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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Head Coach Mike Tomlin downplayed the Sunday fight.

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

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

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

Does Thompson Have Edge Over Streeter?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But don’t count out Streeter.

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

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

C. Williams Losing Ground, Has A Weakness To Correct

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

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

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

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

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

Reed Sneaks Into Offensive Huddle

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

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

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

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

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

Which Defender Should Play On Offense?

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

He throws out a few ideas:

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

Quick Hits

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

A little over three weeks removed from shedding the protective boot, linebacker Terrell Suggs says he is taking “giant” steps forward in the rehab process of his Achilles tendon injury.

Suggs says he no longer feels discomfort and is enjoying some of the normal movements he can make again.

“I feel great. I’m going up and down stairs. I’m going through rehabbing as we speak,” Suggs told WBAL’s Brett Hollander. “I feel very optimistic about my time and when I told y’all I was going to come back.”

Wait. Is he speaking of the timetable he originally gave when first injured: end of October, November by the latest? Because he has since backed off that timetable and more generically said he will return this season – no specific date.

Anyway … as the team kicks off the week with its grueling training camp practices, Suggs will endure his own intense training camp rehab schedule.

He jokingly insinuated that he will be working even harder than his teammates.

“I’m probably going to be in three-a-days while the guys are in two-a-days,” Suggs said. Of course the new CBA prohibits two-a-day padded practices. So that second practice will be a nice walkthrough.

The 10-year veteran will attend every meeting so he doesn’t “miss a beat” when he returns. Plus, the always-entertaining linebacker won’t let his teammates forget his voice and influence.

“I’m definitely going to be out there in the hot sun with the guys just because that’s where you build your team, in [those] trenches,” he said. “Right there preparing and working and trying to win the championship and there’s where it’s won.

“You don’t win the game on Sunday; you win it in your preparation. That’s everything you do leading up to [it]. Sunday is just the icing on the cake, to fine tune it. That’s where you get to have all of the fun of your hard work.”

Reed’s Contract Year = Big-Time Production

With Ed Reed (and his amazing ripped abs) practicing at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills last Thursday, concerns have died down some about his status for training camp and the season.

Not only does Jamison Hensley believe Reed will play in 2012, but the ESPN blogger believes the future Hall of Famer is primed for big things in a bounce-back year.

“He is in a contract year, which usually brings out the best in players,” Hensley wrote. “Reed will have something to prove, which is strange to say about an eight-time All-Pro.”

When judging his 2011 season purely by normal “Reed standards,” the safety did have a dip in production. He notched three interceptions, which was his fewest in a 16-game season. Plus Reed admitted to missing some tackles with a shoulder injury.

But Hensley predicts that Reed will be the sixth-best player in the AFC North next season because, well, he has to, as he enters the final year of his contract.

“Reed has made it clear this offseason that he wants more money,” Hensley wrote. “He won’t get it this year from the Ravens, but he could boost his price tag with a more typical Reed-like season.”

The Ravens reportedly offered Reed a new contract two days before last year’s season-opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen believes the Ravens will offer another deal at the end of this season, but won’t prohibit Reed from hitting free agency by applying the franchise tag to him.

What will Reed find if he tests the market? A number of interested teams, says CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora.

“There will certainly be a market for Ed Reed if he’s healthy and anything like the Ed Reed we’ve seen through his career,” La Canfora told 105.7 The Fan Friday.

Williams Is Baaaack

It’s one of the most-anticipated battles in training camp – the starting cornerback position opposite Lardarius Webb.

And now one of the main contenders can finally compete.

Cary Williams, 27, had a procedure on his hip in February after sustaining an injury in Week 10 vs. the Seattle Seahawks. He played through it for the rest of the season, starting all 18 games.

He reported to camp yesterday, as can be seen in the video to the right, and he says he’s ready to jump right into practice.

“I plan on just going right out there with the guys,” Williams told reporters at a benefit for the Special Olympics of Maryland Saturday night, per The Baltimore Sun. “I don’t expect to take any days off unless they tell me that’s what I need to do. As far as I’m concerned, I’m full go.”

Kicker Tucker Ready For Faceoff

Rookie free agent kicker Justin Tucker is ready to face off with veteran Billy Cundiff and try to win his first job in the NFL.

Tucker has been working out, kicking, lifting weights and running in his home state of Texas, preparing for his shot to unseat Cundiff, who misfired on a potential game-tying field goal in the Ravens’ AFC championship loss last season.

But the Longhorn is trying not to look at it in those terms.

“I don’t look at it so much like I’m competing with Billy as much as I’m competing with myself to be at my best,” Tucker told the Carroll County Times’ Aaron Wilson. “I look forward to it, competing with a guy who’s had success. You’ve got to be mentally strong. You have to be ready to perform in any situation.”

He added, “I know he’s a good kicker, and he’s certainly done some good things. I’m going to do my thing and make the most of the opportunity. I feel like my strength is clutch kicking. You have to want to be in that position where the game’s on the line.”

Ravengers

I’m not a comic book aficionado, but I thought this was pretty cool.

Receiver Torrey Smith re-tweeted a comic book superhero T-shirt of himself, which was created by Ravengers.com, a spinoff of the Marvel Comics superhero team, The Avengers.

“I need some!!” Smith wrote.

I checked out the website and got a big grin on my face when I saw the awesome superhero sketch for Suggs. I love his tiny purple-screaming head popping out of his massive muscle-bulging body. If I were to spend the 25 bucks it takes to purchase a T-shirt that would be my selection.

The story behind the Ravengers, per the website: “The road ahead is long and paved with the blood, sweat and tears of the fallen. The Gridiron of Charm City is where it begins. There will be danger, there will be struggle… and those less worthy will fall by the wayside. Our Gridiron Warriors are this city’s only hope. They stand and fight tirelessly week after week until only one force remains – THE RAVENGERS”

Great work, guys. Ravens fans are so creative, and it’s always fun to see what they come up with next.

Quick Hits

• @334Upshaw41: Back in Baltimore to put in this work #RavenNation [Twitter]
• @_KIDRaven_ [Ravens' 5th-rounder Asa Jackson]: Today… I start the biggest challenge of my life. But I wouldn’t have it any other way [Twitter]
• @TeamSizzleFilms: I’ve had a great weekend! Met a lot of fans and just hung out in Baltimore! What did YOU do? [Twitter]
• @TwentyER: Bless you bro. … This was Ed Reed’s tweet to @AdamFluharty3, who is currently serving in Afghanistan and posted this awesome picture. [Twitter]
• “Be worried about seeing replacement officials in August, and quite possibly September,” wrote Peter King. “I’m hearing the talks are not going well.” [SI.com]
• In their preseason power rankings, the peeps at ProFootballTalk listed the Ravens at No. 5 because of their “talented roster, from top to bottom.” [PFT.com]

With three teams advancing to the playoffs last season, the AFC North was widely considered the toughest division in the NFL.

