The Ravens will receive four compensatory draft picks for the 2008 draft.
Here are the selections, according to an Associated Press story: third round (99th overall), fourth round (133rd overall), sixth round (206th overall), seventh round (240th overall).
The Ravens get the additional draft picks for losing the following free agents before the 2007 season: defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin to the 49ers, fullback Ovie Mughelli to the Falcons, offensive lineman Tony Pashos to the Jaguars and linebacker Adalius Thomas to the Patriots.
The Ravens and the Bengals, who also received four, were awarded more compensatory picks than any other team.
Under the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, teams that lose more or better "compensatory" free agents than they acquire in a year are eligible to receive compensatory draft choices. No team can receive more than four. The choices range from the third to the seventh rounds, and they are all positioned at the bottom of the round.
The NFL Management Council determines the number and value of the compensatory picks, and it guards the secrecy of its compensatory formula like Coke guards its secret recipe. This much is known: The NFL formula is based on salary, playing time, postseason awards and the net of free agents lost versus free agents signed.
Clayton explains why the picks can be so important, using the Ravens' offseason moves from a year ago as an example:
The Ravens traded a fourth-round choice last year for quarterback Steve McNair and they gave up a No. 3 and a No. 7 for halfback Willis McGahee and locked him up to a seven-year contract. Part of the reason they made those moves was based on the belief that they would be getting four compensatory picks in the draft following a 2006 free-agency period in which they signed three free agents and lost nine. Figuring departed halfback Chester Taylor, defensive lineman Anthony Weaver and safety Will Demps could net choices between rounds three and five, the Ravens felt more comfortable trading away draft picks.
Last year, the Jacksonville Jaguars finished with a regular-season record of 11-5. The Pittsburgh Steelers were 10-6. Yet the Steelers hosted a first-round playoff game between the two teams.
Why? Because Pittsburgh won the AFC North, and the Jaguars finished second in the AFC South, settling for a wild-card berth.
If a proposed rule change gets approved, such playoff seeding would change. This article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatchdescribes the possible change. Basically, if the new system is approved, wild-card teams could be ranked as high as No. 3, and thus get to host a first-round game. The two division winners with the best records would still get the top two seeds, but the remaining four teams in each conference would be seeded based on record.
What do you think? I like the potential rule change. Perhaps it would make some Week 17 games matter more. The teams with the best records should get to host a first-round game, regardless of whether they win their division or not.
In other news...
I know some Ravens fans still can't let go of the team's loss to the Browns when Phil Dawson's field-goal miss was reversed and the teams were forced to come back out for overtime, resulting in a 33-30 Cleveland win. Well, another rule change proposes field goals being reviewed by replay on a limited basis.
And one last proposed rule change. The league is looking to change the "force-out rule" which allows officials to determine whether a receiver would have landed with both feet in-bounds had he not been pushed out by a defender. I'm 100 percent in favor of this change. "He would have landed in-bounds." What is that? What if a running back is pushed out of bounds? Should we award him more yardage because he would have stayed in bounds had he not been hit? This is football. If a defensive back is able to push a receiver out of bounds before he gets both feet in, then the pass should be ruled incomplete. Simple as that.
We've yet to address the bizarre Brandon Marshall situation here on Moving the Chains. In case you missed it, the Broncos wide receiver injured an artery, nerve and vein in his arm and muscles in five tendons when he was wrestling with his brother, tried to avoid a McDonald's bag that was on the ground and crashed into a TV set. I told you it was bizarre. Marshall is expected to miss at least three-to-four months, according to the The Denver Post. In a news conference yesterday, Marshall told reporters he has "a lot of growing up to do."
According to Adam Schefter of NFL Network, per Pro Football Talk, Pacman Jones could be introduced as a Dallas Cowboy as soon as this weekend.
I doubt anyone cares, but just in case, an azcentral.com report quotes Jessica Simpson's mom as saying that she and Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo have gotten married. I guess the logical question here is -- Does Simpson have a friend for Pacman? And more importantly, does Jones introduce himself as "Pacman" when he meets girls, or does he stick with "Adam"? OK, let's get to the next topic...
