Ravens' Ogden 'leaning toward not coming back'

PHOENIX — "I'm still in the same place; I'm still leaning toward not coming back," Ogden told The Sun at the Super Bowl media center. "If I do, I have to feel healthy. I can't go through what I did last season. I can't be getting treatment every day. And with a new regime, it's going to be more work."

Ogden, 33, is still walking with a slight limp but seems to be moving around better than he did during the regular season, when he was limited by a hyperextended big toe on his left foot.

He originally injured the toe 13 months ago, and there's no guarantee he will be fully recovered by next season.

Some NFL observers thought the coaching change might bring Ogden back because he has been visibly upset at the Ravens' offense over the years.

But Ogden said the hiring of Harbaugh neither increases nor decreases his chances of returning.

"It doesn't really matter," said Ogden, who was elected to his 11th straight Pro Bowl despite missing five games with the toe injury. "I'm not the type of guy who wants to go through a hard training camp. But I can get through it, and I have done it in the past."

Ogden then added about Harbaugh: "I like the hire. I like his energy. It is certainly a change from Brian [Billick]."

Ogden had similar favorable words about Cam Cameron, the Ravens' new offensive coordinator.

With Cameron as coordinator, the San Diego Chargers' offense finished in the top five in the NFL in scoring from 2004 to 2006.

"He did some good things in San Diego," Ogden said, "and their personnel was about the same as ours."

It didn't matter to Ogden that Cameron went 1-15 in his only season as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins last year.

"Some people are better coordinators than head coaches, and vice versa," Ogden said. "I think it's a good hire."

Wearing his Super Bowl ring on his right hand, Ogden has not attended Super Bowl week since the Ravens won the Lombardi Trophy in January 2001.

After the short trip from his Las Vegas home, he is making the rounds on radio, playing golf and determining which parties to attend.

And even though Ogden hasn't made a final decision about his future, he did offer one prediction.

"New England is going to win [the Super Bowl], but it will be a lot closer game than people think," he said. "I think New York is playing good football right now."