Much like last season, certain players will be required to take part in mandatory weightlifting sessions following morning practices and therefore will be unavailable to fans for autographs and media for interviews.

Beginning Monday, offensive and defensive linemen will lift, linebackers, tight ends, running backs, safeties and kickers will work out Tuesday, and quarterbacks, wide receivers and cornerbacks will lift Wednesday.

That schedule is expected to rotate, but is subject to change. As soon as the latest schedule is released, we will post it here.

Posted by Edward Lee at 9:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

A record number of fans turned out for Ravens training camp in Westminster on Friday.

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 3:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

After sitting out training camp last season while protesting the club’s franchise tag, linebacker Terrell Suggs has been his usual vocal self on the first day of training camp.

When quarterback Joe Flacco launched a deep pass that wide receiver Demetrius Williams caught over his left shoulder during a one-on-one drill, Suggs consoled cornerback Frank Walker, who was covering Williams, by saying, “Hey, he’s not going to have that much time to throw.”

When kicker Steven Hauschka sailed a 36-yard field-goal attempt wide left, Suggs crowed, “Hey, bring in number 7.” Number 7 is rookie Graham Gano.

Asked if it was nice to have Suggs on the first day of camp, Harbaugh replied, “Yeah, [No.] 55 is in shock right now. This is his first training camp in a while, so he’s feeling his way around. We’ve assigned a couple of veterans to ‘Sizzle’ to make sure he knows where to go and how to get there.”

Posted by Edward Lee at 3:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

With offensive tackles Jonathan Ogden and Willie Anderson, wide receivers Derrick Mason and Drew Bennett and quarterback Steve McNair retiring in the last 15 months, perhaps it’s no surprise that Ed Reed has considered doing the same.

"Just to hit on Mason, I feel him," the five-time Pro Bowl free safety said after today's morning practice. "He had two surgeries and just with going through other things emotion-wise, it’s hard. I’ve been contemplating sitting out for the last two years and hanging up the cleats and stuff. When you start to think about those things, you start to put things in perspective. You start looking for other things to do outside of football."

So, Reed was asked, what has kept him coming back?

"I love this game," he said. "And at the end of the day, I say, 'You know what, let’s see how this one goes and look up next year and we’ll debate from there.'"

Posted by Edward Lee at 2:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Fans got a glimpse at top draft pick Michael Oher, the right offensive tackle out of Mississippi.

You can instantly tell that Oher is a mauler, especially when it comes to run blocking. He has great quickness and explosion. He gets off the ball well. But he is going to have to work on his technique as far as pass blocking. He needs to sink his hips more which means he gets way too high. He also lunges and gets overextended a lot.

But in just one practice with pads on, Oher was impressive.

"He's going to be a beast," said Ravens defensive tackle Justin Bannan, who worked often against Oher in practice today.

Posted by Mike Preston at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

The Ravens had an announced crowd of 11,078 at the first day of their training camp, which ranks as one of the biggest openings in team history.

"The place is absolutely stuffed," coach John Harbaugh said. "I remember standing behind that live drill and looked up and saw them in levels behind here on the steps. The guys are excited about that. It makes it more fun to get out here."

Posted by Jamison Hensley at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Defensive tackle Trevor Pryce was carted off the field late in practice and headed to the locker room with a trainer. But Ravens coach John Harbaugh said it wasn't serious.

"His foot got stepped on and he’s going to be OK," Harbaugh said.

The Ravens started off camp with a hard-hitting practice and had some surprise players in uniform. Ed Reed, who was placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list, was activated. He practiced with a red jersey, which signifies no contact.

Reed missed all of the preseason last year with a nerve impingement in his neck.

"We just don't want to put him in a situation where we take a chance," Harbaugh said. "Ed knows how to tackle. But we want to be smart."

Right guard Marshal Yanda, who was expected to miss a large portion of camp, came off PUP on Friday. He participated in individual drills but not team ones.

Posted by Jamison Hensley at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Al Saunders, a former head coach of the San Diego Chargers and recently a high-priced offensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins, is at the Ravens' team hotel and has been sitting in meetings.

It's not official that he's been hired, but he is expected to be added to the staff soon. His title is unknown. He could serve as an offensive consultant.

Posted by Jamison Hensley at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)
        

Ed Reed, who was placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list Thursday, is practicing with a red jersey today. That means no contact for the Pro Bowl safety.

