A week before the first full-team practice at Ravens training camp, the team's wide receiver position remains up in the air.
The Ravens still don't know whether Derrick Mason will rescind his decision to retire or whether any of the receivers trying out today will pan out (though Drew Bennett is the early favorite, according to a team source).
Perhaps the best-case scenario is adding a veteran before training camp and welcoming back Mason during the first couple of weeks, a combination that would patch up a questionable group at wide receiver for second-year quarterback Joe Flacco.
Coach John Harbaugh said Thursday that he's hopeful Mason will return but that he couldn't predict what the team's No. 1 receiver will do. On Tuesday night, Harbaugh had a "man-to-man" talk with Mason at the receiver's house - their first sit-down since Mason's retirement announcement July 13 - and they discussed everything from his family to the team to the death of Steve McNair.
Harbaugh told The Baltimore Sun that he couldn't put a percentage on the chances of Mason coming back.
"I don't have an opinion on whether he'll be back because I have no idea," Harbaugh said. "Nothing's changed, and Derrick was very clear about that through our conversation.
"I'm hopeful that he'll be back because he's a good player. A Derrick Mason who is fully committed and focused on football makes us a better team."
Mason did not return phone calls from The Sun. His agent has said that the earliest Mason would speak to the news media would be the end of the month.
Veteran players report Wednesday to Ravens training camp. The first full-team practice open to the public is next Friday.
Asked whether the team has set a deadline for Mason to make a final decision, Harbaugh said, "We're staying away from that now. That's between Derrick's agent and [Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome]."
The Ravens are being careful not to pressure Mason. The team probably could wait until mid-August for Mason's decision because he likely would have been limited the first couple of weeks anyway (he is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery).
Team officials probably are taking a sensitive approach because they believe Mason's announcement was motivated by a personal situation. There had been speculation earlier that Mason, who is entering the final year of his contract, was trying to gain leverage for a new deal.
