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]

Even the person who is going for the 12th time in his 15-year NFL career knows the Pro Bowl is a special achievement and won’t take it lightly.

"Wow, No. 12 feels like No. 1," said Lewis. "This never gets old. This is the greatest honor ever, because this is from the fans, the coaches and your peers. You can never take anything for granted, and I never take this for granted. I am blessed with great teammates, and I wouldn’t be here without them. I feel this is a team award."

Suggs is grateful for his fourth invite too, but he knows there is one achievement that trumps the NFL All-Star game.

"This is awesome," Suggs stated. "The only thing that would be better than this is a Super Bowl."

Yes, that would be better. And if the Ravens do make it to the biggest sports spectacle in the world, they will be forced to miss the honor of playing with fellow NFL stars. 

Now that the Pro Bowl is played the weekend prior to the Super Bowl – the 2010 Pro Bowl marked the NFL’s first date change – rosters are not allowed to include any players from teams that will be playing in Super Bowl XLV to avoid injuries and because they’re prepping for the big game.

Thus, as MASN’s Dan Kolko pointed out, "All the Ravens who made the Pro Bowl hope they won’t participate in the game itself."

The team will hold open locker room with the media today. It will be interesting to hear what this season’s Pro Bowlers have to say on the matter.

Ravens Try Out Four Long Snappers; Two Getting Physicals

Ravens Insider Aaron Wilson and NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora are reporting that the Ravens tried out four long snappers yesterday, but have narrowed the decision down to two.

Kevin Houser, Bryan Pittman, Jake Ingram and Ethan Albright auditioned to replace Morgan Cox, the Ravens’ long snapper for all 15 games this season. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament and sprained his medial collateral ligament in his left knee Sunday.

The job is coming down to Houser and Pittman. Wilson reported that both stayed in town last night and will take physicals. He expects one to be signed today.

Jake Houser, 33, was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the seventh-round. He spent eight years with the Saints before being released. He played for the Seattle Seahawks last season, but landed on Injured Reserve.

Pittman, also 33, was signed as a rookie free agent by the Texans in 2003 and played there for five years. He then saw action for the Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons and Houston last year.

La Canfora noted this is probably the end for Albright, who is a former Pro Bowler, but no longer has zip on his snaps.

Harbaugh: Put on a Shirt, BA

After the Ravens beat the Cleveland Browns Sunday, shirtless linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo asked for the floor for a postgame locker room speech.

He awarded John Harbaugh a game ball for being the fourth NFL head coach since 1990 to lead his team to the playoffs in his first three years.

After receiving the honor, Harbaugh and Ayanbadejo hugged.

Harbaugh said he was honored, but would have changed one thing.

"I just wish he’d put a shirt on before he did it," Harbaugh said with a laugh during his Monday press conference.

"If you’ve got a build like Brendon Ayanbadejo, you don’t put a shirt on, right? Can we all agree with that? None of us in here can make that claim. But, it was really pretty special."

I think I’ve said this before, but if I hadn’t seen Ayanbadejo in real life with his shirt off, I would think his body was photoshopped. He is by far the most ripped player in the locker room.

Check out the video of the exchange.

Week 16 Power Rankings

The Ravens had little movement in the power rankings this week, except in those lists that waited for the conclusion of the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings game last night. The Eagles dropped in those rankings, helping the Ravens move up to No. 3 in several instances.

ESPN: Ravens are No. 4, same as last week. The Patriots, Falcons and Eagles make up the Top 3, but the list was compiled before Philadelphia lost to Minnesota last night.
USA Today: Ravens are No. 3, same as last week. Two teams the Ravens have lost to – the Pats and Falcons – remain the board leaders for the second week in a row.
FOXSports.com: Ravens are No. 3, same as last week. FOXsports.com has the same Top 3 as USA Today. Adam Caplan notes the offense is still evolving with running back Ray Rice becoming its foundation.
NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora: Ravens are No. 3, up from No. 4 last week. The Patriots and Steelers lead La Canfora’s list, but he notes that Baltimore is finishing strong and is playoff tested.
ProFootballTalk.com: Mike Florio ranked the Ravens No. 3, up from No. 4 last week. Florio waited for the Eagles-Vikes game to conclude, which opened up the No. 3 spot for the Ravens. Florio says the Pats hope the Ravens draw the Colts in the first round.
SI.com’s Peter King: Ravens are No. 4, up from No. 5 last week.  King’s Top 3 are the Pats, Falcons and Eagles.