Newly signed veteran defensive tackle Ryan McBean underwent a successful surgery this week to repair his broken ankle, according to The Baltimore Sun.

McBean suffered the injury in the preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons. The 6-foot-5, 305-pounder knew immediately that he suffered a serious injury.

“Well when my foot was facing the direction to where it wasn’t supposed to be facing then I figured, ‘Yeah, OK. Something is wrong,’” McBean told WNST.

Dr. Robert Anderson, who also performed surgery on Terrell Suggs’ Achilles tendon, inserted metal hardware into McBean’s ankle to help the healing process, which is projected to take about four to six months to fully recover, according to The Sun.

McBean does not expect to return this season.

“I will be back around [Organized Team Activities] time – back to 100 percent,” he said. “That’s my mark and that’s what I’ll be aiming for, that’s what I’ll be going for.”

The 28 year old has not been placed on injured reserve yet, but could end up on the list.

McBean was signed by the Ravens this spring to a one-year deal reportedly worth $1.2 million, which was not guaranteed and didn’t include a signing bonus, reported Aaron Wilson. He was suspended for the first three games of the season for a violation of the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy while playing for the Denver Broncos.

With a season return seemingly out of the question, McBean is already focused on his rehab to ensure proper healing.

“It only took me 30 seconds to feel sorry for myself and then after that 30 seconds I just moved on from there,” he said.  “The coaches say, ‘Hey, just make sure [you] heal and get right and just be ready for next year.’”

McBean was listed as the primary backup to Haloti Ngata, but his absence now gives former rookie free agent and practice squad player Bryan Hall a chance to fill that role. A talented defensive lineman, Hall is also known around the halls of the Under Armour Performance Center as the player with the biggest mouth.

“Bryan brags about his 17 sacks he got at Arkansas State every chance he gets in the d-line room,” McBean said. “He’s a guy that comes out to practice and goes hard every single day – not just on the d-line, but on special teams.

“I say that’s a guy that you need to look out for. I believe he can do it and I believe he will do it.”

Ravens Expected To Get Four Compensatory Picks

After sustaining a number of free-agent losses this offseason, the Ravens are expected to receive four compensatory selections for the 2013 NFL Draft next April, according to Brian McFarland of Ravens24X7.com.

If McFarland’s projections are correct, that would give Baltimore 11 picks in the upcoming draft.

The Ravens lost a total of six free agents that should qualify for compensatory picks, including guard Ben Grubbs (Saints), linebacker Jarret Johnson (Chargers), safeties Tom Zbikowski (Colts) and Haruki Nakamura (Panthers), defensive end Cory Redding (Colts) and defensive tackle Brandon McKinney (Colts).

Those losses were countered by two Ravens signings of cornerback Corey Graham (Bears) and safety Sean Considine (Arizona).

That nets out to four picks.

“It is possible that Considine may not qualify in the evaluation but that designation is a [moot] point anyway, since the maximum number of comp picks awarded to any individual team is four,” wrote McFarland.

Note that players cut by the Ravens or by their former teams do not weigh into the compensatory pick calculations. That includes cornerback Chris Carr, wide receiver Lee Evans, guard Bobbie Williams and receiver/returner Jacoby Jones.

Rice Is Last RB Standing In Division

An injury bug has done some damage to starting running backs in the AFC North, with only Ray Rice still standing, ESPN’s Jamison Hensley points out.

Knock on wood.

A total of seven running backs are currently injured in the division, including Browns first-round pick Trent Richardson (arthroscopic knee surgery), Bengals veteran starter BenJarvus Green-Ellis (foot) and backup Bernard Scott (hand) and Steelers current top back Isaac Redman (groin).

“None of the injuries to the starting backs are considered serious. When the season begins in less than four weeks, Green-Ellis, Richardson and Redman are expected to be lining up in the backfield,” wrote Hensley. “Still, the number of injured backs heading into the second preseason game is a troublesome trend for the division.”

Also, Pittsburgh’s starting running back of the last three years, Rashard Mendenhall, is trying to come back from a torn ACL.

Ravens fans just hope Rice and the Ravens obey the first commandment of preseason play tonight: Thou shalt not get injured.