Former Ravens backup quarterback Cullen Finnertyhas been signed by the Denver Broncos. The Ravens signed him as an undrafted free agent last season. He spent most of the year on the practice squad but was made active for the final two games.
I'm on vacation the next few days so you won't get anything from me until Tuesday. Sit back, enjoy the NCAA tournament and Opening Day, and we'll get caught up next week with some draft profiles.
Harbaugh, who I've known for a few years, has a reputation within the league for being an eminently honest, high-character individual who's personable, bright and as articulate as any owner could hope for in being the public face of the franchise. And in some ways, his special teams background gives him a different vantage point of leadership within a team, in that he routinely dealt with players on both sides of the ball and wasn't limited to just one perspective.
Banks says he expects the Ravens to bounce back in '08:
My instincts tell me Harbaugh is going to be a good bet in Baltimore, and if he can get some decent quarterbacking, he'll have the Ravens back in position to at least contend for the playoffs this season. The mirage that 2006's 13-3 record turned out to be may not be realistic for some time yet, but Baltimore, in the Harbaugh era, won't be confined to NFL irrelevance either.
In a separate article, SI.com's Banks talks about the salaries of top-10 draft picks and how selecting the wrong player can set a franchise back. He interviews Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome for the piece:
"If you're just in the top 10 once every four or five years, it can be a real benefit to you because you can get yourself a really great player,'' said Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, whose club's record in the draft may be the league's best in the past 10 years, and who is in this year's top 10 (No. 8) for only the second time in six drafts. "But when you're in it every year, or three out of four, that's when it's detrimental. You almost certainly are going to have a young team in that situation, with no leaders in the locker room. You've probably changed coaches at least once in that span too, so you've had a different plan in place every couple years, and that much change is always difficult.''
SI.com's Peter King has the Ravens selecting Tennessee State cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie with the eighth pick:
The Ravens have no corners of the future, which, with a risk-taking defensive boss like Rex Ryan, is going to get them killed. Rodgers-Cromartie not only will have to make the jump from mid-major football to the NFL, but also he'll have to be ready to play opening day, with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed jumping down his throat if he screws up.
Scouts, Inc. ranks the top 64 receivers in the NFL, and three Ravens made the list, but none were in the top 40. Derrick Mason was listed at No. 41:
This 11-year veteran continues to rack up good numbers (103 catches in '07) for a club with a dismal offense. Mason's numbers are inflated because he was the main dump-off option in a Baltimore attack that could not go deep. He is not going to stretch the field and is no longer a dangerous threat on the edge, but he is consistent and can move the chains. He has lost a step, but he still has the quickness, agility, hands and instincts to be good.
Mark Clayton makes the list at No. 49:
A first-round pick, Clayton hasn't become a No. 1 target in the Ravens' offense. A lot of his struggles are tied to marginal quarterback play over the past couple of seasons, but he hasn't progressed as a route runner and hasn't mastered nuances of the position.
And Demetrius Williams came in at No. 57:
Williams sneaks into this list thanks to his good physical skills. He still must prove he can be a consistent threat and produce in the clutch, but he shows enough big-play ability and flashes of skill to give him the benefit of doubt.
McNair appears to be a broken-down shell of his former self. Boller has been a big tease who hasn't lived up to the hype. Smith has ability, but he's raw. They could use a high pick on a passer. And they should.
Steve McNair looked like he was done last season, and drafting a quarterback in the first round isn’t going to help this franchise in the short term. Elements of the defense are getting old. It looks like time for a multiyear rebuild.
According to ProFootballTalk.com, the NFL opener will start at 7 p.m. because it conflicts with the Republican National Convention. The Ravens are one of eight teams that could possibly face the Giants on the Thursday night after Labor Day.
