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]

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

The role is one that he relishes.

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

Outside of Boldin, the Ravens receivers are young.

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

“Those guys keep me youthful,” Boldin joked.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Boldin is also more than just an emotional leader.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But the Q-Fest has become a giant among them.

The Anquan Boldin Foundation is launching its eighth Annual Q-Festival Weekend today in Palm Beach County, Fla., with a star-studded list of more than 25 football players and 4,000 expected guests.

“Q-Fest is a weekend of fun and my way of saying thanks to my hometown of Pahokee for the years of support given to me,” Boldin said.

“Every year our numbers grow, we have greater support from partners and the community, and we continue to hear feedback where fans consider Q-Fest among the top-rated community events of the year.  We’re very proud of that.”

Boldin said this will be the biggest event yet, “by far.”

Ravens teammates who will be in attendance include Ray Rice, Torrey Smith, Ed Reed, Lardarius Webb, Tyrod Taylor, LaQuan Williams, Tandon Doss, Damien Berry, and Pernell McPhee, who like Boldin hails from Pahokee.

Other NFL players include Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald and Calais Campbell, New York Giants’ Hakeem Nicks, Antrel Rolle, Victor Cruz and Jason Pierre-Paul, Philadelphia’s LeSean McCoy, Kansas City’s Brandon Flowers, Carolina’s Steve Smith and more. Former players Kurt Warner, Fred Taylor and Michael Irvin will also be in attendance.

The event includes the Charity Golf Tournament and Dinner, the Celebrity Basketball Game & Autograph Signing and the Fun Day in the Park at Pahokee High School’s Anquan Boldin Stadium promoting physical fitness.

This year, several more events have been added to accommodate requests by people in the community to continue making the event bigger. There will be a gospel celebration featuring singer/songwriter Tye Tribbet and a boxing and sparring event.

The charity golf tournament takes place Thursday. The tournament is the fundraising portion of Q-Fest, helping Boldin’s Q81 Foundation to continue to raise awareness and funds for both education and recreational programs in Pahokee. 

The basketball game and Fun Day in the Park are on the next two days in Pahokee. There is also a week-long basketball tournament included this year.

The events outside of the golf tournament are free to the public for everyone interested in attending and include food, contests and giveaways.

The two logical replacements from within the team are second-year players Tandon Doss and LaQuan Williams, considering David Reed is recovering from a knee injury.

But Head Coach John Harbaugh wasn’t ready to anoint anybody just yet at the NFL owners meetings.

“If a better player comes in and beats those guys out and pushes one of those guys back, or two of those guys back, it would make us even better,” Harbaugh said. “But those guys will all be playing in that No.3 type, if you want to call it that role, three or four receiver.”

The Ravens could still look to the draft, which is deep at the position. The free-agent market is another option even though it’s been stripped of big names. It could be replenished with future cuts.

After the season ended, General Manager Ozzie Newsome said adding a wideout was one of the team’s needs. And that was before he released Evans.

Doss had a quiet rookie season. The fourth-round choice out of Indiana, who was hand-picked by quarterback Joe Flacco, was active for just six games and didn’t catch a pass. He was targeted twice.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder was playing behind Anquan Boldin, however. That’s why he saw the field in Baltimore’s final two regular-season games when Boldin was sidelined with a minor knee injury.

“Tandon was a more polished receiver than a lot of guys, but he wasn’t physically quite ready to beat somebody out,” Harbaugh said. “But Tandon is going to be a really good player. I think the weight room and the offseason program is going to be huge for him. We’re counting on him to be a big factor this year.”

LaQuan Williams was an undrafted free agent who was the Cinderella story of training camp. He was signed as a special teamer, but also flashed big-play potential at wideout that helped him make the team.

The 6-foot-0, 200-pound Williams was utilized more than Doss on offense. He caught four passes for 46 yards, including two for 28 yards in Pittsburgh.

Harbaugh said Williams was fighting through a shoulder injury that hindered him as the season went on. He tried to rest it midseason, but came back at the end and did “OK,” Harbaugh said.

“Being healthy is going to help him,” Harbaugh said, adding that he didn’t have many college reps so this offseason will really benefit him.

