Ravens starting left offensive guard James Atkins will probably sit out Saturday night's preseason game against the Falcons in Atlanta.
Atkins, who was splitting time at left guard with Everett Lindsay, strained his hamstring in the first half of last Thursday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Atkins said the injury occurred when he changed direction on a running play and, after jumping over a player, another player stepped on his foot.
Atkins took a cortisone shot recently and said he felt better. But the Ravens probably won't risk further injury against the Falcons.
"I don't know yet," said Atkins about playing. "It feels pretty good. I assume they'll hold me out if I can't stride consistently."
"He probably won't play," said Ravens coach Brian Billick. "The injury is better and he feels real good about it. It's a decision we will make later on."
Atkins hasn't practiced since last week. He currently has a basic routine of some stretching, light running, cycling for conditioning and working with weights to improve the hamstring muscle.
McCrary update
The Ravens are set to begin the negotiations of a contract extension for defensive end Michael McCrary today. McCrary has one year left on his contract and has said he will hit the free-agent market if there is no new deal agreed on by the start of the 1999 regular season.
McCrary may have issued the deadline, but the Ravens have the upper hand. They can always put the franchise tag on McCrary after the season and pay him the average salary of the top five defensive ends in the NFL for the 2000 season.
McCrary didn't take kindly to that idea yesterday.
"The way I look at the franchise tag, it's one of the worst things you can do to a player," said McCrary. "It's more of a negative tag, not a good thing, especially for a player who has worked his butt off and has been committed to the organization.
"That's why I would like to get this put behind me before the season starts," said McCrary. "You can say you're not going to think about it or say you're going to black it out, but you really can't. People are going to ask you about it every day."
Right offensive tackle Orlando Brown and center Wally Williams went through similar situations last season. Williams had a decent year, but Brown turned in the worst of his young career.
Training camp blahs
The Ravens have been in training camp for a little more than three weeks, but despite some oppressive heat and the hard work, Billick isn't about to let up. Training camp will end next Thursday as practices become closed to the public at the team's Owings Mills training facility.
"They're tired and they're ready to move on," said Billick. "I said on the first day of training camp this is going to feel like a long training camp. This is the week it's going to feel that way. When I came in this morning I felt tired, so I knew the players were going to be that way. It's something you fight through.
"You go back to the mule and the two-by-four; you've got to gain their attention," said Billick.
Billick said he has purposely picked up the tempo this week because the Ravens are playing the Falcons, the defending NFC champions who lost to Denver in last year's Super Bowl.
Douglas shows signs
On the last play of the morning practice, rookie free-agent defensive end Marques Douglas chased quarterback Stoney Case out of the pocket and forced him into an incompletion.
Because it wasn't McCrary chasing Scott Mitchell, that play drew no reaction from the fans, but it could be a glimpse of what Douglas could do for the Ravens this preseason.
"I'm just looking to go out and play hard," Douglas said. "I'm not looking to be complacent as far as just being happy to be out there. I want to make some plays."
Douglas has been having a good camp and is one of the players defensive line coach Rex Ryan said has a chance at making the team. The 6-foot-2, 270-pound Douglas finished as the all-time leader in sacks (39.5) at Howard.
The biggest adjustment for Douglas: not having the same amount of reps working with the third string as he did at Howard. He said the mental work he does while watching film and those in front of him get him ready when it's his turn.
"Things are going pretty well," Douglas said. "There are a lot of things that I have to learn in terms of the tempo of the NFL and working on my technique."
Vinson OK
The ankle injury that sidelined fullback Tony Vinson for the Eagles game last Thursday has healed well enough for him to practice.
Vinson returned to practice Monday and is expected to play Saturday against the Falcons. The former Towson State star is returning from a shoulder injury that forced him to spend the season on injured reserve.
"I'm not too bad, just a little stiff," Vinson said. "Especially missing some practices last week, it really took a toll so my legs were hurting a little bit. We're starting to tone it down getting ready for Atlanta."
Kickoff luncheon
Tickets are on sale for the first annual Kickoff Luncheon on Sept. 7 at the Baltimore Convention Center.
The entire Ravens team, cheerleaders, mascots and band are participating in the event that will raise funds for the 1999 United Way of Central Maryland Community Campaign. It will be the first time the final roster will be introduced to the public.
Tickets are $50 a person, groups of nine from $750 to $1,000. The luncheon will last from 11: 30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 410-895-1519.
Extra points
The game against the Falcons will be the Ravens' first preseason game in a dome and just their third game indoors in four years. The Ravens have to trim their roster from 80 players to 65 by Aug. 31.
Camp update
Spreading the wealth: One thing you can say about the Ravens receivers is they don't discriminate. On the last play of the morning session, newly acquired quarterback Stoney Case rolled to his right, threw back across his body to Billy Davis in the back of the end zone. Clank. Davis dropped it. Surprise, surprise, surprise.
Instant replay: Quarterback Tony Banks did it again. While taking a snap from center, he tripped while dropping back. He didn't fall on his back like in the previous weeks, but maybe the shotgun formation is needed for this guy.
Free Wally: Since the Ravens have allowed No. 3 quarterback Wally Richardson to play more this preseason, Richardson has done some things well. His latest trick came yesterday when he intended a pass for Davis, but overthrew him. The ball went in between cornerback Chris McAlister, safety Kim Herring and into the arms of receiver Phil Savoy for a touchdown.
Injuries: Left guard James Atkins (hamstring), receiver Brandon Stokley (shoulder) and cornerback James Trapp (shoulder) did not practice. Both defensive end Michael McCrary (knee) and outside linebacker Peter Boulware (shoulder) were in full gear and practiced in the morning.
Best play: Cornerback Duane Starks is still looking for receiver Webster Slaughter after a long touchdown pass near the right sideline. Slaughter seemed to catch everything thrown his way yesterday, including a 12-yard slant-in for a touchdown against safety Rod Woodson.
Recount: Case is listed as 6 feet 3 but there's a pool among the media covering the team that he's lucky to be 6-2.
Quotable: "I'd like to give out a special game ball. It goes to a well-deserving person who has waited 25 years for this moment -- me. My goal was to be an NFL head coach and when I made it, I promised myself the game ball for the first win." -- Ravens coach Brian Billick on presenting himself with a game ball last Thursday after the Ravens beat the Eagles in his first game as a head coach.
-- Mike Preston
Pub Date: 8/19/99