One subject I had to ask him about was the Wonderlic test. Athletes are given 12 minutes to answer 50 multiple choice questions that, according to Haynos, get increasingly difficult.
An example of an early question:
What number month is December?
A. 8
B. 9
C. 10
D. 11
E. 12
I know, not exactly rocket science. Haynos said there were later SAT-type questions involving numbers and algebra, and also verbal questions dealing with synonyms and vocabulary.
"It's sort of to see how you think under pressure," Haynos said. "I guess it's of some value or they wouldn't do it. It tests a couple different things -- how many can you answer and how many can you get right."
Haynos, who graduated with an economics degree from Maryland, said he answered about 32 questions.
So why am I bringing this up now?
Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribunewas able to get his hands on some results. According to Pompei, here are how some NFL draft prospects scored. Keep in mind that the article states a person of average intelligence should score a 20.
Matt Ryan (BC QB) -- 32
Brian Brohm (Louisville QB) -- 32
Chris Williams (Vanderbilt OL) -- 32
Jeff Otah (Pittsburgh OL) -- 28
Joe Flacco (Delaware QB) -- 27
Sam Baker (USC OL) -- 27
Jake Long (Michigan OL) -- 26
Jerod Mayo (Tennessee LB) -- 26
Godser Cherilus (BC OL) -- 25
Brandon Albert (UVa. OL) -- 23
Chad Henne (Michigan QB) -- 22
Keith Rivers (USC LB) -- 16
Kenny Phillips (Miami S) -- 16
Ryan Clady (Boise State OL) -- 13
Do these test results matter? It depends on who you ask. Titans quarterback Vince Youngreportedly scored a six and was still taken third in the '06 draft.
Note: Young retook the test and scored a 16. Thanks to reader RFan for pointing this out.
While it might seem like there's no way to prepare for the Wonderlic, that's not entirely true. Haynos, for example, said he had taken the test twice before the combine. Agents don't like to leave any stone unturned in terms of combine preparation, and providing their clients with copies of the Wonderlic test is no exception.
ESPN.com's Mel Kiper Jr. has Stewart as his fourth-rated running back but has dropped him from his list of the top 25 players overall because of the injury:
A strong and athletic, big running back who displays tremendous patience with the way he sets up his blocks.
To get a better idea of how Stewart projects as an NFL player, I called on John Hunt from The Oregonian:
Q: What are Stewart's strengths that make him a first-round prospect?
A: Stewart's strength is his strength. He's a physical freak who is nearly as strong as former Duck [and current Raven] Haloti Ngata and can run a 4.3 40. He is probably as physically gifted as any current NFL running back.
Q: What areas will he need to improve on in the NFL?
A: He needs to get better at making people miss. Stewart always has invited contact, but at the next level, defenders won't be easily bowled over or run around.
Q: Describe Stewart's personality. What is he like off the field, and what was his relationship like with teammates, coaches and the media?
A: He is a very nice, religious guy with a boyish personality. This is no thug or prima donna, and we will never read about Stewart on a party boat or making it rain. Coaches talk fondly of him, and he has always been very accessible and polite to the media.
Q: How did Stewart deal with expectations once he arrived at Oregon? Is he considered the biggest recruit in school history?
A: He is the biggest recruit in school history, and that probably was a little weight on his shoulders at first, because injuries kept him from producing like the blue chipper that he was.
Q: How are Stewart's skills as a blocker and receiver in the passing game?
A: Both could use a little work. Obviously he has the tools to be an effective blocker. As a receiver, he was not asked to do much. He dropped the occasional low pass but was fairly sure-handed.
Q: ESPN.com says durability is a concern with Stewart. Do you agree, and what is his injury history?
A: Stewart has battled ankle, toe and hamstring issues during his college career -- so, yes, the injury knock is accurate. What he did show, though, was an increased toughness and ability to play with pain (the turf toe) in his junior season. Editor's note: This question was answered before Stewart had the turf toe surgery.
Q: Why did Stewart decide to skip his senior season and enter the draft?
