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]

Zbikowski beat former cagefighting champion Caleb “True Grit” Grummet in a unanimous four-round decision after bloodying his opponent with a series of uppercuts.

The three-year NFL veteran and longtime boxer won 39-36, 39-36 and 38-37.

Zbikowski’s previous two bouts ended in first-round knockouts.

“He’s a big man,” Zbikowski told reporters afterwards.  “Obviously, he can take the punches. My punches had effect, but not like it would if the guy had 20 less pounds on him.”

Zbikowski took some punches of his own.  Fighting as a 195-pound cruiserweight against the 215-pound heavyweight Grummet, Zbikowski seemed winded in the third round.

He absorbed a Grummet uppercut in the fourth round, but landed enough right hands and uppercuts that helped him win the overall match.

Zbikowski was 75-15 as an amateur boxer while playing safety at Notre Dame.  His first pro bout lasted all of 49 seconds to knock out Robert Bell at Madison Square Garden.

Earlier this month, he knocked out Richard Bryant on a sharp body blow in one minute, forty-five seconds in Las Vegas as part of the undercard of the Miguel Cotto – Ricardo Mayorga fight.

“I’m very, very critical of myself,” said Zbikowski.  “You want knockouts. Overall experience is what you need; you’re not always going to get knockouts.

“You can’t always throw punches trying to knock the guy out. It drains you, and it shows. It’s a learning experience.”

This was Zbikowski’s first match with Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward in his corner, and the Ravens safety has at least one more fight scheduled on April 23 as the NFL endures a work stoppage.

If you read “Late for Work” yesterday, you learned linebacker Jameel McClain’s $40,000 fine for his Week 13 hit to Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller was cut in half after an appeal.

To be clear, the linebacker’s FINE was cut in half. McClain himself was not chopped.

But Ravens “Flock” member, scrock, visited NFL.com’s website and was led to believe the latter had occurred when he read this title on the homepage, “Report: Ravens LB McClain chopped in half.”

Maybe the labor disputes and the he-said, he-said rhetoric is slowly dulling my standards for comedy, but I literally laughed out loud with this one – all in good fun of course. As a person who writes headlines for BaltimoreRavens.com, I too know how it feels to jumble a headline … or two.

The website has since corrected its title, but that didn’t stop Ravens fans from using the opportunity to get their “Modern Family” Phil Dunphy-like puns on.

Wrote True to scrock: “Nice catch. You’re a cut above the rest. ;)”

Asked  Shawn`: “So … is he coming back next season?”

Replied thewarden86: “Yes, but he’ll only be half the man he used to.”

Ba-dum-ch!

NFLPA Asks Prospects to Boycott Draft

ESPN’s Mike Sando called the move “the height of pettiness” in the labor dispute and “another slap in the face” to fans.

The columnist is referring to the decertified NFL Players Association’s request to 17 top draft prospects to not attend the 2011 NFL Draft next month, as reported by Adam Schefter.

These 17 players would likely receive an invitation from the NFL to Radio City Music Hall to walk on stage when their names get called, shake hands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and do interviews with ESPN or NFL Network.

Schefter’s source said the edict is a recommendation, not an explicit order, so it would be up to the prospects on whether they would attend. The report added the union plans on giving the prospects the “same experience down the street,” but nobody knows what that would look like yet. They could place the players on competing television networks or social media platforms.

“The NFLPA naturally wants to make life tougher for the league in big and small ways during the lockout,” wrote Sando. “That is understandable, but urging players to avoid such a quintessential fan-friendly event would come off as yet another slap in the face for the people paying the bills.”

One treasure Ravens fans will always have is this footage from 2009 when their team selected first-round tackle and future starter Michael Oher. Nothing can replace the images of Oher celebrating his triumph over homelessness in the streets of Memphis, Tenn. with his adoptive family, the Tuohy’s, on stage and in front of cameras.

Of course, the draft will go on regardless of a boycott and maybe the union really can make it so the prospects and fans get the “same experience down the street.”

But Sando says nobody will benefit. Not the college players who dream of this moment, not the fans and not even the NFLPA, who would “gain no traction in the court of public opinion.”

