"I would challenge you to go to those receivers that we have working right now in the offseason program and tell them we need a receiver and see their reaction," Newsome said at the time. "I like the attitude of those guys. We're looking forward to some of those young guys taking some big leaps in their second year."
That, however, was before the Ravens went through their organized team activity schedule with all the mainstays of the receiving corps, including tight ends Todd Heap and L.J. Smith, limited because of lingering injuries. Now, nobody is denying that the receiver situation is a big question mark with six weeks to go before the start of training camp.
"If our receivers and tight ends are healthy, we will be very good at both. But that's a big if," Cameron said.
It is a big enough "if" that the Ravens are at least considering the possibility of trading for a player - Marshall - whose past has more checkers than Safeway. But if you look at his rap sheet, which is long enough that he's close to being a candidate for one of those open-ended suspensions from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, you would have to conclude that the odds of his showing up at training camp in Westminster are pretty long.
Of course, he's not the only established receiver who's carrying around a lot of baggage. Plaxico Burress, who faces possible prison time on a gun charge, and Matt Jones, who has a history of drug abuse, also are free agents, but aren't on the Ravens' radar.
Harbaugh indicated Tuesday that the Ravens are not likely to relax their behavioral standards no matter how much closer certain players might get them to the Super Bowl.
"Their backgrounds matter," Harbaugh said. "We want to bring guys in here who are what we consider Ravens players. We want to have guys in here who are high-integrity guys ... guys who fit on our team. We're not going to compromise on that."
Listen to Peter Schmuck weeknights at 6 on WBAL (1090 AM).
