Over the past three years, Kelly Gregg worked himself up from the practice squad to a backup role to the starting nose tackle for the NFL's third-ranked defense.
Yesterday Gregg was rewarded with a five-year extension with the Ravens that included a $2 million signing bonus.
"It seems like the other day I was in here signing with the practice squad," Gregg said. "I just looked at the guys like Goose [Tony Siragusa], Rob Burnett and Michael McCrary. They said, `Work hard and good things will happen.' I'm just so thankful to the Ravens organization for giving me a chance and not getting sold on my size."
Gregg, 27, is a blue-collar player known for using leverage against bigger blockers inside. Considered undersized for his position at 6 feet, 310 pounds, he finished the regular season as the Ravens' fourth-leading tackler with 104 stops.
A second-year starter who has yet to miss a practice, Gregg would have been a restricted free agent at the end of the season. By signing him to a long-term deal now, the Ravens are able to use some of the remaining cap room for this season.
"He can't imagine it getting better anywhere else," said Jack Bechta, Gregg's agent. "If he wanted, he would have commanded more money by waiting [as a free agent] but he didn't want to go that route."
The Ravens are continuing negotiations with center Mike Flynn on a contract extension. There is a possibility that a deal could be reached before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in March.
Boulware postscript
Ravens coach Brian Billick said his team probably would have been without linebacker Peter Boulware in Sunday's 13-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers even if a playoff berth had been on the line.
Boulware, who sat out the game with a knee sprain, is expected to play against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday.
"Obviously, this isn't going to be a real physical week for us," Billick said. "He's had treatment, he's had the knee drained. Bill [Tessendorf, trainer] feels very good about where he's at. I bet [Boulware] feels good, so we'll see as we progress during the week, but right now, I'm fairly optimistic."
More on fake punt
Billick commended the Ravens' defense against the Steelers, wishing that punter Josh Miller's 81-yard touchdown toss to Chris Hope on a fake punt attempt could count against the special teams and not into the defensive statistics.