“I think he kind of did a really nice job. He was a big surprise for us. He came out of nowhere, played really well on special teams and on offense. He made some really big catches early in the year.”

Boldin mentored both wide receivers throughout the year. He credited Doss for being a player who can really catch the ball, but said Williams actually reminded him of himself.

“When I first came in, I was real raw. As the season went on, he started getting the technique that Coach [Jim] Hostler was looking for. He was beating guys in one-on-one coverage every day in practice. LaQuan was real smooth.”

Boldin didn’t have a guess as to who would end up manning the other wide receiver spot. But he felt comfortable either way with Doss or Williams.

“Those guys are more than capable of stepping into that No. 3 spot,” he said. “I’ve seen them develop from training camp last year toward the end of the season.”

Partnered with former teammate and fellow wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, the Ravens’ wide receiver spent the past four days in Ethiopia with the international relief organization Oxfam to raise awareness about the severe drought and famine in the region.

Speaking on an Oxfam conference call, Boldin sounded blown away by what he saw and the people he met.

“They still have hope,” Boldin said of the people.

“They still seem content with what they have and what they’re doing. They definitely don’t seem to be down. I still can’t wrap my head around the situation they’re living in.”

On the first day, Boldin and Fitzgerald mostly did heavy labor. They took about a three-hour ride to a valley where the local people were building retaining walls to try to protect against erosion.

Some of the locals walked three hours just to get to the site, then worked the entire day carrying rocks. Boldin was right there next to them doing the heavy lifting.

“It isn’t easy work,” he said. “I can’t imagine working six days a week, eight hours a day building dams. They’re carrying rocks anywhere from five to 60 pounds. This is not just men. It’s also women.”

Boldin met a man who had eight children who was there building the wall for 90 cents a day. His children were working in shifts too – half in the day and half at night – so they could still also go to school. Boldin said the whole family survives on about $60 a year.

“The math just still doesn’t add up,” Boldin said. “I don’t think any person in the U.S. could understand that, how an entire family can survive off $60 a year.”

Boldin said one of the sights that stuck with him was seeing 5 and 6-year-old kids tending to the cattle while their parents were at work. Also, even though it had rained just twice in the past year in the region, Boldin and Fitzgerald were lucky enough to experience rain for themselves.

The third day, Boldin and Fitzgerald went to talk to women about their rights and to learn more about the Oxfam program. Farmers told him that their crops yielded twice as much through techniques taught to them by Oxfam.

Boldin also went to a livestock market and bought a cow for the village.

“It’s a way of improving life for them,” he said. “[But] the best thing is to get something to sustain them for a lifetime.”

While also working for causes in the states with the Anquan Boldin Foundation, Boldin now has a grown appreciation for working abroad and said he would put his name behind Oxfam.

“There is no doubt in my mind that if anybody in the U.S. came over here and saw the same things we saw, they wouldn’t hesitate to help out,” he said. “It’s not only people in the U.S. that have problems. People have problems everywhere. I don’t think you should limit where you help.”

Take a look at the photo gallery for more images from Boldin’s trip.

Now he’s got his sights set on 2012.

Smith was asked by a fan whether he can picture himself going over 1,000 receiving yards next season. The Ravens haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since Derrick Mason in 2009.

“Yup, I think I should have done it last year,” Smith said during Ravens Chat Live Tuesday. “It was my fault it didn’t happen. … I’m looking forward to doing it this year.”

Smith’s sports hernia made it difficult for him just to walk at times last year. But he didn’t want to make any excuses. He said he played through it, so there’s no room to talk.

Smith finished with 50 receptions for 841 yards and seven touchdowns in his rookie season.

Asked whether he thinks he’ll be even faster next year, Smith quipped that he hopes to be like the boy from the movie, “Rookie of the Year” who slipped on a baseball, broke his arm and came back throwing fastballs by MLB hitters.

Smith, who has been a regular around the Ravens’ training complex this spring, is looking forward to having his first full offseason with the team. Last year, rookies were at a disadvantage, particularly learning the playbook, because of the lockout.

