Chris Mcalister

I'm going to act like writing about something like this is below me, even though you and I both know that it isn't, but according to a report by TMZ, former Ravens cornerback and "former NFL bad ass" Chris McAlister has claimed that he is "BROKE AS A JOKE and living with his parents. " Those are TMZ's words, not mine. According to the report , McAlister, 34, is currently in a court battle with his ex-wife, Marlene, over child support money. TMZ reported that in official court documents, the former Pro Bowl cornerback claimed, "I have been unemployed since 2009.

Is it a coincidence that Lardarius Webb, who wears No. 21, is beginning to show signs of succeeding the Ravens' previous shutdown corner in Chris McAlister, who also wore No. 21 before leaving the team in 2008? Time will tell if Webb can meet the standards that McAlister set when he patrolled the defensive backfield for the Ravens, but Webb didn't shy away from the perhaps premature comparison. “That's the goal,” Webb said. “My ultimate goal is to be the best cornerback on this team, then the AFC and then the NFL. That's my goal.

Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan is crossing his fingers. With a little luck, he might get starting cornerbacks Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister on the field for the first time Saturday night against the St. Louis Rams. Both have missed big chunks of training camp because of injuries, and this would be an ideal opportunity for them to get some playing time. Most teams prefer to play their starters three quarters in the third preseason game and then play them very little in the fourth and final game before the season opener.

One aspect missing from the buildup of Sunday's AFC North clash between the Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals is the lack of barbs usually crafted by wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. Ochocinco, a former Bengal who is now employed by the New England Patriots, once sent deodorant to the Ravens secondary to help the defensive players from sweating while trying to shadow him. He used to keep a pre-game list in his locker of the defensive players he planned to target, and he added former cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle and current inside linebacker Ray Lewis in the past.

As the Ravens' defense focuses in on shutouts, Chris McAlister is zeroing in on another personal shutdown. The charismatic, cocky cornerback has become the defense's mouthpiece over the past week, talking trash and backing it up. Now, he's pointed out he hasn't given up a reception in two games and isn't shy about expanding on it. McAlister is licking his chops at the prospects of going against Arizona Cardinals third-string quarterback Chris Greisen and...

An Arizona newspaper once described cornerback Chris McAlister as "quiet and hardly outspoken" when McAlister played at the University of Arizona. Judging by his comments below, McAlister ranks with linebackers Ray Lewis and Bart Scott as one of the most candid personalities in the Ravens' locker room. McAlister, a three-time Pro Bowl pick, sat down with The Sun's Edward Lee to discuss, among other topics, his status among NFL cornerbacks, the influence of his parents in his life and his dream date.

In the top photo, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis can?t bear to look after tipping a pass that was almost intercepted by Chris McAlister (left) in the second quarter. Above, a hit by the Colts? Nick Harper causes a fumble by tight end Todd Heap in the first quarter, a turnover that led to Indianapolis? second field goal.

Offense WR...80 Brandon Stokley; 81 Kenyon Hambrick; 84 Javin Hunter LT...75 Jonathan Ogden; 76 Dawani Fladger LG...61 Casey Rabach; 65 Jason Thomas C...62 Mike Flynn; 65 Jason Thomas; 61 Casey Rabach RG...66 Bennie Anderson; 65 Jason Thomas RT...64 Edwin Mulitalo; 76 Dawani Fladger TE...86 Todd Heap; 88 John Jones; 82 Terry Jones; 85...Jonathan Burrough WR... 89 Travis Taylor; 83 Ron Johnson; 17 Randy Hymes; 13 D.J. Humphries QB...7 Chris Redman; 11 Jeff Blake; 12 Wes Pate; 9 Cleo Lemon FB...

THE KEY PLAY TERRELL OWENS' TOUCHDOWN CATCH Score: Eagles lead 9-3 Quarter: Fourth Situation: Eagles' ball, third-and-10 at the Ravens' 11 Play: The Eagles come out in a five-receiver set, with Terrell Owens (81) on the outside to McNabb's right. As McNabb drops back, Owens runs an underneath route. He catches the pass at the 9-yard line and spins out of the attempted tackle of Gary Baxter (28). He cuts back to his right as Ed Reed (20) comes up and misses an arm tackle. L.J. Smith (82)

Score Bengals lead 14-9 Quarter Fourth, 7:49 remaining Situation Bengals' ball, first-and-10 at the Bengals' 48-yard line Play The Bengals had just converted a crucial third down with a 12-yard pass from quarterback Carson Palmer to receiver Chad Johnson. On the next play, Palmer (9) dropped back and threw deep for Johnson (85), who got behind the Ravens' Chris McAlister (21). Johnson caught the ball at the 8-yard line, while McAlister complained that Johnson pushed off. Safety Chad Williams (49)

Monday night's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars will mark the 16th time in franchise history the Ravens have appeared on "Monday Night Football. " Baltimore is 7-8 all-time in the weekly football showcase, and 3-2 under John Harbaugh. In those games, there have been plenty of memorable moments, both good and bad. Here's a quick look at six of the best individual "Monday Night Football" performances in Ravens history: January 7, 2002: Terry Allen rushed for 133 of the team's season-high 212 rushing yards in a 19-3 win over the Minnesota Vikings . By winning the first “Monday Night Football” game in Baltimore since the Colts left town for Indianapolis, the Ravens clinched the AFC's final playoff spot.

