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.

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.

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.

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.