What To Watch For vs. Detroit

Oh yeah, the Ravens have their preseason home opener tonight. Seems strange it took so long to mention it this morning.

Here are some things analysts say you should watch out for:

Better communication in the offensive line, translating to better protection for quarterback Joe Flacco. After his visit to practice in Owings Mills, Md., former Ravens Head Coach Brian Billick tweeted that the Ravens front office must have a “sickening” feeling when thinking about either Tyrod Taylor or Curtis Painter being just one play away from being the starter. To prevent that from happening, Flacco can’t get hit the way he did in Atlanta last week.

The Ravens will face a new challenge Friday night against the Lions defensive line that features Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and defensive end Cliff Avril, but they should also have veteran center Matt Birk back. “The offensive line, which should have better communication with six-time Pro Bowl center Matt Birk expected to make his preseason debut after sitting out last week with back issues, needs to match the Lions’ power and toughness,” wrote Wilson.

Can kicker Billy Cundiff perform under pressure? That’s the question CBSSports.com’s Jason Butt wants to have answered tonight, as Cundiff is slated to get the first field-goal attempt tonight. “In a perfect scenario, the Ravens will have enough tries for both Cundiff and rookie Justin Tucker,” Butt wrote. “Tucker has outperformed Cundiff in practice by making 95 percent of his attempts. Still, there’s a general feeling the job is Cundiff’s to lose. If Cundiff can prove he can still hit big kicks in game situations then the safer he’ll be when Baltimore is forced to trim its roster down.”

Running back Bernard Pierce will try to make his case to become Rice’s primary backup. The third-round draft pick missed the first preseason game with a hamstring injury, but he is expected to get a chance to prove his worth against the Lions. “With Anthony Allen and Damien Berry having yet to stand out during training camp, Pierce will get an extended look Friday, and an impressive performance would go a long way in his quest to win the backup running back job behind Ray Rice,” wrote The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec.

Quick Hits

• @pkruger99: Preseason game #2 against Detroit tomorrow night.. M&T goes hard pre, regular or post-season. Can’t wait, love playing at home. [Twitter]
• @RavensSalaryCap: If Ryan McBean’s ankle is broken and he ends up on IR, he’ll still count against the team’s Salary Cap. [Twitter]
• @CoachBillick: As for #Ravens…lack of depth behind Ray Rice concerning, but filling void left by Ben Grubbs may actually be more detrimental to run game. [Twitter]
• @RavenManiac [Kris Jones, Ravens24X7]: Best moment of the day, @RayRice27 and Ray Lewis meet a child from Make-A-Wish [Twitter]
• @Ravens: #Ravens Matt Birk will host nearly 150 Baltimore-area elementary school students for a school supply distribution at Walmart this Saturday. [Twitter]
• @wbalradio: Ray Rice @RayRice27 Helps Out Local Teachers #Ravens [Twitter]
• @Ravens: Kickoff for the Ravens’ final preseason game at the St. Louis Rams on Thursday, Aug. 30, has been moved to 7 p.m [from 8pm] [Twitter]
• @Thoroughbred954 [WR Dorian Graham]: Jus downloaded my boi @Crushboy31 app y’all shud check it out called Bourre! [Twitter]
• Pierce on what it’s like to become a father (his fiancée gave birth to Bernard Jr. earlier this month): “I’d say it feels like your birthday. It comes one time a year. I know this is my day. But it’s really not your birthday. I was overwhelmed, excited. I really can’t totally explain the feeling because it’s something I’ve never felt before.” [CBSSports.com]
• Quarterback Tyrod Taylor says he’s “way ahead” of where he was last season. [CSNBaltimore.com]

Jamison Hensley admits it’s hard to second guess Ray Lewis’ decisions.

After all, he will go down as perhaps the greatest linebacker to play the game, and he has managed to play beyond expectations as he enters his 17th NFL season as a three-down player.

But Hensley, and a few other analysts, are questioning the future Hall of Famer anyway.

Lewis told media yesterday that he is “much lighter” than his listed playing weight of 240 pounds, which is already a significant drop from his previous listing of 250. He wouldn’t reveal his exact weight, saying he’ll keep that to himself.

