Ravens sign Considine

Ok, now it's been a really busy day for the Ravens.

At the team's 3pm press conference, we expected the team to announce the three previously-reported signings of Corey Graham, Brendon Ayanbadejo, and Jameel McClain.

They threw in one more.

The team announced they have also signed safety Sean Considine to a one-year deal.

Considine is a former fourth-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, who drafted him in 2005. He left the Eagles after the 2008 and spent two season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Considine began last season with the Carolina Panthers, but was cut after four games and finished the year with the Arizona Cardinals.

The Ravens are aggressively attempting to improve on special teams, as evidenced by today's moves. Considine will provide more special teams help, and will also provide depth at safety.

The move also reunites Considine with head coach John Harbaugh, who coached Considine as the Eagle's special teams coordinator from 2005-2006, and as the Eagle's defensive backs coach in 2007.

Ravens re-sign LB McClain

It's been a busy day for the Ravens.

In addition to the signings of CB Corey Graham and LB Brendon Ayanbadejo, the team has announced that starting LB Jameel McClain has been re-signed as well. It's reportedly a three-year deal.

McClain also visited with the Denver Broncos, but had previously voiced his desire to stay in Baltimore.

It's a great move, McClain is only 26 and has really came into his own as the starting ILB next to Ray Lewis.

The team will have a press conference at 3pm today to announce the signings.

Ravens agree to terms with Ayanbadejo

The folks at ProFootballTalk  are reporting that the Ravens have agreed to terms with Linebacker/Special teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo.

Ayanbadejo has been with the Ravens since coming from Chicago as a free agent after the 2007 season.

The move has been expected for some time, back in our 2012 free agency preview we attributed Ayanbadejo a 4 out of 5 on the COR (chance of returning) scale.

The 35 year old Ayanbadejo has primarily been a special teams player (and a great one) most of his career, but has recently emerged with more playing time on defense, and has performed well.

PFT reports the new deal is for three years.

Ravens sign CB Corey Graham

The Ravens have signed free agent cornerback and special teams ace Corey Graham.

Graham spent his first five seasons with the Chicago Bears after being drafted in the fifth-round out of New Hampshire in 2007.

Although his contributions on defense have been minimal, (He hasn't started a game since 2009) he is a beast on special teams, and was the NFC's pro-bowl special teamer this past season.

Graham visited with the Seattle Seahawks and the Detroit Lions this offseason, and was also open to staying with the Bears. In the end, he decided the Ravens were the best fit.

"I believe it's a better situation for me and a better opportunity with a fresh start," Graham told the Chicago Tribune. "I gave the Bears every opportunity but they moved on. All around, Baltimore is just a better deal for me and my family."

The signing will add additional depth at cornerback and will help fill the special teams void left by the departures of Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura.

WR Lee Evans visiting Jaguars today

Wide receiver Lee Evans was cut by the Ravens on March 3rd after an immensely disappointing first season with the team which saw Evans catch only four passes during the regular season.

He was slowed by injury and only appeared in nine regular season games, and finished the season by dropping an end-zone pass in the AFC Conference Championship that could have propelled the Ravens to the Super Bowl.

Still, he has great speed and if fully healthy (and at a lower salary) he can still make a positive impact on a team.  There was talk soon after his release that Evans could possibly be back in Baltimore with a less expensive deal.

However, Evans is now drawing some interest in the free agent market. The Florida Times-Union is reporting that Evans is visiting the Jacksonville Jaguars today. The Jaguars have already signed former Cowboys WR Laurent Robinson to a 5-year $32.5 million deal, but still need more help at the receiver position.

If signed, Evans would be reunited with new Jaguars head coach Mike Mularkey, who took Evans in the first round of the draft during Mularkey's first season as Buffalo's head coach back in 2004.

WR Ted Ginn visited Ravens

Free-Agent wide receiver Tedd Ginn Jr. visited the Ravens during the past week, as was reported by Adam Caplan.

Ginn, the former Miami Dolphins first-round pick, has spent the last two years playing with the San Francisco 49ers. He has blazing speed, but hasn't come close to living up to his draft position as a receiver. However, Ginn is definitely a great asset in the return game.

The Ravens surely don't wish to continue using Lardarius Webb as a returner, being that he has developed into a pro-bowl caliber corner. Additionally, WR David Reed, who was showing promise as a kickoff returner, is coming off a torn ACL and S Tom Zbikowski who was used at returner as well, is now playing his ball in Indy.

And so, Ginn could be a good fit for the Ravens. He adds speed to the receiver group, and even though he would probably end up only being 4th or 5th on the depth chart at WR, he would give a huge boost on special teams.

Not to mention John Harbaugh has surely gotten an honest scouting report from his brother (San Francisco head coach Jim Harbaugh) on Ginn.

Ravens 2012 free agency update

Let's get you caught up on the Ravens offseason thus far. We went over the Ravens free agents last month. So far five Ravens players have signed with new teams. Those players are:

LB Jarrett Johnson (pictured)
The perennially underrated Johnson signed a four-year deal with the San Diego Chargers.

G Ben Grubbs
The pro-bowler and former first-round pick signed a five-year $36 million contract with the New Orleans Saints.

DE Cory Redding
As we speculated, Chuck Pagano wanted to bring some of his defensive players with him to Indianapolis. Redding signed a three-year $10.5 million deal with the Colts.

S Tom Zbikowski
Zbikowski also followed Pagano to Indy, signing a three-year deal as well.

S Haruki Nakamura
Nakamura signed a three-year contract with the Carolina Panthers.

The Ravens have only re-signed one of the unrestricted free agents thus far, C Matt Birk signed a three-year deal to remain in Baltimore.

Ravens Huddle returns from hiatus

After a brief hiatus, the site is back and ready to keep you up to date on everything Ravens.

Suggs Named Defensive Player of the Year

OLB Terrell Suggs has just been awarded one of the most prestigious awards in the NFL. Suggs has been named the AP 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Suggs nabbed 21 of the 50 votes, the next closest player was Minnesota's Jared Allen with 14.

It was a career year for Suggs. He totaled a career-high 14 sacks and 7 forced fumbles, and also added  two interceptions. The sack totals are especially impressive considering the team didn't have another legitamite pass rusher, so opposing teams frequently keyed on Suggs.

Although Suggs would surely rather this season ended with a Super Bowl berth, the DPOY award is a long-awaited and well-deserved honor. He joins Ed Reed (2004) and Ray Lewis (2000, 2003) as other members of the Ravens defense who have previously earned the award.

