This trade scenario from Sports Illustrated's Peter King appears in his Monday Morning Quarterback column on SI.com:

Shortly after noon, Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome offered St. Louis first-, second- and fourth-round picks this year and a third-rounder in 2009 for the Rams' first-round pick. In essence, to move up six spots in the first round, Baltimore was offering the 38th and 106th pick this year and, say, around the 80th pick next year. Tempting, St. Louis thought. So the Rams called Atlanta, at number three, asking for a second-round pick this year to swap spots. If St. Louis traded with Atlanta, the Rams would pick up a free first-day pick and still get Chris Long. If the Rams traded with Baltimore, they'd lose out on Long, the only legit pass-rusher they liked in this draft.

The Rams called the Ravens back and turned down the offer about five minutes before the draft began. "It was a really hard decision,'' said one of the Ram execs in the room. "But it was more about our belief in Chris Long and the fact that we thought he was the perfect pick for us more so than anything else. Anybody else but Chris Long, and we'd probably have done it. But when we walked out of the room and made the phone call to Baltimore, we were in 100 percent agreement that it was the right decision.''

Again, this is from King of SI.

Posted by Ron Fritz at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (25)
        

Oklahoma running back Allen Patrick was the Ravens' final choice, No. 240 overall. He backed up Adrian Peterson in 2006 and started five games when Peterson was injured. Last season he started all 13 games and rushed for 1,009 yards on 173 carries. He scored eight touchdowns.

Posted by Ron Fritz at 6:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

With the 215th pick overall, the Ravens have added a big wide receiver from Virginia Tech, Justin Harper. He's 6-4 and weighs 215 pounds. He basically was a one-year wonder during his senior year. Harper played the previous three years but didn't do much.

Posted by Ron Fritz at 5:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Wake up!!! The Ravens have made a pick. In the sixth round, 206th overall, the Ravens took a safety from Cincinnati, Haruki Nakamura. He's 5-10 and 190 pounds. Nakamura is the second safety drafted by the Ravens. Tom Zbikowski of Notre Dame was taken in the third round.

Posted by Ron Fritz at 4:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

How many hours has Baltimore's own Mel Kiper Jr. been on the air for ESPN? The countless hours haven't hurt his hair. Not one out of place. I thasn't moved in two days.

When the draft ends and Mel goes into hibernation for another year, I'm going to miss his exchanges with Todd McShay. It's like McShay is his little brother and Mel is constantly smacking him upside the head.

If McShay is going to replace Mel, he definitely needs to work on his hair.

Posted by Ron Fritz at 4:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

If it seems like the Ravens haven't drafted in hours, they haven't. After taking David Hale in the fourth round with the 133rd pick, the Ravens had time to introduce Joe Flacco as their next quarterback of the future, have lunch, go for a run, shower, have a late-afternoon snack and still not have to pick again.

They have three selections left: 206th, 215th and 240th. They are on 182 right now.

If yesterday seemed fast, today seems like it will never end.

Posted by Ron Fritz at 3:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Here's what the Ravens had to say about their third and fourth round picks:

General manager Ozzie Newsome on Miami linebacker Tavares Gooden: "The only thing I told him, he couldn’t have 52 when he gets here because that belongs to someone else. Anytime you get someone from the Miami Hurricanes, you know you’re getting someone who loves the game and runs to the football and understands how to play the game. It gives us depth but it helps us on special teams right away."

Newsome on Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski: "Physical, fast and can run to the football. We talked about getting bigger and faster in this draft, and both of those players have allowed us to do it. Zbikowski can also be a backup returner for us. Those are some areas that we got hit pretty hard last year and we ended up taking guys from the practice squad. We feel like we added some real good depth and, over the course of the next three or four years, guys that could become starters for us."

Ravens director of college scouting Eric DeCosta on UTEP offensive tackle Oniel Cousins: "Oniel is an outstanding athlete. We think he is a great prospect. We think he has a lot of upside and should develop over time. He probably needs to get a little stronger, but we think the tools are there. He’s got great feet. He’s a great kid. He’s a worker and has got the right temperment. He’s a nasty player and we think he competes right away at the right tackle spot."