Lewis said playing lighter is the “smarter” thing to do because he doesn’t have to face 260-pound fullbacks anymore, and will instead have to keep up with quicker, elusive tight ends like the Rob Gronkowski’s and Aaron Hernandez’s of the world.

“This is rationale thinking considering the NFL has turned into a passing league, and it’s hard to second-guess perhaps the greatest linebacker to ever play the game,” wrote Hensley. “But you have to wonder whether Lewis lost too much weight this offseason.”

“Those 260-pound fullbacks may be becoming obsolete today, but violent collisions are not,” added Matt Vensel of The Baltimore Sun.

Hensley, Vensel and CBSSports.com’s Jason Butt, all argue that Lewis’ primary responsibility as a middle linebacker is to stop the run, which will be a challenge in a hard-nosed division like the AFC North.

The Browns just used their first-round draft pick on Trent Richardson (228 pounds). The Bengals boast an accomplished back in BenJarvus Green-Ellis (220 pounds) and the Steelers hope to re-establish their run game this year with Isaac Redman (230 pounds).

“Still, you have to respect Lewis’ longevity,” wrote Hensley. “When he goes against Richardson, he’s facing a back who was 5 years old when Lewis played his first game in the NFL.”

With Lewis commanding the middle of the defense, the Ravens have never allowed more than 3.9 yards per carry in any season, according to Hensley. Can a sub-240 Lewis keep it that way? And will he be more susceptible to injury with a lighter frame?

“It seems inevitable that this will be scrutinized by commentators and armchair quarterbacks in Baltimore and beyond,” Vensel concluded.

Ray Knows

When running back Ray Rice reported to camp, he was sporting a “Ray Knows” t-shirt.

Asked if the shirt was referring to himself or Ray Lewis, Rice said it can be applied to either Ray.

Well, when it came to predicting whether safety Ed Reed would report to training camp, it was Ray Lewis who hit the nail on the head. Lewis said in early June at mandatory minicamp, which Reed skipped for unknown reasons, that the future Hall of Fame safety would attend training camp.

And he was right.

“For me, it was never a question [of] if Ed was going to be at camp or not,” Lewis told media yesterday. “There’s a couple of guys on this team, when you see their face, it’s going to be alright. And he’s one of those guys. Ed is maturing into a man and understanding that there are other things outside of the game that are way more important. But at the same time, it’s a business … and Ed understands that ‘when it’s time for me to show up, I’m here.’”

Maybe the “Ray Knows” mantra should be applied to his weight loss too.

Ravens Roster Maxed Out

In case you missed it, the Ravens made three signings yesterday.

They added a pair of former Oakland Raiders linebackers, Ricky Brown and Darryl Blackstock, plus veteran guard Cord Howard, who spent some of the 2010 season on injured reserve with the Buffalo Bills and was out of football last year. 

By John Eisenberg’s count, that brings Baltimore to the maximum 90 players it’s allowed to have on the roster as training camp begins.

So if the Ravens want to add another veteran such as guard Eric Steinbach, who worked out for the Ravens this week but remains unsigned, they would have to make a cut.

Flacco Refuses To Be Distracted

Quarterback Joe Flacco has given agent Joe Linta explicit instructions.

Now that training camp is in full force, he does not want to be distracted, or even hear about, contract negotiations. This is according to NFL Network’s Albert Breer.

But Linta still has the green light to continue the process of working out a new deal with the Ravens as his client enters the final year of his rookie contract.

“The only distraction for Joe would be me calling him,” Linta said. “I’ve been doing this a long time, and I’ve rarely seen a guy so single-minded. …

“The most telling quote from Joe I can give you is that he told me, ‘I’ve got a contract, and I’m gonna honor it.‘ He’s part of a rare breed in this day and age.”

Rice On Fire

This picture won’t help the perception of Steelers fans being obnoxious.

One fan, @Evan_Wayne, tweeted the image of him lighting a Rice collector’s card on fire with what looks to be a Steelers gold-colored lighter. 

Rice re-tweeted it, writing: “So disrespectful lol.”

It didn’t take much time for Ravens fans to come to Rice’s defense.

@G_CODEGRAZIANO responded: “@RayRice27 just remember that picture @Evan_Wayne posted when we sweep the steelers once again! #keeponhating.”