A: He was ready, pure and simple. And he got favorable feedback from the draft folks.
Q: What was Stewart's signature moment in college?
A: It was the season opener in his freshman season when he carried about six Houston Cougars for about 30 yards (video below). That made it obvious that this was no ordinary freshman and no ordinary back.
Here's an interesting ESPN.com feature on Stewart from the fall. As a seventh grader, Stewart was 5-foot-3, 135 pounds, but he transformed into a 5-foot-10, 200-pounder by the time he was a freshman in high school. Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson compares Stewart to Rams running back Steven Jackson.
The Seattle Post Intelligencer breaks down Stewart's combine performance. He bench pressed 225 pounds 28 times, second among running backs, and ran a 4.48 40-yard dash.
And finally some videos to leave you with.
Here are highlights from Stewart's freshman season in 2005:
And Stewart showing his speed by breaking off an 88-yard touchdown run last season:
The latest story in the ongoing Chad Johnson offseason saga comes courtesy of an interview on the Best Damn Sports Show Period.
Appearing on the show last night, here's what Johnson said about the possibility of teaming up with Terrell Owens on the Dallas Cowboys, via The Dallas Morning News:
"If I end up in Dallas, I would just look at which finger I'm gonna put it on," Johnson declared. "That's it. Ain't no ifs, ands or buts about it."
By my unofficial count, Johnson has talked about the possibility of playing for at least a third of the teams in the NFL. It's tough to put much stock into anything he says.
In other news...
The Steelers released wide receiver Cedrick Wilson less than a day after he was arrested for punching his ex-girlfriend, according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Wilson, 29, caught 18 balls for 207 yards and a touchdown (against the Ravens) last season as the Steelers' fourth receiver.
Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that the Jaguars are close to signing quarterback David Garrard to the richest contract in franchise history.
Cornerback DeAngelo Hallis still negotiating a deal with the Oakland Raiders, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The two sides need to come to terms before the Atlanta Falcons can send Hall to Oakland for a pair of draft picks. ESPN.com's Chris Mortensen says the deal could be worth $70 million over seven years.
If you're a big Inside the NFL fan like me, SI.com's Peter King delivered some bad news in a column this week, saying he hasn't heard anything about another station picking up the program for the upcoming season after it was dropped by HBO.
And finally, the Cowboys inked former Ravens cornerback Evan Oglesby. He played in eight games for Dallas last season after being cut by the Ravens.
Opinions vary on what direction the Ravens will go with their first pick in April's NFL draft. I've scoured the Internet for mock drafts and found at least eight different players projected to be the Ravens' pick. Here's a roundup of who updated mock drafts have Baltimore taking:
ESPN.com's Todd McShay has the Ravens taking offensive tackle Ryan Clady out of Boise State:
The Ravens are one of the wild cards in the top 10. They will take the best available talent even if he doesn't fit a need, and odds are none of the available players at their need positions will be worthy of the eighth overall pick. An argument could be made for one of the top cornerback prospects here, but Clady carries a better grade, in my opinion, than any corner in this class, and he possesses the combination of size and feet to potentially take over for perennial Pro Bowler Jonathan Ogden.
The Ravens need some youth at cornerback and Talib has been bumped up on our board thanks to a strong pro-day workout last week. Every cornerback in this year's draft has a hole of some sort, but Talib has prototypical size and runs well. What about a QB, you say? The Ravens sent eight people to watch Delaware's Joe Flacco at his pro day this week, and while no one forsees him cracking the top 10, I could see Baltimore trading down to have a shot at him in the second half of the round. The Ravens would also have a very interesting decision to make should Ryan get past No. 3 Atlanta.
The Ravens have to identify a franchise quarterback and add some stability behind center, but adding a playmaker in the secondary is exactly what the Ravens need. With the Ravens passing on Brian Brohm, he will free fall in the first round. The Ravens choose Aqib Talib over Brohm.
