Until then, Harbaugh has to court Stover from a distance. When asked about Stover's possible return, Harbaugh said: "I can't give you numbers. There is a chance, but we have to give these other kickers a chance."
The Ravens are gambling. I wouldn't. I would have signed Stover yesterday. The Ravens are missing a big-time receiver and a dependable tight end, but there is no excuse not to have a great kicker with Stover living in your backyard.
If your season comes down to a 40-yard field goal, who do you want making the kick, Gano or Stover, Mr. Automatic?
On a good day, without any wind, Stover's range is good from 47. Who cares if you have to give up a spot for some special teams player? You can find a special teams player anywhere. You can't always find a Matt Stover.
Stover says he is ready to return to the Ravens.
"I would love to come back and play for the Ravens," Stover said. "It's a great organization with great people."
But Stover might not be able to wait. He started working out two weeks ago, six times a week, which is his usual approach for training camp. He says his right ankle, the one severely sprained at the end of last season, is about 95 percent healed, and he is comfortable kicking from 45 yards. He'll move to kicking from 50 yards out consistently as his workouts continue.
If Stover wasn't on the mark, he wouldn't lie. When it comes to kicking field goals, Stover has always been a stand-up guy.
He isn't shy about saying that he wants to kick in the NFL again.
"I've had a lot of great players tell me that you have to make the NFL take the jersey off your back," Stover said. "I still think I can kick competitively in the NFL. I don't want to be 50, and say I should have given it one more shot. The NFL has a way of letting you know when you're done, and the Lord certainly has a way of letting me know."
Whether it's late summer or winter, an NFL team is going to call Stover, who isn't overly concerned. Right now, he's got three children playing lacrosse and has only one free night a week. He is still very active in the NFL Players Association, and has sat down with his wife, Debbie, and started planning life with and without football.
But he'll be back. Stover is too good, too clutch to leave at home.
And too good for the Ravens to leave off their roster.
