Analysts

ESPN analyst Mark Dixon has added sideline reporter and play-by-play caller to his list of titles. He patrolled the sideline of No. 5 Johns Hopkins' 15-6 rout of Siena on Friday and will provide analysis for the Moe's Southwest Grill Classic doubleheader in Jacksonville on Sunday involving No. 10 Denver against No. 18 Penn State and No. 15 Ohio State against Jacksonville. The former Blue Jays midfielder, who can be followed on Twitter at @DixonLacrosse, discussed his thoughts on the pace of play, Duke's loss to Denver and one team that's not getting enough attention.

The thought crossed Shane Cockerille 's mind just about every Saturday in November. If the Gilman quarterback was just one year older, it would be him instead of linebacker Shawn Petty under center for Maryland. Cockerille was far from the only one who pictured himself taking snaps for the Terps after they lost C.J. Brown, Perry Hills, Devin Burns and Caleb Rowe to season-ending injuries. “Shane Cockerille isn't the tallest quarterback, but he's a gamer that comes from a great high school program,” said 247Sports.com analyst J.C. Shurburtt.

There will be no mistaking Maryland's 2013 football recruiting class with a 2012 group that was highlighted by five-star receiver Stefon Diggs and four-star running back Wes Brown. Star power like that doesn't pass through College Park every year. But what the Terps ' 2013 class might lack in star power, it appears to make up for in quality depth, local talent and a handful of potential instant-impact players. Three national recruiting analysts used the same adjective when asked to describe Maryland's 2013 recruiting class, which will be unveiled Wednesday on National Signing Day: Solid.

Spicemaker McCormick & Co.'s stock price swooned by more than $4 a share Thursday after the company's earnings forecast for the year fell short of what Wall Street analysts anticipated. The Sparks-based company said Thursday that earnings per share in 2013 will likely range from $3.15 to $3.23 - an increase from last year, but less than the $3.35 per share anticipated by analysts tracked by Zacks Investment Research. McCormick said its earnings-per-share expectations would have been 23 cents higher for the year if not for an increase in retirement expenses and a higher tax rate.

Under Armour's senior vice president for footwear will leave the company in late February, the company announced Thursday. Gene McCarthy has overseen the Baltimore-based company's efforts to grow market share in the lucrative shoe sector since 2009. Chief operating officer Kip Fulks will take over management of the division in addition to handling his current duties. McCarthy, who previously worked as the head of Timberland and also spent 20 years with Nike, joined Under Armour as the company attempted to rejuvenate its shoe sales after its initial forays into the sector did not go as planned.

When the Ravens and Joe Flacco agreed in August to put off negotiations on a long-term contract extension, the thinking was that the organization would wait to see what the quarterback could accomplish in the final season of the five-year contract that he signed as a rookie after he was selected in the first round of the NFL draft in 2008. Now that Flacco has averaged 284.3 passing yards, tossed eight touchdowns against zero interceptions, and posted a 114.7 passer rating in three postseason games, Kurt Warner thinks the Ravens are going to have to open up the wallet to retain Flacco.

Baltimore-based money managers T. Rowe Price and Legg Mason Inc. may offer actively managed exchange-traded funds after receiving a thumbs up from regulators. The Securities and Exchange Commission approved Price's application earlier this month to be allowed to issue active ETFs - the first, and most difficult, regulatory hurdle to entering the market. Legg received similar approval in mid-November, and now awaits the second step: the green light from the SEC to launch a specific fund.

A plan proposed by Virginia's governor to raise transportation revenue while scrapping the gas tax is largely based on "wishful thinking," the chief policy analyst for the Maryland General Assembly has concluded. "It is hoped that Maryland can do better," Warren G. Deschenaux said in a letter to legislative leaders. Deschenaux said Gov. Bob McDonnell's plan to raise almost $3.2 billion for transportation over five years depends in large part on transfers from other programs and a revenue stream that Congress has not yet allowed the states to tap. The Virginia proposal attracted considerable interest in Annapolis after McDonnell unveiled it Tuesday because Maryland faces a similar shortfall in transportation revenue. Though he did not endorse McDonnell's plan, Gov. Martin O'Malley said he agreed with certain aspects of it -- especially a move away from reliance on the conventional center-per-gallon gas tax. Deschenaux told legislative leaders he reviewed the Virginia proposal because of Maryland's "great interest" in transportation funding.

Update, Jan. 3: Ray Lewis close to signing deal with ESPN , report says If Ray Lewis is looking for a high-paying, high-visibility job after he leaves the Baltimore Ravens, he's not going to have much trouble getting a shot at one in sports television. That's the assessment of media analysts and TV executives responsible for producing the studio shows and game telecasts of the NFL. But success in the TV studio or booth is far from guaranteed, even for someone with the stature of Lewis, analysts caution, pointing to the career of former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith among others.

One of this weekend's AFC playoff games pits the Ravens against the Indianapolis Colts. There are many storylines linked to Sunday's contest including the history between Baltimore and Indianapolis, the inspiring story of Colts coach and former Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano, and the impending return of former Ravens like defensive end Cory Redding, free safety Tom Zbikowski and offensive lineman Joe Reitz. There's also the matter of the two quarterbacks, the Ravens' Joe Flacco and the Colts' Andrew Luck.