Second-year safety Haruki Nakamura is filling in for Reed in team drills.

The Ravens can take a player off PUP throughout the preseason. If a player is on the PUP list at the start of the regular season, he must miss at least the first six weeks of the season.

The players currently on the Ravens' PUP list are: wide receivers Kelley Washington (flu) and Yamon Figurs (foot); Marshal Yanda (knee); cornerback Samari Rolle (groin and shoulder); offensive tackles Adam Terry (knee) and Joe Reitz; and linebacker Jason Phillips (knee).

Posted by Jamison Hensley at 9:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

I've been to the opening day of every Ravens training camp and I've never seen a turnout like the one I've already seen this morning. I arrived at the track at McDaniel College at 6 a.m, and the parking lot was packed. According to one of the security guards, folks started pulling in around 5:30. By 7 a.m, some of the fans were already chanting, "Steelers Suck, Steelers Suck."

I think there might have been more than coffee in those breakfast mugs.

Posted by Mike Preston at 7:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

Free safety Ed Reed, who missed all of last year's training camp with a nerve impingement in his neck, will not practice Friday. He has been placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

The five-time Pro Bowl performer started slow last season but he hit his stride during the Ravens' playoff run. Reed made eight interceptions in his last six regular-season games and returned a pick for a touchdown in the playoffs.

But the injury still never allowed him to be as physical as previous seasons. When he participates in camp this year is anyone’s guess.

The Ravens can take a player off PUP throughout the preseason. If a player is on the PUP list at the start of the regular season, he must miss at least the first six weeks of the season.

Including Reed, the others currently on the Ravens' PUP list are: wide receivers Kelley Washington (flu) and Yamon Figurs (foot); Marshal Yanda (knee); cornerback Samari Rolle (groin and shoulder); offensive tackles Adam Terry (knee) and Joe Reitz; and linebacker Jason Phillips (knee).

Running back Willis McGahee (knee) and guard Ben Grubbs (ankle) have been activated off the PUP and are scheduled to practice Friday.

Posted by Jamison Hensley at 1:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

It was a good move by the Ravens to reach an agreement with first-round draft pick Michael Oher.

The offensive tackle out of Mississippi may have missed two days of practice with the rookies, but he should start practicing with the veterans on Friday.

Getting Oher into camp on time should have been a priority for the Ravens, especially since he is expected to start at right offensive tackle. With Oher in camp, he should be ready to play all the preseason games and not miss any practice time. He can also get his timing down with the rest of the offensive linemen, which is critical for any offense.

By getting Oher into camp basically on time, Oher gets to spend more time with offensive line coach John Matsko, who did an outstanding job of building the Ravens offensive line a year ago.

In a year or two, the Ravens have enough talent and athleticism to have one of the most dominating offensive lines in the NFL.

Posted by Mike Preston at 11:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Non-injured veterans are not required to report to training camp until tonight, but several have already checked in.

And a couple others went the distance, making an appearance at this afternoon's practice. Safeties Ed Reed and Haruki Nakamura chatted with coach John Harbaugh, defensive tackle Justin Bannan exchanged laughs with tackles Kelly Gregg and Dwan Edwards, and wide receiver Marcus Smith also showed up.

Other observations:

*Wide receivers Demetrius Williams and Justin Harper hauled in long passes, and wide receiver Mark Clayton made a dazzling catch with his fingertips, evaded cornerback Fabian Washington, and turned upfield for what would have been significant yardage.

*Not to be outdone, Washington, rookie Lardarius Webb and Derrick Martin -- who has been playing safety these past two days -- nearly came away with interceptions.

*Gregg was on the receiving end of a 30-yard field-goal attempt by rookie kicker Graham Gano that was booted chest-high into the meat of the defensive line where Gregg batted the ball down with his hands. Not sure why that happened from the angle where I was standing, but Gregg seemed to point the finger at holder Chris Carr. "Get out of here, Carr," Gregg growled good-naturedly. The rest of the field-goal drill -- with quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Troy Smith getting a shot at holding -- went off without a hitch.

Posted by Edward Lee at 4:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Tight end L.J. Smith did not practice this morning due to what he called a "minor" hamstring injury. He stressed that the injury is not serious.

