From the Baltimore Sun:

This year, Ravens coach John Harbaugh is going on a different trip.

Harbaugh is part of a select group that will launch a new tradition this week with the inaugural NFL-USO Coaches Tour in the Persian Gulf. Today through Sunday, Harbaugh will meet service members in the Middle East.

“I think I’m going to learn more and enjoy it more probably than they are, for sure,” Harbaugh said earlier this month. “What am I going to say to them? I’m looking forward to what they have to say, and it’s going to be a neat trip.”

The other coaches on the trip are: Tom Coughlin of the New York Giants, Jeff Fisher of the Tennessee Titans and former coaches Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden.

Harbaugh said they would be taking helicopter flights to see as many troops as they can. The days are expected to begin at dawn and end around midnight.

As we creep closer to the Fourth of July please take time to honor the men and women and that continue to defend our freedom all across the globe.

With Training camp just about a month away one of the biggest points of debate among Ravens fans is the Receiving Corps. The rumor mill was churning as apparently the team was exploring the possibility of bringing either Anquan Boldin or Brandon Marshall into the fold. It seems that even the national media is weighing in as well as Ed Thompson at Fox Sports has the Ravens receiving issuesas his top point in his article.

Baltimore finished 27th in receiving last year, averaging just 192.8 yards per game. And although the team was breaking in a rookie quarterback, the guys running routes have to shoulder their share of the blame for that lackluster result.

Bottom line, if the team wants sophomore quarterback Joe Flacco to continue to progress, they should grab at least one more target who is a great possession receiver.

Despite the media flurry over the possibility of the Ravens pursuing Brandon Marshall, and the team’s obvious need for someone with his overall ability, he doesn’t seem to be a strong character fit for Baltimore. I just have a hard time seeing head coach John Harbaugh putting up with any off-the-field problems of the type that have haunted Marshall over the past few years.

So what can they do at this late date? The Ravens should consider putting a one-year deal on the table in front of former-Colt Marvin Harrison or former Titans and Rams receiver Drew Bennett. While both had highly forgettable seasons in 2008 due to injuries, they are disciplined route-runners with great hands.

First you have to ask yourself if you think that the current crop on the roster has enough talent to be successful and go back to the playoffs and beyond.

There are plenty of people that would say the team looks fine and that Derrick Mason is too dependable, Clayton is on the verge of breaking out, Williams will be healthy and a difference maker and Marcus Smith will emerge. But I see it differently.

Derrick Mason is the best receiver this franchise has ever known. But his words to the media three weeks ago indicated he HOPES to be ready for the season opener against KC. So, the team’s best receiver may not be available to start the season.

Mark Clayton has always shown flashes of ability but hasn’t contributed on a weekly basis. Williams has great tools but the coaches are concerned he won’t be ready. The staff seems high on Marcus Smith but why wouldn’t they be? Who else is healthy on this team? Kelley Washington? He caught one pass in last two seasons.

So to me it’s clear that they need to explore a move. But who?

Brandon Marshall’s off the field issues are a concern but he was never a question on the field. The price would be steep and I don’t think the Ravens will pay it.

Plaxico Burress may have the book thrown at him by the Commish. Braylon Edwards would never get traded to a division rival. Marvin Harrison may retire but he might be worth a low risk contract. Drew Bennett? He’s still in the league?

So finding that upgrade appears easier said than done. There is still time of course but I seem to think that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to wait it out until August and revisit the Anquan Boldin scenario.

First, the Ravens need to lock up Terrell Suggs, which they appear closer to doing. That should help ease that nasty cap number a bit and give a better idea of what kind of contract they could take on. Then let’s see how Cardinals camp progresses when all the former NFC champs are practicing. Will Boldin make life so miserable that the team must move him? Remember after one week of shopping him the team’s asking price dropped and became a lot easier to swallow.

Signing Boldin to a long term deal gives Flacco a target for years and let’s the team decide who stays and who goes. Mason, Clayton and Williams’ contract all expire after this season. Something to think about.

So, where do you stand? Do you think things are fine or do you think they should make a move and if so Who?

The Baltimore Ravens’ annual training camp at McDaniel College is set to start July 28 when their first practice is scheduled.

Rookies, quarterbacks and selected veterans report the previous day, and veterans are set to report two days later.

The Ravens are scheduled to break camp Aug. 22.

The Ravens have scheduled 41 practices over a total of 26 days.

On July 30, the Ravens’ practice is closed to fans and reporters for an administrative day. Walkthrough practices are closed to fans and reporters the day before preseason games held during camp.

On Aug. 10, the Ravens are holding a sponsor day that’s closed to the general public.

If you’ve never gone to a day of training camp you should make the trip at least once. There are chances for autographs and the buzz around the field will get you excited for that first “real” hit in September.