You won't find this on any other mock drafts, but sometimes a man must go it alone. Here's my promise to you: We'll nail this pick. Now, I may change players, but I'm guaranteeing the No. 8 pick.
The Ravens are looking to improve their line - especially at tackle – because veteran bookend Jonathan Ogden is expected to retire.
Four out of eight USA Today experts have the Ravens selecting BC's Ryan. Three have them taking Troy's McKelvin. And one has Arkansas RB Darren McFadden slipping to the eighth pick.
Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan will take part in BC's Pro Day Tuesday, throwing in front of NFL coaches, scouts, general managers and others.
According to boston.com, 25 of 32 teams are scheduled to be represented. Ryan did not take part in passing drills at the combine last month, saying he preferred throwing to his BC teammates.
SI.com's Peter King does a good job of projecting where the different quarterback prospects are expected to be drafted. King doesn't expect Ryan to get past the Ravens' No. 8 pick. Here's what he says about the class of quarterbacks:
It's not a very good crop, and there's nothing like a can't-miss guy. How ironic. The four teams mostly likely to take Ryan high -- Miami, Atlanta, Kansas City, Baltimore -- have been laboring at the position for different reasons. Miami's never been able to replace Dan Marino. Atlanta is still reeling from having its franchise quarterback KO'd in the Mike Vick-dogfighting case. Kansas City had a nice marriage with Trent Green 'til he got knocked silly early in 2006. And Baltimore's been looking for Mr. Goodbar since Johnny U. left town.
In other news...
The New York Daily News reports that the Jets have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with former Packers tight end Bubba Franks. The 14th overall pick in the 2000 draft, Franks played in just eight games last year because of injury, catching 18 balls for 132 yards. He's 30-years-old. Meanwhile, the same article says wide receiver Laveranues Coles might sit out the team's offseason training program because of a contract dispute.
Denver police have issued a citation to Titans running back LenDale White on two charges: destruction of property and disobedience to a lawful order/interference and resistance.
According to The Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Falcons could be close to dealing cornerback DeAngelo Hall to the Raiders for a second- and sixth-round pick in April's draft. Here's what Hall said over the weekend:
"As of right now, we're still at the same stages that I was at with every other team," Hall said. "New York, Washington, Dallas, and Jacksonville. Nothing has been OK'd on my end. Unless they agreed to something that I don't know about, but I don't think no team is going to sign me without talking to me and getting everything right on my end."
Hall is reportedly seeking a deal close to what the Eagles gave Asante Samuel (six years, $57 million, with $20 million guaranteed).
I know there had been interest from some readers of this blog for the Ravens to go after wide receiver Bryant Johnson, a Baltimore City College product. But that's not going to happen. The 49ers have signed Johnson to a reported one-year deal. With the acquisition of Johnson, San Francisco has released veteran Darrell Jackson. The 29-year-old spent just one disappointing year with the 49ers, catching 46 balls for 497 yards.
In case you missed it, the Ravens have agreed in principle to a contract with cornerback Frank Walker, formerly of the Green Bay Packers.
According to this blog on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Web site, Walker's two-year deal is worth about $3.5 million. The blog's author, Bob McGinn, says Walker was used primarily as Green Bay's dime back and expressed dissatisfaction with his lack of playing time last season. Walker was inactive for the Packers' NFC championship game against the Giants.
Here is Walker's player page on the Packers' Web site. He's listed at 5 feet 11, 196 pounds and is 26-years-old. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2003 draft out of Tuskegee. Walker spent his first four years in the NFL with the Giants before the Packers signed him to a one-year, $1.24 million deal before last season.
ESPN.com's John Clayton says Walker received a $1.25 million signing bonus from the Ravens and is expected to compete for the third cornerback spot.
Many Packers staff members said they appreciated the funny gesture that's in step with Walker's personality. He often sports a pair of insulated brown coveralls that a Wisconsin dairy farmer would wear and keeps the team loose in weekly preparation.
