john beck

Ravens' officials won't have to make roster decisions for nearly 2 1/2 months, but past trends could provide a glimpse to what direction they'll go.

After wrapping up their final preseason game, the Ravens turned their attention to their roster which needs to be cut down to 53 by Saturday.

Last week, we looked at the biggest surprises of the 2011 fantasy football campaign. This time around, we will hand out dishonors to the disappointing (non-injured) players who have torpedoed our seasons so far. Try not to cuss too much in the comments section below after receiving this list, OK?

The heat is on Cam Cameron as Ravens offense tries to bounce back. Coordinator's relationship with Flacco will continue to be scruitinized if struggles continue.

The Ravens scored the game's final 16 points to pull away from the Texans and post a 29-14 victory on Sunday. The Ravens defense slowed down the Texans with second-half adjustments and the offense benefited from big plays from Anquan Boldin and others. ... John Harbaugh's brother, Jim, the 49ers coach, got in an altercation with Lions coach Jim Schwartz. ... Maryland coach Randy Edsall praised quarterback C.J. Brown. ... John Beck could start for the Redskins.

In early August, when I released my monthly power rankings at the start of the preseason, some of you said it was too early to gauge how the NFL's 32 stack up against each other. Too early for power rankings? Psssh. A little premature speculation has never hurt anyone. After all, it's just that -- speculation and nothing tangible.

Ravens: Ravens' pass defense looks shaky against Redskins. Unit allows Grossman, Beck to throw for 145 yards and a touchdown in first half.

Despite a solid showing against the Chiefs, the Ravens have plenty of wrinkles to iron out before the Steelers come to town in Week 1. Here are five storylines to watch when the Ravens take on the Redskins.

The Maryland football team unveiled its new uniforms at a runway show on Monday night. ... Zach Britton was back pitching in the majors on Monday after a stint on the disabled list, and the Orioles snapped their five-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Twins. ... The Orioles recalled Ryan Adams and sent Blake Davis to Triple-A Norfolk. ... Domonique Foxworth worked with the Ravens' starting defense for the first time in a couple of weeks, a sign that his surgically repaired knee is improving. ... Mark LeVoir is already running with the first-team offense. ... Josh Wilson compared Ravens fans to Redskins fans.

Let's jump in the time machine and flash back in time to the early 2000s when Tom Cruise wasn't a known crazy person, "Freedom Fries" were an innovation in redneck culinary circles and men under the age of 40 wearing visors in public was considered to be socially acceptable. Thanks to Al Gore's Internet invention, fantasy football was starting to blow up -- and we were advised to select running backs with our first 13 or so picks.

Asked to describe his first year in Baltimore, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said it is "under construction." ... Matt Hobgood got hammered in Aberdeen on Monday night. ... Domonique Foxworth, who underwent surgery last August to repair a torn ACL, expressed frustration about the strength and stability of his right knee. ... Many assume fullback Le¿Ron McClain won't return, but Ravens running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery isn¿t one of them. ... Maryland forward Haukur Palsson is leaving school to pursue a pro basketball career in Europe.

He has skin like an armadillo. He keeps wrestling championship belts in his locker. He poses for photos with dead animals. He has had a rocket arm since he was an infant. His mullet has become legendary. Former Ravens third-stringer John Beck is suddenly the most interesting quarterback in Washington.

If Marc Bulger leaves Baltimore as a free agent this offseason to become a starter elsewhere, the Ravens will likely be in the market for another able veteran to back up quarterback Joe Flacco. Might that veteran signal-caller be Donovan McNabb, who is on the outs in Washington?

Monday night was another one of those Fenway nights that start with such promise and end with the Orioles wondering how it all went wrong. ... The injury that forced Derrek Lee out of the 8-7 loss and an injury to Cesar Izturis almost certainly will lead to at least one roster move. ... Brian Matusz was satisfied with his rehab outing in Frederick but said he still has some things to work on. ... Trainer Graham Motion said he is leaning strongly toward bringing Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness hopeful Animal Kingdom to Pimlico on Saturday instead of Friday night.

The Ravens haven't drafted a quarterback since taking Joe Flacco 18th overall in 2008. With Troy Smith and John Beck gone and Marc Bulger set to become a free agent, there is a decent chance the Ravens will take a quarterback for the first since they decided on the lanky kid Delaware.