"It’s just a minor thing," Smith said. "Nothing serious like my groin was [during organized team activities]. In fact, my groin felt great. No problems with the groin. But I was out there by myself yesterday running routes in the heat, so I think it’s just a little strain. Nothing major at all."

Smith has dealt with shoulder problems and a sports hernia, but he insisted that the hamstring is not as distressing as those. Smith, who is not expected to practice this afternoon, said he was unsure whether he would participate in Friday’s first full-team practice.

“I’m not sure what their plan is. I’ve got to talk to Bill T. [trainer Bill Tessendorf] and see how that goes. I’m really not sure. I would love to be out there mixing it up.”

Posted by Edward Lee at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

It’s early into training camp, only the second day for rookies and selected veterans, but it was nice seeing second-year receiver Justin Harper make some big catches in the morning session today.

Harper, out of Virginia Tech, has outstanding size and showed some speed. He wrestled the ball away from cornerback Lardarius Webb to haul in a 99-yard touchdown pass from Troy Smith. He also showed good hand strength and concentration by sucking in a hard, tight Joe Flacco pass on a slant, which he also would have turned into a long touchdown in game conditions.

Both Harper and the Ravens still have a long ways to go, but at least he was encouraging. If he can get it done on the field on Sunday afternoons, he could fill a major hole for the Ravens, especially being a 6-3, 215-pound target.

• Rookie fullback Jason Cook, a free agent out of the University of Mississippi, might make the club if he can catch passes out of the backfield. Cook caught the eye of head coach John Harbaugh in offseason minicamps, but offensive coordinator Cam Cameron likes running backs who can makes plays as a runner and receiver.

“I have to show them the other dimension,” Cook said. “Whatever they want, I will do, and I will contribute in any way to make this football team.”

Cook was a teammate of offensive tackle Michael Oher, the Ravens top draft pick last April. Oher has missed the first two days of practice because of contract negotiations.

"I haven’t spoken with him since camp started, but I guarantee you that he wants to be here,” said Cook.

• I continue to watch receiver Demetrius Williams, and he is playing with a lot of confidence. There is no hesitation when he runs routs, and he is playing as someone who has a lot of security.

He is already trying to form a bond with Mark Clayton, the team’s other starting receiver.

• Because of the shortage of receivers, backup quarterback Troy Smith has been taking a lot of reps as a receiver. The Ravens are in the market for receivers, but they might not have to look far down their roster.

Smith has been impressive.

• Local police in Westminster shut down a number of speed traps around the McDaniel campus today compared to yesterday. On Tuesday, the local folks were trying to make a few bucks on unsuspecting visitors.

Maybe the police were trying to slow things down and keep it safe, but the speed traps looked like something out of Mayberry. The only thing missing was Barney Fife.

I guess law enforcers were trying to ticket all those spectators rushing down to buy the world famous hot dogs, chili dogs and Cole slaw at Harry’s restaurant on Main Street.

• Former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan was pretty liberal with the media here in Baltimore, but he has shut down on some of the access to his players as head coach of the New York Jets.

The once media friendly Ryan has limited availability around mid day. It doesn’t sound like Ryan, but the media herd in New York is large compared to the small group in Baltimore.

Posted by Mike Preston at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

The Ravens have officially placed Derrick Mason on the reserve-did not report list. That means Mason will not count against the team's 80-man roster limit.

The veteran wide receiver is still deciding whether he will stay retired or return to the Ravens. He was not expected to report to the team Wednesday.

If Mason decides to come back, the Ravens can activate him off the list. The team would then have to cut a player to make room for Mason on the roster.

Posted by Jamison Hensley at 11:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Willis McGahee didn't practice for a second straight day but the Ravens running back appears to be getting closer to coming off the physically-unable-to-perform list.

He ran off to the side, doing length-of-the-field sprints. McGahee did look tired but showed no signs of pain. My guess is that McGahee is suited up for the first full-team practice Friday.

Meanwhile, tight end Davon Drew and defensive tackle Lamar Divens are off the PUP. Rookie linebacker Jason Phillips did some conditioning drills off on the side. It looks like Phillips could be coming off PUP shortly.

In another side note, the veterans are starting to report at the team hotel. Cornerback Domonique Foxworth and safety Haruki Nakamura have been spotted.