But heading into the 2012 season, two other divisions are considered to be even tougher, says a panel of NFL.com analysts.

Gregg Rosenthal, Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler and Brian McIntyre each ranked the NFL’s eight divisions from best (1 point) to worst (8 points).

The numbers were tallied, and the AFC North came up third behind the NFC South (Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and the NFC North (Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings).

The Ravens’ division is considered best in the AFC, but three of the four toughest came from the NFC.

If the Ravens, Steelers and Bengals all advance to the postseason again, it would be hard to argue that the AFC North doesn’t remain the toughest.

Below are the NFL.com panel’s final list and reasons for their rankings:

75 Percent Chance For Flacco Deal? Agent: That’s News To Me

What did agent Joe Linta think when he first heard the report that there’s a 75 percent chance that his client, quarterback Joe Flacco, will get a long-term deal done by the time training camp starts next week?

“That was news to me,” he told WNST.

“You just laugh that people would do that, but I also understand the media. You guys have a job to do. … There’s no truth to it, but [writer Daniel Jeremiah] is doing his job, so I understand. I’m not upset, I just kind of chuckle at it.”

When asked how important it would be to get a deal done before training camp, Linta responded, “I should probably consult our buddy from the website [Jeremiah] with the percentages. I’m not a statistics guy like he is, but I would say the chance or the percent importance is 0.”

Linta repeatedly said that an agreement could be struck this afternoon or three years from now. He insists his client doesn’t care either way. After losing in the final seconds of the AFC championship last season, all that matters to Flacco is that he helps his team take another step up and win the Super Bowl.

The five-year veteran is entering the final year of his rookie contract, reportedly worth $6.76 million in base salary, and Flacco would be fine with finishing out the terms of that deal.

“Money is secondary to him to the winning and the success with the team,” Linta said. “Nobody can really understand that, but he is unique in that respect. … He’s a rare breed, where he’s says, ‘I’m under contract, I signed a contract four years ago, or whatever it was, and I’m happy to play for it.’”

As for the status of the negotiations, Linta admitted that coming to an agreement on a big-time deal like this can be tough, but the Ravens are “pros” and the process has been pleasant, without getting personal or contentious.

At the beginning of the offseason, Linta was forthcoming with his opinion that Flacco is one of the top 5 quarterbacks in the league today. The agent was subsequently ripped in the media, but he stands by his assertion.

Linta takes pride in the fact that he’s a film-watcher and an ex-coach, who has seen every tape of every game with every throw Flacco has ever made.

“I’m in a unique position to be able to assess what he does and what he doesn’t do and he’s one of the best,” Linta said. “I’m not going to sit here and say he’s the best. But when I said six months ago that he is in the top 5, he’s clearly in the top 5.”

Linta admitted that if one were to analyze Flacco solely by the statistics, which took a dip last season and can be inconsistent game to game, then his client is clearly not the best. But Linta emphasizes his quarterback’s overall win record and what he shows on film.

“Anybody that watches film would say that [he’s in the top 5],” Linta said. “Anybody that doesn’t watch film could say, ‘Ah, come on, he’s crazy. That’s nice, but statistically …’ It doesn’t matter. What matters is what does he do on the field, and does he make correct, proper decisions.”

Harbaugh Defends, Stands By Reed

Head Coach John Harbaugh took the time to check in with 105.7 The Fan from his family vacation in North Carolina.

The fifth-year Ravens coach is trying to get in some last-minute relaxation with his wife and daughter before the craziness of training camp kicks in next week.

Hosts Ed Norris and Steve Davis asked Harbaugh for his reaction to safety Ed Reed’s latest interview with Comcast SportsNet. Reed said he always planned on playing this year, but that he “retired” from football this offseason.

Some people thought the statements were contradictory, but Harbaugh didn’t read it that way. He believes Reed was making a “nuance point” and that he only retired, or took a break, from thinking about football once the season ended.

“I’m going to defend Ed and I’m going to stand by him because he’s one of my players,” Harbaugh said. “I personally like him. I respect him. I think he’s a good person with a good heart. And that’s what you do as a coach. You stand by your guys.”

Even though this was the first time all offseason that Reed confirmed that he indeed will play in 2012, Harbaugh said he always believed the future Hall of Famer would.

And to further bring peace to Ravens fans’ minds on the situation, Reed was at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills yesterday working out (shown to the right). The 33-year-old veteran looked sharp and seems to have kept in shape all offseason.

“The fact that Reed was at the facility is a significant development,” wrote The Baltimore Sun’s Matt Vensel.

“I’ve said all along that I believe he’s going to play this year and will be here and it looks like that’s the case,” added Harbaugh, referring to Reed’s stated commitment to play.

Quick Hits

• @MaakeKemoeatu: pray for my sister inlaw Eda Iosua she is fighting Cancer. [Twitter] 
• @nfl: Report: [Former Raven] Jim Leonhard, @nyjets will go separate ways [Twitter] 
• Receiver Torrey Smith called out the numbers at the first ever Purple Bingo Night, an event for the Ravens’ club for women. Part of the proceeds went to his foundation. … @TorreySmithWR: The bingo event is sold out!!!…looking forward to calling out numbers and interacting with our lovely “Purple” ladies [Twitter] 
• @KOsevendeuce [Kelechi Osemele]: Batman….best movie I’ve ever [seen] …… #night [Twitter] 
• @Ravens: The #Ravens All Community Team Foundation (RACTF) has awarded nearly $100,000 in grants to 24 nonprofit organizations in the Baltimore area. [Twitter]

It took less than an hour for media to refute and cast doubt on yesterday’s NFL.com report that claimed there’s a 75 percent chance that a long-term deal with quarterback Joe Flacco will get done by the start of training camp next week.

But ESPN’s Chris Mortensen says it’s true, adding that the Ravens have stepped on the gas pedal.

“The Ravens have gotten very aggressive with their contract negotiations with Flacco and I was able to confirm that they’re about 75 percent sure they can get this done by training camp, which is really over the next week,” Mortensen said. “And if not by training camp, pretty early into training camp.”

Mort added that instead of waiting to use the franchise tag at the end of the season, the Ravens plan on signing him soon.

Flacco’s agent, Joe Linta, doesn’t appear to be in a hurry, which may be why some have their doubts about the optimistic timetable.

“We are talking and will continue to talk,” Linta told The Baltimore Sun. “[Ravens Vice President of Football Administration] Pat Moriarty is a class act and I enjoy dealing with him. We — and the Ravens, I think — have no timetable.”

The Ravens don’t publicly talk about contract negotiations, but Owner Steve Bisciotti has said that he would like to get Flacco an extension before the five-year veteran enters the final year of his rookie contract. Obviously, that deadline is only days away, which could explain the push.

