Chemistry examination

September 6, 2008

The Ravens have a rookie quarterback and a young offensive line. They have a mostly new coaching staff with a rookie head coach. And they have most of those unhappy veterans from a year ago who were happy to see the former coach leave.

Recent columns

• Injured Gregg hopes to be back in the middle of things Sunday

  September 5, 2008

  As the Ravens prepare for the season opener Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, defensive tackle Kelly Gregg can only watch the practices from inside the team's training complex or the sideline.

• Overthrown: Boller's time has passed

  September 4, 2008

  Goodbye, Kyle Boller.

• Flacco's future shouldn't be now

  September 2, 2008

  The Joe Flacco era is about to begin in Baltimore, but it's not the way the Ravens wanted it to work out.

• Not-so-golden oldies

  August 30, 2008

  After the collapse last season, the Ravens hired coach John Harbaugh to change the culture and breathe some life into the team. Instead, the Ravens have gotten worse and are limping to the starting line for the 2008 season.

• Flacco still not ready, but offensive line shows promise

  August 29, 2008

  Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Flacco continues to make progress, but he should be the starter against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept.7 only if Troy Smith and KyleBoller aren't healthy enough to play.

• Gaither back, ready to prove himself

  August 26, 2008

  The Ravens received good news about their quarterback situation yesterday. No, they didn't sign Aaron Brooks or Daunte Culpepper, but they did announce that starting left offensive tackle Jared Gaither would begin practicing.

• Sneak preview of 2008 season

  August 23, 2008

  Preseason NFL games aren't usually worth the price of admission, except for the third one. That's because you can get a realistic glimpse into your team's future.

• Cornerstones of secondary

  August 21, 2008

  Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan is crossing his fingers. With a little luck, he might get starting cornerbacks Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister on the field for the first time Saturday night against the St.Louis Rams.

• Ryan hopes to have McAlister, Rolle back in lineup soon

  August 20, 2008

  Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan is crossing his fingers and his eyes. With a little luck, he might get starting cornerbacks Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister on the field for the first time Saturday night against the St. Louis Rams.

• Boller vs. Smith -- Does it matter?

  August 19, 2008

  Question of the day: If the Ravens have a quarterback competition but they don't have a winner, was there really a competition?

• Reservations about reserve corners

  August 17, 2008

  The Ravens' depleted secondary became deflated.

• Ravens' McCune muscling in

  August 14, 2008

  Ravens linebacker Robert McCune doesn't go to beaches. He usually doesn't wear tank-top or sleeveless T-shirts. Because when he does, it causes a lot of commotion.

• Ravens' Johnson ready to rumble

  August 12, 2008

  The fight was only a few seconds old, but there was already a mountain of humanity involved. Ravens outside linebacker Jarret Johnson started his run from 10 yards out and leaped on top of the pile with his face toward the sky.

• Ravens 'D' steals show in preseason opener

  August 9, 2008

  It was only the first preseason game, a 16-15 win against the New England Patriots, but it's easy to understand why Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan was giddy afterward.

• Boller unable to break his bad habits

  August 8, 2008

  For almost a half, Kyle Boller almost turned me into a believer. I was about to forgive him for his five previous years of bad football. I was going to forgive him for his fumble nearly midway through the first quarter and give praise to new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron for possibly turning Boller around in a short time.

• Defensive line could carry Ravens

  August 6, 2008

  John Harbaugh had been the Ravens' coach for only about a month, which was long enough for him to look through some of the team's game film from last season.

• A tough stance on training camp

  August 2, 2008

  John Harbaugh is only about two weeks into his stint as the Ravens' coach, and some are already criticizing him for running too tough a training camp.

• Ravens' offensive line not yet in step

  July 29, 2008

  Ravens left offensive tackle Adam Terry is engaged with outside linebacker Jarret Johnson when Johnson does a spin move and leaves Terry a step or two behind. Terry had been in good position, but an injured left ankle wouldn't allow him to push off.

• Full of energy, Mason keeps going

  July 28, 2008

  It was near the midway point of the morning practice yesterday, and Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason ran one of those post-corner routes, leaving cornerback Ronnie Prude in another zip code. Mason easily hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass.

• Jones, Barnes step up as Suggs holds out

  July 26, 2008

  It's hot, humid, and sweat is pouring down their faces. On a day when most people are cooped up somewhere with air conditioning, Ravens outside linebackers Edgar Jones and Antwan Barnes are running in the heat, dropping about 10 pounds of water weight a day.

• Off and running for Ravens' Rice

  July 24, 2008

  Rookie running back Ray Rice has one immediate goal of making the Ravens' roster and a long-term one of moving his mother, Janet, out of a public housing complex in New Rochelle, N.Y.

• Meet the new boss

  July 22, 2008

  When John Harbaugh makes that walk down the steps from McDaniel College's field house to the practice field, he'll be under the microscope for the rest of the year, and the tone for the 2008 season will be set during the next 25 days of training camp.

• Rookie might get a foot in the door for Ravens

  June 21, 2008

  Alot of the Ravens' veterans are a little nervous these days. They have a new coach with a different style, and such distinguished players as quarterback Steve McNair and offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden have recently retired.