Birk Named Walter Payton Man of the Year

Ravens center Matt Birk has been named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.

Each year, every NFL team selects one player for his distinguished work in the community, along with his excellence on the field. Each nominee receives $1,000 towards their respective charity. Birk was selected as one of the three finalists of the 32 nominees. The two finalists who are not selected as the winner earn $5,000. As the league-wide winner of the prestigious award, Birk will receive a $25,000 donation to his charity.

Birk has been a nominee seven times prior to this year, and was a finalist in 2008, but this is his first time winning the award.

The Harvard grad has not only been a force on the field for the Ravens, but has also immersed himself in the community since arriving in Baltimore in 2009. He used his H.I.K.E. Foundation (hope, inspiration, knowledge and education) as a platform to launch the "Ready, Set, Read!" campaign in the Baltimore area to encourage children to read at home, and has been an advocate for children's literacy programs.

Ravens Hire Martindale to Coach ILBs

The Baltimore Ravens have filled the vacancy left at inside linebackers coach when Dean Pees was elevated to defensive coordinator. The team announced Wednesday they have hired former Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale as their new inside linebackers coach.

Martindale did not coach in the NFL last season, but was the defensive coordinator for the Broncos in 2010. Prior to that he coached the linebackers for the Broncos in 2009, and the linebackers for the Oakland Raiders from 2004-2008.

"He’s known for his hard work, intelligence and thorough teaching, and his players have always responded well to his coaching," Head coach John Harbaugh said of Martindale. "He’ll earn the respect of our players. I’m confident about that."

Ravens lose Maalouf, Anderson to Colts

When Chuck Pagano left the Ravens to become head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, it meant the Ravens would probably lose at least an assistant coach or two with him. Head coaches typically like to bring people they're familiar with when taking on a new job.

It has now been confirmed that Ravens assistant coaches Marwan Maalouf and Roy Anderson are joining Pagano in Indianapolis.

Maalouf has been an assistant special teams coach for the last four years in Baltimore. Anderson has been with the Ravens for seven years, originally starting in the personnel department, and most recently assisted with coaching the secondary.

Maalouf will be the special teams coordinator in Indy, and Anderson will coach the safeties.

Ravens Hire Caldwell as QB Coach

On Monday the Ravens officially announced former Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell as the teams new quarterbacks coach.

Caldwell was the Colts head coach for the past three seasons, and even made an appearance in Super Bowl XLIV, but he was fired after this years 2-14 debacle. Prior to being the head coach in Indianapolis, he was the Colts quarterbacks coach from 2002-2008.

The Ravens went without a QB coach this past season, instead opting for offensive coordinator Cam Cameron to lend additional attention to the position. This move frees Cameron up to focus on other areas of the offense, and Joe Flacco should only benefit from the presence of Peyton Manning's former tutor.

"I am really excited to work with Coach Harbaugh, Cam and the rest of the coaching staff," Caldwell said in a statement released by the team. "It's a great fit for me, and I'm happy they saw it that way. I can't wait to get started with the Ravens, an organization that from top to bottom is one of the NFL's best. I'm looking forward to coming to Baltimore."

This looks like a great fit for both parties. The Ravens needed to add an experienced quarterbacks coach, and Caldwell returns to a coaching position that he excels at.

Ravens Free Agent Analysis

Now that the Ravens season has ended, the team has 21 players who have expiring contracts and will become free agents.

Of the 21, 13 of those players will be unrestricted free agents, meaning that if the team and player do not reach an agreement on a new contract by March 13th, the player will be free to sign with any team. Players must have completed four or more accrued seasons to become UFAs.

Four players will be restricted free agents, in this case the Ravens can offer the player a tender, attached to a draft pick. The Ravens would have the option to match any offer another team makes to the player and retain his services. If they decline to match the offer, the Ravens would obtain the draft pick attached to the tender by means of the other teams forfeiture. RFAs have completed three accrued seasons in the league.

Four more players will be exclusive rights free agents, which, you guessed it, means the Ravens have exclusive rights to the player. Baltimore is the only team that can make them an offer, and if the player declines the offer, they will be released. These players have completed two or fewer seasons in the league.

Here's the complete list of Ravens free agents, and on the UFAs and RFAs we've included a 1-5 COR (chance of returning) scale, with 1 being as good as gone, and 5 being almost certain to stay.

Ravens Sign Two to Reserve/Future Contracts

The Ravens announced today they have signed two players to reserve/future contracts. C/G Howard Barbieri and LB Cody Glenn (pictured).

Barbieri went undrafted out of Rutgers this past year and spent his rookie season on the Texans practice squad.

Glenn was a fifth-round pick of the Redskins in the 2009, but was cut after training camp of that year. He was then claimed by the Colts, where he remained until being waived/injured this past November.

Barbieri and Glenn join seven other players who the Ravens signed to reserve/future contracts. The rest are:

C/G Cecil Newton (you may know his younger brother Cam)
WR Rodney Bradley
WR Phillip Livas
WR Paul Williams
RB Damien Berry
TE Davon Drew
DT Bryan Hall

Pees Named D-Coordinator, Cameron to be Retained

At todays' press conference, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh announced that Dean Pees will be taking over as defensive coordinator now that Chuck Pagano has been named the head coach in Indianapolis.

Pees has been the Ravens linebackers coach for the past two seasons, and spent four years as the New England Patriots defensive coordinator from 2006 to 2009. Pees and Harbaugh have a long history, as Pees was Harbaugh's defensive coordinator when John played defensive back at Miami (Ohio) University.

Harbaugh also announced that offensive coordinator Cam Cameron will be retained. Many speculated Cameron's time in Baltimore could be up, given the criticism he has faced and the fact that his contract is up. Apparently, that never crossed Harbaugh's mind.

"It was a forgone conclusion to me," Harbaugh said of Cameron being retained. "If you look at the way our offense played this year and that job our players did on offense and our coaches did, I was excited about it."

Furthermore, it remains to be seen if Pagano will attempt to pry any position coaches from Baltimore for his staff, but Harbaugh said he was looking forward to having all of his assistant coaches back next year.

These both look like great moves to us, It wouldn't make sense to bring in an entirely new defensive coordinator to handle an already top-notch unit. It would have been great to keep Pagano, but going with Pees is a sound replacement.

