh), who has missed the last two games, was back with limited participation for the first time. Cornerback Danny Gorrer (thigh) also returned.

The Steelers’ injury report will be key to watch throughout the week as they have several high profile names that could miss Sunday’s game.
Linebackers Harrison (eye), Woodley (hamstring) and James Farrior (calf) were all limited, as were wide receiver Hines Ward (ankle) and tackle Jonathan Scott (ankle).

Steelers guard Doug Legursky (toe) and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (knee) did not practice.

The first-round rookie cornerback wasn’t used on defense in nickel packages as the Ravens turned to Danny Gorrer, who has played well in that role over the past two weeks.

Smith’s only action was on special teams, where he blocked gunners on punt returns.

“We would have liked to play Jimmy on defense more,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said. “We just weren’t in the kind of game where we felt we could do that. He really hasn’t played at all with just one week of practice. We didn’t feel it was the right time to put him in there.”

Smith returned to practice last week for the first time after suffering his high ankle sprain. He had two full practices on Friday and Saturday.

As Harbaugh said before the bye, fans will have to be patient with Smith’s return because it will be especially difficult for a rookie to catch up after missing four games and more than a month of practice.

Harbaugh also said Smith started getting gimpy with a sore ankle during the game, which was another reason to hold him out.

Baltimore was hoping to get the rookie’s feet wet in a game situation. The talented, big Smith could earn a larger role as the season goes on. But it’s a gradual process to get there.

“The coaches know what’s best,” Smith told reporters.

“I’ve been out for a long time. Just to throw me in there, I don’t want to say it would’ve been harsh, but in a game like this after I haven’t been playing for a month, that wouldn’t have been smart. If we had a comfortable lead, then OK, let me get my groove back a little.”

But Ravens fans can take solace in one thing.

Today, Evans told Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times that he expects to play again this season and that surgery on his ankle is still not an option.

“I’ve got to be effective out there,” Evans said. “I can’t just go out there just to go out there.

“It’s to the point now where I can’t even answer any more questions about it. It’s going to be what it is. We’ll see.”

The veteran wide receiver, who has been replaced in the starting rotation by rookie Torrey Smith, has been out since Week 2. He played through two games with some pain, catching two passes for 45 yards, before shutting it down to give himself time to heal.

But that hasn’t completely happened yet more than a month later.

“We thought it would be fine by now, and it’s just going a lot slower than we thought,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said last Friday. “We say we’re day-to-day on it. … It’s been very disappointing; no one’s been more surprised than all of us. But, [we'll] just wait and see if the doctors can figure it out. He has to keep working on it.”

Another Raven on the mend is rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith, who suffered a high ankle sprain against the Pittsburgh Steelers on the season’s opening kickoff. He did not divulge any timetable on his return to inquiring reporters Wednesday.

“I’m very optimistic about the comeback,” Smith said. “I think my ankle is healing day to day. So far, no, no setbacks.”

Baltimore has compiled a 3-1 record and reached the top of the AFC North despite an inordinate amount of bumps and bruises.

In a rare occurrence, all seven of the Ravens’ inactive players for Sunday night’s game against the New York Jets were injured. Every healthy player suited up.

Now, Baltimore could be looking at a rejuvenated team that is totally healthy after the bye and heading into its Oct. 16 showdown with the Houston Texans, who are tied for first in the AFC South.

“I am hopeful, heck yeah,” Harbaugh said.

“I’d probably be a little bit disappointed if we don’t get them all back. I don’t think you ever really know for sure with some of these things, but probably the No. 1 goal this week is to improve the health of our football team.”

With that in mind, here’s a review of who is on the mend:

G Ben Grubbs
Injury: Toe
Outlook: Grubbs has been out since the second week of the season, but says his injury is gradually getting better. The tough offensive guard, who had never missed a game in five previous seasons, practiced on a limited basis last Thursday, but was ruled out on a game-time decision by Harbaugh. “It’s been three weeks for a toe, so I think he’s got a pretty good chance,” Harbaugh said last Friday.

WR Lee Evans
Injury: Ankle
Outlook: Evans has been dealing with the ankle for quite some time. It started at the end of the preseason, but the Ravens’ deep threat receiver still played against the Steelers in Week 1 and recorded two catches for 45 yards in Week 2′s loss in Tennessee. After that game, Evans said it was affecting his performance, and the Ravens opted to shut him down. Evans, who did not practice all last week, said the toe was making “good progress” with the rest. “I’m shooting for the Texans, no doubt,” he said.