“I plan on improving in every way possible,” Smith said. “Sharpen up my mechanics and just try to be consistent. … Anybody can make a play, but to make plays consistently makes you special.”

Veteran Ravens receiver Anquan Boldin, saw definite growth over the course of the season from the rookie. Boldin took him, and the team’s other two rookie wide receivers, under his wing early on.

“I just saw him getting better over the year,” Boldin told BaltimoreRavens.com before departing for Africa.  “I saw his routes improve, his concentration improve.

“The sky’s the limit for him. He’s a guy that has rare speed and teams are going to be threatened by that. My advice to him is to learn to do everything else.”

Boldin says teams are going to continually give Smith more room because they are threatened by him beating them over the top.

“If he just learns how to play underneath,” Boldin said, “he’ll be unstoppable.”

The Ravens wide receiver was raised in the impoverished area of Pahokee, Florida, where he had the basic necessities, but not much more.

“I had a roof over my head, I had clothes on my back, I had food on my table,” Boldin said. “Sometimes I didn’t know where my next meal was coming from, but God always provided for me.”

Knowing those challenges is a big reason Boldin has partnered with Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald to take a trip to east Africa next week to raise awareness about drought and famine in the region.

“It’s not often that you get this opportunity and I expect it to be life changing,” Boldin said on Friday. “I know what it feels like to go without, but my situation doesn’t even compare to theirs.”

Boldin and Fitzgerald are scheduled to leave for the four-day trip on Monday, and they will travel to Ethiopia with the international relief organization Oxfam.

During the trip, they will visit villages, meet with local athletes and take part in manual labor to bring basic necessities to those in the communities.

“It’s going over there and listening, going into the camps and helping feed people, digging wells to try to get people water,” Boldin said. “It’s a variety of things.”

Boldin and Fitzgerald were teammates in Arizona for six seasons, and they have remained close friends since Boldin was traded to Baltimore in 2010. Both receivers are involved in a variety of community service activities – Boldin started his Q81 Foundation – and they saw teaming up as a way to reach a larger audience.

“We both do a lot of things in our communities, but we just came up with the idea that by partnering up and doing something together, we could make a bigger impact,” Boldin said. “And this was the perfect opportunity.”

Boldin and Fitzgerald first teamed up with Oxfam in November and produced a public service announcement (watch video) urging people to donate to the organization.

Now, they will get a chance to see the organization’s mission up close, which Boldin is expecting to be an eye-opening experience.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Boldin said. “But for me, it’s always been about helping people ever since I came into the league and I’ve been in a position where I’ve felt like I could help others. It’s something that’s been on my heart.”

We’ve already done the best defensive hits, top quotes and jaw-dropping plays. Now we’ll do the top five moments of the season, followed by season-altering plays.

There were plenty of moments to remember this season, but here’s our best of the best:

5. Torrey Smith’s rookie breakout

Dogged during training camp for drops, and already labeled by some fans and media pundits as a “bust,” Smith got the first start of his career in Week 3.

It turned out to be one of the biggest rookie breakouts in NFL history.

Smith’s first career reception went for a 74-yard touchdown as he blew by the Rams secondary. His next catch was a 41-yard touchdown. His next? An 18-yard touchdown.

The second-round pick’s first three NFL receptions all went the distance. He became the first rookie in NFL history to record three touchdowns catches in the first quarter, and finished with five catches for 152 yards and three scores.

“I never doubted myself for a minute,” Smith said. “I’ve been playing football forever, making plays for forever.”

4. Brothers meet for the first time

Perhaps no NFL regular-season game got more attention than the Harbowl on Thanksgiving night. For the first time in league history, head coaching brothers faced each other. John Harbaugh vs. Jim Harbaugh.

To make it even better, Baltimore and San Francisco were two of the strongest teams in the NFL. The game was gritty and hard-fought, just like the brothers themselves. Baltimore moved to 9-3 with a 16-6 victory while the 49ers slipped to 10-2.

The brothers met on the field with their parents for pregame photos, then shook hands afterwards, shared a private message and parted with mutual respect.