PackersNews.comgot comment from Walker's agent, Harold Lewis: "I know he loved it out there (in Green Bay) and was very, very happy," Lewis said. "But I can’t control what they do."
Walker was the Packers' only free-agent signing last season.
You may not have seen much of him on Saturdays, but if scouts and draft pundits are on target, you'll enjoy watching Troy cornerback Leodis McKelvin on Sundays.
Don't let the small school fool you. Troy has played against several BCS schools during the past two seasons, including Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma State, Georgia, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Nebraska.
Not only is McKelvin a very good cover man with superior recovery ability (he runs in the 4.38 range) and the aggressiveness to get the job done in run support, he also has made a name for himself as the top return man in the entire nation. He has stood out this season in games against the likes of Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma State and Georgia. With his speed and versatility, McKelvin will bring great value to a football team.
McKelvin, 5 feet 11, 190 pounds, ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the combine. As a return man, he tied an NCAA Division I record with eight touchdowns (seven on punts, one on a kickoff).
To get a better handle on how McKelvin projects as a pro, I called on Bobby Matthews, sports editor at The Troy Messenger.
Q: What are McKelvin's strengths that make him a first-round prospect?
A: McKelvin's biggest strength is his vision. Whether as a defender or kick returner, he's got an uncanny ability to see the field and understand everything that's going on -- and his role to play. I'm not trying to downplay his other assets, because he's impressively fast, has great hands and is pound-for-pound one of the strongest guys on the Troy team. He's impressive in drills, but even moreso in pads on game day.
Q: What about McKelvin might concern NFL scouts?
A: There's no downside to McKelvin. This is a guy who, in all honesty, should have been playing for a bigger school than Troy. I can't tell you with any certainty why he wasn't.
But he's had no off-the-field problems at the university.
I think that going to a smaller school has sort of given McKelvin something extra. Maybe it's a shot of humility, or maybe it's a realistic attitude that you don't see in many college athletes. He's also injury-free, which was one of the things mentioned repeatedly by scouts at Troy's second pro day Tuesday.
Q: What has the college competition been like for McKelvin at Troy? How has he fared against BCS schools like Florida and Oklahoma State? I read that he shut down Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson in 2006. Is that accurate?
A: He did indeed shut down Johnson in 2006 [Johnson was limited to two catches for 9 yards]. The out-of-conference schedule for Troy is always strong. In 2007 alone, Troy played Arkansas, Georgia and Florida. Troy led Georgia and had a shot at an upset before falling by 10. McKelvin has logged playing time -- and fared extremely well -- against big-time competition. Against Oklahoma State in 2007, he played well defensively in addition to returning a punt for a touchdown. Against Sun Belt foes, McKelvin has led a defense that helped Troy to back-to-back shares of the conference title.
Q: Was he recruited by a lot of schools coming out of high school, or did academic problems scare them off? How did he pick Troy?
A: I believe Troy was pretty much the only IA school to offer McKelvin a scholarship. I don't think he had academic problems coming out of high school, but I can't say that for any certainty. I think a lot of schools flat-out missed the boat on McKelvin.
Q: Describe McKelvin's personality. What is he like off the field, and what was his relationship like with teammates, coaches and the media?
A: McKelvin is friendly with everyone, but he's also a terrible interview. He'll tell you whatever you want to know, but he often gets so excited that he'll sort of talk over himself, if that makes any sense. His coaches and teammates love the guy. He's approachable by just about everyone. I think that going to a smaller school has really kept him down-to-earth.
Q: When did McKelvin first start showing up on NFL radar screens?
A: I'd say his breakout season was 2006. That's when everyone sort of knew that if he stayed injury-free in his senior season that he'd be very good.
Q: What are his strengths and weaknesses as a cornerback?
A: His strengths are his speed and hands. He's one of the few corners you can leave to cover a receiver one-on-one.
Against Georgia Tech in 2006, most of the defensive coverages called for McKelvin to be one-on-one with Johnson, and McKelvin just blanketed the guy.