@RDBLAIR added: “@RayRice27 @Evan_Wayne I think he’s implying you’re on fire…..true statement!”

After getting bombarded with Ravens fans’ replies, @Evan_Wayne asked, “Where the [heck] are my steelers fans I need some backup over here.”

Top 10 Worst Weather NFL Training Camps

The Weather Channel is taking advantage of the NFL’s crazy popularity by making its own top-10 list.

The website ranked the worst weather NFL training camps, and Owings Mills, Md. came in as No. 8. With the July/August average high of 88.5 degrees, the Ravens’ training camp site is the furthest north on the map that made the list.

“Owings Mills is not known for its summertime breeze which makes it a contributing factor for cracking our top 10 besides its high heat and humidity,” wrote Bob Farmer. “Precipitation totals for July and August are a mere 3.71 inches and 3.64 inches, respectively. By the end of camp, the daily high temperature and dew point drops to 83 and 62 degrees respectively, giving both players and fans alike something to look forward to.”

As would be expected, the teams located in the Deep South dominated the list.

10) Tennessee Titans – Nashville, Tenn.

9) Carolina Panthers – Spartanburg, S.C.

8) Baltimore Ravens – Owings Mills, Md.

7) Atlanta Falcons – Flowery Branch, Ga.

6) Washington Redskins – Ashburn, Va.

5) Jacksonville Jaguars – Jacksonville, Fla.

4) New Orleans Saints – Metairie, La.

3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Tampa, Fla.

2) Miami Dolphins – Davie, Fla.

1) Houston Texans – Houston, Texas

Quick Hits

• Will Torrey Smith take over as the No. 1 receiver this season? Hensley can see it happening: “If Smith continues to grow, he has a chance to become the Ravens’ top wide receiver this season. … There were times when it looked like Smith had more chemistry with Flacco than Anquan Boldin. Flacco’s strong arm meshes better with speed receivers. And there’s no receiver faster on the Ravens than Smith.” [ESPN]
• @TorreySmithWR: This year has gone by way to fast…can’t believe I’m starting my second season in the NFL [Twitter]
• @Crushboy31 [Bernard Pollard]: I’m fully transformed into a beast!!! 31 ready for action… Let’s eat!!! [Twitter]
• @deemason85: Good Luck to my boys in the black and purple this season! (ravens) [Twitter]
• @RavensInsider [Aaron Wilson]: Cut by the Ravens this week, guard Howard Barbieri (lower back) went unclaimed off waivers and is a free agent again [Twitter]
• @Ravens: Happy birthday [yesterday] to LB @JameelMcClain TE @EdDickson84 and DB Corey Graham! [Twitter]
• @mattvensel: Ray Lewis on what Joe Flacco has accomplished so far. “If I’m Joe, I’ve got crazy swagger.” #Ravens [Twitter]
• @AdamSchefter: As @ClaytonESPN reports, talks between the Steelers and unsigned restricted free agent Mike Wallace have broken off. Steelers don’t plan to negotiate until Wallace reports to camp. [Twitter]

If you’re wondering whether it was a big deal that top Ravens draft pick Courtney Upshaw needed a second try to pass his conditioning test, the widely accepted consensus so far is that it’s not.

“Upshaw has since practiced with Ravens so no need for concern,” tweeted The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec. “He’s ready to go.”

“It’s not the greatest sign in the world that he didn’t pass his conditioning test to start training camp on his first try,” wrote NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal. “It’s also not too big a deal. He passed it on his second try.”

As can be seen in this awesome video of my colleague Ryan Mink struggling to pass a mock conditioning test, the process involves six 150-yard sprints run in 25-yard intervals. Depending on a player’s position, he has to make certain times for each sprint and will then get a breather (70 seconds for offensive/defensive linemen) to rest in between runs.

If you don’t make the designated time by even one second on just one of the six 150-yards sprints, you fail the test.

And that will occur from time to time.

“A couple of guys will learn their lesson the hard way, as far as the conditioning test and practicing at our pace,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said.

“That kind of stuff happens all the time all around the league,” added The Sun’s Peter Schmuck.

So why was Upshaw’s test talked about so much around the web yesterday?

