News item:: The Ravens break camp today and return to their Owings Mills training facility after 27 days of workouts at McDaniel College in Westminster.
My take: : Am I the only one who's going to miss the Best Western Hotel and all that crazy Carroll County nightlife?
News item:: Popular former defensive coordinator Rex Ryan returns to Baltimore for Monday night's preseason game between the Ravens and New York Jets at M&T Bank Stadium, just days after criticizing his old team for giving Michael McCrary's No. 99 to rookie Paul Kruger.
My take: : The Ravens are planning a nice tribute to Rex on the video boards before the game, but I think it would be hilarious if Greg Mattison showed up on the sideline wearing one of Rex's old sweat shirts.
News item: : Quarterback Brett Favre came out of retirement for the second time in two years this week and reported to training camp with the Minnesota Vikings. He reportedly signed a one-year contract worth as much as $12 million.
My take: : That's a lot of money, but not nearly as much as he's going to make when he joins Madonna and Celine Dion on the next Divas Tour.
News item: : The Philadelphia Eagles report that they have not lost any corporate sponsors because of public outrage over their decision to sign disgraced quarterback Michael Vick.
My take: : I'm sure that's a big relief. You never know what might happen when you bruise the tender sensibilities of Eagles fans.
News item: : Former New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress accepted a plea bargain on a felony weapons charge and will serve at least 20 months in prison after accidentally shooting himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub.
My take: : That'll teach him. The guy would have gotten less time if he had liquored up and run over a pedestrian or bankrolled a cruel dogfighting ring.
Bonus take: : No, really. Burress will serve about the same amount of time as Vick and Donte' Stallworth combined. I don't think that's what the framers meant when they were talking about equal justice.
News item: : The Washington Nationals took the interim tag off general manager Mike Rizzo and named him permanent GM on Thursday.
My take: : Need some guidance here. Do you congratulate a guy when he gets the Nats' GM job?
News item: : Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered an ankle injury on the final day of training camp.
