Author: scottiggy

After having 41 years of Hopkins making the NCAA Lacrosse tournament snapped, another first has occurred: No Maryland based school has advanced to the second round. Time to start watching Women’s Lacrosse, I guess.

Ravens:
In a seemingly abrupt move, Rolando McClain announces his retirement. In reality, this is could only be a stunt. After his most recent arrest, the Ravens pulled him aside and gave him an ultimatum: Shape up. Expect McClain to reappear on the scene once his existing 3 police squabbles are resolved, assuming nothing new crops up. If he can’t keep his nose clean, he really will be retired.

Ravens:
Ravens acquired center AQ Shipley from the Indianapolis Colts for a conditional 2014 draft pick to add depth at center, and challenge Gino Gradkowski and rookie draftee Ryan Jensen for the starting job. Shipley, form Pittsburgh, is a seventh-round pick out of Penn State by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009 (where he never made it off the practice squad; same story after a year in Philadelphia), started five games at center for Indianapolis last season and saw action in 14 total games. At 6 feet 1 and 309 pounds, Shipley can also play guard. The Ravens acquired the final two years of Shipley’s contract where he is due base salaries of $470,000 and $580,000.

Ravens:
Bryant McKinnie has been resigned to an incentive laced 2 year, $7M contract, which analysts predict will solidify our offensive line. However, in my opinion, we still lack a go-to “Hands” receiver. That Boldin trade is looking worse and worse every day.

Ravens:
After the free agent exodus, the Ravens are back filling through the draft. The first several picks went to top notched defensive players, and then they started working on other future needs. S Elam, ILB Brown, NT Williams, and DE Simon, all have promise for improved range and power on the Ravens Defense. Next, came the backfilling. FB Juszcyk looks to be a future (cheaper) Leach replacement. OT Wagner (5th round), looks to compete for time and possibly even starts to protect Flacco. Sixth and Seventh round acquisitions are primarily depth options, but are all guys that could have gone earlier than they did, once again showing the Ravens prowess in finding value picks in each round. Other analyst list the Ravens as one of the big “winners” in the draft, with predictions that the Defense will actually be better in 2013, than it was in 2012.

Ravens:
Rolando McClain (1 year, $700k), who was reported to have more baggage than BWI, will compete for a starting linebacker spot… 2013 schedule finally release witht he Ravens opening on the road in Denver, as anticipated… Draft starts this Thursday, as the Ravens look to find more diamonds in the rough.

Ravens:
Former overall eight draft pick Rolando McClain passed his physical and will play a 1 year trial period for the Ravens, as they try to sure up their non-existent linebacker core. McClain is no stranger to trouble, and the Ravens are believed to be one of the few teams that can keep him in line, after he was banished from the locker room half way through the season last year.

Ravens:
Flacco is set to portray Johnny Unitas in an upcoming movie about Unitas’ life, according to Baltimore Sun. The Small budget “Unitas We Stand” (Based on Tom Callahan’s best-selling book: “Johnny U: The Life and Times of Johnny Unitas”) plans to use Flacco in the final few scenes of the 23-17 championship game against the New York Giants. A February 2014 release is planned… Ravens continued their purge of disruptive players, releasing Brandon Ayenbadejo… No news yet on the 2013 schedule, although the preseason schedule has been released. The Ravens will play at Tampa for week 1, host Atlanta and Carolina (ESPN) for weeks 2 and 3, and then finish the preseason in St. Louis.

Ravens:
Flacco is no longer the highest over-paid player in the NFL. Tony Romo’s new deal puts him at the top of the list without the hardware to back it up like Flacco… Several NFL players are railing against the new rule on leading with your helmet. Ray Rice is the latest to speak out against the new rule… Ravens resigned Albert McClellan and Arther Jones, while also picking up CB/S Michael Huff from Oakland… Schedule should be out soon, and the Ravens are expected to open on the road, in Denver.

Ravens:
Don’t blame the O’s for the Ravens opening up on the road, probably in Denver or Pittsburgh. Blame Roger Goodall. In all fairness, the O’s had their schedule out first. In a game featuring potentially 2 playoff teams, the O’s host the Chicago White Sox, in what is scheduled as the Sox only trip to Baltimore in 2013, thanks to a new schedule restructuring intent on reducing travel costs. The potential lost revenue for moving that game time could be significant if the O’s shock analyst again and challenge for the division title. Don’t get me wrong. The Orioles could have moved that game, and still profited from it. That’s not the issue. It’s Baseball versus Football at the commissioner’s level. Goodall’s statement that the season could not open up on Wednesday night in Baltimore is petrified bovine fecal matter. The NFL has never strayed away from placing games on religious holidays. They have played on Rosh Hashanah in the past, and have repeatedly put games on Christmas Eve and Christmas night, without hesitation. Mr. Goodall played the playground bully card: It’s my ball, and I’m going home — Whose gonna stop me?

In other news, and probably the biggest Raven free agent news since Flacco, is the signing of Elvis Dumervil. The named I hated hearing all season long, just because it sounded silly, is now they ultimate name on on Defense. Say it with me: Doom-er-ville! All of the sudden, I like the sound of it, and his 11 sacks in 2012.

With the Orioles already schedule to play on the same night as the NFL season would like to kick off in Baltimore, the Ravens could open on the road if an agreement between the NFL and the Orioles cannot be made, reports a Bleacher Report Article. I saw this coming soon after the Ravens won the Super Bowl.