Missing in action
The Ravens held their final minicamp practices this week, but there were many star players who decided to head for early vacation.
Eleven players -- quarterback Steve McNair, running backs Willis McGahee and Mike Anderson, safety Ed Reed, cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle, linebackers Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs, offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, and receivers Derrick Mason and Damien Linson -- all were no shows for the voluntary camp today.
Even coach Brian Billick was missing because he was attending the high school graduation of his daughter, Keegan.
"Obviously it's a voluntary camp because the head coach isn't here," one team official said after practice.
Defensive coordinator Rex Ryan handled the head coaching duties in Billick's absence and seemed very comfortable with the new position.
Asked if Billick had to worry about his job, Ryan joked, "I didn't want to say anything, but the guys here liked the changes."
Ryan also dismissed any disappointment over the largest amount of no shows this offseason.
"You look into that too much," he said. "We know where our players are. This is a voluntary camp. We don't look down on the people not here."
Comments
Any chance we can make that head coaching change permanent? :)
I only say that half-jokingly. Billick's conservative offense isn't going to get us a Super Bowl, and we're going to be nothing once Rex leaves. I like Donnie Henderson, Jeff FitzGerald and Dennis Thurman a lot, but there's a huge dropoff from Rex to those guys.
If we don't win a playoff game in 2007, then I say fire Billick and promote Rex to head coach.
Posted by: Ryan K. | June 13, 2007 9:53 PM
yeah, fire billick for ryan? I hope that was a joke. You don't fire a head coach that has proven himself for some one that hasn't. And people thought the same think when marvin lewis left. You have to trust the ravens front office, they will find some one to replace ryan, they always do. This isn't the team that plays right across the parking lot, this is an established organization, one of the tops in football. Do you ever see the orioles getting some one like mcnair for nothing, not in our lifetimes!
Posted by: palms | June 14, 2007 12:38 AM
Ryan, I'm sorry but that's just idiotic. Donnie Henderson is the pioneer of the Ravens defensive status over the years. While I agree that Billick is conservative, Rex Ryan at head coach? I don't know about that one. Honestly speaking, I think we could be a better defensive team if Ryan called Henderson for some tips.
Posted by: Mike Goodman | June 14, 2007 2:11 AM
Ryan K. might have set a record for innacuracies in only a four-sentence post. First of all, the Ravens already won a Super Bowl with Billick as coach. Secondly, the sky was falling when Marvin Lewis left, then Mike Nolan, now Rex Ryan. Can't Billick get some credit for hiring good assistants and be given the benefit of the doubt that, when Rex leaves, he'll fill the role with a capable person? Oh, and by the way, Donnie Henderson is not currently on the Ravens staff.
Posted by: Marc | June 14, 2007 6:11 AM
Ryan, Incase you didn't know, Billick's conservative offense already got the team a Super Bowl.
Posted by: Jake | June 16, 2007 12:33 AM
BTW how did donnie henderson work out as D-coordinator for detroit? what! fired!?
Posted by: slim | June 19, 2007 12:50 PM