Flacco is reportedly scheduled to make a $6.76 million base salary in 2012 if a new deal is not struck.

Ravens To Allow Reed To Hit Free Agency

If the Flacco negotiations work out, the Ravens front office will still have that nice little bargaining tool, the franchise tag, to use on another player.

And since newly signed running back Ray Rice won’t need it either, the next logical person could be future Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed.

But don’t count on Reed getting tagged either, says Mortensen.

“Don’t forget the Ravens once let Ray Lewis test the market with his last contract and their philosophy is, ‘Ray, we’ll prove to you we love you more with our offer. If you want to go out and compare the offers to others,’” Mortensen said.

“I think they’ll do the same thing with Ed Reed.”

The Ravens reportedly presented a contract extension to Reed two days before 2011 season-opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which the 33-year-old veteran turned down.

As such, Reed will have to play out the final year of his contract in 2012, where he’ll reportedly earn $7.2 million. And in case you missed it, Reed announced yesterday that he will indeed play this season and will report to training camp next week.

The Ravens will offer him another deal at season’s end, according to Mort, and if the All-Pro wants to find out if he can get a better offer elsewhere, the Ravens won’t try to stop him.

What’s Going On This Week?

What is going on this week in Charm City?

All the craziness that was supposed to cause major distractions when the Ravens open training camp on July 25 seems to be dissipating.

First, Rice signs his long-term deal literally minutes before the tag deadline on Monday. Then, Reed says on Wednesday that he’s going to play this season and not hold out. Finally, the Ravens are ratcheting up negotiations with Flacco and reportedly hope to get a deal done before camp.

What’s next? Will Terrell Suggs have a miraculous recovery from his Achilles tendon tear?  OK, OK, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.

Of course the Flacco talk is just rumors at this point, and as The Sun’s Matt Vensel points out, the mercurial Ravens safety could change his mind (again) about playing this season.

But the point is, the Ravens haven’t had the best of offseasons, yet it seems to be ending with a stream of positive developments that could give the organization “palpable momentum” heading in camp, says CSNBaltimore.com’s John Eisenberg.

And if the Ravens can pull it all off, “their offseason will have gone from ‘ehhh’ to solidly productive in a matter of days.”

Jamal Lewis Likes Where Offense Is Heading

Jamal Lewis has kept his eye on the Ravens offense, and he likes what he sees.

The franchise’s all-time leading rusher specifically likes the development of the passing game.

“I like where the offense is heading,” Lewis told The Sun. “They are passing the ball better. They’re still trying to find those wide receivers. I think they’re molding a few, a good package of receivers to go along with Flacco. I like their style of play. I like the way they move the ball. I like the way they play together. They do rely on the backfield a lot because they are still getting things situated with the downfield passing game.”

Lewis praised Rice as one of the few every-down backs left in the NFL, but believes the passing game will have to develop more in order to beat the best.

Baltimore can “most definitely” win the Super Bowl with this offense, says Lewis. He also believes the Ravens would have won it all last year had receiver Lee Evans held onto the game-winning touchdown pass in the AFC championship and advanced to play the New York Giants.

Quick Hits

• @RayRice27: Feels good to see my high school jersey retired next to pro jersey hanging in high school gym [Twitter]
• Ray Lewis is the 11th-best player in the AFC North, says Jamison Hensley. “If the rankings were based on all-time impact, Lewis would unquestionably sit at No. 1. Because this is a projection for the 2012 season, Lewis is just outside of the top 10, which is pretty amazing considering he turned 37 in May,” he wrote.
• If you’ve got 90 bones, you can get a message and an autograph from Suggs on Saturday at the sporting goods store Poor Boys in Abingdon. [The Baltimore Sun]
• Noting that locking up Rice was a “huge boon” to the franchise, Chris Burke gives the Ravens’ offseason a B-minus grade. [SI.com]
• Random thoughts in a stream of tweets by Paul Kruger … @pkruger99: Let’s think of all the ways on first appearance how you can tell if someone is a [tool]..? I guess I’ll start with extra LOW v-neck. I have to also say the black frame obviously fake non prescription/ prescription glasses. Sunglasses at night is definitely at top of the list, we can also include females they aren’t excluded from this! hate to say it because a lot of people I know wear them., however, finger shoes or those shoes with individual toes.. [Twitter]
• @KOsevendeuce [Kelechi Osemele]: Crossing Raven Street…in Chicago…weird [Twitter]
• Speaking of … Adam Rank wants to know which NFL city is better: Chicago or Baltimore? He has a very detailed argument for each. [NFL.com]
• @Tandondoss: I will never understand women… [Twitter]
• @JameelMcClain: It was 140 degrees on the football field.. I just got 2 shades darker lol [Twitter]

Two important news items surfaced in Jason La Canfora’s exclusive sit-down interview with safety Ed Reed after the youth football camp at Stevenson University Monday.

First, the future Hall of Famer won’t hold out of training camp – this is according to an unnamed family relative. Second, he turned down a contract offer the Ravens presented two days before the 2011 season opener with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“Everyone is talking about a holdout,” Reed’s close family member told La Canfora. “Ed isn’t going to hold out. He told me he isn’t going to hold out. He speaks his mind about some things, gets some things off his chest, but he’s never said he is going to hold out. He’ll show up when he has to be there and he’ll play out his contract.”

Reed himself stopped just short of confirming that he’ll be at camp, but slipped in a little reminder: “I’m sure the Ravens are confident I’ll be there for camp, because they know how much I love the game, too. But I’ll say this, they’re not going to get me for cheap, not a chance.”

La Canfora reports there is still a “game of chicken” going on between Reed and the Ravens.

The team offered Reed a multi-year deal last September, according to La Canfora’s sources, that would keep him below $8 million a year.

“[It's] a threshold far less accomplished safeties like Eric Weddle and Michael Huff have reached,” wrote La Canfora. “From Baltimore’s perspective, Reed is much older than those two and has experienced serious neck and hip injuries in recent years as well, making an already touchy negotiation even more delicate.”

Making the situation even more sensitive is the fact that Reed doesn’t have an agent. The 11-year veteran, who is apparently “notoriously frugal,” is careful about who he trusts after seeing other players and teammates go broke by taking bad advice from agents.

“Do I have an agent? No,” Reed said. “I am him. Should I hire an agent at some point in time? Possibly. People say I should have an agent, but there are problems on the business side with that, too.”

It should be noted that La Canfora, who would be surprised if Reed held out of training camp for more than a couple days, made an effort in his story to explain Reed’s personality a little bit. If the All-Pro safety is an enigma to you (and you probably aren’t alone), the story helps give a little context about where Reed is coming from when he speaks candidly in public.