DeCosta on New Mexico receiver Marcus Smith: "He’s a slot receiver who has good size. He blocks real well and catches the ball in traffic. We felt like we wanted to bring a more physical receiver in here to compete for balls inside the numbers. He’s a core special teams player. I think he adds a lot of value to the team."

DeCosta on Weber State offensive tackle-guard David Hale: "David Hale is a right tackle who can play tackle and also guard. He is very, very physical who is a mean, tough, nasty guy. He’s in the same mold as Marshal Yanda and Tony Pashos. We think he projects very well inside and also at right tackle. We feel very good about David."

Posted by Jamison Hensley at 2:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
        

With their final pick of the fourth round, the 133rd overall, the Ravens grabbed offensive tackle David Hale out of Weber State. He's 6-foot-6 and weighs 308 pounds.

Here's NFLdraftscout.com's report on Hale:

Four-year starter who helped answer questions about his level of competition with a strong week of practice at right tackle in the East-West Shrine Game. Hale lacks flashy athleticism, making him a late-round prospect, but is a physical presence who plays with technique and determination.

Posted by Ron Fritz at 1:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The Ravens used their last pick in the third round and the first one in the fourth round on projects.

Oneil Cousins, who was selected 99th overall, is an offensive tackle with an upside but he was a defensive lineman until 2005. There will be a steep learning curve for him in the NFL.

A versatile athlete, Cousins started at left tackle as a junior before moving to the right side last season. But there are questions about how he will hold up against the top defensive ends in the league.

In the fourth round, the Ravens addressed receiver by drafting New Mexico's Marcus Smith with the 106th overall pick.

A former tailback, Smith has limited experience as a receiver. He should contribute right away on special teams but will need time to develop on offense. Smith is not considered a burner but he brings toughness to the position.

Posted by Jamison Hensley at 12:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Maryland's Dre Moore, a 6-4 and 305-pound defensive tackle, was taken in the fourth round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was the 115th pick overall. Pro Football Weekly had him rated as the 64th best player available in the draft.

The Bucs traded up to get Moore.

Posted by Ron Fritz at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

... the Ravens didn't take a cornerback in the third round. They traded for a veteran. Here's what The Sun's Jamison Hensley wrote:

The Ravens addressed their need at cornerback, trading a fourth-round pick to the Oakland Raiders for Fabian Washington.

A first-round pick in 2005, Washington was expendable after the Raiders had traded for DeAngelo Hall. In four seasons with Oakland, Washington had 112 tackles and five interceptions.

Washington does come to the Ravens with some baggage. He learned last week that he would avoid prosecution for his February arrest on a domestic battery charge as long as he completes a program for first-time offenders.

Washington, 24, was arrested at his home in East Manatee County, Fla., after the responding police officer noticed a red mark on the neck of Washington's 21-year-old live-in girlfriend.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and said the altercation didn't get physical.

The Sun's Web site is temporarily experiencing technical difficulties. We are working to correct the issue and will have more on the Washington trade and Day 2 of the NFL draft as soon as the problems are resolved.

Posted by Ron Fritz at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

With their first pick in the fourth round, the 106th overall, the Ravens chose Marcus Smith, a wide receiver from New Mexico. Never heard of him? Neither have we. He had 91 catches for 1,125 yards and four touchdowns last season after dealing with the tragedy of losing his mother to a brain aneurysm on Sept. 16 (according to ESPN.com).

He didn't miss any games despite his mom's death, he has good size (6-foot-1, 214-pounds), he helped lead New Mexico to a 9-4 record and he played in the Senior Bowl.

Posted by Ron Fritz at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

With the final pick of the third round, the Ravens selected Oniel Cousins, an offensive lineman from UTEP. He's just shy of 6-foot-4 and weighs 308 pounds. There were higher-rated linemen left on the board, but Cousins can play both guard and tackle.

Posted by Ron Fritz at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Cris Carter, Ron Jaworski and Chris Mortensen like the Ravens' draft to this point. Mortensen just said that the second third-round pick, Tom Zbikowski, a safety from Notre Dame, "can be a star" in the NFL.

