Billick

Today: Ravens report to Best Western Motel in Westminster for the opening of training camp. Surprised to find all Baltimore sports fans have left the state. Tomorrow: Billick confirms that he again will call all the offensive plays this year ... and vows to be less conservative. To prove it, he endorses a single-payer health care system. Tuesday: When it becomes obvious the Orioles will do nothing at baseball's trade deadline, the Ravens announce that they have traded pending free agent Terrell Suggs to the Texas Rangers for Mark Teixeira.

As the Ravens' 2005 season disintegrates, all I'm hearing is one question: Should Brian Billick be fired? As if that's the only issue facing this 2-7 team that some people picked to go to the Super Bowl. Billick is having a bad year, for sure; he all but admitted it this week by writing in his online diary that it was "justified" to question whether he should keep his job. He hasn't fixed the offense, hasn't developed a quarterback, and in my opinion, erred by failing to impose harsh punishments after the Detroit debacle, leaving discipline lacking.

TAMPA, Fla. - The world met Brian Billick this week. And the world doesn't quite know what to make of him. As if the rest of the NFL does. Or the people in Baltimore, for that matter. You can paint Billick with a single stroke only in the most obvious sense, that he has succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams in getting the Ravens to the Super Bowl in just his second year as an NFL head coach. But beyond that, trying to paint him with a single stroke is impossible. He is different things to different people, a human kaleidoscope.

Mike PrestonBRIAN BILLICK needs to re-establish himself as the power and authority of the Ravens, the most dominating personality on this team. He has been trying since Dec. 5, when the Ravens were upset by the Cincinnati Bengals, yet with little success. But he can begin anew Sunday when the Ravens play the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium. Billick should heed his own advice of the 2000 season when the Ravens played the Titans in Tennessee in a playoff game. He shouldn't tiptoe into the locker room, but go in with a spear, "screaming like a banshee and [saying]

The Ravens have finalized a one-year contract extension with coach Brian Billick. Billick, with the second-highest winning percentage among active coaches in the NFL, has three years remaining on his original three years. In effect, the extension gives him a new four-year deal that would expire after the 2005 season. The club is expected to make an announcement next week once the deal is officially signed. "It's gone very quickly and very smoothly," Billick said yesterday. "It was very generous on their part."

The Ravens will face their Super Bowl-winning quarterback for a third time Sunday when they play on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. Trent Dilfer, who led the Ravens to the NFL title in the 2000 season, has officially replaced injured quarterback Alex Smith, the 49ers announced yesterday. It's a reunion that comes with strong emotions. Eight months ago, Dilfer told The Sun he remains extremely bitter about Brian Billick's decision to replace him with Elvis Grbac after the championship season and doesn't plan to speak to the Ravens coach again.

Wearing a crestfallen look as he trudged off the practice field, Ravens coach Brian Billick offered up his condolences to friend and former colleague Tony Dungy, whose son died near Tampa, Fla., yesterday morning. Billick worked with Dungy, now coach of the Indianapolis Colts, on the Minnesota Vikings staff from 1992-95. Dungy and Billick have remained friends through the years, and Billick said he knew 18-year-old James Dungy. "There is not much I can give you," a shaken Billick said.

Ray Lewis' problem with the Ravens might extend beyond his contract situation. In his first local interview in seven months, the former All-Pro middle linebacker cast a cloud over his relationship with Brian Billick when he declined to give the coach a vote of confidence. Asked Wednesday by Comcast SportsNet whether keeping Billick was a move in the right direction, the Ravens middle linebacker paused briefly before saying, "No comment." Billick was retained by owner Steve Bisciotti just before the Ravens concluded a 6-10 season, their worst in seven years under Billick.

YOU KNEW the time had come with each expression of disdain on Brian Billick's face Sunday. The coach shook his head in disgust at each penalty. He clutched his face after every dropped pass. The arms were folded in frustration from watching a veteran field a punt at his 3-yard line. It was inevitable. Billick put on his boots yesterday because it was booty-kicking time. Billick had been patient with his young team. But as the second half of the 2002 season begins Sunday with the Ravens playing host to the Cincinnati Bengals, the feel-good time is over.

The Ravens received another reminder about their tumultuous start yesterday when coach Brian Billick fielded his second question this season about job security. Just one of three AFC teams with either one or no victories, the Ravens (1-3) have lost by an average margin of 16.7 points. "I don't have the time quite frankly to focus on me or my situation," Billick said. "There's really no right answer for you that could come from me, management, from ownership, that will satisfy those that want to have that perspective.