And with Cameron, continuity at the offensive coordinator position is one of the greatest gifts a quarterback can have, and Joe Flacco will now enter his 5th season with the same offensive coordinator he has had his entire career. There was much more balance on offense this year, and believe it or not Cameron is well-respected around the league as a coordinator.

Former Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain chimed in on twitter when asked his thoughts on Cameron being retained, saying "Great move they looked more explosive this year to me".

The Ravens have a great coaching staff, and with these moves the offensive and defensive units remain in good hands.

Colts Hire Pagano as New Head Coach

The Indianapolis Colts have hired Ravens defensive Coordinator Chuck Pagano as their new head coach. Pagano just finished his first season as defensive coordinator for the Ravens and replaces the fired Jim Caldwell for the Colts. More details to come.

Reed, Rice, Also Withdraw from Pro Bowl

Ravens FS Ed Reed and RB Ray Rice have joined the list of Ravens players not attending this year's Pro Bowl. They will me replaced on the roster by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark and San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews, respectivly.

Reed and Rice join DL Haloti Ngata and LB Terrell Suggs as the Ravens players withdrawing from the game.

Guards Marshal Yanda and Ben Grubbs, fullback Vonta Leach, and linebacker Ray Lewis will play in the game.

Scoreboard Error Contributed to Cundiff's Miss

On the Ravens final drive of the AFC Championship, Joe Flacco hit Anquan Boldin on 1st and 10 from the Patriots 23-yard line. Boldin fumbled out of bounds near the first down marker. The Ravens players thought they had the first down, and apparently, so did the scoreboard operator at Gillette Stadium. The scoreboard indicated the Ravens had a first down, and subsequently displayed 2nd and 3rd down as first and second.

Terrell Suggs spoke about the confusion to ESPN's Skip Bayless. (shortly before calling Bayless a douchebag on national television.)

Billy Cundiff also chimed in on the confusion in an interview with Deadspin. Cundiff explained how he has a pre-kick routine that relies on the down. He spoke on how each down has it's own preparation. On first down, he gets together with his snapper and holder while they take a few practice snaps, and he lightly kicks the ball to the team kicking consultant. On second, he takes a few "air-kicks" with no ball while looking at the goal posts on the Ravens side of the field. Cundiff said it's a bit of a mind game for himself that make the posts seem wider when he kicks on the field. Lastly, on third down he stands closely to the sideline and imagines the kick in his head before getting the order to kick the field goal if the play is unsuccessful.

You see where this is going. With the incorrect down on the scoreboard it threw off Cundiff's preparation, and forced him to rush onto the field from behind many players, as opposed to being ready and waiting on the sideline. Cundiff isn't blaming the miss on the scoreboard error, and regardless, its a kick he should have made. But it was an error on a Patriots employee's part that definitely affected the game, not only in the kicking game, but possibly in the playcalling if the coaches were confused as well.

Of course, the Ravens could have called a timeout prior to the kick, and the coaches should have noticed the correct down markers on the field. That being said, the scoreboard should of listed the correct down and distance.

We'll leave it up to you to speculate if it was a simple mistake, or another Spygate-esque Patriots tactic to swing things their way.

Suggs Out of Pro Bowl, Grubbs In

Linebacker Terrell Suggs has pulled out of the upcoming Pro Bowl. He will miss the game with an undisclosed injury, (Or "injury").

There are typically a handful of high profile players that pass on the Pro Bowl each year, and really, can you blame Suggs for not wanting to frolic around in Honolulu 7 days after such a heartbreaking loss in the AFC Championship?

Speaking of that heartbreaking loss, being that the Patriots are advancing to the Super Bowl, their players that were elected to the Pro Bowl are all being replaced by alternates. And thus, Patriots guard Logan Mankins will be replaced by the Ravens very own Ben Grubbs.

I'm sure Grubbs would trade that Pro Bowl appearance for a Super Bowl appearance in a heartbeat, but it really is a long overdue honor for the elite offensive guard. He has been a dominant and consistent member of the Ravens offensive line since being drafted in the first round out of Auburn in 2007.


Update 1/24/12 6:39pm:
Aaron Wilson of Scout.com reported that DT Haloti Ngata has also withdrawn from the Pro Bowl. Ngata revealed to Wilson that he played most of the season with a thigh injury. He will be replaced on the AFC roster by Miami DT Paul Soliai.

Ravens Lose AFC Championship in Heartbreaking Fashion

The 2011 Baltimore Ravens season came down to a 32-yard field goal attempt with 11 seconds left in the 4th quarter of the AFC Championship Game. The Ravens trailed the New England Patriots 23-20, and the field goal would tie the game and almost certainly force overtime.

Billy Cundiff, a pro-bowl kicker only a season ago, trotted out and proceeded to shank the kick wide left.

And thus, the 2011 season ended in Foxborough, with a 23-20 loss to the New England Patriots, who will now play the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.

Realistically, is the missed kick the reason the Ravens lost? No, but it's a large contributing factor. And it will surely go down in Baltimore sports infamy.

In our AFC Championship preview earlier this week, we predicted the Patriots would score 24 points, (halfway between their average ppg and the Ravens defense average ppg allowed) they scored 23. It takes a very good defensive performance to hold the Patriots offense to only 23 points, and that's exactly what the Ravens gave. Jimmy Smith and Lardarius Webb each notched interceptions, and two more were called back by penalty. They sacked Tom Brady only once, but held him without a touchdown pass for the first time in 36 games. Brady later said "Well, I sucked pretty bad today, but our defense saved us." It was as good a defensive showing as anyone can have against Brady and the Patriots offense.

As for the Ravens offense, Joe Flacco turned in one of his best performances, throwing for 306 yards and two touchdowns. Anquan Boldin had over 100 yards receiving on 6 catches. But the team had to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns too often. Finally, after getting the ball back with under two minutes on the clock, Flacco led the Ravens down the field, and after a near touchdown to Lee Evans, the team had to settle for a field goal try for the third time in the game. It was an ultra-high pressure kick, and Cundiff couldn't deliver. "It's a kick I've kicked probably a thousand times in my career, I went out there and didn't convert. That's the way things go." Cundiff said.

And so, the most talented Ravens team in recent memory, the team that overtook Pittsburgh to win the AFC North, that finally earned a playoff bye and a home playoff game, is left to ask what could have been.

Ravens Inactives for AFC Championship

Here are the Ravens inactive players for today's AFC Championship Game in New England:

NT Brandon Mckinney
LB Sergio Kindle
CB Chykie Brown (pictured)
LB Josh Bynes
WR Tandon Doss
RB Anthony Allen
OL Justin Boren

Game Preview: AFC Championship

This Sunday at 3:00pm the Baltimore Ravens will take on the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Whoever comes out on top will be representing the AFC in the Super Bowl.