Zenitz: Ravens Should Pass On Receiver in Round One

In a poll recently conducted on BaltimoreRavens.com, 24 percent of 3,360 fans said wide receiver was the Ravens’ biggest draft need.

But does that mean Baltimore should target the position in the first round?

CSNBaltimore.com’s Matt Zenitz thinks that would be an unwise move.

“After A.J Green (Georgia) and Julio Jones (Alabama) come off the board, most likely, somewhere in the top 15 picks, it’s just hard to feel entirely comfortable investing a first-round pick in what will be left at the wide receiver position,” wrote Zenitz.

The columnist explained there would still be plenty of talent after the top two receivers come off the board – including Pittsburgh’s Jon Baldwin, Maryland’s Torrey Smith, Kentucky’s Randall Cobb and Miami’s Leonard Hankerson –  but each prospect presents his own question marks and the Ravens wouldn’t be able to justify spending their 26th pick on any of them.

Wrote Zenitz, “The Ravens would be much better suited to wait and hope that someone like Hankerson, Baldwin or Smith falls to them in the second round rather than reaching on one of them in the first.”

Zbikowski Has Two More Bouts in Atlantic City

After a first-round technical knockout win in Las Vegas Saturday night, Ravens safety Tom Zbikwoski has already scheduled two more boxing bouts in Atlantic City.

“Gettin ready for another fight…March 26th in AC…Stay tuned,” Tommy Z wrote on Twitter. His opponent has not officially been determined.

Zbikowski is fighting on the undercard of a major event at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, reports ProFootballTalk. The main event, featuring Yuriorkis Gamboa and Jorge Solis, will be on HBO, but Zbikowski’s matchup is not expected to be televised.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Zibby has penciled in a second fight in Atlantic City, scheduled for April 9.

Quick Hits

• Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith has been removed from the draft boards by “a number of teams.”  Many draftniks believe Smith could be a first-round target for the Ravens.  [The Baltimore Sun]
• AdamSchefter: One NFLPA source said there’s “no chance” there will be negotiations, or even possibly a deal, before April 6 lockout hearing is resolved. [Twitter]
• RavensInsider: Listening to NFLPA conference call, Drew Brees says players not concerned about David Doty not hearing the case. [Twitter]
• “Eighteen games is not going to happen through NFL player negotiations,” Kevin Mawae, president of the now-decertified union said. “We can’t justify that for the health and safety of our players.” [USA Today]
• The NFL’s competition committee will not establish a “Calvin Johnson rule.” The committee believes it best to keep the current rule which states a player must maintain possession of the ball throughout a catch. [NFL.com]

A football player by day, Zbikowski will step back between the ropes for an encore tonight.

He’ll square off against Richard Bryant at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for a four-round heavyweight bout.

It will be on Showtime pay-per-view starting at 8 p.m. as part of the undercard for the Miguel Cotto-Ricardo Mayorga world championship bout.

“Eventually, I will be a full-time boxer, but I’ve still got years left in football,” Zbikowski told the American Chronicle.

“I enjoy playing football. But boxing, I love, love, love. It’s the only thing that keeps my attention. Everything feels right when I’m in the ring. I just feel like I’m home.”

It’s only Zbikowski’s second professional fight, but he appears to be the favorite. There’s not much information on Bryant, so here’s a brief tale of the tape:

Tom Zbikowski
Height: 5-11, Weight: 190
Age: 25
Place of Birth: Buffalo Grove, IL
Pro Record: 1-0, 1 knockout

Richard Bryant
Height: N/A; Weight: 225
Age: 35
Place of Birth: London, KY
Pro Record: 1-2, 1 knockout
*Note: Bryant has lost his last two bouts

Zbikowski, who is reportedly shedding the nickname “Tommy Z,” was explosive in his only other professional fight. He unloaded on Bell, who was foolish enough to enter the ring wearing an Ohio State jersey to patronize the Notre Dame alum.

Zibikowski Vs. Bryant

A combination of a left cross, right haymaker and a couple uppercuts as Bell collapsed to the mat signaled a quick end. It lit a fire under Zbikowski.