“Maybe in some other NFL training camp, it wouldn’t have been particularly newsworthy … but it drew special notice at the Under Armour Performance Center on Monday because of the added responsibility that Upshaw will have to assume in the extended absence of NFL Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs,” Schmuck explained.

Suggs will be out indefinitely this season with his Achilles tendon injury. The outside linebacker insists he will return to the field in 2012, but there’s also a good chance that he doesn’t make it back at all, says Schmuck.

Thus, the Ravens don’t have the luxury of bringing Upshaw along slowly as they traditionally like to do with rookies.

With the Ravens having to move both Upshaw and fellow outside linebacker Paul Krugerup the depth chart so quickly, Schmuck highlights the importance of both men “seizing this opportunity.”

Harbaugh appears to agree.

“There is a lot to it, because it’s an opportunity to start for the Ravens,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to start in the National Football League. Our goal is to be the best defense in football. That’s not going to change, and those guys have an opportunity to be a huge part of that, so, yeah, it’s a huge responsibility. But I don’t think it would be any different at any other positions. Any one of those 11 spots is a pretty big deal.”

What’s The Update On The Steinbach Tryout?

I scanned the web looking for reports on how the Eric Steinbach workout went yesterday.

Here’s all I really found as of this morning – a tweet from Carroll County Times’ Aaron Wilson saying he is hearing it “went well.”

But other teams are interested in Steinbach, said Wilson without naming anyone specifically. So, it’s a “fluid situation.”

With 10 years of NFL experience, Steinbach would compete with Williams for the starting left guard position. But both are what ESPN’s Jamison Hensley calls “short-term solutions.” Their presence would allow Osemele time to develop and ease into a starting role down the line.

Harbaugh seemed high on Steinbach after the workout.

“Eric Steinbach is a heck of a player,” he said. “I don’t know where we stand, but we’re going to look for any good player we can at any time.”

Birk Shows Off Improved Legs

Check out those gorgeous stems.

OK, “gorgeous” might be a stretch, but 36-year-old center Matt Birk showed off his new and improved legs in front of media after yesterday’s training camp practice for quarterbacks, rookies and injured players. He’s feeling pretty darn good after undergoing surgery to repair varicose veins this offseason.

The second-oldest player on the team behind linebacker Ray Lewis, Birk joked that his legs look so good that he’s fielding modeling offers.

On a more serious note, the procedure has made him feel more optimistic that he won’t suffer any setback during this season’s grueling 16-game schedule.

“I feel better,” Birk said. “[The doctors] say it’ll help me feel better during the season. My leg won’t get as fatigued. So it’s a good thing.”

Webb Pokes Fun At Rice’s Size

Lardarius Webb got camp started with a little fun yesterday.

He took pictures of some Ray Rice “gear” around the training room, mocking the running back’s short stature.

“Ray Rice practice jersey, hot tub floats, and gameday socks! #inthebuilding,” Webb tweeted with the pictures below.

I have to admit that even I feel like I tower over the 5-foot-8 Rice when passing by him at the team facility. That’s especially when I’m wearing heels and easily cross the 5-foot-11 threshold.

Get Used To Seeing Tomlin

Ravens fans should get used to seeing Mike Tomlin’s face over the next several years.

The Steelers announced a three-year extension with their head coach yesterday, which means he’ll be in Pittsburgh until 2016.

Based on his track record, that isn’t particularly good news for the purple and black.

At only 40 years old, Tomlin has already taken the Steelers to the playoffs in four of his first five seasons, including the Super Bowl twice. And surprise, surprise, he’s tied with our own Coach Harbaugh as the winningest active NFL coach.

“When a player goes down with an injury, one of Tomlin’s favorite lines is: ‘The standard is the standard,’” wrote Hensley.

“That standard in the Tomlin era has been excellence.”

With Harbaugh currently slated to be in Baltimore through the 2014 season, this should make for an excellent head-coaching rivalry.