Pete Prisco of CBSSportsline.com has come out with his annual list of the Top 50 NFL players, and the Ravens have two players on the list, including the number 12 overall. Here’s the Ravens on the list:

12. Ed Reed, S, Ravens: He isn’t the big hitter some of the other safeties can be, but he’s the best playmaker of them all. And he’s a willing tackler.

23. Terrell Suggs, OLB, Ravens: He’s in the prime of his career, and his rush ability is vital to the Baltimore defense. He can also play in coverage.

2008 Review:

Matt Stover continued his impressive career with another solid campaign as the team’s placekicker and lone link to the old Browns. His 13 th season with the club saw him slip a bit in some of his overall totals and his diminished leg strength showed a need for young Steve Hauschka to take over the kickoff duties and long range field goal attempts for about half the season.

Stover finished the year with his lowest total field goal completion percentage (81%) since 1998 and was shaky early on especially from past 40 yards (5 for 9) but as usual he seemed to re-establish his accuracy and from inside the 40 was virtually automatic (22 for 23). The highlight was Stover booting the 43 yd game winner over the Titans to send the Ravens to their second AFC Title game. His PAT record was once again spotless (41 for 41) and he hasn’t missed a Point After since 1996.

On November 16, 2008 Stover set an NFL record, kicking his 372nd consecutive point after touchdown.

Steve Hauschka showed a strong leg and in 8 games and hit one 53 yard attempt out of two attempts from past 50 yards.

Baltimore was about middle of the pack in the NFL with 9 touchbacks (Carolina led the league with 30). On Kickoffs the team averaged about 64 yds per attempt, once again ranking them 22nd out of 32. Starting field position for the opposition seemed to be a bit of problem at times.

Sam Koch continued his progression into one of the best punter’s in the league. He was second in the NFL with kicks inside the Twenty (34) and averages 45 yards a punt (8th in the league), while the punt return average (6.4) was 6th in the league which indicates good hang time for the coverage to get set.

In 2008, Koch led the NFL in punts inside the 10 yard line. Not a stat you normally see.

2009 Preview:

Matt Stover was not offered a contract. In fact there were rumors that he too was headed to the Jets before friend Jay Feely signed with them.

While there is some hope during Spring Training that he may be tendered a contract all signs are pointing that the his tenure in Baltimore is finished.

No player has scored more points for a single franchise than Stover has for the Ravens. He ranks 5th all time in the NFL in scoring with 1,944 points as of January 4, 2008. He is one of the all-time fan favorites and will surely be a part of the Ravens Ring of Honor at some point in his career.

That means the positional battle is one between Steve Hauschka and Florida State’s Graham Gano. Gano won the Lou Groza Award and garnered All-America honors during his senior season and was considered by many experts to be the best placekicker in the draft.

It’s way too early to make the call as to which young player will get the job but it should be fun to watch the open competition all through camp. The Ravens are hoping for a big improvement in the kick-off game and a stronger leg would hopefully increase field goal chance from deeper distances.

Either way whomever wins the job will have a high standard to match in Stover. It will be interesting to see how fans react after the first FG miss.

Koch was a restricted free-agent and signed his one-year, $1.545 million tender offer on March 27 so the punting game is set.

He should continue his excellent play and I think could garner All-Pro status in the future. Not bad for a former walk on at Nebraska.

The Ravens official site is reporting that WR Marcus Smith looks like the favorite to win the 4th WR job:

Smith’s solid play has made him the primary candidate to be the fourth receiver. “Comparing to a year ago, it’s night and day,” Harbaugh said of the former fourth-round draft pick. “We talk to our guys about making the most progress between their first and second year, but Marcus just goes to work. “The thing about Marcus is, you see a little bit of improvement every day because he works as hard, or harder, than anybody on the team every single day. So, you start adding all of that stuff up and you watch him out here at practice and you guys are like, ‘Wow, this guy is really playing well.”

The Baltimore Sun reports:

Pro Bowl linebacker Terrell Suggs said Friday that he is nearing a long-term deal with the Ravens, a contract that surprisingly won’t make him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL.

The league deadline to reach a new contract with players who have received the franchise tag is July 15. If no deal can be struck, Suggs would play under the franchise tag for a second straight season, earning $10.2 million this year.

“We are close to an agreement. We just have a few little things to work out,” Suggs told The Baltimore Sun. “I don’t want to go into great detail, but it’s things like the years of the agreement and incentives, but the basic framework has been done.”

Suggs, 26, is considered one of the rising defensive stars in the NFL. Some NFL observers have contended Suggs would test the free-agent market in March, when he would be one of the top players available.

But the Ravens’ top pass rusher said Friday that he’d “be very surprised if this contract isn’t done soon.” He also denied rumors that this contract will make him one of the highest paid defensive players in the NFL.

“No, that’s not true,” he said. “But that’s cool if people want to believe that. Being one of the highest paid players has never been my motivation. I just wanted to be paid what is fair, what I think I’ve earned.”

