Active Roster

Just before their unofficial end to spring training here in Sarasota, the Orioles made two roster moves to trim their active roster to 27 players. The club reassigned nonroster right-handed pitcher Pat Neshek to minor league camp and outrighted outfielder Jai Miller to Triple-A Norfolk after he officially cleared waivers. Earlier in the day, right-handed pitcher Alfredo Simon was claimed off waivers by the Reds. That puts the Orioles' official roster at 28, but catcher Taylor Teagarden (back)

Of the 53 players on the Ravens' active roster, only four have been to a Super Bowl. And only one was there last year. James Ihedigbo was a starting safety for New England, and as the Ravens spent last week gearing up for meeting the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 3, the memory of that 21-17 Patriots loss to the New York Giants almost a year ago was still fresh in his mind. "You don't ever want to be on the other end of it, the loser's end," he said. "Coming into this whole week, it's preparation, it's understanding the type of offense the 49ers run, the things they do on special teams, how they want to attack us, and how do we want to attack them.

The Ravens announced today that they have promoted rookie linebacker Josh Bynes from their practice squad to their active 53-man roster. Bynes, who signed with the Ravens in July as an undrafted free agent, appeared in 43 games for Auburn in his collegiate career, recording 238 tackles (127 solo), seven interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.     He had been waived by the Ravens on Sept.3, but he was re-signed to their practice squad on Nov.9. He'll provide linebacker depth with both Ray Lewis (toe)

Despite an encouraging week of practice and a desire to return, Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis won't play Sunday against the New York Giants. Lewis, who hasn't played since Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys because of a torn right triceps, was not activated before Saturday's 4 p.m. deadline, making him ineligible to face the reigning Super Bowl champions. It will be the ninth straight game Lewis has missed. The 37-year-old has practiced the past three weeks, and several team sources indicated Thursday that they were hopeful Lewis would return against the Giants.

With an open 53-man roster spot due to wide receiver/kick returner David Reed's season-ending knee injury, the Ravens signed offensive tackle D.J. Jones from their practice squad. The Ravens signed Jones in October after he was released off of the Miami Dolphins' practice squad. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound tackle played at Nebraska before signing with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent. He was among Miami's final cuts before the season began but was added to the Dolphins' practice squad.

When Dani Lazo first learned she would have the opportunity to play for the U.S. Under-19 women's lacrosse team in Germany this August, instead of just watching from the sidelines as a traveling alternate, her initial reaction wasn't one of excitement. Instead, the first thing Lazo felt was a bit of grief for her teammate, Shannon Gilroy, who tore an anterior cruciate ligament in a New York high school game in mid June. With Gilroy sidelined, Lazo, a recent St. Mary's graduate set to play at Louisville next year, was promoted to the U.S.'s 18-member playing roster.

Confidence in the health and form of Billy Cundiff, the Ravens announced today that they have released veteran kicker Shayne Graham. Graham, who was signed by the Ravens on Dec. 21 with Cundiff dealing with a left calf injury, was 2-for-2 on field-goal attempts in a 20-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 15, converting from 48 and 43 yards out along with making both of his extra points. However, the Ravens opted to go with Cundiff in Sunday's regular-season closing 24-16 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Pro Bowl selection last year made his one field-goal attempt from 42 yards.

The Ravens continued to tinker with their secondary today as they placed rookie safety Christian Thompson on injured reserve and elevated safety Anthony Levine to their 53-man roster. Levine had been on the Ravens' practice squad. Levine, 25, spent the majority of the 2010-11 seasons on the practice squad of the Green Bay Packers and has yet to play in an NFL game. Thompson, a fourth-round pick, appeared on special teams in seven games this season. He was put on injured reserve with a knee injury.

After spending his rookie campaign as an active member on the Ravens' roster, Anthony Allen faced the uncomfortable and unfamiliar scenario of getting cut at the end of August by the organization that drafted him in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL draft. Since then, however, the running back has gone from free agent to practice squad to active roster and has carved out a niche on special teams, where he has collected two tackles. Being effective on special teams and occasionally spelling starting tailback Ray Rice have provided the framework for Allen's role.

Running back Bobby Rainey defied the odds by making it on the Ravens' 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent. But while the former Western Kentucky standout won the No. 3 running back job, he feels like he remains in a daily competition for a roster spot. “There's no time to be relaxed at all, not once,” Rainey said. “That's the way I approach every day, basically like it's a competition with myself. I don't want to lose my job. I want to help the team and be productive for the team.” Rainey was one of the Ravens' most productive offensive players in the preseason.