Posted by Jamison Hensley at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Ravens receiver Demetrius Williams looks like he has added about 5 to 10 pounds of solid muscle, especially in his upper body. His arms are thick, and the Ravens need Williams to have a good season, and finally become the deep threat this team desperately needs.
Williams has shown flashes of greatness, especially at practice, but he hasn't done it consistently on the field. With Derrick Mason still deciding if he wants to play this season, this is a great time for Williams to develop some chemistry with second year quarterback Joe Flacco.

The Ravens placed running back Willis McGahee on the physically-unable-to-perform list. It might just be a precautionary move, but it would be nice if McGahee just came to training camp and practiced without any drama.

Another player who has bulked up is second year offensive tackle Joe Reitz, out of Western Michigan. The Ravens have always like Reitz's athleticism, especially since he is a former basketball player. Last year he looked more like a power forward in pads. This year, he looks like a legitimate offensive tackle.

Posted by Mike Preston at 5:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Yesterday, The Baltimore Sun found out that rookie running back Cedric Peerman was the first player to report to training camp, checking in at about 11:30 a.m. and just beating out linebacker Antwan Barnes.

Peerman sounded surprised to learn that he was first.

"I came all the way from Virginia Beach, and I thought I was going to be last," the sixth-round selection said, adding that it took him about five hours to drive to Westminster. "I just figured I’d get out early. You never know how traffic is going to be on [Interstate] 95. So I just went out early."

Other notes:

* With a majority of the veterans yet to report to camp and several others watching from the sidelines, participation was sparse today. When coach John Harbaugh announced a 7-on-7 drill, it became a 6-on-6. A red-zone drill featured only six offensive players lined up against 11 defensive players.

* Several players took a shot at holding the football for rookie kicker Graham Gano during a field-goal drill. The field goals went off without a hitch with quarterbacks Troy Smith and John Beck and return specialist Chris Carr as holders, and quarterback Joe Flacco and wide receiver Mark Clayton bobbled the ball slightly before getting it down to the turf. Linebackers coach Vic Fangio had the most difficulty as the football squirted between his outstretched hands and bounced past Gano, drawing groans from players and coaches watching from the sidelines.

Posted by Edward Lee at 1:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Wide receiver Demetrius Williams has not talked to Derrick Mason since last week when Mason announced his decision to retire. Williams said he simply wanted to get in touch with Mason.

"Not too long, just briefly," he said. "Nothing really in detail about what’s going on with him, just to check on him and see how things are going. He sounded upbeat and fine."

Asked whether he got a sense that Mason might return, Williams replied, "I really don’t know. A guy can go home and sleep on it and the next thing you know, he doesn’t want to play anymore. Or he might wake up in the morning and say, ‘I want to play.’ You never know. It’s a decision that he’s going to have to make, and like I said, whatever decision he makes, we’re going to be happy. If we get him back, that’s a great plus, and if we don’t get him back, we’ll understand."

Posted by Edward Lee at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Joe Flacco has turned heads in a recent Reebok commercial, where he hits two clay pidgeons with footballs at a shooting range. The Ravens quarterback nailed the targets from a considerable distance away.

Asked if there were any special effects involved, Flacco said, “You be the judge -- do you think I need special effects?”

All Flacco acknowledged was that the commercial took an hour to film. While cracking a smile, Flacco said he has been throwing footballs at shooting ranges “for a while.”

Posted by Jamison Hensley at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Ravens nose guard Kelly Gregg was as spry as some of the rookies he practiced with this morning. Because of a knee injury that forced him to miss the entire season a year ago, Gregg had to report with the rookies. It didn't make a difference for Gregg, a 10-year veteran out of Oklahoma.

"I did the whole practice, and it felt good to get out there in the cleats and shoulder pads," said Gregg. "Last year, I hurt my knee on the third day. This year, I'm in the same hotel, the same bed and my knee is completely healthy. A year ago, I laid in the same bed and couldn't even bend my knee. I felt sorry for myself.

"Last night, I bent it 20 times just to feel good about it," said Gregg. "My weight is down to 310 pounds and I can't wait for another two weeks or so because the knee will have been truly tested."

Posted by Mike Preston at 12:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Ravens coach John Harbaugh was vague when asked about the team's interest in Michael Vick, who was granted a conditional reinstatement by the NFL.

"We’ve had long discussions about Michael Vick and we have a feeling about how he would impact our team and not impact our team," Harbaugh said. "We have a course of action that you can ask Ozzie [Newsome, general manager] about."