The AFC playoff bracket played out as designed, with the two top seeds meeting in the conference championship. The Ravens and Patriots have truly been the two best teams in the AFC throughout the season.

It will be a game that puts strength against strength as the perennial immovable force that is the Ravens defense attempts to shut down the seemingly unstoppable Patriots offense. Can Tom Brady dice up the Ravens defense like all the others he's left in his wake? Can Ed Reed take away the two tight end punch in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez that has been the death of so many opposing defenses this year? Will Terrell Suggs and the rest of the front seven be able to get pressure on Brady after not registering a single sack against the Texans last week? This is the matchup that will be hyped and talked about the rest of the week. The Patriots offense against the Ravens defense. And rightfully so, but I believe this game will really be decided when these two units are on the sidelines.

The Patriots put up an average of 32.1 points per game (3rd in NFL) throughout the regular season, and they're hot right now. Last week they dropped 45 on Denver. They are going to score some points, but not like they're used to. The Ravens allowed an average of only 16.6 yards per game (also 3rd in NFL) this year. Lets say they split the difference, and the Patriots score 24 points. This is where the matchup of the Ravens offense against the Patriots defense comes into play, and here's why I think it will be the deciding factor.

Brady says Ravens are "best team we've faced all year"

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady appeared on Boston sports radio station WEEI today to discuss the upcoming AFC Championship Game against the Ravens. Brady praised the Ravens calling them "the best team we've faced all year."

"There's no one that's going to overlook a team like that. It would be impossible to do," Brady said. "They present a ton of challenges in all three phases of the game. You watch them yesterday, they're physical, they're tough, they can cover. They've got some of the best players in the history of the NFL at their position, in Suggs and Ray Lewis and Ed Reed and Haloti Ngata."

Ravens fans certainly remember the 33-14 trouncing Baltimore put on the Patriots in the playoffs two years ago, but Brady said that loss will have no bearing on this game.

"This is nothing about '09 or '10. This is nothing about last week or last season or last month or 10 years ago. It's about this week." He went on to add "We've got to use our time wisely, to repair, get our rest, and be ready to go out and face our biggest challenge of the season."

It all sounds nice, but don't read to much into this. The Patriots routinely praise every opponent before an upcoming game. It's just the Patriot way. Some teams like to trash talk, but teams like the Bill Belichick led Patriots don't want to give their opponents any bulletin board material to motivate themselves with.

However, Brady may be correct when he calls the Ravens the best they've faced. The 13-3 Patriots only played two teams who ended up with a winning record all year. They lost both of those games. A 25-17 loss in Pittsburgh, and a 24-20 loss at home against the New York Giants. We'll delve further into this matchup later this week, but make no mistake. This game will be a significant test for both teams involved.

Divisional Playoff: Ravens Beat Texans 20-13

The Ravens beat the Houston Texans 20-13 today to secure a matchup with the New England Patriots in next week's AFC Championship Game.

In a closely fought contest, the Ravens were able to make more plays when it counted, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. The defense forced three T.J. Yates interceptions, including two by Lardarius Webb (pictured) and one by Ed Reed that essentially sealed the victory. Yates made some good plays and generally played well, but the Ravens defense was just too much for the rookie to overcome. Arian Foster had a huge game, becoming the first opposing running back to rush for over 100 yards in a playoff game against the Ravens. Foster finished with 132 yards rushing and a touchdown, and also added 5 catches for 22 yards. The real strength of Houston's offense in this game was the offensive line, which opened huge holes for Foster and did not allow a single sack.

The Texans defense played like the top-notch unit it has become, constantly pressuring Joe Flacco and sacking him five times, while also corralling explosive running back Ray Rice, holding him to only 60 yards on 21 rushes. Flacco, while not putting up huge numbers, was steady in the face of the pressure, tossing two touchdown passes and no interceptions. Kicker Billy Cundiff connected on both his field-goal attempts, hitting from 44 and 48 yards.

Overall, the game was probably a little more closely contested than most anticipated, but the Ravens, led by their four takeaways, were the better team and came out on top. Now, they head to New England for the AFC Championship, with a Super Bowl berth on the line.

Ravens Huddle Game Balls

Offense: WR Anquan Boldin: 4 catches, 73 yards, 1 touchdown

Boldin's stats weren't off the charts, but the veteran's return to the lineup was huge for the team. He made the plays when the Ravens needed them, and had a 10-yard touchdown catch from Joe Flacco to put the Ravens up 17-3 at the end of the 1st quarter.

Defense: CB Lardarius Webb: 4 tackles, 4 passes defended, 2 interceptions

Webb played like an All-Pro for the Ravens, and shined brighter than all the other playmakers on the Ravens star-studded defense. He came up with two huge interceptions and played great when matched up against Andre Johnson, one of the top-three receivers in the NFL. Webb is really coming into his own as a star on this team, and it's at the perfect time.

Ravens Add LB Bynes from Practice Squad

The Ravens have signed rookie linebacker Josh Bynes to the active roster from their practice squad. The move gives the team an insurance policy at linebacker, where Jameel McClain (pictured) and Brendon Ayanbadejo are both listed as questionable for tomorrow's divisional playoff game against Houston. McClain is still recovering from a sprained knee, while Ayanbadejo is nursing a thigh injury.

Bynes, an undrafted rookie out of Auburn, had been on the practice squad since being cut out of training camp. He was brought up to the active roster for the Thanksgiving Day game against San Francisco, and was then cut and re-signed to the practice squad, where he has been ever since.

The team released offensive tackle D.J. Jones to make room for Bynes. Jones was previously signed off of the practice squad on December 27th to provide depth on the offensive line.

Birk Is Ravens Walter Payton Man of the Year

Center Matt Birk has been named the Baltimore Ravens 2011 Walter Payton Man of the Year.

Each year, all 32 teams in the NFL select one player from their team for his distinguished work in the community along with his excellence on the field. Each nominee receives $1,000 towards their respective charity. The top three finalists will be named from the 32 nominees and will receive a $5,000 donation, and the winner will receive a $25,000 donation.

