Early word from Ravens insider, and a very good one, is that Samari Rolle will be the starting cornerback when training camp opens regardless of any possible draft picks or free agents. After a poor performance last season, the Ravens believed Rolle regained his confidence by the end of the season, and that he was only partially to blame for some of the long balls he gave up. Of course, safety Ed Reed blew several assignments while failing to give Rolle support over the top. I can understand Rolle still being the starter, but I'd have someone challenging him for the starting job as well.

Posted by Mike Preston at 12:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
        

It was nice to see guard Edwin Mulitalo sign with the Lions, and extend his career. He deserves nothing but the best even though he'll be playing for one of the worst franchises in the league. He'll be reunited with former Ravens offensive line coach Jim Colletto, who is the Lions offensive line coach. Colletto never got the credit he deserved in designing the Ravens blocking scheme on running plays, and the running game hasn't been the same since he left two seasons ago.

Posted by Mike Preston at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has been working in the background with former players about their pension and disability payments. The league has taken a massive public relations hit from former greats who have gone to corporate sponsors to complain about their pensions. That move has certainly gotten Goodell's attention. For years, the NFLPA has ignored former greats like the late John Unitas, John Mackey and Herb Adderly about pension and disability. Adderly makes less than $250 a month despite being a Hall of Famer. He no longer wears his Super Bowl ring earned playing with the Packers. Others like former Bears coach Mike Ditka, also a Hall of Fame tight end, have volunteered to auction off his championship and use the proceeds to help former players, a lot of them suffering mentally as well as physically. One former Raven in the fight is defensive end Michael McCrary, who had 11 knee surgeries during his time in Baltimore. In a recent interview, McCrary said he has had trouble standing for more than 45 seconds at one time. Even while playing, doctors recommended that he stop and have knee replacement surgery. The problem is that McCrary, still under age 40, is too young to have his knees replaced, so he is holding off on using a lot of medication to help with the pain and depression. The Ravens have been extremely helpful working with McCrary. - Mike Preston

Posted by Mike Preston at 9:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Don't be surprised if former Ravens fullback Alan Ricard is signed by the Cleveland Browns. Ricard was halfback Jamal Lewis' favorite body guard here in Baltimore and they remain close friends. Once the Ravens started using less of Ricard or a fullback, Lewis struggled. - Mike Preston

Posted by Mike Preston at 9:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

Return specialist B.J. Sams recently had screws removed from his right ankle, and he is expected to resume rehabilitation within the next week. Sams said he is only at 50 percent, but he expects to be ready for training camp. Sams broke the right ankle on the road against the Bengals in a Thursday night game.

Posted by Mike Preston at 3:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

There is always a market for veteran wide receivers during free agency, and Randy Moss' name is currently being tossed around as trade bait. Since Derrick Mason said he might want to play elsewhere at the end of last season, I wonder if the Ravens have been shopping him around. He might draw some interesting offers.  - Mike Preston

Posted by Mike Preston at 8:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (30)
        

The bottom line for running back Willis McGahee is that he is a head case. If the Ravens can keep him under control, he is a good back and will pay big dividends. If not, they have wasted money and draft picks. The deal is reportedly for seven years, but it appears to be a two- or three-year deal once you read between the lines. - Mike Preston

Posted by Mike Preston at 9:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (53)
        

Pro football is a dirty business, and Ravens left guard Edwin Mulitalo got a dose of it today. The Ravens cut him, possibly to make salary cap room to sign a linebacker. Pro football is a business, and everyone understands the economics. Mulitalo, though, was one of the most respected players in the locker room by both his teammates and the media. He spent countless hours working in the community and had a special place in his heart for children. It's tough to see him go, and everyone wishes him the best of luck. Hopefully when he is finished playing, he becomes a resident of Baltimore. - Mike Preston

Posted by Mike Preston at 4:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (28)
        

While the Ravens and running back Jamal Lewis play a cat and mouse game in negotiations, there is word going around the league that the Packers have interest in Lewis. This is getting to be fun. Stay tuned. - Mike Preston

Posted by Mike Preston at 7:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (28)
        

Every time I think of Corey Dillon, I just remember how he waved off coach Bruce Costlet when he was with the Bengals, and he wouldn't go back in the game against the Ravens because he was afraid of No. 52. The next day, the head coach was fired. Maybe he has changed, but he quit that day here in Baltimore. -Mike Preston

Posted by Mike Preston at 5:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

The question last week was, who do you want running the ball for the Ravens next season?  Forty of you answered (two answers were duplicates). Now, some of the votes might be affected by the item below about who's still on the market and who's not. However, nobody voted for Ahman Green, and Willis McGahee got two votes, so maybe not.

The winner? Jamal Lewis, with nine votes. I thought everybody hated the thought of him coming back? Of course, you could also view the results as saying 31 of you didn't want him back, with two voting, essentially, for "anybody but him.''

In second, a draft pick, any pick (5 1/2 votes). In third, with 4 1/2 votes, Chargers restricted free agent Michael Turner; a lot of respondents said they'd love him if the price of getting him and/or paying him wasn't so high. Mike Anderson got four votes, Musa Smith two, with a voter splitting between him and P.J. Daniels. Also with two votes were Bears free agent Thomas Jones and Penn State's Tony Hunt. (Other rookies suggested: Michael Bush, Garrett Wolfe, Marshawn Lynch.)

Best argument for a single vote-getters was for Priest Holmes, which went against the rules, but came with this justification: "His legs might be very fresh after 1.5 years and no hits.'' True. There is the little matter of his head and neck being the main reasons for sitting out that time; plus, he turns 34 during the season. But the longing for Priest's Ravens days never slows. -David Steele

Posted by David Steele at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)
        

Oh, oh, it looks like the Ravens are running out of leverage. They want to re-sign halfback Jamal Lewis for another season, and were using candidates Ahman Green and Willis McGahee as bait to pull Lewis in. But Green reportedly has agreed to terms with the Texans and Denver is making a serious run at Buffalo for McGahee. It looks like the Ravens and old Twinkle Toes have to dance. - Mike Preston

Posted by Mike Preston at 8:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (21)
        

Here are some of the players the Ravens spoke with recently at the scouting combine in Indianapolis: Penn State offensive tackle Levi Brown; linebacker Patrick Willis of Ole Miss; Purdue's Anthony Spencer; and Notre Dame's Victor Abiamiri. Ravens linebackers coach Jeff Fitzgerald conducted the drills for all linebackers at the scouting combine. -Mike Preston

Posted by Mike Preston at 12:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

The Ravens have been involved in negotiations with running back Jamal Lewis, but they gave him a "low-ball" offer soon after they cut him. That's to be expected from the Ravens: death, taxes and the Ravens low-balling players. They also offered Lewis a package with a lot of incentives, most of them attainable by Lewis. The problem is that Lewis wants more money up front. If he gets injured early and can't attain those incentives, his salary would be pretty low compared to other starters around the league. - Mike Preston

Posted by Mike Preston at 6:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (21)
        

The email response to my column today about Jamal Lewis being waived and possibly brought back is pretty split. Some say bring him back if they can work out a deal, others say good riddance, time to move on.

So, expand on the poll question on the website (which, as of this posting, isn't split at all, about 72-28 against keeping Lewis), and complete this sentence: In 2007, I want the Ravens' starting running back to be ...

Jamal? Mike Anderson? Musa Smith? P.J. Daniels? A draft pick? A free agent pickup? A trade acquisition? And be sensible. Don't say "LaDainian Tomlinson.'' Or "Priest Holmes.'' Or "Chester Taylor.'' -David Steele

Posted by David Steele at 1:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (42)