“There’s a saying that says, ‘As iron sharpens iron, so does one man sharpen another,’” Jim said. “And I have to say my brother John is the sharpest iron I’ve ever encountered in my life.”

3. Punishing the Steelers in Week 1

Baltimore had stewed all offseason after losing a 14-point lead in the divisional playoff game to the Steelers. The Ravens had their chance at revenge in Week 1 and they took full advantage.

Running back Ray Rice ran for 36 yards on the first play of the game. Two plays later Joe Flacco hit Anquan Boldin on a 27-yard touchdown pass. Baltimore never looked back from there.

The Ravens forced a team-record seven turnovers and buried Pittsburgh offensively and defensively. Capping it off, punter Sam Koch easily trotted into the end zone for a two-point conversion as the Ravens went on to a 35-7 whooping.

The game set the tone for the rest of the season: the Ravens were a force to be reckoned with.

2. Clinching the AFC North

The Ravens hadn’t won the division since 2006 and hadn’t hosted a home playoff game despite going to the playoffs the past three seasons. A critically important first-round playoff bye was also on the line for the banged-up Baltimore squad.

It came down to Week 17. The Ravens had to go to Cincinnati, a place where they had lost the past two seasons, and knock off the young, surging Bengals.

Baltimore did it on the legs of Rice, who had 24 carries for 191 yards and two touchdowns. He broke off a regular-season long 70-yard touchdown on the first drive of the game and essentially sealed it with a 51-yarder late in the fourth quarter.

The Ravens were ecstatic in the locker room afterwards, putting on their championship T-shirts and hats. They had also swept the AFC North.

“The plane ride home, I have to admit, was pretty cool,” Harbaugh said the next day. “The locker room was really cool. … Those are the moments that you really just never are going to forget.”

1. Shocking the Steelers in Pittsburgh

A familiar, gut-twisting loss in Pittsburgh seemed to be playing out yet again.

The Ravens saw a 10-point, third-quarter lead taken from them when Flacco fumbled, setting up an improbable, scrambling touchdown pass by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with five minutes left.

Rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith had the game-winning touchdown pass go through his hands. Here we go again…

But this time, Baltimore flipped the script.

Flacco went back to Smith, who hauled in a 26-yard touchdown over the top of two Steelers defenders with eight seconds left, leaving Heinz Field totally stunned and silenced.

The Ravens went into Pittsburgh, the place where they had lost in the playoffs the previous season, and won, 23-20, to secure a regular-season sweep.

“This Steelers-Ravens game is a game for men,” Harbaugh said. “This is a game for big men. You’ve got to shine bright in this game if you want to win this game. And nobody shined brighter than Joe Flacco in this game.”

The day after the Ravens’ tough-to-swallow 23-20 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC championship, the team turned the page to next year.

With that will come a host of tough decisions that need to be made. Here are 10 big questions:

1) Who’s retiring?

We know Ray Lewis is sticking around. Beyond him, there are a couple question marks. Center Matt Birk said he’s going to step away and consider hanging it up after talking with his family. Safety Ed Reed did not speak to the media, so his status is up in the air. Reed, 33, played in all 16 games this year and was only limited at the tail end by a shoulder injury.

2) What will happen with Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron?

Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron’s contract is set to expire, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. The Ravens and Cameron will have to decide whether he will be back in 2012. Baltimore’s offense faced some of the toughest defenses in the NFL and finished fourth in the AFC in points per game. It performed well in the AFC championship, putting up 398 total yards to the Patriots’ 330.

3) What’s Joe Flacco’s future?

Owner Steve Bisciotti said last offseason that he would imagine the Ravens starting negotiations with Flacco so that entering the 2012 season he won’t be playing in the final year of his rookie contract. After throwing for 306 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the AFC championship, Flacco ended the season on a high note.

4) Give Ray Rice the franchise tag?

Rice played in the final year of his four-year contract this season, but has made it clear that he wants to stay. ESPN’s Adam Schefter previously reported that the Ravens will use the franchise tag on him, which would pay Rice the average of the top five running backs in the league. The two-time Pro Bowler will put a dent in Baltimore’s salary cap.

5) Will Ben Grubbs and/or Jarret Johnson be back?