Birk was the Minnesota Vikings nominee seven times and was a finalist in 2008. The Harvard grad has immersed himself in the community since arriving in Baltimore in 2009. He used his H.I.K.E. Foundation (hope, inspiration, knowledge and education) as a platform to launch the "Ready, Set, Read!" campaign in the Baltimore area to encourage children to read at home, and has been an advocate for children's literacy programs.

Reed Says Tackling Issues Due to Injury

Ravens All-Pro free safety Ed Reed has had what many have described as a down year. He notched only three interceptions on the year, his lowest total ever in a season that he played all 16 games.

Now, I wouldn't agree with those who say he's had an off year because of the lack of picks. Much like with a top-notch cornerback, opposing offenses deliberately avoid throwing to his area of the field. This may take away from Reed's statistics, but it creates opportunities for his teammates and is really just as valuable to the team. Ask any team that's preparing to face the Ravens defense and usually the first thing you hear is that they always have to account for Ed Reed.

But lets take a look at the other area of his game, tackling. Reed has no doubt struggled with it this season, more so than ever before. He's had a nerve impingement in his neck that has created problems for him for a few years now, so much so that he even considered retirement after the 2009 season. It has surely affected his tackling in the past, but this year, Reed says it's a different ailment that has caused his tackling to suffer.

"I had a stinger hurt me this year so bad in my right shoulder to where now it has affected my deltoid and my scapula, my shoulder has just been hanging on the last couple of weeks. You could see how it has affected me for the most part. I think I've missed one tackle for four games straight, one in each game." Reed told Jamison Hensley of ESPN.

This could help explain why the All-Pro's tackling has dropped off even more this year, or it could simply be Reed's way of rationalizing all the missed tackles. Either way, the Ravens need him to improve on his tackling for the playoffs. He's still a top notch ball-hawk in the secondary, but there's no question his tackling issues have hurt the defense at times.

Former Raven Mason to Retire

Aaron Wilson of Scout.com has reported that former Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason is retiring. Mason was a go-to target for the Ravens for 6 years from 2005-2010. After the team struggled with inconsistency for years at wide receiver, Mason gave the Ravens a stabilizing force at the position upon signing with the team after previously playing for the Tennessee Titans from 1997-2004.

Mason racked up 5,777 receiving yards in his time in Baltimore, including four seasons with over 1,000 yards. He is the all-time leading receiver in terms of yardage in Baltimore Ravens history, and holds the single season Ravens record for catches in a season with 103, set in 2007.

Mason told Scout.com "I'm done, I wont be playing football. I only knew one (way) to play football, going all-out and having fun out there." He then confirmed what many have speculated by explaining his desire get into broadcasting. Mason has made media appearances on multiple networks since being released by the Houston Texans in December.

Baltimore released Mason prior to the season in an effort to save salary cap space and get younger at the position. He then signed with the New York Jets, but was traded in October to Houston before finally being released by the Texans on December 12th.

His final season may have been forgetful (19 catches, 170 yards) but his career body of work is spectacular. He finishes with 943 catches, over 12,000 receiving yards, and 66 touchdowns. John Harbaugh was heard after the Ravens week 6 victory over the Texans telling Mason he was "always a Raven." Mason is really one of the greatest offensive players in Ravens history, and should, and will be remembered as a great receiver, a superb teammate, and a fiery competitor.

Playoffs Shaping Up Well for Ravens

With wild-card weekend in the books, the Ravens have got to be pleased with how the first weekend of the playoffs played out. They know they're playing the Texans, which we explained was a very favorable matchup next week. And they know they won't have to play their biggest rival, the Steelers. Pittsburgh lost in overtime to the Denver Broncos on a 80-yard touchdown strike from Tim Tebow to Demaryius Thomas on the first play of OT. That very small chance we talked about was all the Broncos needed.

So now on to the divisional round, where the Ravens host the Texans, and the Broncos head to Foxborough to take on the Patriots. Lets look forward a bit. Let's say the Ravens beat the Texans next week. (Definite? No, but playing the Ravens in Baltimore is going to be a whole lot tougher on Houston than playing the 9-7 Bengals at home.) If Jesus Christ Tim Tebow can pull off another mind-blowing upset in New England, the Ravens would be more than thrilled to try to end the Broncos run in Baltimore in the AFC Championship. Or, lets say level heads prevail and Tom Brady and the Patriots end the unlikely run of the Denver Broncos. The Ravens will head to New England, where they blew out the Patriots 33-14 the last time these teams met in the postseason two years ago. Make no mistake, it would not be an easy game, but there are a lot of players still on the Ravens roster from that game in January 2010, and that experience should only help Baltimore.

Overall, it seems the playoffs are shaking out in Baltimore's favor. If/After they beat Houston, they will only have either the Broncos in Baltimore (should be an easy win) or the Patriots in Foxborough (tough game, but winnable) standing between them and a Super Bowl berth. The current core of players, especially on the defensive side of the ball, are getting older and their window to win a championship is getting smaller. This may just be the year to accomplish that feat.

Leach, Pollard Set to Take on Former Team

When the Houston Texans come to town next Sunday, they will see two familiar faces suited up in the purple and black. Ravens All-Pro fullback Vonta Leach and starting strong safety Bernard Pollard are both former Texans who were not re-signed after the 2010 season.

Leach spent five seasons in Houston from 2006-2010 and developed into arguably the best pure fullback in the league while there. Pollard spent the last two seasons in the Texans secondary accounting for an eye-popping 213 tackles, including a team-leading 111 in 2010, while also forcing five fumbles and intercepting four passes. But Houston decided to move on without the two impact players.

When it comes to Leach, there's no denying his talent as a fullback. However, the Texans did not want to spend the kind of money that Leach commanded, especially at a position such as fullback, where very few players get big-money deals. Enter the Ravens, who desperately wanted to pair a hard-nosed, true blocking fullback with Ray Rice after previously having Le'Ron McClain, who was more of a hybrid fullback/tailback. The Ravens signed Leach to a three-year, $11 million deal in July. The Texans offer was said to be significantly lower than that, and seemed to be borderline insulting to Leach. The All-Pro FB took to twitter on Friday to shed some light on the situation. "Bottom line #texans did not offer me a fair deal or my worth and I found a home in bmore an I'm happy," Leach wrote. The Ravens are surely happy as well.

Pollard, on the other hand was reportedly not offered any contract by the Texans after the season. With new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips placing a premium on coverage skills by safeties, and Pollard's alleged lack of prowess in that area, he was deemed not a fit in Phillip's defense. After the departure of starter Dawan Landry from the Ravens prior to the season, Baltimore signed Pollard to a two-year deal and he was expected to compete with Tom Zbikowski for playing time.

