Cam Newton

You don't have to strain your eyes to see the similarities between quarterbacks Cam Newton, a sure-fire 2011 first-round pick out of Auburn, and Tim Tebow, who was selected 25th overall by the Denver Broncos a year ago. They are both Heisman Trophy winners and winners in general. They played together at Florida (Newton couldn't unseat Tebow, which led to his college football odyssey). Both are physically gifted and built like tight ends. They have faced questions about their ability to throw the football, which is kind of important for QBs. And they both seem to have that proverbial "it" factor, and that's always a good thing to have going for you. Sure, there are differences -- like Tebow's love for jorts and Newton getting paid to play in college -- but they are comparable young players with potential to excel in spread offenses in the NFL. You tell me: Which of these two young quarterbacks would you rather build your team around?

The Ravens continue to show interest in Casey Matthews , talking to the Oregon inside linebacker at the NFL Scouting Combine after meeting with him at last month's Senior Bowl. Matthews is considered a third- or fourth-round prospect who has drawn increased attention because his father, Clay Matthews Jr. , played 19 years in the NFL and his brother, Clay Matthews III , was the runner-up this year for NFL defensive player of the year. "Friends will ask me, 'Do you feel pressure?

The Ravens have a few things on their shopping list for the NFL draft, but the top prospects will be scooped up by the time they step up to the podium for pick No. 26. But what if the Ravens somehow were handed the top pick in the draft? Yes, I know, this isn't going to happen. But a little fantasy drafting should be fun to discuss. In this hypothetical, the Ravens could take one of the draft's elite cornerbacks in Patrick Peterson or Prince Amukamara. They could select A.J. Green or Julio Jones to add a big-play receiver to the offense.

Under Armour announced Wednesday that it signed an endorsement deal with Cam Newton, last year's Heisman Trophy winner and quarterback when the Auburn Tigers became the BCS National Championship team this year. Newton's deal will begin with a national advertising and in-store campaign this year, and he will wear the Baltimore company's latest football gear at this week's NFL Scouting Combine. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. "Cam Newton is an incredible talent and a proven champion whose skills are unique and exciting," Matt Mirchin, Under Armour's senior vice president of sports marketing, said in a statement.

Ravens director of player personnel Eric DeCosta, the Scottie Pippen to Ozzie Newsome's Michael Jordan when it comes to the Ravens and the NFL draft, appeared on "Norris & Davis" this morning to discuss this week's scouting combine and the upcoming NFL draft. DeCosta is excited about the current crop of draft prospects that will be at the league's annual meat market, which starts Thursday in Indianapolis. "I think it’s a good draft. I didn’t think it was going to be necessarily a great draft," DeCosta told Ed Norris and Steve Davis of 105.7 The Fan . "But with the influx of all the juniors -- we have 56 juniors, which was a record -- in the draft and that’s really made the top end of the draft very, very strong.

Each morning, Monday through Friday, I'll hook you up with some reading material to skim through as you slug down coffee and slack off at the start of your workday -- that way I'll have an excuse to do the same at the start of mine. Running it back: The Ravens and coach John Harbaugh agreed to a contract extension on Monday. ... When spring training opened Monday, Buck Showalter started to mold the Orioles into his team. ... Koji Uehara and Kevin Gregg are eager to compete with each other for the closer spot.

A chance to be special Chris Dufresne Los Angeles Times Just got done watching snippets of former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton's media workout. This just in: Newton is really good. What's hilarious about the NFL is it prods, pokes and measures its quarterback prospects and still drafts Ryan Leaf in the top five and Tom Brady in the sixth round. The NFL gets so caught up on analysis, it sometimes turns into paralysis. I don't need a stopwatch or combine to tell me Newton will make it in the NFL. Sometimes you just need to watch a guy. It's true Newton, like Alex Smith, Vince Young and Tim Tebow, must adjust from the spread-style offense to the pro game.

Under Armour will supply Major League Baseball with footwear beginning this season, the Baltimore sports apparel company announced Monday. Under the deal, Under Armour becomes the official footwear supplier for the league. The company will also be able to use the league logo to market its products in stores and advertising campaigns. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed. Under Armour already has endorsement deals with several professional baseball players including World Series Champion and 2010 National League Rookie of the Year Buster Posey, Jonathon Papelbon, Ryan Zimmerman, Matt Wieters, Jose Reyes, and Nick Markakis.

The 2010 NFL season is over and it's unclear if and when the 2011 season will start, but I have good news for Ravens fans (well, besides the Steelers losing to the Packers in the Super Bowl). That's right, it's mock draft season, which means we'll be glued to the TV whenever ESPN's Mel Kiper and Todd McShay scream at each other about what college students look like with their shirts off or we'll be digging up information about a random punter from Idaho just because some yahoo on the Internet said the Ravens will take him at No. 26. Between now and April's draft -- yes, there will be one no matter what -- I'll pump out a few mock drafts, too. Feel free to let me know your thoughts, but remember, they are purely speculative and shouldn't be taken too seriously.

With the NFL's labor situation in limbo, the league heads into what promises to be a turbulent offseason filled with questions, uncertainties and speculation. Team owners are dug in, as are players, and each side is waiting for the other to flinch — with the real possibility that a lockout could compromise training camps and even lead to games being missed. Still, the football world doesn't stop spinning. Teams are jockeying, planning, positioning themselves to be just where the Green Bay Packers are now: clearing room in the display case for the Lombardi Trophy.