CB Chris Carr
Injury: Hamstring
Outlook: Carr’s hamstring has been an ongoing issue. It flared up in training camp, which forced him to miss some practices. He gradually worked his way back, but felt it “grab” against the Pittsburgh Steelers and sat out the next game in Tennessee. He sought additional opinions, and there was no confirmed tear, so Carr got back to the field against the Rams. He made it through that game and the next week until he did not practice last Friday and was scratched after being listed as questionable.

CB Jimmy Smith
Injury: High ankle sprain
Outlook: Smith has been injured since the opening kickoff of the season. The Ravens’ first-round pick immediately went on crutches and Harbaugh said he would be out “a few weeks.” Smith graduated to a walking boot, and that came off last week. Smith has said he’s targeting the Texans as a return date.

S Tom Zbikowski
Injury: Concussion
Outlook: Zbikowski suffered the concussion when playing against the New York Jets on Sunday night. Harbaugh didn’t have any further updates on his status on Monday afternoon. Depending on the severity, concussions can take less than a week or even multiple weeks.

LB Dannell Ellerbe
Injury: Hamstring
Outlook: Ellerbe suffered the injury in St. Louis while on special teams. He didn’t practice last week and didn’t play against the Jets after being listed as doubtful. The Ravens signed linebacker Prescott Burgess to step in for Ellerbe, but released Burgess Tuesday after adding cornerback Bryan McCann.

S Haruki Nakamura
Injury: PCL (knee)
Outlook: Nakamura injured his knee against the Rams on Sept. 25. Harbaugh first said the versatile defensive back would miss about a month. Nakamura thinks he’ll be back after the bye, saying there wasn’t much swelling in the knee right and that he’s already made a “ton of progress.”

WR/RS David Reed
Injury: Shoulder
Outlook: Harbaugh said Reed would be out probably three weeks after he took a hard hit in the Week 2 game in Tennessee. Reed, who is no longer wearing a sling on his arm, will have four weeks by the time the Texans come to M&T Bank Stadium.

Reed injured his shoulder returning a kickoff in the fourth quarter of the Ravens’ 26-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans and did not return.

The former fifth-round draft pick was unsure how long his recovery would last, but the fact that he will miss any time at all was frustrating.

“I never even got injured before I came to the NFL,” said Reed, who had offseason surgery on his wrist that had him open training camp on the physically unable to perform list.  “Now, I have all these injuries. It’s not me.  It’s very, very unfortunate.

“God’s trying to tell me something, and I just have to listen.”

Reed will undergo a magnetic resonance imaging exam to determine the extent of the damage.

Reed wasn’t the only Raven to get dinged up, as defensive tackle Terrence Cody sustained a concussion and did not return.

The Ravens also were judicious with the amount of time they played speedy wideout Lee Evans.

Dealing with a left ankle injury all week, Evans sat out several snaps to make sure he could give quality reps when the Ravens really needed him.

“I’m alright. I can’t say I’m all the way 100 percent, but I’m just giving it what I got,” said Evans, who caught two balls for 45 yards. “I was just trying to pace it. Late in the game, we were just trying to buy a couple plays so I could go back in there.

“I was trying to monitor it throughout the game so I could finish it.”

The Ravens scratched starting right guard Ben Grubbs because of an injured toe.  In Grubbs’ place, Mark LeVoir was promoted to the first team.

“I wanted to be smart,” said Grubbs.  “The last thing I wanted to do is go out there and hurt the team.  I want to be as close to 100 percent as possible, and I just felt like I wasn’t there.

“It’s a day-to-day thing.  [Next Sunday is] a long ways away, so we’ll take it day-to-day. I’ll continue to take it hard in the training room.  We’ll see tomorrow, hopefully I can run around.”

Last week, offensive guard Ben Grubbs had a second surgery on his ankle in as many years to remove bone spurs from the area, according to the Carroll County Times’ Aaron Wilson.

The procedure was conducted about a month away from his upcoming charity softball game, scheduled for June 5 at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen.

"I’m still rehabbing my ankle, and I would love to play in the softball game because I had a blast last year," Grubbs told the Times. "Getting my ankle right, that’s definitely my top priority. I feel great. I feel a lot better than the last surgery.

"I played in some pain the last two years. It’s been rough on me. Over the last two years, I accumulated more bone spurs and that was causing me problems. They got rid of those, hopefully. I give a lot of props to my doctors. They did a great job."

