Coffee Companion (10/10): your daily Ravens fix

Every morning, Monday through Friday, blogger Matt Vensel will hook you up with reading material -- mostly on the Ravens but with some other Baltimore sports stuff, too -- to skim through as you slug down coffee and slack off at the start of your workday. That way he’ll have an excuse to do the same to start his workday, too.

RUNNING IT BACK

You can tell Tuesday was an off day for the players, as we don’t have much to pass along to you. … Ravens cornerback Chykie Brown is excelling on special teams. ... Safety Ed Reed wasn't feeling well Tuesday, so his Fitness Day at Booker T. Washington Middle School was postponed. ... Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing is out for the year with a torn ACL, which means he is out for next week's game against the Ravens.

RAVENS STUFF, BUT NOT FROM US

The Ravens want to get off to better starts. … Does Ray Lewis losing weight have anything to do with him not playing well against the run Sunday? … Jamison Hensley remembers when Ravens fans booed an injured quarterback. … The Ravens were zombies before playing that Thursday night game. … Was Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant close to being drafted by the Ravens?

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

If the Cowboys want to beat the Ravens, they need to stick with DeMarco Murray and the running game. .... Getting nose tackle Jay Ratliff back will be like “getting three people” back. … The Cowboys are getting creative at the safety position. … The Cowboys need to improve in the turnover department. … Is Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett regressing as a play-caller?

SHAMELESS PLUG OF THE DAY

In this week’s “Tale of the Tape” post, I broke down Joe Flacco’s late third-down scramble against the Kansas City Chiefs.

AWAY FROM THE GRIDIRON

The Orioles’ trip to New York was an adventure, so they canceled Tuesday’s workout at Yankee Stadium. … Unassuming Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez will be in the spotlight Wednesday night in Game 3 of the American League Divisional Series. … Orioles owner Peter Angelos is staying out of the spotlight. … Sixteen years later, Jeffrey Maier revisited his infamous moment.