Anyone miss Keyshawn Johnson's outfit from yesterday? Who dresses him? A gray, striped suit, a checkered shirt and a pink, polka dot tie just don't mix. His outfit looked like one of the color-blindness tests with a word embedded in mixed up colors and shapes.

Posted by Ron Fritz at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Notre Dame's Tom Zbikowski, a 5-11, 211-pound safety known as much for his boxing career as football, was the second choice in the third round by the Ravens. The 86th overall pick has 4.5 speed and he can also return punts.

At the very least, this is a nod to head coach John Harbaugh's career as a special teams coach because this is an area where Zbikowski can excel. Still wondering why the Ravens haven't picked a cornerback, though.

Zbikowski was always around the ball and when he returned a punt or interception, he reminded you a lot of the Ravens' Ed Reed -- just a step slower. Zbikowski is a playmaker.

Posted by Ron Fritz at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

With their first of three picks in the third round this morning, the Ravens selected Miami linebacker Tavares Gooden. This was the 71st overall pick. The Ravens will be picking early and often today. They have six picks total in the third and fourth rounds and there is value available.

Gooden is 6-foot-1, 234 pounds. Could this Hurricane be Ray Lewis' heir with the Ravens? Oh, by the way, he wore No. 52 at Miami.

Posted by Ron Fritz at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Even with pressing needs on the offensive line and cornerback, the Ravens grabbed running back Ray Rice from Rutgers in the second round with the No. 55th pick overall. Rice is small (5-8, 199 pounds), but ran a 4.47 in the 40.

He was the rated the fifth-highest running back by Pro Football Weekly, ahead of East Carolina's Chris Johnson, who went in the first round, and Tulane's Matt Forte, who went higher in the second.

Posted by Ron Fritz at 8:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
        

Chris Long, Vernon Gholston and Derrick Harvey were the top three edge pass rushers in the draft, and it didn't take long for them to go off the big board. Long went second to St. Louis, Gholston sixth to the Jets, and Jacksonville traded up to the Ravens' eighth pick to get Harvey.

That set the tone for the early picks and underscored the need to pressure the quarterback. Seven of the first 10 picks were spent on defensive players. In addition to the three pass rushing ends, two were tackles.

Even two linebackers went in the top 10, a rarity. The Bengals watched the pass rushers go ahead of them and settled for outside linebacker Keith Rivers of USC. The Patriots traded down from 7 to 10 to grab linebacker Jerod Mayo of Tennessee. Mayo can play inside or outside and is a perfect player for the Patriots' defense.

For once, there were no reaches at the top of the draft, and none of the players the Ravens coveted fell to their eighth pick.

Posted by Ken Murray at 4:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

It's the first time that two players named Long went 1-2 in the NFL draft. As expected, Jake Long went No. 1 to the Miami Dolphins. At No. 2, Chris Long went to the St. Louis Rams. And, no, they aren't related.

LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, rated by many, including draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., as the top player in the draft is still waiting. The Raiders, who have 15 running backs on their roster, just drafted Darren McFadden of Arkansas. Maybe they're going to do away with wide receivers and just line up running backs.

Posted by Ron Fritz at 3:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

There goes the Ravens' first choice at quarterback. The Atlanta Falcons took Boston College's Matt Ryan with the third pick overall. That sound you hear from Owings Mills are phones ringing all over the building as teams drafting below the Ravens are calling and trying to move up.

It will be interesting to see if the Ravens stay at No. 8. With Chris Long gone at No. 2 and Ryan gone, is it worth staying at No. 8 for one of the cornerbacks or offensive linemen?

Did Ryan, who is from just outside of Philadelphia and played at Boston College, adopt a Southern accent? Sure sounded like it when interviewed by Suzy Kolber.

Posted by Ron Fritz at 3:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

There could be some deception going on, and the draft has yet to begin.

According to FoxSports, the Ravens are "trying hard" to trade up to get the St. Louis Rams' No. 2 spot and take Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan. That would allow them to jump ahead of the Atlanta Falcons, who are expected to select Ryan with the third overall pick.

At this point, Ravens sources said the Rams' asking price (this year's first, second- and fourth-round picks) is too high. According to the sources, the Rams might be trying to send the message that the Ravens are interested in order to bait the Falcons to trade with them.