It's another tantalizing Ravens-Jets matchup, another chance to dissect the Ravens' decision to go with John Harbaugh over Rex Ryan as head coach in 2008. Please, let's stop this incessant second guess of Steve Bisciotti. It's silly, it's tiresome and it's pointless. Bisciotti made the right call for his organization. Harbaugh was exactly what the Ravens needed at the time: an energetic, forceful, demanding coach who swept the country club atmosphere out of the team's locker room.

I'm going to act like writing about something like this is below me, even though you and I both know that it isn't, but according to a report by TMZ, former Ravens cornerback and "former NFL bad ass" Chris McAlister has claimed that he is "BROKE AS A JOKE and living with his parents. " Those are TMZ's words, not mine. According to the report , McAlister, 34, is currently in a court battle with his ex-wife, Marlene, over child support money. TMZ reported that in official court documents, the former Pro Bowl cornerback claimed, "I have been unemployed since 2009.

The rollercoaster first round of the NFL draft again lived up to its prime-time billing Thursday night, with twists (four quarterbacks going in the first 12 picks), turns (former top prospects Da’Quan Bowers and Nick Fairley free-falling) and some queasiness in Baltimore when the clock ran out on the Ravens around 10:45 p.m. But at the end of the thrill ride, the Ravens got their guy. Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith, a top-15 talent in the eyes of many draft analysts, was the player they wanted all along, and after the early run on quarterbacks, he was there at pick No. 26. But after a trade with the Bears, picking three spots later, fell through -- “My bad,” said Bears GM Jerry Angelo -- the Ravens didn’t get their pick in on time and the Chiefs raced to the podium to take Pittsburgh receiver Jonathan Baldwin.

When a team believes it is only a player or two away from the Super Bowl, it will take a gamble with a high-priced free agent, or a star rookie with a troubled background. The Ravens took a gamble Thursday night. With the No. 27 pick in the first round of the NFL draft, the Ravens selected Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith. There is little doubt that Smith was one of the most talented players in the draft, but he has more baggage than an airline carrier at BWI. His name has been linked with published reports of failed drug tests and other revelations about alcohol-related arrests and a third-degree assault in a restaurant.

In consecutive drafts in 1998 and 1999, the Ravens found two starting Super Bowl cornerbacks. One was smallish Duane Starks; the other was prototypical big cornerback Chris McAlister. In each case, the price was the 10 t h overall pick. Now, for the first time since general manager Ozzie Newsome empowered that Super Bowl defense, the Ravens could spend a first-round pick Thursday night in search of the elusive shutdown cornerback. Or they could wait until the third round to find reinforcements for Chuck Pagano's retooled secondary.

Jason Olford Position: Defensive back College: Louisiana Tech Who he is: This rookie free agent was a two-year standout at Louisiana Tech. He had 86 tackles (71 solo) and nine interceptions in two years. His average of 0.5 interceptions a game ranked 15th nationally. Favorite football moment: "We played at Louisiana State and the game was on the line, and I intercepted a pass and took it back 40 yards for a touchdown. It ended the other team's drive and won the game for us." Ravens mentors: "Matt Stover, James Trapp, Chris McAlister - I look up to those guys.

CB Chris McAlister vs. WR Derrick AlexanderChris McAlister already has been schooled by one outstanding receiver. And the Ravens' rookie cornerback will be lining up for another class tonight, when the Kansas City Chiefs come to PSINet Stadium.Say hello to Derrick Alexander, who rolls into Baltimore with some of the better hands, quicker feet and slicker moves of any AFC wide-out. Oh, and extra motivation will not be a problem for Alexander, who put together back-to-back, 1,000-yard seasons in Baltimore before the Ravens let him take the free-agency route to the Chiefs following the 1997 season.

Finding a big, physical cornerback is considered one of the Ravens' top needs. After watching the first round of wide receivers get measured at the NFL scouting combine — 16 of 23 were over 6 feet — it has almost become a necessity. "It seems like the receivers are getting bigger," said Eric DeCosta, the Ravens' director of player personnel. "Smaller corners typically will have a disadvantage going against bigger receivers. If you can get bigger, those guys can be a little more durable and physical.

The education of Lardarius Webb continues at a frenetic, unrelenting pace. After showing flashes of promise in his rookie season last year before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Dec. 20, the Ravens cornerback has returned to reality this season. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady targeted Webb on several occasions Oct. 17, and Webb's aggressiveness in coverage has at times left him vulnerable to double moves. His most recent outing, the Ravens' 26-21 loss to Atlanta that came down to the last minute Thursday night, was especially humbling as he was benched briefly after getting beaten by wide receiver Roddy White three times on the Falcons' opening drive and lost a fumble on a punt return.