This would be good news for Baltimore for several reasons. First, it would lock up their young star and avoid having him go on an open market where they most certainly would lose his services. Second, it would get his cap number to a more manageable number and clear some room to obtain another big contract. (Perhaps a Wide Receiver?)

2008 Review:

The offensive line was in a major state of transition for the first time in years. Future Hall of Famer, Jonathan Ogden retired to end a splendid twelve year career which included 11 Pro Bowls and was voted 9 times All-Pro. Mike Flynn also ended his ten year run as a member of the Ravens when he his contract was not renewed. He did receive as many accolades as Ogden but was always a solid contributor.

Losing two veterans made the line the biggest question mark heading into 2008. So the youth movement was on, as Jared Gaither, another 6′9″ monster was slated to take the left tackle spot from Ogden. Gaither has shown steady improvement over time since the Ravens picked him up in 2007 and while he’s not to Ogden’s level yet he has impressed with his athleticism.

Ben Grubbs, a 1st round pick in 2007 has entrenched himself at the left guard spot and since you don’t hear his name that often he must be doing something right. He continues to develop with the rest of the young line to provide interior push.

Jason Brown, who was drafted as a Center out of North Carolina spent much of his career at Guard but then switched back to Center with the departure of Flynn. Brown established himself as one of the position’s best but did struggle at time against larger tackles such as Casey Hampton and Albert Haynesworth.

Marshall Yanda, also a product of the 2007 draft class showed poise and production at the Right Guard spot. However he tore the anterior cruciate, medial and posterior collateral ligaments in his right knee in Week 6 last season at Indianapolis and that ended his season. This allowed Chris Chester who was all but given up on as he was relegated to being labeled a Tight End a shot to prove himself. He responded well and gave the team workmanlike minutes.

Right Tackle had been held down by Adam Terry but inconsistency and injury led the team to sign former Bengal, Willie Anderson. It wasn’t too long before Anderson was the starter. But both were able to gain time due to Cam Cameron’s use of the unbalanced line.

Oniel Cousins was a surprise in camp with his nasty demeanor and could develop into a decent lineman in the future.

The young unit plus Anderson achieved better than expected results as the Baltimore had the 4th best rushing attack in the league and were about middle of the pack in giving up 33 sacks to opposing defenses.

2009 Preview:

Jason Brown bolted to become one of the highest paid lineman in the league by the Rams but the Ravens were quick to find a replacement in signing former Viking, Matt Birk.

Birk is a 6 time Pro Bowler and 2 time All Pro at his position and is respected around the league as leader with his charitable organizations. He will be charged with giving a vet presence to the developing line.

Willie Anderson announced his retirement after it became clear that the team was searching for possible replacements in talking with Marvel Smith and Orlando Pace. The Ravens found their man in drafting Michael Oher in the first round. Oher has great size and a mean streak that the team loved. Oher has solidified himself as the starting right tackle, taking all of the snaps with the first-team offense and has out any concerns about his ability to grasp the offense to rest with careful preparation.

Yanda is the biggest concern as he hasn’t fully recovered from multiple surgeries and may been the season on the PUP. Chris Chester will again step in.

For many seasons, Baltimore has been a better Run blocking team that Pass blocking and that should continue into 2009. They need Birk to continue his All-Pro type play under Center and help the youngsters continue to gel as a group. He will be 33 when the season starts so there is always worry of injury at his age.

With Oher hopefully establishing himself on the right that will increase the protection for Joe Flacco and allow the passing game to improve as well as their protection totals. This might also allow the Tight Ends to run patterns and to send the backs out for screens. All of these things greatly improve the pass game.

Championships are won in the trenches and for the Ravens to make a legitimate claim to the AFC North crown the offensive line must continue to improve and lead the way for the offense.

The Ravens continue to make quick work of signing their draft picks, agreeing to a three-year deal with third-rouder Lardarius Webb.

The cornerback from Nicholls State received a signing bonus around $530,000.

The Ravens’ only unsigned draft picks are: offensive tackle Michael Oher (first round) and defensive end-linebacker Paul Kruger (second round).

Expect Webb to challenge for the Nickel position and maybe jockey for return duties as well.

Hey, everyone …

Wanted to let you know what’s up with me and the team. We finished OTAs and now I’m about to start working out to get ready for training camp. OTAs were very productive for us. I’m glad a lot of players showed up. The young guys gelled with us and worked hard.

Now that they are over, I might take a little time with my family … maybe go on a little vacation down to New Orleans with my brother and my cousin. Just relax a little bit before things get going.

What I’m really looking forward to is spending some more time in the kitchen. Cooking is my second passion in life after football. I don’t like to eat just anything that’s put in front of me. I like to cook and eat GOOD food.

I make a great steak and shrimp. I can cook a mean Jambalaya. Red beans and rice … everything. I did a Jock Chef video last year for ESPN where I made steak and eggs.

Click HERE to read the rest