Grubbs, who was added to the Pro Bowl with New England’s Logan Mankins headed to the Super Bowl, was playing in the final year of his five-year rookie contract. The Ravens signed guard Marshal Yanda to a reported five-year deal this past offseason. Will they be able to afford to keep two Pro Bowl guards? Long seen as one of the team’s most underrated defensive stars, veteran outside linebacker Jarret Johnson, 30, is also set to become an unrestricted free agent.

6) Any other cuts?

Last year, the Ravens parted ways with higher-priced veterans such as wide receiver Derrick Mason, tight end Todd Heap, running back Willis McGahee and defensive tackle Kelly Gregg this past offseason. With Flacco and Rice potentially getting big raises, the Ravens will have to find room under the salary cap. This is what Ravens Vice President of Football Administration Pat Moriarty specializes in.

7) What free agents do the Ravens pursue?

Baltimore has made some prudent free-agent moves – and even some splashes – the past couple offseasons. They got Pro Bowl fullback in Vonta Leach and starting left tackle in Bryant McKinnie this past offseason. Before that, they traded for and signed wide receiver Anquan Boldin. With Flacco and Rice on the docket, there may not be too much money to play with.

8) Who do the Ravens draft in the first round?

Perhaps the most fun part of the offseason, the Ravens will enter the 2012 draft with the 29th pick in the first round. Obviously, it will depend on who they opt to bring back in free agency and who retires, but the offensive line could be an area of need. Baltimore has found gems late in the first round, including last year with cornerback Jimmy Smith at No. 27.

9) How much better does this young team get?

The Ravens had a cast of young players make big contributions this past season – from rookies Jimmy Smith, Torrey Smith and Pernell McPhee to second-year players Terrence Cody and tight ends Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson. Without a lockout this year, they’ll have a full offseason to be in the weight training program and camps. It could make a huge difference.

10) How do the Ravens get over the hump?

The Ravens have been knocking on the Super Bowl’s door for four years. This time, they were seconds, one dropped pass and perhaps one missed field goal away from it. How Baltimore’s players respond to the loss over the offseason will be essential in how they come back for the 2012 season. The Ravens got over their Steelers hump from last year. Now they have to learn to finish in the playoffs.

Turns out, “spark” might not be enough to describe what Boldin meant to the Ravens. Boldin was a bright spot on a day where little went right for the offense.

“Anquan made huge plays in critical situations,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said after the 20-13 win over the Houston Texans.

Boldin returned to the lineup after missing the final two regular-season games because of knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus, and he finished with four catches for 73 yards and a touchdown. No other player had more than 30 receiving yards for the Ravens.

“Anytime you get a guy back like that, everybody on our offense sees that and gains confidence from it,” Flacco said.

Boldin said that he is felling better now than he has the entire season because he played most of the year with the meniscus partially torn. Now that he is back and healthy, he knows he can be a playmaker for the offense.

Before Sunday’s game, Boldin approached Flacco and let him know he could be in store for a big day.

“I went up to Joe before the game and said, ‘if you see me in one-on-one coverage, just throw it up and I’ll make the play.’ Fortunately, he was able to do that,” Boldin said.

Flacco targeted Boldin eight times Sunday, and Boldin’s touchdown came in the first quarter on a 10-yard pass in the back of the end zone, which gave the Ravens an early 17-3 lead.

“I got the corner to shuffle his feet for just a second and Joe made a great throw,” Boldin said.

Boldin also came up with a critical first-down catch in the fourth quarter with just under four minutes on the clock. The first down allowed the Ravens to run about a minute off the clock and set up a 44-yard field goal by Billy Cundiff to give Baltimore the 20-13 lead.

“[His ability] to make the catches in those situations was important,” Harbaugh said.

In the two games without Boldin, Flacco threw for 130 and 132 passing yards, his two lowest totals of the season.

When asked after the game what his return meant to the offense, Boldin offered an answer that sounded very similar to what his coach and quarterback wanted from him.

“Hopefully, a spark,” Boldin said.

And Boldin isn’t ready for this to be it.

“For me, my vision is much bigger than this game. I came here for one reason only, to win a championship.”