Flacco’s Agent, Ravens To Continue Talks

As all eyes turn to quarterback Joe Flacco’s contract now that Ray Rice’s long-term deal is complete, agent Joe Linta confirmed that the two sides will continue to negotiate.

“We’ve had great conversations, and we’re going to keep talking,” Linta told Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times. “Everything is good. We’re going to keep talking, keep the lines of communication open.”

That said, Flacco is letting his agent do all the negotiating while he focuses on the upcoming season and redeeming the AFC championship loss. The 2012 season is the final year of Flacco’s rookie contract and he is due a $6.76 million base salary after triggering a $5.4 million escalator clause, according to Wilson.

“Joe is very, very excited for the season,” Linta said. “He’s really adamant about getting the Ravens to the next step.

“The contract at this point is secondary to that goal. Joe has the attitude that he’ll earn it.”

Steelers Passed On Rice … Twice

After news surfaced in Baltimore Monday that the Ravens and Rice struck an agreement, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Dan Gigler reviewed some of the damage the 5-foot-8, 212-pounder has inflicted on the Steelers over the years.

While Rice has had his ups and downs against the black and gold (both in the regular season and postseason), Gigler recalls Rice “single-handedly” making the Steelers defense look “old, slow and over,” in last year’s season-opener, notching 107 yards and a touchdown.

“For what it’s worth, the Steelers had not one, but two chances to select Rice in 2008, instead taking Rashard Mendenhall in the first round and Limas Sweed in the second,” Gigler wrote. “That’s not a jab at Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin. At the time, Mendenhall was very much the more highly rated back, and Sweed was seen as a steal in the second round, plus there were plenty of concerns over Rice’s diminutive size.

“Mendenhall, while having shown flashes of immense talent, is a bit more inconsistent, injury prone and occasionally flaky (see: Bin Laden tweets). Sweed is now out of football.”

Hines Ward Literally Runs Scared

Ravens fans used to relish the times when the Ravens could knock the smile off the face of former Steelers receiver Hines Ward.

For old times’ sake, you can literally see that smile disappear as the retired Ward runs scared in the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises. (Also featured prominently in the movie trailer below).

“I’ve run scared before, but I really ran scared that day,” Ward told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “They told me, ‘Don’t look back.’ I felt the explosion when I was running. I had to wear earplugs. Usually, I’m smiling when I’m running, but that day I was actually screaming.”

Steelers co-owner Thomas Tull helped co-produce the movie, making Pittsburgh and Heinz Field one of the movie’s backdrops. In addition to Ward, Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Mike Wallace, and former coach Bill Cowher also appear in the film.

Jamal Lewis Talks Ring Of Honor

With the Ravens inducting running back Jamal Lewis into their Ring of Honor before the Week 4 matchup vs. the Cleveland Browns on Thursday, Sept. 27, the team’s most productive back tells The Baltimore Sun what the induction means to him.

“To go into the Ring of Honor, it just shows that I’ll always be a Raven,” Lewis said.

“When I first came out of college, Art Modell and Steve Bisciotti gave me the chance to go out there and prove my ability. Everybody else pretty much had questions, you know. But I fell into a good family, we went on a Super Bowl run that year and won. It was a very memorable part of my career. And I love the time that I had in Baltimore. Art Modell and Steve Bisciotti were great owners and great role models.”

Quick Hits

• @AdamSchein: [fullback Vonta] Leach on Flacco criticism: “Ed [Reed] isn’t in the huddle or meeting with us. Easy to say it is the QBs fault. The criticism isn’t fair.” [Twitter]
• Guard Marshal Yanda was ranked No. 13 in Jamison Hensley’s top 25 players in the AFC North. “There’s no doubt that Yanda deserves to be in the top 15 in the division,” Hensley wrote. “He is one of the top offensive linemen in the AFC North this season and quite possibly the best right guard in football. …There’s no reason to believe Yanda will regress this season. He turns 28 in September and is a great technician. Yanda is in the prime of his career, which pushes him close to top-10 territory.” [ESPN]
• @Crushboy31 [Bernard Pollard]: To all my teammates, we got new stools in today and here’s mine. Keep your butts off!!! Only my butt touches my stool. [Twitter]
• @RavensInsider [Aaron Wilson]: Ray Rice’s $24 million guaranteed ranks third among NFL running backs behind Adrian Peterson ($36 million) and Chris Johnson ($30 million) [Twitter]
• @QadryIsmail: Congratulations to my teammate Jamal Lewis for entering into the Ravens Ring of Honor! #Balla [Twitter]
• Usually one wonders how professional athletes adjust to life when transitioning away from the big stage and fat paychecks. Not so much with Ricky Williams, who says he didn’t retire, but “graduated” from the NFL. Here’s an update on what the former Raven is up to. [Sun Sentinel]

The predications have been ominous.

With the deadline for running back Ray Rice and the Ravens to strike a long-term deal only hours away, rumors are that the two sides are at a stalemate and an agreement doesn’t look likely. CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora only gave it a 25-percent chance of getting done.

But the two-time Pro Bowler isn’t losing hope.

“I’ll always keep it real for you, but I’m always optimistic,” Rice told the Carroll County Times’ Aaron Wilson Saturday at his anti-bullying teen suicide outreach event. “God has put me in a position where not too many people can say they’ve been. I never played for the dollars and all of that other stuff.

“My rookie contract, quite frankly, you just signed it and go play football. So, this is a little bit different of an experience for me. Needless to say, what puts a smile on my face is that no matter the money I made, I still get to go out here and kids get to see me and smile.”

Rice has until 4 p.m. today to strike a deal or he’ll have to play the season under the $7.7 million franchise tag.

Rice declined to elaborate on the negotiation process, reminding reporters that “I’m actually here for the bullying thing.” But he was still able to inject a little humor into the event, playfully asking attendees to call Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome and “tell him to pay me.”

Despite the quiet nature of the talks thus far, the five-year veteran does have a couple of reasons to believe something could still get worked out.

All he has to do is look back one year to when the Ravens franchised defensive tackle Haloti Ngata. Things were hushed in Baltimore between the team and Ngata, but then hours before the deadline, the atmosphere suddenly flipped and the two sides came to an agreement.

Additionally, if the Chicago Bears and Matt Forte, another marquee running back facing the tag deadline, can reach a deal, it could help push things along between Rice and the Ravens. NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi reported over the weekend that Forte and the Bears are “extremely close.”

“Any deal for Forte should further clarify the parameters of any deal for Rice,” wrote CSNBaltimore.com’s Bo Smolka.

Simms: Defense, Run-First Offense Hurts Flacco’s Numbers

Many analysts have used Joe Flacco’s dip in stats last year as a reason to say he took an overall step back as quarterback.

His QB rating and passing yardage were the lowest they’ve been since his rookie season, according to Wilson, and his completion percentage was the lowest of his four-year career.