The situation has really turned into a win-win for both franchises. With Leach, the Ravens got everything they expected and more in the powerful lead blocker. He made his second consecutive All-Pro team, and received his second consecutive Pro-Bowl nod, while leading Ray Rice to a Pro-Bowl season and career highs in yards rushing and rushing touchdowns. The Texans were still able to thrive without him, averaging 153 rushing yards per game, good for 2nd in the NFL.

After coming off the bench for the first three games of the season, Pollard entrenched himself as the starter at strong safety with his impressive play and brutal hits. He has given the Ravens an imposing big hitter at the strong safety position, and has even displayed skills in coverage that were questioned before the season. He turned in a career high 13 defended passes for the Ravens and has not only filled the shoes of the departed Landry, but in my opinion gives the team a clear upgrade. The Texans are surely content with their decision to let him walk as well, as their Wade Phillips led defense has been spectacular and finished ranked 2nd in the league.

In the end, both franchises, and both players can be happy with how things turned out, and although of course the ultimate goal for Leach and Pollard is the Super Bowl, what better way to stick it to their former team than to defeat them in the upcoming divisional round and end their season.

Ravens Will Host Texans in Divisional Round

With the #3 seeded Houston Texans defeating the #6 seeded Cincinnati Bengals 31-10 today, the Ravens opponent in the divisional round has been cemented. The Texans will be the highest remaining seed after the wild-card round and will be coming to Baltimore on January 15th at 1:00pm.

In the first playoff game in the Super Bowl era featuring two rookie starting quarterbacks, the Texans got a huge day from running back Arian Foster (pictured) who had 153 yards rushing and two touchdowns. And the defense forced Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton into throwing three interceptions, and held the Bengals scoreless for the entire second half.

We summarized the potential Houston-Baltimore matchup earlier in the week. You can check that out here.

Joe Flacco: Elite QB or Serviceable Option?

No player on the Ravens roster generates more high and low reviews than quarterback Joe Flacco. One minute he's opening the season with 3 touchdown passes and a QB rating of 117.6 against the arch rival Steelers, and he is finally becoming a top NFL quarterback. The next, he's throwing 2 interceptions with a paltry 46.9 completion percentage and a QB rating of 51.2 against Seattle. Now he's just an average quarterback who needs a strong supporting cast and a great defense to win at this level. But who is the real Joe Flacco? Which quarterback is he? The guy with ice in his veins who can drive down the field for the game-winning touchdown pass in Pittsburgh? Or is he the inconsistent, overthrowing, holding the ball too long QB that he sometimes becomes?

Some critics describe Flacco as simply a serviceable quarterback, a game-manager at times. Someone who wouldn't have nearly the amount of success he has attained if he were on a team without the type of defense that the Ravens have. I'm not buying that. Kyle Boller had the Ravens defense on his side too.

Some, like John Clayton of ESPN describe him as elite. Any fan of Flacco's surely loves to hear that, but I'm not agreeing with Clayton either. An elite quarterback can make a bad team great. Just look at what happened in Indianapolis this year for evidence of that. If Flacco were quarterbacking a team such as this years Colts, I don't think he'd be taking them deep into the postseason.

So where does Joe Flacco fall? He is undoubtedly the best QB to put on a Ravens uniform. Not saying much, I know, but he is a very good NFL quarterback. The type of quarterback no team could afford to give up because very good NFL quarterbacks are very hard to find. He's not Tom Brady, or Aaron Rodgers, or Drew Brees. But he's certainly not Kyle Boller, or Trent Dilfer, or Elvis Grbac. The Ravens recent success has somewhat spoiled the fanbase. They have won at least one playoff game each of the last three years, and this year made the playoffs for a fourth consecutive year. Additionally, this year also included the AFC North division crown, and a first-round playoff bye. Flacco has 44 regular-season victories. More than any other quarterback in NFL History. That's not a record attainable by a "serviceable" quarterback.

But the one thing the Flacco-led Ravens have yet to accomplish is winning a championship. This could be the year to do it. Flacco's 2011 regular season doesn't look all that great on paper. He had the lowest completion percentage of his career at 57.6%. He had the lowest average yards per throw of his career at 6.7 yards. He had the lowest QB rating (80.9) and yardage total (3,610) since his rookie year of 2008. But those are just stats, and that's just how it looks on paper. This year Flacco was inconsistent, yes. But he made the right plays at the right times. He knows how to win. And a quarterback who knows how to win is a dangerous sight for opponents in the postseason. Maybe, this is the year he takes that giant next step. The step to a Super Bowl, and perhaps, the step to elite quarterback status.

Six Ravens Named to All-Pro Team

The All-Pro team has been announced, and the Ravens have six players named to the prestigious team. Including three players on the first-team and three on the second-team.

The first-teamers are:

-DT Haloti Ngata (pictured)

-OLB Terrell Suggs

-FB Vonta Leach

And the second-teamers:

-FS Ed Reed

-RB Ray Rice

-OG Marshal Yanda

Eric Decosta Staying with Ravens

As we speculated earlier in the week, Ravens director of player personnel Eric DeCosta will be staying in Baltimore and has declined interviews with the multiple teams pursuing him. General Manager Ozzie Newsome released a statement on the matter:

"Eric, who has had opportunities to interview with other teams recently and over the years, is another one we want to keep and will keep. He has chosen to stay with the Ravens, and we're excited that he will. He is a most valuable asset and will continue to help us win championships."

As explained in our prior post on the matter, DeCosta is viewed as the "GM in waiting" in Baltimore and this development only further cements that belief. Newsome is an extraordinary football mind himself, but whenever he decides to walk away, the Ravens will be in great hands if DeCosta is running the show.


Update 1/7/12: Peter King of Sports Illustrated has reported that DeCosta received a new contract that in exchange for preventing him from leaving Baltimore, pays him the equivalent of a GM salary.

Boldin Returns to Health

Top wide receiver Anquan Boldin missed the last two games of the regular season after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus. The team was able to pull out the win in both games, but his absence was definitely felt.

Joe Flacco averaged 225.6 yards passing per game this season. In the two games without Boldin, he threw for 262 combined. The ravens got huge production from Ray Rice to offset that fact, but averaging 131 yards passing per game is not going to cut it throughout the playoffs in today's NFL.