Quick Hits

• Hensley ranked Rice as the fourth-best player in the AFC North. “You can certainly make a strong argument for Rice being at the top of this list. He’s been the NFL’s most consistent all-around running back over the past three seasons,” the blogger wrote. “So, why is Rice ranked fourth and not higher? There are three Hall of Fame-caliber players who are entering the prime of their careers in the division. I wouldn’t necessarily put Rice in that class just yet.” [ESPN]
• @adbrandt: Joe Flacco: “I’m not thinking about my contract situation.”  Translation: “I can’t stop thinking about my contract situation.” [Twitter]
• @vleach44: Just landed back in Baltimore #Ravens #trainingcamp
• @Crushboy31: Eating pizza with the family and yes I know it’s bad but I got to have it! Tmrw morning I’m turning into a mad man for 7 months…
• @vleach44: u r a fat boy @Crushboy31
• @Crushboy31: @vleach44 shut it and settle lol
• Ouch … @ JasonLaCanfora: Bengals 1st round pick Dre Kirkpatrick has told teammates he suffered an injury in knee area that could cause him to miss much of camp…
• Ed Reed has to prove his worth this year. [ESPN]

The Ravens are not done tweaking their offensive line.

Less than 24 hours after releasing guard Howard Barbieri, who did not participate in some of the offseason team activities because a reported lower back injury, the Ravens appear to be hard at work trying to fill the vacated roster spot.

One potential candidate is 32-year-old veteran guard Eric Steinbach, who will work out for team officials Tuesday, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora.

If the Ravens want to sign Steinbach, they will have some competition as La Canfora reports that other AFC teams are interested in the former Cincinnati Bengal and Cleveland Brown.

Once considered one of the better guards in the league, Steinbach is out to prove he is healthy after missing all of last season following back surgery. The YouTube video below is a good start in proving his case. The 10-year veteran shows off his renewed strength by flipping truck tires and performing deadlifts.

Prior to the back injury, Steinbach showcased his durability. A 2003 second-round selection by the Bengals, Steinbach started all but two regular-season games from 2003 to 2006. He then signed a seven-year deal with the rival Browns in 2007, and only missed two more games over the next four seasons.

After his back injury, the Browns cut him on March 14.

If the Ravens were to add Steinbach, the competition at left guard would heat up even more.

Last month, the team signed former Bengals guard Bobbie Williams to a two-year deal. Plus there’s rookies Kelechi Osemele and Gino Gradkowski and second-year player Jah Reid (who could transition from tackle to guard). Williams is currently considered the favorite to win the starting role, but Steinbach would provide stiffer competition.

The offensive line could also use more depth during training camp.

Osemele and Reid will start camp on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) – in addition to Pernell McPhee (knee) and receiver David Reed (knee) – according to The Carroll County Times’ Aaron Wilson.

Both Osemele and Reid suffered what were considered minor injuries during offseason team activities. K.O. sustained an undisclosed injury, which Wilson reports as a thigh injury, and Reid was carted off the field in a June minicamp with a reported strained right calf.

Players placed on the preseason PUP can be moved to the active roster at any time, but they cannot be placed back on to the list once they’ve taken the field for practice.

Thus, the Ravens may just be playing it safe with these four players.

Osemele already indicated to our own Garrett Downing that he feels “confident, stronger and bigger,” but that the Ravens are going to be cautious and start camp off slow.

Upshaw Placed On Non-Football Injury List

Put the brakes on seeing Ravens 2012 top draft pick Courtney Upshaw begin his journey in helping fill the shoes of the injured Terrell Suggs.

The 6-foot-2, 272-pound rookie has been placed on the non-football injury list, according to Wilson. He is joined by Suggs and undrafted rookie tight end Bruce Figgins.

Players placed on the non-football injury list can be activated at any time, but it is unclear why Upshaw, who tweeted Sunday morning that he was ready to put in work, received the designation.

Wilson gives one possible scenario.

“The designation can mean a player didn’t pass his conditioning test,” he wrote.

UPDATE: Upshaw tweeted today around 11:30 a.m. EST that he did not pass the conditioning test the first time, but went back and passed it the second time. He said made it to practice yesterday.

“Upshaw has since practiced with Ravens so no need for concern,” wrote The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec. “He’s ready to go.”

Ray Lewis: I’m Fighting For A Starting Job

Linebacker Ray Lewis is truly one of a kind.

That probably explains why he plays one of the most violent positions in football at the age of 37 and still hasn’t slowed down.