But Super Bowl XXI’s MVP Phil Simms, who also called the Ravens-Pats AFC championship game for CBS, says too much emphasis is put on Flacco’s numbers, which are more of a reflection of inserting new receiving weapons (Torrey Smith, Ed Dickson, Dennis Pitta) last year and a defense/run-first mentality.

“It’s really amazing. Put Joe Flacco on a football team where it’s all about the quarterback and the offense and he will put up staggering numbers,” Simms told Wilson.

“He plays for a coach that’s not worried about the glorification of his quarterback. Joe Flacco is a big part of them winning, but personal success and glory might elude him. He may only get it through victories. Even then, he might not get the credit that he deserves. I don’t think he’s good, I think he’s awesome. I know I’m right. I don’t need your stamp of approval.”

Williams A More Efficient Pass Blocker Than Grubbs

Replacing a Pro Bowl guard like Ben Grubbs has not been easy.

But perhaps newly signed veteran Bobbie Williams, who is the favorite to step in for Grubbs after he left via free agency, is better equipped than once previously thought.

Williams has been a more “efficient” pass blocker than Grubbs over the last three years, according to Pro Football Focus’ Pass Blocking Efficiency (PBE) signature stat, which looks at both total pressure numbers and how many snaps an offensive player spent in pass protection.

Williams has the fourth-best PBE of 98.02, while Grubbs came in at No. 14 with a PBE of 97.27.

That said, Khaled Elsayed cautioned not to read too much into PBE.

“As ever, we’ll remind you all that while the PBE stat measures efficiency, it doesn’t measure the best pass protectors in any given season,” he wrote. “For a better representation of that you need to get your hands on PFF Premium, because our grading goes further than any stat can; accounting for how quickly the pressure has come, among other things.

“It doesn’t mean the PBE doesn’t have its place, but it needs to be used as a tool and not an ultimate explanation.”

Theismann Predicts A Ravens Super Bowl

Despite all the uncertainly looming over Ravens right now – the Rice/Flacco contract negotiations, Ed Reeds’ flirtations with holding out and Terrell Suggs’ Achilles tendon injury – former Washington Redskins and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Theismann believes the Ravens will make it to the Super Bowl.

“You can be the first to write it: I believe the Ravens will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl,” Theismann told Wilson. He then reminded people that he correctly predicted the Ravens would defeat the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV: “I did this in 2000, you know?”

The Ravens were one stripped touchdown catch away from advancing to the Super Bowl last year. It would be a major coup to return to the AFC championship again, but Theissman sees the right personnel on the roster to get the job done.

“I like the Ravens,” Theismann said. “They’re getting better with Torrey Smith. Joe Flacco has played in a tough division for four seasons and is used to facing great defenses like the Pittsburgh Steelers twice a year.

“They’ve put together a darn good offensive line that got old and got better again. They’ve got one of the best running backs in football in Ray Rice. They’ve got a wide receiving corps that can threaten down the field. With a defense like the Ravens, they’ll make somebody pay the price.”

Quick Hits

• Rice’s leading blocker tweeted this after Drew Brees got his long-term deal … @vleach44: Now I’m waiting for @RayRice27 to get his money he deserves #cutthecheck [Twitter]
• Nobody would blame Rice if he used this time to concentrate on himself, considering how today’s deadline could majorly affect his professional career. But he is still taking the time to help bully victims. Darin Gantt is impressed … “Good for Rice for being willing to take up the cause, and spending his time before his season starts trying to make a difference.” [ProFootballTalk.com]
• Former Ravens running back Jamal Lewis went down a similar road in 2006 that Rice is traveling now when Lewis was trying to get a long-term deal with the Ravens. Lewis called the process “frustrating” and even had to test free agency before signing with Baltimore again. But he said that Newsome is an “excellent” general manager and wouldn’t be surprised if he let Rice play under the tag this year. “I think when you’re going to invest a lot of money into a running back, you want to see if he’s working his way up,” Lewis said. “How many hits has he taken? How many carries has he had?” [The Baltimore Sun]
• Ed Reed is wrong – holdouts rarely work, are bad for players and teams, wrote Ashley Fox. But Mike Florio strongly disagrees, saying, “[I]n the end, if he knows that his team needs him enough to eventually bend, it could be the smartest, shrewdest break he ever makes for himself.” [ESPN/PFT.com]
• The ranking of the AFC North top 25 players continues. Cornerback Lardarius Webb comes in at No. 19 and Flacco is ranked No. 16. [ESPN]
• There’s not much for Flacco to gauge from Brees’ new deal. [The Baltimore Sun]

The crowd literally went wild when linebacker Ray Lewis was announced as the motivational speaker.

The London Warriors are an amateur football team (not soccer, American football) and they were looking for a little extra inspiration before their clash this weekend with the London Blitz, the reigning BAFA National Leagues champions.

Who knew Lewis was so popular across the pond?

The Warriors players had no idea Lewis was about to walk on stage before them, but when coach Tony Allen announced the arrival of “No. 52,” the local school auditorium erupted, spiraling into a frenzy.

Lewis then dropped on the Warriors one of his trademark pump-up talks, which can partly be seen in the video below.

“They wrote me a long letter telling me how impactful it would be if I could share some time with them and speak with them,” Lewis told NFLUK.com’s Inside The Huddle podcast. “They told me they didn’t have the money, and I said that for something like that, I’m not looking for money. I told my team ‘I want to go to London. … I want to go talk to the Warriors.’ ”

Lewis said he made no other plans while in England.

His sole purpose was to spend three days coaching up the Warriors and getting to know players individually to help them with whatever they may be going through.

“The London Warriors’ story resonated with me for a number of reasons but mostly because of where the kids come from – most of the kids come from neighborhoods like I came from,” Lewis said. “Ninety percent of these young men are either going through or have been going through the same things I went through. They just need some form of motivation and, for me, that was the reason I came over here.”

Ravens/Rice In A Stalemate

With only one weekend to go until franchised players can work out long-term deals with their respective teams, CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora says only three or four deals will actually be struck.

Ray Rice’s contract is not listed as one of few that is likely to get done. Of course anything could change as the deadline approaches, but something huge would have to happen.

“[S]ources said there is still a stalemate between Baltimore and its star runner, Ray Rice,” wrote La Canfora. “It would take a major reversal over the weekend to get this kick-started.”

Rice isn’t the only one who probably won’t get a deal done by the deadline.

Here’s the status of the other remaining franchised players, according to La Canfora:

Saints quarterback Drew Brees: “I still believe this gets done, but it very well could go down to the wire.”

Bears running back Matt Forte: There has been “considerable progress” and the “prognosis looks promising.”

Raiders safety Tyvon Branch: The closest of all franchised players to a deal. “It’s a matter of when, and not if, he gets a new deal.”

