David Modell

"No more of this Andre Rison B.S."Those are the words of Art Modell, and they're intended for Steve Everitt and any other Raven who expects the team to spend as freely as it did in Cleveland.Those days are over, and the Ravens will be better for it.The problem is, their newfound fiscal restraint might cost them Everitt, a quality center who wants to be paid like a left tackle.It also could cost them wide receiver Michael Jackson, but team officials plan to renegotiate his contract, and Modell is confident of re-signing him.The prospect of losing either player from such a productive offense is unnerving, but such is life in the National Finance League.

LONDON -- Well, there was at least one team of ravens that had a good year.Protected by royal decree, beloved by tourists, the ravens at the Tower of London didn't disappoint their millions of fans in 1996. ,, They simply showed up and frolicked every day inside the medieval fortress by the Thames River.Too bad football teams don't run as smoothly as these eight birds.Yesterday, Baltimore Ravens executive vice president David Modell showed up at the Tower of London to pay his respects and learn about the world's most famous ravens.

The Ravens have yet to begin negotiations with the agent of No. 1 draft pick Jonathan Ogden, a move that has his agent a little miffed but not concerned.Ogden, the offensive tackle from UCLA, is expected to start at left guard for the Ravens. He was the No. 4 selection overall in the draft."We haven't had any conversation at all," said Marvin Demoff, Ogden's Los Angeles-based agent. "I don't know why we haven't talked since he was drafted two months ago, but I guess the team has a reason and I suspect it's a legitimate one."

I just gotta say it: Knocking down the "tilted" Best store at Towson Marketplace, a stunning example of "earthquake architecture," is one of the lamest corporate decisions I've heard . . . Spotted at night, way up in the middle of the Key Bridge: A skunk, alive and well and moving at a pretty good clip, headed west. No one has yet explained what the skunk was seeking at that altitude. . . . Sign in a restaurant-carryout in Galena, on the Eastern Shore: "Toilet for sit-down customers only."

Officials with the Ravens and NFL Properties viewed potential uniform designs yesterday as the team appears to be narrowing in on a color scheme of black, dark purple and gold."

Roy Sommerhof, the Orioles' director of stadium operations, has decided to leave the organization to take charge of ticket sales for the NFL Ravens."It's a good opportunity for me," Sommerhof said. "I'm just looking forward to the challenge."Ravens officials said that Sommerhof approached them about an opening."He sent us a resume," Ravens owner Art Modell said. "I don't want people to perceive this as us raiding the Orioles."Said Ravens vice president David Modell: "We're not in the business of poaching employees from any organization."

PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Colts and Bombers are probably out, but the new Baltimore NFL team is still trying to find what's in for the team's nickname.A delegation from NFL Properties will meet with the top executives of the new Baltimore club today to make a presentation on the results of a telephone poll of 1,000 Baltimore residents on possible nicknames. The poll followed work with several focus groups.Regardless of the poll and focus group results, Colts and Bombers are likely to be ruled out.Jimmy Irsay, the son of Indianapolis Colts owner Bob Irsay, simply has put too high a price on the Colts name.

Baltimore team officials began preliminary meetings last night with focus groups and NFL Properties about acquiring a name for the city's new football team.Also, Baltimore coach Ted Marchibroda continued his search for a defensive coordinator, and has interest in Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers coach Marvin Lewis and Carolina Panthers secondary coach George Catavolos.Baltimore vice president David Modell said the focus groups will be considering names from The Sun expansion poll in 1993 and the recent name poll from Channel 45, as well as entertaining new ideas.

CHICAGO -- Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell has not given up his quest to return the Colts name to Baltimore.Although Indianapolis Colts general manager Jim Irsay said Thursday that his family would not return the name to Baltimore's new NFL team, Modell said there is a chance Irsay might relinquish the name.Modell said he approached Irsay last month about acquiring the name."I told him I was leaving the Browns name, colors and records in Cleveland," said Modell. "I told him since I was leaving the legacy there, it would be nice to restore the tradition in Baltimore.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Cleveland Browns officials said they have not conducted a recent count but estimated there were nearly 20,000 written requests for season tickets one week after the team's announced move to Baltimore.Browns owner Art Modell made the announcement on Nov. 6 in Baltimore."I'm not an expert on litigation, but we have been advised not to conduct business here until this is settled in the courts," said David Modell, who is a team vice president. "But I leafed through them the first week, and we had a count of about 20,000."