Lewis is about to embark on his 17th training camp with the Ravens, yet the veteran leader said it never gets old or boring for him. (USA Today pointed out that even Brett Favre, who had a hard time walking away from the game he loved, went back and forth about retirement just so he could avoid camp.)

The future Hall of Famer’s mentality is that of a rookie, simply hoping to earn a role for himself on the defense.

“It can’t get old, because I’m fighting for a starting job,” Lewis told The Baltimore Sun, one day before camp begins. “I’ve been fighting my whole life. That’s what people don’t realize. I don’t think I’ve ever come in and said, ‘Oh, I’ve got a good day.’ I don’t. And that’s why every year is a new year for me. It’s a new opportunity.”

Who Is the Best RB In Football?

Some would say there is usually a clear-cut answer to the question: who is the best running back in football?

But Bill Barnwell of Grantland.com believes that for the first time in 42 years, there isn’t an obvious answer, making the title up for grabs.

If you’re the smart fan who eats up deep statistical analysis that goes way beyond the normal numbers, this article is for you.

For the rest of you, I’ll get to the point.

There are five running backs that Barnwell identified as candidates to take over the title by the end of the 2012 season: Matt Forte, Arian Foster, Maurice Jones-Drew, LeSean McCoy and Ray Rice. And based on history, that running back will be regarded as the best for two or three seasons.

In the end, Barnwell predicts Rice will hold the title for the next several years.

“[I]t’s pretty clear to me that Ray Rice is the guy to choose,” Barnwell wrote. “Rice is the healthiest back of these five. He’s the best receiver and has the most reliable hands. He’s been an essential part of an offense that would likely break down without him. And since he’s the second-youngest of our five backs, at 25, he still has some room left on his growth curve. And there’s virtually no argument that holds up against him. …

“We are in an era in which being well-rounded is perhaps more important than ever before, and nobody in the NFL is more versatile and efficient than Baltimore’s starting running back. I believe that Ray Rice will be recognized as the clear-cut best running back in football by the end of the season, primarily because he is already the best running back in football.”

Quick Hits

• The Ravens are feeling more pressure than quarterback Joe Flacco to get a long-term deal done, says Jamison Hensley.  He argues the Ravens know they can’t replace Flacco, but they also don’t want to franchise him because he would be paid the average of the top-5 quarterbacks in the league. “Flacco has no reason to worry. He’s either getting a long-term deal or $15 million-plus [under the franchise tag] in 2013. In these negotiations, all of the pressure rests on the Ravens.” [ESPN]
• Does rookie free agent Justin Tucker even stand a chance of unseating veteran Billy Cundiff? Not according to rumors. John Eisenberg wrote, “There’s no veteran around to challenge Cundiff because the word around the league is Cundiff will retain his job barring a complete collapse, which is not expected.” [CSNBaltimore.com]
• Lewis would like to see media outlets move from focusing on athletes behaving badly to those working to help others. [The Baltimore Sun]
• @pkruger99: Training camp starts Wednesday.. Crazy the season is already here, hope your ready for a good one BMORE!! [Twitter]
• @BPierce_30: Passed the conditioning test! [Twitter]
• @KOsevendeuce [Osemele]: Beat the conditioning test with time to spare. Tha gluteus on fire right now  #PAUSE #RavenNation ..proud of myself lol [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 clock was ticking toward an ugly ending to the Ray Race Franchise Tag Saga, with Rice (according to his agent) possibly sitting out training camp and  maybe even games to express his displeasure over not getting the long-term deal he wanted. There was no sense that a happy ending was in the offing.

But then Rice’s running buddy, Vonta Leach, tweeted that good things were about to happen, and Rice suddenly materialized at the team’s training facility. Just minutes before the deadline to strike a deal, Rice was seen hugging people in the parking lot, his trademark sunny smile glistening in the summer sunshine.

Just in time, the saga had the right ending … right for all involved. Rice had the big payday he wanted and deserved, the Ravens had the services of their No. 1 offensive engine locked up for years, and all of Ravenstown had a bona fide morale-boosting development to celebrate –  badly needed going into training camp in the wake of Terrell Suggs’ injury.