Newsome told The Sun on Tuesday, "We have three quarterbacks that we like."

Would the Ravens perhaps look at Vick if he switched from quarterback to wide receiver?

Posted by Jamison Hensley at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (110)
        

I really don't understand why anyone feels the team will be distracted by the absence of Derrick Mason.

Rookie tackle Michael Oher's absence might be somewhat of a distraction because he is the top draft pick and expected to start at right tackle. He wants to be in training camp, but can't because of a contract dispute.

If outside linebacker Terrell Suggs wasn't in training camp, that might be a distraction because he wants to be in camp, but would be holding out because of negotiations.

Mason doesn't want to be here because he apparently has had enough, and wants to walk away. When that happens, most players, especially teammates, are happy for the individual, and I think the Ravens will be happy with whatever decision Mason makes.

Mason will make another announcement soon about what he plans to do. He needed this time away, and it will be interesting to see how much he misses the game. It might take a week or maybe two, but then Mason will know for sure what he wants to do by then.

During this time of year, all football players don't just miss the game. They feel the game. They smell the game. And when you don't have that desire anymore, you know.

Mason will know, and I believe he'll come back for another year or two.

Posted by Mike Preston at 5:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)
        

The running back, who was selected in the sixth round in April and became the second rookie to agree to a deal with the Ravens, was the first player to report to training camp Monday.

Peerman checked in at about 11:30 a.m., just beating out linebacker Antwan Barnes.

Posted by Edward Lee at 4:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

After back-to-back summers during which the Ravens managed to sign their first-round draft picks before the start of training camp, it appears that 6-foot-4, 312-pound offensive tackle Michael Oher won’t be reporting to camp Monday.

The 23rd overall pick in April’s draft, Oher has stated that he would prefer to be in camp on time as he is penciled in to start at right tackle. But only four of 32 first-round picks have signed, which has slightly complicated matters in terms of slotting Oher’s contract between those of Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin (No. 22) and Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Peria Jerry (No. 24).

“I know he wants to be here. He’s said that many times,” coach John Harbaugh said. “Ozzie wants him to be here, his agent wants him to be here. Not too many first-round picks have signed just yet, so a lot of that kind of hinges on how all of that slots out. The agent wants to make sure that he does the right thing by Michael and we want to make sure that we do the right thing by Michael, too. We want to get the best contract we can and as soon as we can. It should happen really soon.”

The only first-round picks to have agreed to terms are Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (No. 1), New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (No. 5), Cleveland Browns center Alex Mack (No. 21) and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Evander Hood (No. 32).

Posted by Edward Lee at 3:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Wide receiver Drew Bennett retired without ever playing a snap for the Ravens, but it is no big deal.

The Ravens were taking a gamble with Bennett anyway hoping he had recovered from nagging injuries a year ago. Bennett would have been a big target for quarterback Joe Flacco inside the red zone, but he wasn't going to make a big difference on this team. In fact, a lot of the other stiffs out there on the open market aren't going to make a difference either.

Right now, the Ravens are in the hunt for some bodies to take some reps in training camp. In a week or two, they might be willing to make a deal for a top-notch receiver if Derrick Mason decides to stay retired.

Posted by Mike Preston at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (22)
        

Sure, everyone wanted the Ravens to sign a higher-profile free agent like Marvin Harrison or make a trade. And sure, Drew Bennett had one more catch than I did last year.

But signing Bennett can only help out a questionable receiving group. There is no risk -- the Ravens just signed him to a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum ($745,000).

Plus, adding Bennett could have an upside. The 6-foot-5 veteran brings much-needed size and has the potential to be a deep threat. Joe Flacco has the accuracy downfield to be one of the top 5 big-play passers in the NFL. It was only three years ago when Bennett was averaging 16 yards a catch.

So, let's see how this plays out in the preseason.

Here's a statement from Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome:

“At this time of year, it’s good to be able to pick up a player who has been very productive in the league, and that includes against our defense. Drew has been very competitive against us. We obviously liked his workout today. We wanted to make sure he was healthy and that he still had the things we’ve seen against us and on film.

“Drew’s situation is a lot like L.J. Smith, who we added earlier this offseason. Both are proven veterans coming off injuries, and they are looking for the opportunity to resurrect their careers.”

Posted by Jamison Hensley at 4:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (22)
        

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome has spoken to the agent for wide receiver Joe Horn and told him that the team would contact him after Friday's tryouts.