His biggest weakness: McKelvin’s so good that he'll sometimes take chances that he shouldn't, trusting his speed to be enough to get him back in the play. At the Sun Belt level he could do that. Against SEC opponents, he had to adjust that aspect of his game.
Q: What makes him such a dangerous return man?
As I said earlier, I think it's his vision. He sees blocks coming and the angles defenders take. He knows when to use the wall, and when to make a cutback. When McKelvin returns kicks in practice, I've seen other players stop their drills just to watch him. These are college kids, often impressed with nothing but themselves -- but they're impressed when McKelvin returns kicks. That just sort of stands out to me.
He landed at Troy because academic problems scared off bigger programs when he was graduating from Ware County (Ga.) High School in 2004. Georgia liked him, but the Bulldogs never offered a scholarship. Georgia Tech said it would take him if he raised his SAT scores, but the school never followed up.
So McKelvin found Troy to be the only place that had faith in him, and he dedicated himself to making sure the Trojans didn't regret the move.
What's most impressive about McKelvin is that he hasn't forgotten that feeling of being dismissed because of his academic shortcomings. Instead of dropping out of school to train for the combine and his personal workout, he continues to work on the 14 hours he has left to complete his degree in sports medicine.
Unless [Matt] Ryan slips, Baltimore will need to wait at least a round to address its seemingly endless need for an upgrade at quarterback. Ellis is not an ideal fit for its defensive scheme and wouldn't fill a need position, but in this scenario he is a strong possibility for a Ravens organization that is among the league's most disciplined when it comes to drafting for value. With all that in mind, McKelvin makes the best match. He is the most natural cover corner this class has to offer and he also can provide competition for Yamon Figurs in the return game.
[Against Oklahoma State] he had seven solo tackles, forced a fumble, broke up three passes and had one tackle for a loss on defense. He also returned five punts for 135 yards and one touchdown.
McKelvin seemed to play his best against Troy's toughest opponents. Against Arkansas, he had nine tackles (seven solos) and five kickoff returns for 127 yards. Against Florida, he picked up six unassisted tackles and had seven kickoff returns for 134 yards. He added seven unassisted tackles and 121 yards on six kickoff returns against Georgia.
Browns general manager Phil Savage is close to receiving a multiyear extension, according to a report in The Plain Dealer (Cleveland).
Savage, who spent nine seasons in the Ravens organization, two as director of player development, has two years remaining on a five-year deal he signed in 2005. According to the report, he's expected to be extended at least through 2011.
The Browns went 10-6 last season and have had a busy offseason, re-signing running back Jamal Lewis and quarterback Derek Anderson, trading for defensive linemen Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers and signing free-agent wide receiver Donte' Stallworth.
"What we're starting to have on the Browns is legitimate continuity, and it shows up in being able to act quickly in free agency and trades," Browns owner Randy Lerner told The Plain Dealer. "The Browns' success depends on our ability to build a core group of players and not having constant turnover. That's what's happening here."
In other news:
Ex-Raven Femi Ayanbadejohas filed suit against a Nevada supplement company that he says sold him a tainted product, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. According to Ayanbadejo, the supplement contained a banned substance that wasn't listed on the bottle. Ayanbadejo was suspended four games for use of a steroidal substance last season, and he says the stigma associated with the suspension has helped keep him from landing with a new team. Ayanbadejo played with the Ravens from 1999-2001. Baltimore signed his brother, Brendon, earlier this week.
In case you missed it, the Kansas City Chiefs signed wide receiver Devard Darling. Darling had 18 catches (three touchdowns) for the Ravens last season. He's expected to compete for serious playing time, considering the Chiefs only established wide receiver will be impressive second-year player Dwayne Bowe.
And finally, some of you have expressed interest in the Ravens going after free agent wide receiver Bryant Johnson. Johnson, a Baltimore product who attended high school at City, is drawing interest from the Tampa Bay Bucs.