Who needed it more? One could argue that the Ravens pretty much had to have Rice happy and on the field in 2012, especially with Suggs out. With their offense experiencing consistency issues as it was in 2011, they needed their bulwark and centerpiece to be in place, on top of his game and producing at the maximum rate. The Ravens just don’t have enough consistent playmakers otherwise.

But the Ravens didn’t let that stop them from playing tough with Rice in these negotiations. Their approach added tension and roiled some bad blood, but they had to do it. That’s their job.

It would have been a lot easier if they had heeded their fans crying out, “Just pay the man!” Sure, no problem … just like the Minnesota Vikings paid Adrian Peterson an astounding $100 million and just like the Tennessee Titans paid Chris Johnson $13 million a year in deals those teams quickly regretted because of injury (in Peterson’s case), performance (in Johnson’s case) and the long-term, salary-cap implications.

The Ravens owed it to themselves to play tougher. The fans beseeching them to pay Rice will move on to other issues now that he is locked up, but the Ravens have to live with this contract for the next five years under the cap. They had to get what they wanted, walking the tightrope of paying Rice what he deserved while also preserving cap space, which governs all in today’s NFL.

It certainly appears they got it right in the end … right for all involved.

In the months leading up to Monday, there was an interesting conversation about whether teams should ever give big money to running backs, given the beatings they take and their relatively short life spans as top producers. It’s a fair question, especially since a fair share of teams experience buyer’s remorse after paying their backs.

But Rice is the right kind of player, person and running back to invest in. He’s versatile, able to wins games as a receiver or a rusher. He’s durable, having barely missed a snap with the Ravens. He’s consistent, having surpassed 1,200 yards on the ground for three straight years.

On top of all that, he’s just 25. Yes, he has carried a heavy load for three years, which is worrisome, as there are all sorts of metrics indicating that backs fall off badly after a certain age. But Rice has good years to go before he reaches that threshold. He’s still in his prime – right in the middle of it.

Most importantly, he’s the consummate pro, an insatiable workout fiend who keeps himself in top shape and burns to win.

If I’m handing over millions to a player, I want to know if he cares; if his nature is such that he might slack off once he gets paid. Believe me, it’s a common concern.

But the Ravens don’t have to worry about Ray Rice. He’s made of the right stuff and deserves the big, dramatic moment he experienced Monday.

His mom, Janet, who took over full share of raising him after Rice’s father and cousin died, was drawing a hot bath for him following football practice.

“Ma, I’m going to the league,” Ray said. “I’ve got to make it to the league. I’ll be glad when I can tell you, ‘You don’t have to work no more.‘”

It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers behind Rice’s contract, the nitty-gritty details of the contract. It’s commonplace to compare it to other running back’s contracts.

But at the end of the day, what presumably matters most to Rice is that he kept his promise to his mom.

That’s why minutes after signing his new five-year deal worth a reported $40 million, Rice welled up with tears and hugged those around him. That explains why he bolted from team headquarters to celebrate with his family.

For now, his agent Todd France shed light on the mindset of his client.

“At the end of the day it’s not about winning and losing,” France told WNST soon after the deal was finalized. “The kid just set up himself and his family for generation after generation after generation.”

France is an agent, and thus is looking not only for the best deal for Rice, but also for himself. It helps his reputation to get the biggest deal, and he gets a bigger payday. That’s why France said he is “still wanting the Adrian Peterson deal” worth $100 million over seven years with $36 million guaranteed.

But from the story France tells (and from all my encounters with Rice) the two-time Pro Bowler wasn’t all about the money.

A number of other running backs complained publicly this offseason, and even during last season, about their upcoming expiring contract. Rice did not.

France told WNST that the plan was to sit out all of training camp and even “committed to missing some games” if they did not sign a contract extension.

But listen to what Rice told France during negotiations.

“He didn’t want to have to go through [contract negotiations] again,” France said. “The kid is all about football.”

During these long negotiations, Rice told France, “I never played this game for money, Todd. I don’t want it to be all about the money. I don’t want people to think I’m greedy.”

Rice wanted to play football for the Baltimore Ravens and wanted to take care of his family.

He got what he wanted. He’s doing both.

“A contract that’s this changing to a player’s life, you can’t pass that up,” France said. “At the end of the day, I don’t know that there’s a winner and a loser. I just know my client is very happy.”

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]