• Tackle Cousins fighting for spot

  June 18, 2008

  Oniel Cousins doesn't know former Ravens offensive tackle Orlando Brown, but he has heard about him. He smiles when you mention Brown's name.

• Round 1 for rookie Zbikowski

  June 17, 2008

  As an amateur boxer, safety Tom Zbikowski had more than 70 fights, but none like the one he is about to enter when the Ravens open training camp July 21.

• Sorry R. Lewis, but Ogden is best Raven ever

  June 14, 2008

  It has been the source of a major debate for years. Who is the best Raven - Jonathan Ogden or Ray Lewis?

• Zimmerman sticking it out at UMBC

  June 11, 2008

  The first time I met Don Zimmerman was in 1987 when he was the coach at Johns Hopkins. He was as intense then as he is now. He would leave a trail after the game from pacing the sideline. He would run a fast break with his team going down the field.

• No fairy-tale atmosphere at Castle

  January 20, 2008

  Maybe in a week or so, owner Steve Bisciotti will huddle with his top officials and make sure the Ravens' front office is headed in the same direction again.

• In end, Billick couldn't overcome offensive struggles

  January 1, 2008

  The Ravens' Brian Billick became like the emperor with no clothes on, with his greatest weaknesses as a head coach becoming exposed more and more every year.

• Modell has waited long enough to get into Hall

  November 26, 2005

  Maybe this year the Pro Football Hall of Fame committee will invoke a statute of limitation on the Ravens' move from Cleveland to Baltimore after the 1995 season and vote former majority owner Art Modell in as a member.

• Williams now has wisdom to complement his speed

  May 5, 2004

  WITH THE U.S. Olympic trials about two months away, sprinter Bernard Williams is no longer running from his past or struggling with his future.

• Modell stands first in league for heart, generosity, spirit

  December 27, 2003

  OUR FIRST MEETING didn't go well. On Feb. 9, 1996, only minutes after he announced that his Cleveland Browns were moving to Baltimore, Art Modell was whisked away by bodyguards to a limousine about 100 feet from the stage.

• Star deserved far better than treatment he got

  July 27, 2003

  WHEN Eddie Murray is inducted into the Hall of Fame today, Major League Baseball will show an appreciation of the superstar that he didn't receive as a player, either nationally or in Baltimore.

• There's nothing marketable about the Bryant situation

  July 10, 2003

  ACCORDING TO some of the nation's top marketing directors, a lot more Kobe Bryant sneakers should have been sold this week. Maybe we can expect other promotions and sales soon, like "Free Kobe" T-shirts, or a new sitcom, Kobe Comes to the 'Hood.

• Lacy was a grand champion for biggest of sports' causes

  May 17, 2003

  WASHINGTON - As the letters from senators and congressmen were read, and tributes came from athletes, peers and family, maybe the most touching words came from former Colts and Hall of Fame running back Lenny Moore.

• Pro Football Hall fumbles in shunning of Modell

  January 9, 2003

  THE ABSENCE OF Ravens owner Art Modell's name from the list of 15 finalists for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003 was expected. There is still too much passion and, in some cases, disdain when his name is mentioned.

• An era passes, leaving Baltimore a different place

  September 12, 2002

  When former Baltimore Colts great and Hall of Fame quarterback John Unitas died yesterday of an apparent heart attack, so did an era in Baltimore when a professional athlete embodied the spirit and passion of a city.

• Other champions probably greater, but few teams have ever been tougher

  April 7, 2002

  THE PUNDITS and basketball junkies are already discussing the University of Maryland's place among college basketball's elite. But for those who engage in such dialogue, they might miss the story line of Maryland's 2002 national championship run.

• Take bow, champs, for all Terps who didn't

  April 2, 2002

  ATLANTA - The University of Maryland put its name in the history books and brought a championship banner to College Park last night as the Terps officially became an elite member of college basketball.

• Lifelong service to pro football should land Modell spot in Hall

  January 31, 2002

  NEW ORLEANS -- If Ravens owner Art Modell is not selected for Hall of Fame induction on Saturday, it would be an affront to the man, the game and the NFL.

• Gibbons' Muhammad faces different test

  September 21, 2001

  CARDINAL Gibbons running back Hassan Muhammad II should be concerned about pimples, dates and coming opponents, but instead he and his family have been educators and teachers about their Muslim faith during the past 10 days.

• Williams has goals beyond the finish line

  June 28, 2001

  THE LAST TIME I had seen U.S. Olympic sprinter Bernard Williams was eight months ago when he was delivering a speech about staying in school and away from drugs to youngsters at the Union Street United Methodist Church in Westminster.

• For Goodman, it's good to be common man

  March 5, 2001

  Towson University freshman point guard Tamir Goodman is close to becoming a regular student-athlete again.

• At home, Williams cuts a dashing figure

  October 7, 2000

  FORMER CARVER High School and U.S. Olympic track and field star Bernard Williams apologized Thursday about his posing, preening and flexing during the 400-meter relay team's gold medal celebration in Sydney last week, and said he is ready to move on with the rest of his life.

• Sure-shot D.C. officer Callahan takes aim at medal

  July 26, 1992

  BARCELONA, Spain -- Someone is always looking for a blood-and-guts story, the kind where Libby Callahan, her cap backward, sits atop a 20-story building and snipes a felon 200 yards away.