Stay tuned.

Posted by Jamison Hensley at 2:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Like any draft prospect uncertain of his future employer, Matt Ryan is diplomatic when discussing potential cities and teams. He says he grew up an Eagles' fan, but certainly isn't anticipating getting the call from them today.

"I know my mom would love it anywhere close to home," he said.

Ryan met with reporters on Thursday in New York. Plenty of questions hurled at Ryan related to Brady Quinn's embarrassing first-round slide last year, which made for riveting (and painful) reality television. Ryan doesn't seem worried about that all.

"If five years ago or even two or three years ago, you told me I would've been drafted in the first round, I would've taken it," he said Thursday in New York. "So, sitting here two days before the draft, if you were to tell me I was going to be drafted in the first round, I'd take it. The number doesn't make a difference. I'm just excited to have that opportunity."

-- Rick Maese

Posted by Ron Fritz at 1:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Keep an eye on Virginia guard Branden Albert tomorrow in the NFL draft. The Ravens really like the kid, and there is some speculation that they might take him at No. 8 overall. Very seldom are guards taken that high in the draft, but Albert has experience at left offensive tackle and some teams are projecting him at the position in the NFL.

Albert is one big guy, standing 6-7 and weighing 310 pounds. He runs extremely well and is very athletic. The Ravens could use him because as of 6:30 tonight, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said he has not heard a word from Pro Bowl left tackle Jonathan Ogden about his future plans. Ogden is contemplating retirement.

Also, the Ravens have talked with several teams including the Rams and Falcons about trading up to acquire Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, but apparently don't have enough to offer for either of the teams to make the deal.

One other thing: Newsome denied that Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, about to enter the final season of his contract, has demanded "Peyton Manning-type" money during contract negotiations.

"We're not even at that point," said Newsome.

Posted by Mike Preston at 6:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Wherever Boston College product Matt Ryan ends up, he's hoping to play right away. But didn't the Ravens learn their lesson by throwing Kyle Boller into the fire too soon? Boller's name was presented to Ryan, who said he's not worried about being rushing into a starting role.

"I don't think you can worry about it too much," he said. "Whatever the situation presents, you've got to go out there, you've got to take full advantage of it. If I'm there playing from the first snap of the season, I'm gonna go out there and learn from it.

"Maybe I'm not very good, maybe I am very good. I'm not sure how it's going to play out. Either way, whether you have success or you stink, you've got to learn from those experiences and make it work for yourself."

He said he'll have no problem entering a camp and having to compete with veterans for playing time.

"I'm not going to lie to you, sometimes there is a little bit of awkwardness, in guys that you're competing with," he said. "But at the same time, it's part of the business. You have to come in, go out there and do whatever you can to play."

-- Rick Maese

Posted by Ron Fritz at 4:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Everyone has a mock draft. Even some of the draft's top prospects. Quarterback Matt Ryan was asked to give his rundown of the opening picks of the first round:

"Well, I can give you No. 1," he said with a laugh. "I'm going to guess Jake Long, No. 1 to the Dolphins. After that … 2, I don't know. I'll probably go … can I pick two people for No. 2? … If you're going to twist my arm, 2, Chris Long. "

"Three? I have no idea. Maybe me. Maybe Glenn Dorsey. … Four, who's four? Oakland? I know they're not taking me. I'll say Darren McFadden. Five … I don't know five."

"Neither does Kansas City," a reporter chimed in.

"Five, I have no idea. Six, the Jets, actually, Vernon Gholston, that's my call. That's my draft and I'm sticking to it."

-- Rick Maese

Posted by Ron Fritz at 1:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The Ravens have a need at quarterback, but that doesn't mean they'll mortgage the franchise to trade up and possibly get Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan. If the cost is reasonable, GM Ozzie Newsome will do it, but Newsome doesn't like to give up a lot of picks.

The Ravens have painted a lot of scenarios for the first seven picks, and one of them has the Ravens obtaining Virginia defensive end Chris Long.

How can that happen? How can Long fall to the Ravens?

