The Ravens are now in a "festivus" mood.
That's the prevailing theme as the team received permission from the NFL to start selling playoff tickets and mailed out letters and invoices to its PSL holders yesterday.
But since Ravens coach Brian Billick has threatened to fine anyone in the organization whom he hears using the "P-word," the team has referred to the postseason activities as "festivus." It's derived from a made-up holiday in a "Seinfeld" episode.
But all this playoff chatter has even tempted Billick to think ahead in his free time.
"Yeah, in your private moments, you'll think about certain things and you'll look down the road," Billick said. "I'm certainly conscious of what the atmosphere would be in a `festivus' attitude."
A spokesman interrupted, saying Billick might have to be the first one fined for such talk.
"I'll be one of the Supreme Court judges that will recuse themselves of it," Billick said.
The Ravens are anticipating that there will be no public sale of playoff tickets. The 60,000 PSL holders will have the first opportunity to buy the 6,000 tickets that are not held by season-ticket holders.
The remaining 3,000 tickets are generally distributed among players, staff and advertisers.
With the NFL setting playoff-ticket prices, each ticket will increase $25 for wild-card and divisional games and $35 more for the AFC championship game.
So, when does Billick intend to lift his policing of the "P-word"?
"Well, when are we going to have a president?" Billick said. "That's when it's going to hold. When the Supreme Court of Florida finally quits making up rules, then we'll adjourn the kangaroo court."
Ratings consolation
The Ravens apparently won their war in Washington on Sunday while losing the battle at home.
Their game against the Redskins' archrivals, the Dallas Cowboys, was the top-rated television show of the week in Washington with a 20.8 rating, beating out "ER" (19.6) and "West Wing" (16.9). In their own market, the Ravens had a better rating at 20.9, but finished second to "ER" (25.0).
A first for Byner
The Ravens plan to make history against the No. 1 team in their past.
During halftime of Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns, the Ravens are scheduled to induct Earnest Byner as the first member of the Ravens Ring of Honor.
Byner, the Ravens' director of player development, finished as the NFL's 16th-leading rusher all-time after a 14-year career, which started in Cleveland and ended here.