Patriots receiver Wes Welker: 50/50 chance he’ll get a deal.

Chiefs receiver Dwayne Bowe: Talks have gone nowhere and “there doesn’t appear to be much impetus to securing a longer deal now.”

Cowboys linebacker Anthony Spencer: Dallas is “content” to see Spencer play another year to better determine his value.

Defensive lineman Cliff Avril: “It would take a major swing in those talks to foresee a deal as it stands right now.”

Kickers Josh Scobee (Jags), Phil Dawson (Browns) and Mike Nugent (Bengals): “I’d be very surprised if any of the three kickers got long-term deals.”

Vonta Leach 21st-Best Player in AFC North

ESPN’s Jamison Hensley is ranking the top 25 players in the AFC North, revealing yesterday that fullback Vonta Leach comes in at No. 21.

“A fullback on the top 25 list? I know, this pick will draw some criticism,” wrote Hensley. “To be honest, I was tempted to place Leach higher because of his impact on the running game.”

To showcase that impact, all you have to do is look at the difference in Rice’s production from 2010 to 2011, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Without Leach two years ago, Rice averaged 4.0 yards per carry and scored five rushing touchdowns. Those numbers grew with Leach leading the way, as Rice averaged 4.7 yards per carry and scored 12 rushing touchdowns last season.

“If you don’t believe Leach deserves to be on this list, just ask the NFL linebackers who got walloped by him,” Hensley wrote.

Baltimore Building Baltimore

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake tweeted out this video with Marques Ogden, a former Raven and brother to future Hall of Fame tackle Jonathan Ogden, who is making a big effort to put Baltimore residents to work by building Baltimore.

Ogden is the CEO of a company called Kayden Premier Enterprises, Inc., which is a Baltimore-based, minority-owned company that is certified in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and with the federal government.

About half of his employees (17 of 32) are from East Baltimore, the area they are working to improve. He gives residents who may have a checkered past a second chance. Check it out.

Quick Hits

• “Ed Reed’s latest salvo regarding his intentions for 2012 certainly is more alarming than anything he has previously lobbed at the Ravens,” wrote John Eisenberg. “[A]fter this latest interview, it seems entirely possible that Reed will not be on hand for the start of training camp, which begins next week. And who knows how long he might sit out?” [CSNBaltimore.com]
• @RavensInsider (Aaron Wilson): As I pointed out in my article, one roadblock to even doing an extension for Ed Reed is he currently has no agent to represent him [Twitter]
• @Ravens: The #UnderArmour signs are up in the field house [Twitter]
• Check out the RL52 deck of cards. It’s a fitness program Lewis uses to share his philosophy of “using muscle confusion to achieve fitness gains and a version of his own system for training with a deck of cards.” There’s a deck for all levels – rookie, amateur and Pro – for the price of $74.95. [RL52Cycling.com]
• I sure wish I was chillin’ in Haiti right now too. Soak it up … @TorreySmithWR: Sea Turtles!!  [Twitter]
• Football Outsiders Editor-In-Chief Aaron Schatz sticks up for quarterback Joe Flacco, saying, “Baltimore fans who don’t like Flacco should ask themselves what they would be getting instead.” [The Baltimore Sun]
• Priest Holmes said he suffered multiple head-to-head shots while playing for the Ravens and Chiefs, and many of those hits changed the color of the sky. [NFL.com]
• Ravens defensive end Arthur Jones is fighting for a starting job. [Carroll County Times]

If you thought safety Ed Reed would clear up his intentions about playing in 2012 during his much-anticipated interview with 105.7 The Fan last night, you were wrong.

While he is working out and preparing for his 11th NFL season, Reed (upbeat throughout his interview) managed to dance around repeated direct questions about his intentions this year.

The All-Pro safety, who held out of mandatory minicamp without calling Head Coach John Harbaugh, is aware of one tactic players can use if they have a few wants.

“The only way we protect ourselves … the only way a player gets what he wants is by holding out,” Reed told host Glenn Younes.  “So if Ray Rice doesn’t show up, so be it.  If Joe Flacco didn’t show up and got a contract, so be it.”

Asked what he’ll be doing when the season starts, Reed said, “Watching Sunday and Monday night football on my sofa, man, and watching these guys play some real good football.”

Since the Ravens have a both a Monday and Sunday night game during their first three contests of the season, it appeared as if Reed doesn’t see himself playing. But later in the interview he talked about making a run at Paul Krause’s all-time NFL record of 81 interceptions (Reed has 57).

Clearly we’ll just have to wait until training camp to see if Reed is going to play. If he does hold out, he could be fined by the Ravens since he is entering the last year of his contract, reportedly worth $7.2 million.

Reed has made headlines with some of his comments about wanting respect from the Ravens and more recently a tweet from over the weekend about “telling the bosses” he’s comfortable at home with his son.

Some fans have been turned off by Reed’s commentary, saying the 11-year veteran shouldn’t complain publicly about money when he is scheduled to make millions this year.

But Reed insists that this isn’t about money. He says there are two sides to this very tough business of football and feels the need to express the players’ side of it.

“When I go to talking…about the business side of things, trust me, I know what I’m talking about,” Reed said. “You can take it as whining, complaining as you want to. Babies whine. I’m a grown-ass man.

“I know where I’m at with my business. I know I already played out my contract, I mean exceeded it [and] all expectations. But it’s not about them. It’s not about the organization because I love football.”

Reed also takes it upon himself to stick up for players around the league, especially since the NFL Players Association “messed up things this offseason.”

“[There's] a lot of stuff about this business, but it comes with it,” Reed said. “I take the good with the bad, but don’t get mad at me when I’m telling you [about] the B.S. that we have to put up with. The B.S. Drew Brees is dealing with. Peyton Manning got cut.

“Ya’ll don’t think the Ravens would cut me? It could happen.”

But if it were solely up to him, would Reed stay in Baltimore to finish out his career?

“I love Baltimore. Baltimore has done me good,” Reed said. “There’s a lot of great fans around here and a lot of jerks. Hey, that’s what it is. You deal with the good and bad. I’m good with staying in Baltimore.”

Feel free to listen to the whole 25-minute interview to come to your own conclusions about Reed’s intentions. One of the main purposes of his appearance was to promote his youth football camp at Stevenson University next week.

Ravens Evaluate Supplemental Draft LB

The Ravens have made inquiries about supplemental draft prospect and Carson Newman linebacker Larry Lumpkin, according to Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times.

We’ll find out later today or tomorrow if the Ravens think the linebacker is worth one of their 2013 picks with the supplement draft scheduled for today.

Lumpkin worked out for team scouts yesterday at Alma Bryant High School in his hometown of Irvington, Ala. At least 18 other teams have shown some sort of interest in the linebacker, says Wilson.

