atlanta falcons

A day after his Seattle Seahawks fell just short of earning defensive coordinator Dan Quinn a second Super Bowl ring, the Atlanta Falcons on Monday announced the former Salisbury defensive lineman as their new coach.

LaMarcus Aldridge returned to the Trail Blazers two days after saying he was going to have thumb surgery and had 26 points and nine rebounds in a Portland's 103-96 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.

When asked which NFL player he patterns his game after, Sammie Coates answered quickly. "I think Julio Jones: size, speed, physical," Coates said of the Atlanta Falcons wide receiver.

Nick Marshall shifted to cornerback Tuesday during a Senior Bowl practice for the South squad after initially being invited to the all-star game and preparing to play quarterback. Marshall lined up with the defensive backs and also worked as a gunner in kick coverage.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has declined to join coach John Harbaugh and others at the Pro Bowl because his wife is due to give birth to the couple's third child this month.

Wisconsin offensive tackle Rob Havenstein, a Mount Airy native, is hoping for an NFL career as he practices this week at the Senior Bowl all-star game. Projected anywhere from the fourth to the fifth round by NFL scouts and draft analysts, Havenstein's roots go back to playing at Linganore.

On the same day that Gary Kubiak officially was named Denver Broncos coach, the Ravens interviewed former Broncos assistant Adam Gase for their offensive coordinator job.

Where all of these Sunday developments leaves the Ravens is weighing the merits of a group of candidates that includes Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase. Gase is highly regarded by the Ravens, according to sources.

The Ravens will need to hire a new offensive coordinator, after all. Just seven days after saying that he would remain with the Ravens, Gary Kubiak will be named the new head coach of the Denver Broncos, according to a source, returning him to the organization that he spent 20 seasons with as either a player or assistant coach.

The Ravens knew that if offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak wanted to interview for the Denver Broncos' head-coaching vacancy, the job was probably his. Since late last week, they've been preparing for his departure, which now seems imminent.

Should Kubiak leave, sources said that Shanahan would be under serious consideration for the job of running the Ravens' offense.

Sometimes, looking back, Daryl Johnson wonders if it truly happened. Did he really lead Morgan State's football team to two undefeated seasons and then play in the pros for the Patriots?

A block by Kelechi Osemele bought Joe Flacco the time he needed to escape the pressure and find wide receiver Torrey Smith in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown pass during the Ravens' 30-17 AFC wild-card playoff win at Heinz Field.

Baltimore Ravens' defensive line is bolstered by the return of defensive tackle Haloti Ngata from four-game drug suspension.

The Ravens can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Browns plus a Bengals loss, or a Ravens win plus the San Diego Chargers losing or tying the Kansas City Chiefs or a Ravens tie plus a Chargers loss.

When the Baltimore Ravens visit Houston on Sunday, the Texans will rely heavily on running back Arian Foster, who has run for over 100 yards in seven of 11 games this season and averages 102.5 yards per game.

Ravens long snapper Morgan Cox is making steady progress in his rehabilitation from a torn anterior cruciate ligament that forced him to go on injured reserve.

The former Florida State star is expected to be the primary replacement for Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.

The Tennessee Titans signed offensive tackle Terren Jones to their active roster off the Ravens' practice squad and placed wide receiver Justin Hunter on injured reserve with a lacerated spleen.

Welcome to the Ravens 10-Pack, where reporter Jon Meoli hits on 10 stats, notes, and thoughts following a 34-33, gut-punch home loss to the San Diego Chargers. Read ahead for notes on the secondary, which overshadowed a winning performance, plus Justin Tucker's quietly good season, and where all the rookies have gone.

The NFL regular season has reached the three-quarters pole, and there still are too many possibilities to predict who will make the playoffs.

Jeff Zrebiec breaks down what to look for when the Ravens play the San Diego Chargers at M&T Bank Stadium.

Steve Smith stiff-armed New Orleans Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro, separating the defensive back from his helmet Monday night.

Some sports name three stars of the game after the game. I'll do that one better: I'm going to name them before the Ravens even play. These will be the three stars of the game when the Ravens travel to the site of their Super Bowl XLVII win in New Orleans to face the Saints on Monday Night Football.

Star wide receiver Josh Gordon is back from his 10-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy and will play Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

Ravens veteran offensive guard Jah Reid said he expects to return to play this season after breaking his hand and undergoing surgery prior to a win this month over the Tennessee Titans.

By nearly every measure, the Ravens' offense has improved dramatically from last season. Through 10 games, the Ravens are averaging more than five points, 56 total yards and 41 rushing yards per game than they were at this point last year. They've gone from ranking 30th in the NFL in total offense to 12th.

With six winnable games remaining after bye week, Baltimore Ravens have control of their playoff destiny.

Former Cleveland Browns starting fullback Kiero Small is joining the Ravens' practice squad, sources close to the former Cardinal Gibbons standout said Thursday.

For more than half a century, the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame shooed race horses from its door. But that changes Thursday night when the first thoroughbred is inducted, albeit posthumously, into the 234-member Hall.

The Cleveland Browns cut former Cardinal Gibbons and Arkansas fullback Kiero Small and re-signed former starting fullback Ray Agnew.

The Ravens have signed offensive tackle Terren Jones to their practice squad and cut undrafted rookie defensive tackle Jamie Meder to create a spot for him.

As the Ravens (5-4) square off with the visiting Tennessee Titans (2-6) at 1 p.m. today, here¿s Baltimore Sun reporter Aaron Wilson¿s checklist of things to keep an eye on.

Having lost top cornerback Jimmy Smith to injury and using a rotating set of safeties, the Baltimore Ravens have struggled against the pass.

He has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium.

Once a staple in every Joe Flacco-led version of the Ravens' offense, the deep pass has become a secondary feature this season.

It has been an extremely difficult month for Ravens defensive end Chris Canty as he spent the majority of it in a hospital while recovering from wrist surgery to remove a staph infection.

Former Ravens and Maryland cornerback Domonique Foxworth has been named chief operating officer of the National Basketball Players Association.

Baltimore Sun reporter Aaron Wilson breaks down the film after the Ravens' 27-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8 at Paul Brown Stadium.

Who are the 2014 Ravens? After they faltered in Cincinnati, we still have a lot to learn.

The Baltimore Ravens' three losses this season have been against teams that made the playoffs last season.

As the Ravens (5-2) square off with the Cincinnati Bengals (3-2-1) on Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium, here¿s Baltimore Sun reporter Aaron Wilson¿s checklist of things to keep an eye on.

If you are to believe the words of Ravens players this past week, avenging a rare home loss to the Bengals seven weeks ago is the furthest thing from their minds. Yet, no Ravens player made even the slightest effort to diminish the magnitude of Sunday afternoon's game against the Bengals.