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.