To get Long, the Ravens project Miami taking Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long No. 1 overall, which is already a done deal. The Rams take LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey at No. 2, followed by Atlanta selecting Ryan at No. 3. Oakland takes Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston at No. 4, the Chiefs select Boise State offensive tackle Ryan Clady at No. 5 and the Jets pick Arkansas running back Darren McFadden at 6. The Patriots, at No. 7, like Chris Long, but the Ravens might swap the position to take him, giving up a mid-round draft pick. Patriots coach Bill Belichick likes to stockpile draft choices, so the Ravens believe he would be willing to do a deal.

If the Ravens get Long, they have great bookends with Long on one side, and Terrell Suggs on the other. Overall, there is strong speculation that the draft has only six to seven elite players, and Long fits into that category.

What about a quarterback?

Everybody expects a run on them in the second round. A couple of weeks ago, the Ravens had Michigan's Chad Henne rated above Delaware's Joe Flacco and Louisville's Brian Brohm. That may have changed, but the Ravens will still come away from the draft with a quarterback.

If there is a run on quarterbacks late in the first round, the Ravens might be forced to make a move earlier than expected.

Posted by Mike Preston at 1:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (27)
        

The second day of Ravens minicamp under new coach John Harbaugh produced the first injury: a possible serious knee injury to backup tight end Quinn Sypniewski.

Sypniewski, who became a starter last season when injuries sidelined Todd Heap and Daniel Wilcox, went down with about 30 minutes left in the two-hour workout. Sypniewski had caught a pass and was trying to avoid contact with linebacker Antwan Barnes.

After staying on the ground for a few minutes, Sypniewski was carted off.

It's not the type of thing you often see in what is supposed to be a non-contact workout, and though it appeared as if both Barnes and Sypniewski were trying to avoid contact, the high energy of the minicamp might have contributed to the situation.

Barnes said after the workout that he was trying to step away from Sypniewski, who twisted his left knee as he planted with his body going the other way. Sypniewski, who had his leg in a walking cast, told teammates that he might have injured both his anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments.

Sypniewski, who didn't look happy with what had transpired, declined further comment.

"It does not look good,'' Heap said.

Posted by Don Markus at 1:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Would you vote a car salesman into public office?

How about a former football star?

Or, in the case of former Raven Peter Boulware, both.

Needless to say, Boulware is hoping that his legacy at Florida State, as well as the connections he has made as president of Legacy Toyota of Tallahassee, will help him get elected to the Florida House of Representatives.

Boulware, who played nine years in Baltimore after being the fourth overall pick in the draft and the AP's defensive Rookie of the Year in 1997, is running for the statehouse. He is hoping to represent Leon and Jefferson counties.

For more information, go to voteboulware.com.

Posted by Don Markus at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

There are times when I lose faith in Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti.

He was quoted in The Sun Tuesday as saying "If he [Ray Lewis] becomes a free agent next year, I think the Ravens would outbid other teams."

Maybe they would, because no other team is going to be paying a 33-year-old linebacker past his prime a lot of money. Oh, well, maybe one team -- the Ravens.

Lewis had a good year last season compared to his previous two, but the Ravens should pay him for what he can still contribute, not for what he did in the past. Lewis should not be making the $6.5 million he will earn this season in 2009, and if the Ravens pay him that much, then the team is headed in the wrong direction.

We all respect Lewis because he was a great player and the former poster child for a franchise that was searching for an identity. But at the same time, he has been a problem in the locker room because of special privileges granted to him and other star players by former head coach Brian Billick.

New coach John Harbaugh wants to change that. He wants all players treated the same. He wants to get rid of the thug mentality that has followed this team for years, and instill some discipline to a team that desperately has lacked it. But if the Ravens pay Lewis an outrageous sum of money, it looks bad because the decision will be based on Lewis' friendship with Bisciotti, not his actions on the field.

Ideally, the Ravens should make Lewis a solid offer, but at the same time, cut down on his playing time, especially on third-and-long situations. The best way for Lewis to handle this is to take a contract based on what he can presently do, and accept a diminished role as a player and the voice of this team. Then he can go out with dignity and the Ravens will have handled it with class. Both look good as Lewis retires as a Raven.

--Mike Preston

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 9:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (44)