Horn, 37, is a four-time Pro Bowl receiver who averaged 87.4 catches from 2000 to 2004. He made 27 receptions for 243 yards and one touchdown in 12 games in 2007 before sitting out 2008.

The Ravens have a connection with Horn. Quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson was the Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator in 2007, when Horn was a receiver there.

"The Ravens are one of the teams that would definitely interest Joe," said Ralph Vitolo, Horn's agent.

The Ravens are conducting tryouts on Friday with four wide receivers, a group that includes Drew Bennett and D.J. Hackett.

Posted by Jamison Hensley at 2:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (39)
        

Terrell Suggs has his money and the Ravens keep their pass rusher. Everybody wins in the $63 million deal that makes Suggs the highest-paid linebacker in NFL history.

As soon as the terms were finalized, Suggs knew what it all meant: it's time to earn the huge contract. And the good news is that barring injury, he should have no trouble doing that.

At 26, he already ranks among the league's best outside linebacking forces. His numbers through 96 games include 53 sacks, five interceptions, 32 passes defensed and 19 forced fumbles. Projected over a full career, we're looking at Hall of Fame impact.

Suggs showed a lot last January when he played in the AFC championship game with one arm and still managed to sack the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger twice in the loss. He can act crazy at times, and he's fun-loving. But he knows what's important and he's been close to a role model for young players.

It will be helpful for Suggs to be at training camp this year -- last year he wasn't, as an unsigned franchise player -- and it will be fun to see what new defensive coordinator Greg Mattison has in mind for him.

Posted by Ken Murray at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (25)
        

Lamont Smith, who is the agent for wide receiver Derrick Mason, issued a statement about The Baltimore Sun’s reference that jocklife.com shares an office with him.

“What is the relevance of that anyway?,” Smith said in the statement. “The story is Derrick Mason’s retirement, it smells like sour grapes to me.”

He then added, “For the record, JOCKlife.com does not share an office with Smith’s agency. JOCKlife.com’s address is 36 Steele Street, Suite 220 Denver, CO 80206.”

Well, for the record, The Sun reported that the Web site shares the same address as Mason’s agents. That is true. Both are listed at 36 Steele Street in Denver. They just work in different offices.

As for the relevance, it comes across as a contract ploy when a player announces his retirement through a Web site whose domain name is owned by Smith. Previous Ravens players who retired -- Jonathan Ogden and Steve McNair -- both announced their retirements through the team.

Also, Smith disputed Mason worked out at team headquarters on Monday.

“He was at the team facility to chat with the team’s PR personnel and left shortly thereafter,” Smith said.

Posted by Jamison Hensley at 3:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)
        

Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason, who was Steve McNair's longtime teammate, will represent the team and speak at Thursday night's memorial service in Tennessee.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome will attend Saturday's funeral in Mississippi.

McNair, who played for the Ravens in 2006 and 2007, was shot and killed on Saturday.

Posted by Jamison Hensley at 3:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

Ravens center Matt Birk filled in today on SI.com for a vacationing Peter King in King's "Monday Morning Quarterback" column slot.

In his "10 Things I Think I Think," Birk, a former Viking, predicts Brett Favre will play for Minnesota this year. The six-time Pro Bowler also makes the case for the players of today giving more back to NFL retirees.

And here's what he had to say about Steve McNair:

A quick word on Steve McNair: He was the definition of a gamer. His toughness and grit are legendary. Not only was he out on the field every Sunday, but he also played at a high level. That is what great players do. A lot of guys can play well when they feel good, but the season is a grind. A professional gets his body ready for every game, regardless of what injuries he needs to overcome.

Click here to read the entire column.

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 12:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
        

A public memorial for quarterback Steve McNair will be held Thursday in Whites Creek, Tenn., according to the Tennessean.

The event will run from 3 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at Mount Zion Baptist Church. A memorial service is scheduled for 7 p.m.

McNair, 36, who played for the Ravens in 2006 and 2007, was shot and killed Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.

According to the Tennessean, McNair’s funeral is expected to be held Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss. Arrangements are still being finalized.

In lieu of flowers, fans are asked to make a donation to the Steve McNair Foundation, 1 Willow Bend Drive, Hattiesburg, Miss., 39402.

Posted by Jamison Hensley at 7:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)