The usually casual John Harbaugh dressed up for his season-ending news conference, wearing a brown sports jacket and tie.
Judging by his answers in Tuesday's 38-minute media session, the coach's attire could be the one of the few new looks for the Ravens this offseason.
Ed Reed and Derrick Mason? Harbaugh believes both will return.
The wide receivers? He expects to bring back restricted free agents Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams.
Willis McGahee and Trevor Pryce? He wants to keep them because they make the team better, although their increased salaries could become an obstacle.
And Jared Gaither and Michael Oher? He sees the offensive tackles staying put - Gaither on the left side and Oher on the right.
Harbaugh's underlying theme: The core of the 2010 Ravens will mirror the one in 2009.
"Foundationally, fundamentally and culturally, yes, it should look the same," Harbaugh said.
The Ravens have reached the playoffs in Harbaugh's first two seasons, but they have fallen short of reaching the Super Bowl.
One reason the Ravens' run ended this year was the lack of a playmaking wide receiver, considered the team's biggest offseason need.
"I think we have to put as many good players around [quarterback] Joe Flacco as we possibly can. But we've got good players [and] a lot of that is bringing guys back," Harbaugh said. "Some of those guys at wide receiver are restricted free agents [Clayton and Williams]. We have an opportunity to bring those guys back, and we certainly plan to do that. If we can add more players into the mix and build competition, that's what we're all about."
Ravens officials are proceeding as if this will be an uncapped season, which means there would be a couple of limitations on the team's improving itself. The Ravens won't be able to sign a high-priced free agent because they were one of the final eight playoff teams, and there will be fewer unrestricted free agents (players must now have six years of service instead of four to become unrestricted).
The best wide receivers available in the uncapped free-agent class are: Kevin Walter, Antonio Bryant, Terrell Owens and Muhsin Muhammad. So, as usual, the Ravens will have to improve their team through the draft, where they have the 25th overall pick.
"You're not going to be able to spend gobs of money and improve your football team all that much because the free agents just aren't going to be available. That would be foolish," Harbaugh said. "I think what we'll do is keep our players in place as much as we can and build our team as well as we can with respect for the budget. That's something Ozzie [Newsome, general manager] and I are committed to."
Another area to improve is penalties. The Ravens finished fifth in number of penalties (115) and first in penalty yards (1,094).
"You try to make a team as good as you can make it every single day," Harbaugh said. "It's coaching technique, decision-making and scheme. We'll leave you [the media] to do the evaluating. I like our team, and I like the way they play. All the things that we struggled with at times, we improved on."
Here are the other hot topics Harbaugh touched upon:
* The future of Reed and Mason, both of whom are contemplating retirement.
"Right now, I expect them both to be back," Harbaugh said. "We'll just have to see how that plays out. Ultimately, it will be up to them."
* The probability of McGahee's and Pryce's returning. McGahee ($3.6 million), a running back, and Pryce ($4.5 million), a defensive end, could be among the NFL's highest-paid backups.
"I can't read the future," Harbaugh said. "I don't know how that is going to shake out. From a football coach's standpoint, I know one thing: They make our team better. And that's a pretty good place to be with those two guys on your team."
* The decision to keep Gaither and Oher at their original spots. There was speculation that the Ravens might want to move Oher to the left side (also known as "The Blind Side").
"I think right now Jared Gaither at left and Michael Oher at right is working pretty well," Harbaugh said.
* The kicking situation was the most open-ended subject of the news conference. Harbaugh didn't rule out bringing back Matt Stover, the longtime Ravens kicker who signed with the Indianapolis Colts after the sides couldn't agree on contract terms. But Harbaugh also said the team could easily stick with Billy Cundiff, the Ravens' current kicker, or draft one.
"Matt's a possibility coming back. That could work out that way," Harbaugh said. "Billy Cundiff is a big possibility for us. He's proved that he can make field goals under pressure situations."
As the Ravens address these unsettled situations over the coming months, Harbaugh is confident that the team's foundation and goals will remain the same.
"I really like the makeup of our team," Harbaugh said. "That's cause for tremendous optimism going forward. We've said before that it's our goal to build something here that will be remembered for a long time to come. That means winning championships [and] winning multiple championships."