Current Ravens quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson recently tried to clear up an incident that happened in the Bengals locker room during a 2006 playoff game when he was a coach in Cincinnati.
Rumors circulated after the Bengals 31-17 loss to the Steelers that season that wide receiver Chad Johnson was involved in a serious incident with head coach Marvin Lewis and possibly Jackson during halftime.
So why am I writing about this more than two years later?
Former Bengals player Shaun Smith, who was on that team, told a group of Central Maryland Browns Backers his account of what happened last week. There was a YouTube video, but it has since been taken down. Here's what Smith said, courtesy of The Enquirer (Cincinnati):
"He swung on Marvin. (Johnson) shattered the training room glass. He swung on Marvin (and) hit Marvin in the eye. Then he tried to swing on wide receivers coach Hue Jackson, who's now in Baltimore."
Jackson, however, told Sirius NFL Radio that Smith's account of what happened was inaccurate. Here are his comments, again courtesy of The Enquirer:
"No, he's not accurate," Jackson said of Smith's comments.
"To shed light on it I'll say the same thing I said before. Chad Johnson never hit Marvin Lewis. Chad Johnson never hit me. Chad Johnson never put anybody in a headlock. Chad Johnson was very emotional at halftime of that game. The true story to all that was Chad had an IV in his arm and me, and him were talking about plans for the second half and he got emotional because he said, 'Hey, coach, without Carson (Palmer) I'm not going to be able to get the ball.'
"And that's what it was and I told him, `Well, then you need to tell (offensive coordinator) Coach (Bob) Bratkowski that.' And he ripped the IV out of his arm, and it's like anything else, you see blood coming out of a person's arm people think the worst. And he went from there to go into the locker room to let Coach Lewis know that, 'Hey, look, I want the ball.' And that was it. And when he opened the door he stumbled out of the training room so he was flailing and people think that he was swinging on people. Chad wasn't swinging on anybody. Chad would not hit Marvin Lewis, and Chad sure would not hit me. So that is not what happened and I'm very disappointed that now, even after two years, we have to discuss this again. But that is exactly what happened."
So there you have the two sides of the story.
Jackson was hired by John Harbaugh on Feb. 5. He served as the Falcons offensive coordinator last season. Jackson had the same title with the Redskins in 2003, USC (1997-2000) and California (1996). He was the Bengals wide receivers coach from 2004-06.
Names of several big-name wide receivers keep popping up in trade rumors, but are those players really available?
Let's start in Arizona. The Cardinals and Larry Fitzgeralddon't appear to be making any progress towards restructuring his contract, according to The Arizona Republic. Fitzgerald is due $14.6 million this season and $17.4 million in 2009. He says he wants to play in Arizona, and the Cardinals say Fitzgerald's not going anywhere. The article reports that the Eagles have inquired about Fitzgerald, but the Cardinals aren't interested. So for now, it looks like the 24-year-old receiver is staying put.
Then there's St. Louis veteran wide receiver Torry Holt. The Rams say rumors involving Holt have no credibility. "There's no interest, no discussions about trading Torry Holt," Rams coach Scott Linehantold the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "He's on our team, we want him on our team, and I hope he feels the same way."
And finally, Lions wideout Roy Williams. He's in the final year of his contract and will likely want big money as a free agent, but the Lions say Williams isn't going anywhere. "I know the rumors are out there, but no," Lions coach Rod Marinelli told the Detroit Free Press. "Those two guys together [Williams and Calvin Johnson], I want to see those guys where they can really impact the game."
So there you have it. If you believe their teams, Fitzgerald, Holt and Williams aren't going anywhere.
With the Seahawks picking up running backs Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett, it appears Shaun Alexander'sdays in Seattle are numbered.
According to The Tennessean, the Titans have agreed to terms on a four-year deal with Colts guard Jake Scott. Scott, 26, started 55 straight games on the offensive line for Indianapolis.
According to The Miami Herald, defensive end Jason Taylorwants out of Miami, but knows it's not his call to make.