The Ravens continued to tinker with their secondary today as they placed rookie safety Christian Thompson on injured reserve and elevated safety Anthony Levine to their 53-man roster. Levine had been on the Ravens' practice squad. Levine, 25, spent the majority of the 2010-11 seasons on the practice squad of the Green Bay Packers and has yet to play in an NFL game. Thompson, a fourth-round pick, appeared on special teams in seven games this season. He was put on injured reserve with a knee injury.

Since the season began, Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs has kept a relatively low profile as he rehabbed his surgically-repaired right Achilles. He strolled through the locker room on occasion, saying very little and declining to update his status with reporters. But the biggest sign that Suggs is getting closer to a return came Wednesday when the movie "Goodfellas" blared from his locker. Suggs, a film buff, watches movies as he gets ready for practice. "You can hear it in the locker room now. There's already a change in the atmosphere with [Suggs]

After spending his rookie campaign as an active member on the Ravens' roster, Anthony Allen faced the uncomfortable and unfamiliar scenario of getting cut at the end of August by the organization that drafted him in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL draft. Since then, however, the running back has gone from free agent to practice squad to active roster and has carved out a niche on special teams, where he has collected two tackles. Being effective on special teams and occasionally spelling starting tailback Ray Rice have provided the framework for Allen's role.

A day after he was waived to accomodate Anthony Allen's return to the active roster, undrafted free agent running back Bobby Rainey cleared waivers and was signed to the Ravens' practice squad. "I basically just want to pick up where I left off," Rainey said. "Offensively, I think I'm good. To get on offense, I have to do more on special teams. "   Rainey acknowledged that he was initially upset and confused when he learned prior to the Bengals game that he was being cut.   "It was a surprise to me, it caught me off-guard," Rainey said.

Running back Bobby Rainey defied the odds by making it on the Ravens' 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent. But while the former Western Kentucky standout won the No. 3 running back job, he feels like he remains in a daily competition for a roster spot. “There's no time to be relaxed at all, not once,” Rainey said. “That's the way I approach every day, basically like it's a competition with myself. I don't want to lose my job. I want to help the team and be productive for the team.” Rainey was one of the Ravens' most productive offensive players in the preseason.

After an unimpressive rookie campaign that ended with zero catches in just six games, Tandon Doss might be reasonably concerned about his status with the Ravens. But the organization's fourth-round pick in 2011 said he's not in the business of trying to figure out what the coaches think. “I never know,” Doss said after Tuesday's practice at the team's headquarters in Owings Mills. “I don't know what the coaches are thinking. I go with the ones one day, the twos the next day. I've just got to keep doing what I can do.” It's worth noting that when the offense opened Friday night's preseason game against the Detroit Lions in a three-receiver set without Torrey Smith (who was battling a sprained ankle)

As an undrafted rookie last season, Bryan Hall was happy to make the Ravens' practice squad. But the second-year defensive tackle has made it known that a repeat trip to the practice squad is not one of his objectives. “I told the coaches from the jump that I'm not going to be on the practice squad this year, and I'm going to show them why,” he said after Monday's practice at the team's training facility in Owings Mills. “I've been up here this whole time working my tail off. I just want an opportunity to come out and play for the Ravens.” So far, it appears that Hall is being rewarded for his effort.

As an undrafted rookie last season, Bryan Hall was happy to make the Ravens' practice squad. But the second-year defensive tackle has made it known that a repeat trip to the practice squad is not one of his objectives. “I told the coaches from the jump that I'm not going to be on the practice squad this year, and I'm going to show them why,” he said after Monday's practice at the team's training facility in Owings Mills. “I've been up here this whole time working my tail off. I just want an opportunity to come out and play for the Ravens.” So far, it appears that Hall is being rewarded for his effort.

Just before their unofficial end to spring training here in Sarasota, the Orioles made two roster moves to trim their active roster to 27 players. The club reassigned nonroster right-handed pitcher Pat Neshek to minor league camp and outrighted outfielder Jai Miller to Triple-A Norfolk after he officially cleared waivers. Earlier in the day, right-handed pitcher Alfredo Simon was claimed off waivers by the Reds. That puts the Orioles' official roster at 28, but catcher Taylor Teagarden (back)