Thankfully, the Ravens shouldn't have to worry about that. Boldin is now back at practice, and participating fully. "This is probably the best I've felt all year," Boldin told baltimoreravens.com. He had been playing with the partial tear, and now is finally 100% healthy. It should be a huge boost to the offense.

Rookie Torrey Smith is developing even faster than the Ravens could have hoped for, but for now Boldin is still the teams top receiver. He paced the team with 887 receiving yards to Smith's 841. Boldin may not have the raw speed that Smith possesses, but he is an excellent route runner with great hands, and an all-around crafty veteran. The team needs him for the playoff run.

Suggs Named AFC Defensive Player of the Month

The Baltimore Ravens sent out an alert today notifying that OLB Terrell Suggs has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for
December/January. Suggs had 4 forced fumbles to go with 5 sacks throughout Dec/Jan.

Already considered one of the front-runners for Defensive Player of the Year, this award only helps that cause and at this point I'd be surprised to see it awarded to anyone else.

Rams Request Interview with Decosta

Director of player personnel Eric Decosta has made an annual habit of being mentioned for vacant GM positions around the league each offseason. He's stayed with the Ravens, who he's been with since the franchise's inception thus far. He is believed around the organization to be the "GM in waiting," and would take over the position with the Ravens whenever Ozzie Newsome decides to retire. Decosta is very well respected around the league and in Baltimore, and has had a huge hand in the success the Ravens have had in the personnel department.

But that doesn't stop other teams from trying to coax Decosta from his "GM in waiting" position to a current General Manager position.

ProFootballTalk is reporting that the St. Louis Rams have requested permission from the Ravens to interview Decosta for their vacant GM position. The Rams fired GM Billy Devaney on Monday along with coach Steve Spagnuolo after this year's disastrous season in which the team went 2-14. Although the Rams can offer the position of GM with a team that has a solid young quarterback to build around, and the 2nd overall pick in the upcoming draft to make an early impact with, I would expect Decosta to stay put as he has in the past.

The Ravens sure hope so, and they are a better organization with him.


Update: The Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears have also expressed interest in Decosta, and the Colts, Rams, and one other undisclosed team have received permission to interview.

Divisional Round Scenario #3: Steelers at Ravens

If the Bengals can win in Houston this weekend, and the Steelers can take care of the Broncos in Denver. It will be round three of the greatest rivalry in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers would return to Baltimore, where they were absolutely dismantled in week 1, losing
35-7, in the type of game that made observers league wide question if the Steelers had finally fallen from the AFC elite. That question can be held for a later date. The Steelers have proven they are still one of the best teams in the league, finishing with a 12-4 record identical to the Ravens. But this year, with a 23-20 win in Pittsburgh on November 6th, the Ravens swept the Steelers for the first time since 2006 (that year keeps coming up.) And therefore the division crown and first round bye was delivered to Baltimore.

This is obviously the least favorable match up for the Ravens. The two teams are built so similarly, are both so physical, and always play each other at a playoff level of intensity, even in the regular season. Both defenses have been absolutely smothering. And both offenses have been good, but not great. The Steelers have actually transformed from a pounding, running style, to very much a passing offense. And regardless of how much you dislike him, Pro Bowl QB Ben Roethlisberger has been outstanding. This is the team that actually looks like a playoff team. The Ravens will have their hands full, and I'm sure they will be plenty of talk about how hard it is to beat a team three times in a season. But I don't buy that. I feel much more comfortable with the Ravens taking on the Steelers with the two wins already in their back pocket.

On offense, Roethlisberger, has at his disposal some great receiving threats in Pro Bowler Mike Wallace, and the lightening quick Antonio Brown. Brown was voted the Steelers MVP by his fellow teammates this year after breaking the franchise single-season record for all-purpose yards with 2,048. He will be returning kicks at the Pro Bowl. RB Rashard Mendenhall tore an ACL in the season finale against Cleveland, and has been placed in injured reserve. Issac Redman and John Clay will be taking the carries for the playoffs. I really don't see the injury affecting the Steelers all that much, with their propensity for passing and the fact that Mendenhall is a very good back, but certainly not irreplaceable.

When it comes to defense, there is no argument. The Steelers have one of the very best units in the league. There was talk they were old and slow at the start of the season. They have more than silenced those thoughts. The unit finished ranked first in the NFL, and has playmakers all over the field. Pro Bowler Troy Polamalu seems to always be a game wrecker against the Ravens (who can forget his game-winning strip sack of Joe Flacco in last years week 13 meeting?) OLB James Harrison has been doling out big-hits (legal or otherwise,) and it looks like they will get back pass rushing OLB Lamar Woodley for the playoffs, who has been battling a hamstring injury. They get great pressure on opposing quarterbacks which really benefits their pass defense. Believe it or not, the Steelers actually finished with a better rated pass-defense than they did run-defense. But anyway you look at it, this is a tough unit.

Overall this will be a great match up, and a great event for the fans. I would expect this game to be classic Ravens-Steelers, coming down to the last minutes. And if this match up happens, the Ravens will be damn sure happy they have that homefield advantage.

Here's how the Steelers stack up statistically to the rest of the league:

Divisional Round Scenario #2: Broncos at Ravens

With the Ravens playing the highest surviving seed from the wild card round, if the 4th seeded Denver Broncos can fend off the 5th seeded Pittsburgh Steelers at home in the mile high city, they would be coming to Baltimore on January 15th as long as Cincinnati takes care of Houston. And the Ravens would be ecstatic. For as much as the Ravens would be salivating at the though of facing the Houston Texans, this is the match up they want most. Yes, it is the playoffs, and there are no "gimme" games, but this is as close as it gets.

The polarizing Tim Tebow (pictured) took over at QB for the 1-4 Broncos in week 7. He led a truly amazing turnaround that saw the Broncos win 7 of their next 8 games. Often struggling through the first 3 quarters or more of a game, and then becoming a superhero in the 4th quarter or even the final minutes of a game to deliver a victory. Of course, the defense played better down that stretch as well, and many observers would point to that as the primary reason for the turnaround. But the defense really hasn't played that much better.They're statistically a bottom-half of the league defense, with a few key players who can make a big play. I would argue that Tebow's late game heroics are the main reason for the turnaround.