“I’ve been itching to get back in the ring for a long time, since a day or two after the Madison Square Garden fight,” Zbikowski said in an interview with NewsCenter 16. “It’s just something I’ve been working for and toward for five years.”

Zbikowski has actually been boxing since he was nine years old. He’s been specifically training for this fight for six weeks, mostly in Miami and somewhat in Las Vegas.

He would currently be in the cruiserweight classification, but will fight a weight class above Saturday night.

“These dudes gotta give me bigger guys because they know what kind of power I have,” Zbikowski told ESPN radio Chicago. “That’s the only way they’re going to last past two rounds.”

Zbikowski will have the support of his Ravens teammates. According to the Chronicle, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata is expected to lead Zbikowski into the ring and fellow defensive backs Ed Reed and Domonique Foxworth have ringside seats.

Football is still very much in Zbikowski’s future. Now, it just seems his aspirations have grown.

“I’m just waiting to get a Super Bowl ring and then get a world title to add to my resume and then go down as the best athlete of all time,” Zbikowski told the NFL Network’s Rich Eisen. “I don’t think anybody has those two.”

Even if league owners and the NFL Players Association don’t come to an agreement on the labor situation by this Friday’s deadline, we could still see a Ravens vs. Bengals showdown … in the boxing ring.

In one corner, wearing Cincy black and orange stripped jungle shorts, would be Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. In the other corner, wearing Ravens’ black and purple, would be Ravens safety “Tommy Z” Zbikowski.

Zbikowski, who is scheduled to return to professional boxing with a match on March 12 in Las Vegas, was asked on the “Dan Patrick Show” which NFL player he would most like to fight in the ring and he didn’t hesitate in naming Ochocinco.

“Ochocinco talks like he can box,” Zbikowski quickly responded.

How long would the bout last?

“I’d let it go for about 45 seconds,” Zibby said. “I’d let him know what a real jab feels like.”

Ochocinco, who has said in the past he would like to box, took to his Twitter account to respond to Zbikowski’s challenge and the hours of trash-talking ensued from there:

Ochocinco @tommyzbikowski: you wana go nite nite, you want to box me, for 1 your feet are to slow and you’ve no hand speed to even be competitive #smh [shaking my head].

tommyzbikowski:  Dear Ocho Cinco (I won’t call you Johnson cause you only get one name change in my book), thanks for following my career…You and me at M&T Bank Stadium, charity four-round boxing match. You wear Orange and Black and I will wear Purple and black. If we do it in May, that should give you enough time to get ready…You game?

To show Ochocinco he wasn’t joking about his invitation, Zbikowski tweeted twice:

tommyzbikowski: In all seriousness, Top Rank and I would like to extend an invitation to Chad Ocho Cinco and his agent to make this fight happen…

tommyzbikowski: In all seriousness, Top Rank and I would like to extend an invitation to @OchoCinco and his agent to make this fight happen…

ochocinco: @tommyzbikowski: in all seriousness I’d give you the [butt] whooping I owe Ray Lewis so let’s go,n any of your other teammates can get beat up 2

Ochocinco then went silent, but Tommy Z had a few more jabs to get in:

tommyzbikowski: I would like to personally invite @ochoCinco to my fight this Saturday in Vegas, ON ME…Come out and do some advanced scouting for May

tommyzbikowski  @ochocino: you don’t REALLY think you could whoop me, do you?? (I won’t even get started on you trying to whoop Ray, we have seen how that has ended a few times)…Have you ever seen Great White Hype? I’ll train for a month of doing nothing but chasing after an ice cream truck and smoke cigarettes and still KO you in 50 seconds

tommyzbikowski: Hey @ochocinco, this is just in case you want to see what a real fighter looks like

Potential Landing Spot For McGahee

It didn’t take long after agent Drew Rosenhaus’s comments hit the Web for speculation to begin about where running back Willis McGahee will play in 2011.

Many analysts have theorized the Ravens’ backup running back would need to take a pay cut from his reported $6 million salary next season in order for his relationship to continue with the Ravens. It’s a condition the team has not requested, but in case there was any room for doubt, Rosenhaus made clear that he doesn’t expect his client to return to Baltimore unless he is paid his contract.