Rehabbing in Pensacola, Fla., Grubbs is still using crutches, but hopes to completely ditch those and move into a walking boot soon.

Optimistic that there will still be a 2011 season, the five-year starter said he’ll be ready for football whenever it is set to begin.

"Hopefully, I’ll be able to get back to 100 percent," said Grubbs. "I’m getting ready for an awesome season."

Proceeds from Grubbs’ second annual softball game will go toward the Park Heights Boys & Girls Club, a cause Grubbs deeply believes in after being raised by a single mother. His event raised $50,000 last year.

Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Lardarius Webb, Michael Oher, Haruki Nakamura and Cory Redding are just a few Ravens teammates scheduled to attend.

Jets-Ravens Playoff Would Be ‘Epic’

Last year’s season-opening grudge match between the Ravens and Jets was unforgettable – plenty of trash talk, a vintage Ray Lewis bone-crunching hit on Dustin Keller and only one point separated the two teams when time expired.

And that was just a regular-season game.

“I feel like those two teams are on course at some point to give us an epic post-season, not regular-season, contest,” said Mike Florio on ProFootballTalk Live.

After comparing last season’s opener to a gladiator-like combat out of Rome, CSNBaltimore.com’s John Eisenberg said it would be a game welcomed by more than TV executives and fans.

“Yeah, I know a lot of people would love it,” Eisenberg said. “On the other side, Rex Ryan [former Ravens defensive coordinator] would give anything for that game. Rex talks a little trash at the Ravens – its tough love, for sure.

“Most of the starters on that defense, they love him. They love being with him, they love competing against him. … It would be epic.”

A re-match against Ryan and former Ravens linebacker Bart Scott are obvious draws, but receiver Santonio Holmes also has a history with the Ravens, giving them playoff headaches during his Pittsburgh Steelers days.

“Holmes has killed the Ravens over the years so it would probably come back to that again. One way or another, no matter who they are playing, the Ravens have to become better playmakers if they are going to beat any [elite] teams consistently, especially in the postseason.

“With Holmes on the Jets, he’s killed them before, he’ll probably kill them again, so they definitely need to find an answer to that to beat these teams.”

We’ll have to wait to see if the football gods will bless us with the much-desired playoff meeting, but until then, the Week 4 primetime contest on Oct. 4 at M&T Bank Stadium surely won’t disappoint.

Eisenberg: Reid Starting At RT ‘A Stretch’

Presenting five questions about the offensive line this offseason, Eisenberg takes a stab at predicting whether Ravens third-round draft pick Jah Reid will be ready to start at right tackle in 2011.

“The team said [Reid] would compete for a starting job right away, but that sounds like a stretch for a guy coming from Central Florida,” wrote Eisenberg. “He is a massive run blocker with a high upside, and if he truly is able to step in, that would make the [Jared] Gaither decision a lot easier.”

Reid is a relatively unknown commodity to Ravens fans, so pinpointing exactly what he can bring to the table is a bit cloudy.

Take a look at The Sporting News’ report (via ESPN) on Reid’s strengths and weaknesses:

Strengths: Has tremendous height (6-7) and long arms. Shows a nice ability to widen the pocket and create space for his quarterback. Has good strength that allows him to knock defenders off the ball. Excels against stunts and shows the right amount of patience.

Weaknesses: Has difficulty blocking shorter defenders. Is not quick enough to thwart defenders who blitz off the edge. Has limited athleticism, which means he is less likely to be used as a swing tackle at the pro level.

Quick Hits

• Vote for the Ravens’ most defining moment since the team has been in existence (1996). With 22,397 votes already submitted to the SportsNation poll, 54 percent of fans say drafting Ray Lewis and Jonathan Ogden was the defining moment, while 40 percent say it was winning Super Bowl XXXV. [ESPN]
• Updating his 2008 draft grades now that he has three years of hindsight, Pete Prisco changed his Ravens grade from a C to a B. [CBSSports.com]
• RayRice27: Just worked out with @AnquanBoldin back at it tomorrow am [Twitter]
• Former Steelers and Ravens quarterback Kordell Stewart has been charged with driving with a suspended license and speeding. [ESPN]
• If Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer returns to Cincinnati, he will have the starting position waiting for him, according to Head Coach Marvin Lewis. Second-round draft selection Andy Dalton is still a fall-back option. [Cincinnati Enquirer.]