The only player the Ravens have ever selected in a supplemental draft is tackle Jared Gaither.

Lumpkin, a 6-foot, 240-pounder, notched 96 tackles, including 10 for loss, last season at Carson Newman after transferring from Alabama A&M.

He is projected as a later-round draft pick or a priority free agent, according to Wilson.

McKinnie Sheds More Pounds, Says Vikings Exaggerated Weight

Ravens left tackle Bryant McKinnie has given another update on his weight, and it appears he continues to shed pounds.

He says he is now down to 350 pounds, four less than when he left camp and 36 less than what he says he weighed during his time with the Minnesota Vikings.

But wouldn’t that be 50 less than when he left Minnesota? The team claimed McKinnie weighed 400 pounds at the time of his release, but the veteran says that was never true.

“I never was,” McKinnie told Tim Brando on Yahoo! Sports Radio, per The Baltimore Sun. “That was exaggerated by the Vikings.”

Either way, McKinnie is taking the weight goal the Ravens gave him seriously. More importantly, he wants to be in good enough shape to still be playing strong in the third and fourth quarters of each game.

“Once you just be consistent and keep doing it, you start feeling better and better each day every time you go out and do it,” McKinnie said. “Add in the healthy meals and stuff, it definitely makes it a lot better because you’re putting good fuel into your body.”

Quick Hits

• @RavensInsider [Wilson]: My take: I don’t think Ed Reed will hold out. I expect him to play despite all speculation. I think he’s having fun with people on Twitter [Twitter]
• Unfortunately Terrell Suggs did not win the ESPY award for NFL Best Player (Aaron Rodgers did), but I liked his attitude going in … @untouchablejay4: No matter what happens, I just want thank all of you who voted I appreciate the love! [Whether] we win 2nite or not, we all know the big goal! [Twitter]
• @BryantMckinnie: My new juicer that Ray Lewis recommended has just arrived, so ill be adding this 2 my diet. [Twitter]
• @ProFootballTalk: ESPN re-signs Mel Kiper, Adam Schefter, John Clayton and Ed Werder [Twitter]
• @OJBrigance: Very honored to share that 2 players from Rice University have changed their numbers to honor myself and King Hill. [Twitter/BriganceBrigade.org]
• There are rumors that Van Halen will be selected as the halftime act for Super Bowl XLVII next February in New Orleans. David Lee Roth addressed the growing speculation: “I’m compelled to address the now-rampant rumors that Van Halen is playing the [Super Bowl]. First of all let me say this – be still my pigskin heart. That honor has not been bestowed upon us at this time though it is one we would accept in a NY minute.” [USA Today]

• Feel a need for a dose of optimism right now.
• This is not a fun time of year for us or Ravens fans. We’re in the annual four-to-five-week span when we aren’t doing “real football.” Except for a few players, the weight room is quiet. Coaches and scouts are on vacation. And the news of the moment is not about who looks good, who is improved or who looks like they might have taken a step back. Instead, football news around the league is about contracts. What are the Saints going to do with Drew Brees? The Bears with Matt Forte? The Ravens with Ray Rice and Joe Flacco? What is Ed Reed saying? These are all legitimate concerns that will be addressed. Our history is pretty good at getting issues resolved so that our team can focus on the most obvious task at hand: being the best NFL team we can be. And, the Ravens have been pretty good recently, and we expect to be again.
• Even those of us who work at the Ravens sometimes have to be reminded that we’re “pretty good” at this time of the year. Without much news happening, media spend more time “evaluating” your team. Locally, the news of the day is usually not encouraging or optimistic. Our national exposure from various “experts” helps. The NFL Network recently completed its list of the 100 best players in the league from 2011, as voted on by the players in the middle of last season. We tied (with the 49ers and Eagles) for the most players on the list with seven. How about that? Seven of our 22 starters are considered among the best in the league as voted by the guys having to face these Ravens. Think about the math. It’s impressive. Haloti Ngata, Terrell Suggs, Reed, Ray Lewis, Rice, Vonta Leach and Flacco – wow, what a group! And, how about our guys not on the list? How many teams in the league would love to have Marshal Yanda, Torrey Smith, our pair of tight ends – Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta – Pro Bowlers like Matt Birk, Brendon Ayanbadejo and Anquan Boldin, along with Bernard Pollard. Then you get to our rising stars like Jameel McClain, Michael Oher, Lardarius Webb, Terrence Cody, Cary Williams, Jimmy Smith (and I believe Jimmy is going to be big-time good). … I could go on. And, I love when I get to introduce John Harbaugh: “Here’s our historically-good head coach. In the history of the NFL, he is the only head coach ever to go to and win a playoff game in each of his first four seasons.” Certainly we have challenges and weaknesses, but, yes, we’re pretty good.

I’m just sayin’…

• Watch our special teams this season. I think that’s where we’ll see the biggest improvement. Start off with punter Sam Koch, a runner-up to the Pro Bowl each of the last two seasons, and kicker Billy Cundiff. Yeah, I know. He has to recover from the missed kick in New England. I think he will. It was his only fourth-quarter miss in the last two seasons (16 of 17 in the final periods during this time). We won’t know – he won’t know – until he’s tested. But, the veteran kickers who were available to sign with teams this offseason know something, too. None wanted to come compete against Billy, who was the AFC’s Pro Bowl kicker in 2010. (And, we certainly invited some of those veterans to come and compete against him.) The signing of wide receiver/return specialist Jacoby Jones will help, as will other free agents we added: cornerback Corey Graham and safety Sean Considine, two of the NFL’s proven special teams stalwarts.
• And, can I say something about the offensive line? First, I love the way Coach Harbaugh and his staff give every player invited to camp the opportunity to become a starter. When all is said and done, our five best offensive linemen will start. Unless we’re all stunned, three of those guys are going to be Yanda, Oher and Birk. But, that trio is not guaranteed. They know that. They’re driven to be the best, and I think they’ll prove it again. We’ve added Bobbie Williams, a monstrous veteran guard who always gave us fits when we played the Bengals. Ask Lewis which NFL guard got his hands on Ray more often than any he has faced in the last 10 years. Ask Ngata which guard gave him the most issues. Williams’ name would be in both answers. Bryant McKinnie has been challenged. He’s responding. Jah Reid is knocking on the door. Now, it’s difficult for a rookie lineman to start in the NFL, but a lot of our guys did and played very well – like Oher, Yanda, McKinnie and Williams. I can’t say too much without getting Harbs and Ozzie Newsome after me, but there’s a lot of buzz in our building about second-round pick Kelechi Osemele and fourth-rounder Gino Gradkowski. We haven’t played “real” football yet, but both Kelechi and Gino have commanded attention. Watch those two rookies in the preseason games. Believe you will like what you see. I can already sense that local media is going to focus on our O-line in the preseason. Some will call the line “the Ravens’ weakness.” I think those critics will be proven wrong.
• Among a core group of players who have been working out in our Under Armour Performance Center since early February is Terrence Cody. He, along with guys like Torrey Smith, David Reed, Arthur Jones and Lardarius Webb, have been here a lot, even in recent weeks. The coaches and scouts are gone during this time. So, when Cody arrived early last Monday morning for a workout, he took the parking spot closest to the players’ entrance – the space assigned to John Harbaugh. A half hour later, Harbs and his wife, Ingrid, arrived to work out in the weight room. With a near-vacant lot, John thought nothing of his spot being taken and grabbed the next closest to the building. Craig Singleterry, a former Baltimore City police officer who is now part of the Ravens’ security staff, tracked down Coach Harbaugh and prodded John to fake being angry about Cody taking his parking spot. Craig found big Terrence in the locker room and told him: “You better move your car. Coach is here, and he is ANGRY.” With that introduction, Harbs came around the corner and shouted: “Who’s in my parking spot. That guy’s in trouble.” Cody meekly raised his hand and started apologizing profusely until Craig and John started laughing. (I have a feeling Terrence will find a way to get back at Craig soon.)