Assuming McGahee would get released by the team, ESPN Rumor Mill guru Tim Kavanagh wondered where McGahee could land if it wasn’t in Baltimore.  He believes it may be appealing for the University of Miami alum to return to his home state.

“Should McGahee hit free agency, one logical destination is the Miami Dolphins,” wrote Kavanagh. “McGahee has history in the region after growing up in Miami and starring at ‘The U,’ and the team may be looking to bolster its RB corps this offseason with the departures of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams.”

Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel said he would like to see McGahee in Miami, but only under certain conditions.

“Put me down as someone who would personally like to see Willis McGahee in the Dolphins backfield,” tweeted Kelly. “But only if he’s cut. No trades.”

Smith vs. Goodell: Who Has The Tougher Job?

If you are having a hard time keeping up on the collective bargaining agreement negotiations like most outsiders to the process, this video offers a unique perspective on the pressure both sides are feeling in trying to work out an agreement.

Negotiating a deal between the NFL and NFL Player Association and deciding how to split $9 billion isn’t an easy task for anyone – regardless of which side of the table they sit.

But Comcast SportsNet debates who is in the tougher spot to get a deal done for their side: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell or NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith?

Quick Hits

• Artj97: Great workout at Greg Jacksons MMA gym. One workout done two more to go today.  #Hungry for a championship [Twitter]
• JilaneRodgers: I think @Foxworth24 earned the “best dressed” nod for today from the #NFLPA camp. [Twitter]
• If you’d like to follow them, two Ravens cornerbacks joined Twitter – Chris Carr (@triplcarr) and Josh Wilson (@TheJoshWilson).
• jamisonhensley: Sergio Kindle’s DUI court case has been postponed because of scheduling conflict for his attorney. A new date hasn’t been set yet. #ravens [Twitter]
• Ravens wide receivers ranked last in the AFC North in average yards after the catch (3.0) and total yards after the catch (485). [The Baltimore Sun]
• RavensInsider: Ravens Ed Block Courage award winner Donte’ Stallworth wasn’t feeling well today and wasn’t able to attend appearance at St. Vincent’s. … Josh Wilson appeared in Donte Stallworth’s place, talking with kids at St. Vincent’s as well as Chick Webb Recreation Center [Twitter]
• Browns cornerback Eric Wright recently said Browns fans threatened his life after a mediocre season. Appearing on the “The Norris and Davis Show,” Ravens receiver Derrick Mason said if you’re going to threaten somebody, you better do it to his face.” [105.7 The Fan/The Baltimore Sun]

As such, it only took three practices before the first fight of Ravens training camp took place. This year, it was offensive lineman Bryan Mattison and defensive lineman Arthur Jones to ring the bell.

The duo tangled at the line of scrimmage and drew teammates in from all sides to support their offensive or defensive brethren.

Afterwards, both players put the incident behind them.

“There are no hard feelings,” Mattison said with a chuckle.  “We all compete. It’s hot out here, and tempers are just going a little bit.”

The ever-smiling Jones, one of the more affable members of the locker room, offered his explanation of the situation.

“I really don’t know what happened,” Jones said.  “I think I had him beat and he just kind of drove me out of bounds a little bit after the play was over.”

The tone of practice ratcheted up after that, when the Ravens went to a full-team portion that was physical and highly competitive.

On the first series, the starting defense held the offense to a three-and-out, prompting linebacker Jarret Johnson to shout, “Let’s get off the field, boys!” On the next snap, Willis McGahee fumbled and safety Haruki Nakamura pounced on it to the delight of the defensive sideline.

The offense then recovered, driving to a field goal and a touchdown before practice was called.

“We’re both fighting for jobs,” Jones stated.  “I think it kind of set the mood of practice. Guys were a little uplifted and guys were ready to hit after that. I don’t know, I was just out there competing and trying to get better.”

He made what could have been the play of the 87-degree day (according to weather.com) when he hauled in a 45-yard bomb from quarterback John Beck in an early 11-on-11 portion. Figurs used his 4.3 speed to race down the sideline past cornerback Evan Oglesby and look the ball into his outstretched hands.