That being said, like the Houston Texans, the Broncos enter the postseason on the heels of a 3 game losing streak. Both Tebow and the defense have looked unimpressive, particularly in a 14-40 blowout loss against the then 5-9 Buffalo Bills in week 16. Still, the Broncos ended up winning the AFC West with a .500 record at 8-8. Three teams in the AFC north alone have better records. Is there a chance Denver beats Pittsburgh and come to Baltimore? The more I type the more skeptical I become. But the answer is yes. A small, small chance. But if they couldn't beat the 7-9 Kansas City Chiefs in Denver last week, it's sure going to be tough to beat the 12-4 Steelers this week. The Ravens can hope though.

The Broncos offense in extremely run-centric, even incorporating option plays more commonly seen at the NCAA level. Head coach John Fox and his staff deserve a lot of credit for developing game plans to be effective with the type of players they have. The athletic Tebow has been very good running the ball, and until the last couple games actually did a very good job not turning over the football. He had 4 interceptions over the last two weeks of the season, compared to just 2 the entire rest of the year. He can make tough throws, but the consistency is not quite there yet. Former Raven Willis Mcgahee experienced a career revival this year in Denver, rushing for 1,199 yards, and becoming the 2nd player in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards with three different teams (Bills, Ravens, Broncos.)

On defense the Broncos have had an up and down season. Overall, they have been unspectacular. They have a few key playmakers, namely Champ Bailey, who is still a great corner in his 13th year. As well as DE Elvis Dumervil (9.5 sacks.) And they definitely found a star in OLB Von Miller, the 2nd overall pick in last years draft. He turned in 11.5 sacks and is a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate. But the secondary is aging, and the run defense has been bad more often than not.


Here's how the Broncos stack up statistically to the rest of the league:

Divisional Round Scenario #1: Texans at Ravens

We will be taking a look at the three possible scenarios for the upcoming divisional round playoff game. The Ravens will play the highest seeded surviving team of the AFC wild card round. The #3 seeded Houston Texans will be coming to Baltimore if they beat the #6 seeded Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday. If this happens, the Ravens will be salivating at the prospect of playing the team they beat 29-14 back in week 6.

This is a different team than it was back in week 6. And I don't mean that in a good way. Matt Schaub was lost for the season with a foot injury. Then backup Matt Leinart went down as well with a broken collarbone. Rookie T.J. Yates has been quarterbacking them since then. He came out hot, even engineering a last minute game winning drive against the Bengals in week 14 in only his 2nd start. Since then, he's came back down to earth as the Texans lost their final 3 games to end the season. He injured his left shoulder last week against the Titans, and 36 year old Jake Delhomme played out the game. Texans coach Gary Kubiak has reportedly said he expects Yates to start this week against the Bengals.


If the Texans pull off the victory against the Andy Dalton led Bengals, the Texans will come into Baltimore... against the Ravens defense (3rd in total defense in the NFL)... with a rookie quarterback. A fifth round rookie quarterback. Even though Yates has exceeded expectations, this screams mismatch. Of course, Yates does have possibly the best receiver in the game in Andre Johnson to throw to, a top tier running back in Arian Foster, and an extremely underrated offensive line, advantage still goes to the Baltimore D.

On the defensive side of the ball, coordinator Wade Phillips has created a force to be reckoned with. They lost their best defensive player in OLB Mario Williams in week 5, and really didn't miss a beat. They've gotten great production from promising rookies in DE J.J. Watt and OLB Brooks Reed. Former Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph turned in a Pro Bowl year in his first season in Houston. And they get great linebacker play, especially from 3rd year man Brian Cushing. The transition from a 4-3 to this year's 3-4 scheme payed immediate dividends and the Texans finished 2nd overall in total defense.

Here's how the Texans stack up statistically to the rest of the league:

2011 Playoff Outlook/Injury Report

So the Ravens have wrapped up their first AFC North title since 2006, while
along the way sweeping the division that most consider the best in the league. 2006 may not seem like that long ago, but consider this; Steve Mcnair was the quarterback and Brian Billick was roaming the sidelines.

This is a HUGE deal for the team, and the John Harbaugh led Ravens will host their first home playoff game in his 4 years here. The Ravens enter with a 12-4 record and the #2 seed in the AFC. This means after the well needed first round bye, The Ravens will host either the Texans, Broncos, or Steelers on January 15th at the bank. We'll break down those potential match ups later today.

Lets talk about why the first round bye is such a benefit for the team. Obviously, the ability to "skip" the wild card round is great, but the main reason the team needs it at this point is healing. The Ravens luckily have avoided many serious, season ending injuries. However, the team is riddled with short term injuries that would at least limit players in the wild card round, if not knock them out entirely.

#1 Starting receiver Anquan Boldin will now be more than sufficiently healed from knee surgery on a partially torn meniscus after missing the last two games.

Pro-Bowl Guard Marshal Yanda (pictured) has rib and thigh contusions per baltimoreravens.com, and there were rumors last week that he wouldn't play against the Bengals. Yanda played through the pain, and certainly showed no signs of injury throughout a stellar game opening holes for Ray Rice. Nonetheless, it will be good to have him at 100%.

Cornerback Jimmy Smith, the teams 1st rd. pick suffered  a concussion during week 17's win over the Bengals. He reportedly showed no symptoms of the injury on Monday, so he should be good to go.

Safety Tom Zbikowski suffered a concussion as well, but also was said to have no symptoms as of Monday.

Kicker Billy Cundiff, who has been struggling with a calf injury on his plant leg, played last week and made a 42 yard kick (albeit barely) and it looks as if he will be well enough to kick throughout the playoffs. (Thanks anyways Shayne Graham)

Starting Safety Bernard Pollard has a minor wrist injury, he will be fine.

Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe missed last weeks game while recovering from a concussion, but should be good to go come January 15th.

Linebacker Jameel McClain sprained an MCL against the Bengals, and although per baltimoreravens.com he is not expected to practice this week, he was able to return to the game after the injury and should be fine for the divisional round.

So it looks as if the Ravens will have most, if not all of the team back healthy for the the upcoming playoff game, which is something we might not be able to say if we were playing this weekend. Of course the Ravens need to capitalize on this health. The defense is looking great when it counts, and I wouldn't worry about the "this game is wrapped up lets take our foot of the pedal" syndrome that has seemed to plague the unit down the stretch. This is the playoffs. This is a veteran team that knows that. The running game is looking stellar, probably the best it has in the Harbaugh era. My only concern is the passing game. At times it looks great, at other times it looks....well, not great. If they can build consistency this team will be nearly unbeatable in the playoffs.

And with the opponent coming to M&T Bank Stadium facing a healthy Ravens team, and an already intense fan base that has been too long deprived of a home playoff game, It's a great place to start.

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