Only 12 days before rookies, quarterbacks and injured players from last season report to camp. We’re almost there. Can’t wait!

Talk to you next week,

Kevin

Ed Reed sent out a peculiar tweet Saturday night that was picked up and scrutinized by several outlets (including my Late For Work blog yesterday) and radio talk shows.

The tweet said he was enjoying his time at home with his son and finished with, “Tell the bosses I’m comfortable!”

Many assumed Reed was sending a message to the Ravens, perhaps even implying he may not attend training camp without a new deal.

While the future Hall of Famer didn’t comment specifically on the meaning behind his tweet, he did take to Twitter again to express his displeasure of the media’s coverage.

“We tweet about our camps with kids throughout offseason why That never makes espn, nfl.com etc… This probably won’t get a RT,” he wrote. “Build people up, not tear them down.”

He added: “Players that have2be smart business men, in a business that don’t care an inch about them though we grind for that inch- [not always right but real].”

Reed then retweeted a follower’s sentiment, saying the media only picks out the negative and hunts for controversy.

Perhaps Reed and his tweep have a point – the media have sometimes shown a tendency to give more coverage to controversy than positive news. (This is probably a good time to mention again that Reed’s youth football camp is July 16 and 17 at Stevenson University. Register now.) And the media might argue that they cover what their readers consume.

But attempting to censor the media for covering this ongoing, high-profile story probably isn’t going to help, says NFL.com’s Dan Hanzus.

“If Reed wants to hold out – or hint that a holdout is in the offing – that’s his right,” wrote Hanzus. “But criticizing the media for covering his game of chicken with the Ravens is a pointless endeavor.

“Reed talks of being a businessman, but this is part of the business, too.”

Meanwhile, other media have encouraged Reed to use his leverage while he can – especially now that Terrell Suggs could miss a chunk of the season – to try to get the contract he feels he deserves.

“This could be Reed’s last chance to get paid, and with the Ravens hoping to push through to the Super Bowl without Suggs for all or a big part of the season, not having Reed would hurt more this year than it ever would have hurt before,” wrote ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio.

“So use your leverage, Ed.  You may never have it again.”

Anonymous Rival Coach: Flacco Can’t Win By Himself

Sports Illustrated has an interesting feature called “Enemy Lines” where an anonymous rival coach gives his analysis of an opponents’ offense to fantasy gurus.

The rival’s take on the Ravens offense was mostly positive, except for newly signed receiver Jacoby Jones and – you guessed it – quarterback Joe Flacco.

The coach said that Jones is only a return guy and you can’t expect much from him on offense, and Flacco needs a productive running game to be successful through the air.

“Quarterback Joe Flacco regressed last year, and I think part of that was because the defensive pressure got to him,” the coach wrote. “He’s not a player who can just drop back and beat you with his arm; he needs a successful running game to open things up. I would be shocked if he had a breakthrough season.”

However, the rival does expect Torrey Smith to breakout.

“That dude is fast,” he said. “He ran by us a few times. He doesn’t have many routes in his tree, but he’ll be a more polished receiver now that he’s had a full off-season.”

The enemy coach likes the tight end duo of Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta, adding that he likes the faster Dickson better. He is also enamored with Ray Rice, but said Ravens coaches will probably try to limit the pounding he takes this year by giving more snaps to Anthony Allen or rookie Bernard Pierce.

“And watch out for Pierce. He has a future in this league.”

Any guesses on who the anonymous coach is?

Birk: Flacco Doesn’t Get Benefit Of Doubt

As was showcased by the rival coach’s take above on the Ravens offense, Flacco gets dumped on frequently.

Perhaps it’s simply because of the presence of such a successful running game led by Rice, says center Matt Birk.

“Certain guys don’t get the benefit of the doubt,” Birk said of Flacco recently on WNST. “He’s shown in big spots that he’s come through most of the time and he can play. Our game plan isn’t designed to have Joe Flacco throw 450 yards every game to help us win. That’s not our style of football. I guess that’s not the cool, hip way to play football in the NFL these days.”

Flacco was rated by ESPN’s Ron Jaworski as the ninth-best quarterback in the league and NFL players rated him the 74th-best overall player in 2011.

Hanzus wrote for NFL.com that the criticism Flacco receives is “predictable” for a quarterback on a high-profile team.

“Birk is right that Flacco doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt from the public,” Hanzus wrote. “It’s just not unique or especially fair. We’d say that’s true of any veteran quarterback who hasn’t won a Super Bowl.”

Quick Hits

• PriscoCBS: Ed Reed isn’t getting a new deal. He has to know that. [Twitter]
• “It wouldn’t surprise me if Kelechi Osemele (second round) is starting at guard before long,” wrote ESPN’s Mel Kiper. “He played tackle in college, but I’ve always said he’d be better inside; I think the Ravens feel the same way.” [ESPN]
• mattvensel: I’ve been thinking a lot of about Dennis Pitta recently. (I know that sounds creepy.) I think he could have a breakout season in 2012. He’s no Gronk and he’s no Aaron Hernandez, but he [possesses] a good mix of both their qualities. He could become Flacco’s go-to guy on 3rd down. Ed Dickson will have a role, too, of course. We might see a lot of that Diesel package this year, especially if Jacoby Jones isn’t a fit. [Twitter]
• GinoGrad56: Felt great to be back at UD today. Got a great workout in and got to speak to the kids at @UDCoachKeeler ‘s youth camp [Twitter]
• BryantMckinnie: I need 2 go 2 sleep, my boxing class is @ 11am 2morrow. [Twitter]
• AnquanBoldin: I guess there’s time for a NY photo shoot.  pics to come. [Twitter]