And later, he got into a scuffle with cornerback Frank Walker.

On a routine pass play near the sideline, Walker tackled Figurs to the ground even though the players were only wearing shells and shorts. When FIgurs got up, he slapped at Walker’s helmet, and the two tangled with each other.

Walker eventually grabbed Figurs and shoved him to the turf again. Figurs jumped up and the duo traded some swings before teammates intervened.

“We’re all competing, all competing to be on this field,” Walker said. “Everybody really wants to be a Raven, so it’s almost by any means necessary.

“We don’t throw any punches or anything. It’s just a little frustration. You just want to tussle a little bit. But we leave that on the field. We shook hands after that, and it’s all good.”

Walker said that both players are friends off the field.

Perhaps this was a sign that the Ravens are ready to see another color besides purple and black this Thursday, when the Washington Redskins come to M&T Bank Stadium.

“We’ve been competing against each other for almost two weeks now,” Walker explained. “Every day we come out here and play Raven football, and Raven football is tough on each other every day.”

Offensive tackle Joe Reitz and linebacker/defensive end Paul Kruger got tangled up on a routine play.

Both players came to blows, which drew a large contingent of teammates into the scrum.

Even defensive tackle Justin Bannan jumped up as he was getting his ankle taped to join in.

“It was just me and Paul, but then it was like everyone against me,” said Reitz, a former college basketball player at Western Michigan.

Nobody was hurt, and Reitz chalked the fight up to friendly competition in the summer heat.

Head coach John Harbaugh had no problem with the skirmish.

“We’ve had a lot of scuffles before the whistle gets blown, I can tell you that,” he said.  “Those are the scuffles we’re most interested in.  The other ones are irrelevant.  We don’t mind them.  We don’t want them.  We don’t not want them.  We don’t care about them.  The ones before the whistle gets blown – those are the ones that matter.  Our guys have had plenty of those.”

Both players got tangled up on a play and proceeded to bark in each other’s faces after officials blew the whistle.

“We’re competing out there, and that’s what you want,” Washington said.  “There is no bad blood.  I’ve always been that type of player that talks or gets in a DBs’ face or does a dance.  That has nothing to do with arrogance.  It’s just to get us going.”

Washington has been one of the more vocal members of the offense, a position that is headed by Derrick Mason. 

When he scored touchdowns in practice this week, Washington performed Ray Lewis’ iconic “Hot In Herre” dance in the end zone.  Washington is also known for his “Squirrel Dance” when he gets in the end zone.

Ray’s dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d60hKgNPlVE

Kelley’s dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZNZORYylNo&feature=PlayList&p=1CB649A4B72BCA37&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2

During what is normally an oppressively hot August, Westminster, Md., has been somewhat temperate during training camp.

It’s very cool at McDaniel College, and a light breeze is blowing across the fields. 

It won’t be that way forever.

But as I enjoy the chilled out version of training camp, there are other players that are not in such great form.

The first fight of training camp took place, as receiver Kelley Washington and cornerback Even Oglesby got into it. Washington has been jawing all camp, so I’m not surprised that he got into Oglesby’s head. It was just a matter of time.

Then there’s the offensive line. Ben Grubbs is out of practice with an ankle injury and, with left tackle Jared Gaither limited due to what seemed like a shoulder injury sustained in yesterday’s practice, the offensive line  is in flux. 

I’m talking total flux.

Here it goes, from left tackle to right tackle. 

Michael Oher at left tackle, David Hale, Matt Birk, Chris Chester and Marshal Yanda.

Just goes to show that the Ravens believe they have two left tackles on their roster.

As for the defense, rookie free agent Dannell Ellerbe is playing with the starters as Tavares Gooden is watching from the sidelines with an undisclosed injury.  That could mean Ellerbe has surpassed linebacker Jameel McClain on the depth chart.

Also not practicing is linebacker Terrell Suggs (heel), linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, defensive tackle Lamar Divens (hip), and receivers Biron Ealy (undisclosed) and Thomas White (undisclosed).

So, we’ll check back in throughout the day with more updates from training camp.  Other than the fight, it’s been an uneventful day.  Back with more…