Coffee Companion -- 7/22: As the NFL lockout turns and more

Each morning, Monday through Friday, I'll hook you up with reading material to skim through as you slug down coffee and slack off at the start of your workday -- that way I'll have an excuse to do the same at the start of mine. 

Running it back:

NFL owners unlocked the doors Thursday, but the players are reviewing the proposed 10-year collective bargaining agreement. The players now have until Tuesday to agree or pass on the proposal. ... After taking a couple of days off to rest his shoulder, Luke Scott continued his rehab assignment in Bowie and hit a pair of home runs. ... Meanwhile, Brian Matusz was knocked around for eight runs in three-plus innings while pitching for Norfolk. ... The Ravens were interested in hiring former Colts coordinator Tom Moore as a consultant.

Hitting the links:

1. Here are the terms of the owner's agreement [Ravens Insider]

2. A guide to the owner-approved CBA [Ravens Insider]

3. Ravens players feel pressured to sign the deal [Ravens Insider]

4. The players might not play the owners' game [FOX Sports]

5. John Clayton says the owners are making a power play [ESPN]

6. Peter King says a resolution could take a while [SI]

7. Haloti Ngata is the NFL's best defensive tackle [USA Today]

8. How much has Ben Roethlisberger's image changed over the past year? [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]

9. Jim Johnson is the Orioles' renaissance man [Baltimore Sun]

10. What happens if the arms don't grow? [CSN Baltimore]

11. Talking Koji Uehara, Jeremy Guthrie and what's up with other Orioles trade candidates [Orioles Insider]

12. What is Guthrie's true trade value? [Dempsey's Army]

13. Nick Markakis is on fire [Carroll County-Times]

14. Floppy hat night is the Orioles' Game 7 [Baltimore Magazine]

15.  The rise of 7-on-7 football raises questions, but proponents say it offers players a platform to colleges [Baltimore Sun]

16. Matt Bracken talks about Maryland recruiting [Baltimore Sun]

You said it:

"Absolutely Ed should shoot down future requests for interviews and boycott ESPN. They have a history of this nonsense.  Maybe his voice, which is well respected in the NFL will influence other players to do the same. If they don't want to do a legitimate articles without putting a spin on everything, maybe the entire team should boycott them." -- reader fireguy51 thinks that Ed Reed should boycott ESPN after the Rex Ryan incident

Video of the morning: 

Maryland football coach Randy Edsall threw out the first pitch at Tuesday's Orioles game and it was a little high. But it was nothing compared to the first pitch former MLB player Doug Glanville threw at a Cubs game.

Send me your funny and/or interesting links, photos, YouTube videos, blogs, Tweets, comments, emails, ideas, etc. If I deem them to be worthy for the blog, I'll give you a plug. You can reach me at Matt.Vensel@baltsun.com and twitter.com/mattvensel.