Defensive Lineman

Maryland defensive lineman Isaiah Ross has been suspended for a year for violations of university policy. Another player -- offensive lineman Pete White -- is leaving the team although he remains enrolled at the school. Ross is also still enrolled. Maryland would not offer details about Ross. The only offense cited in the university's "Policy on Conduct and Ethics for Student-Athletes" and the "Drug Policy for Student-Athletes" that specifically mandates a year-long suspension is a third violation of the drug policy.

Five Gilman players, including Co-Defensive Players of the Year Henry Poggi and Micah Kiser, lead the Maryland team that will take on Pennsylvania's best in the 56th annual Big 33 Football Classic on July 15 at Hersheypark Stadium. Poggi, a defensive lineman headed for Michigan, and Kiser, a linebacker headed for Virginia, are joined by Greyhounds teammates Shane Cockerille, a Maryland-bound quarterback, Miles Norris, a Cornell-bound linebacker and defensive lineman Nick Fertitta, who is headed for American International College.

Third-year defensive lineman Cody Blue (Wilde Lake) said Tuesday night that he's leaving the Maryland football program, becoming the seventh player with eligibility remaining to announce his departure since the season ended. Blue played in four games this past season and was credited with five tackles, including one for a loss. *** UPDATE: Maryland issued a statement today in response to queries about Blue. " We have had discussions with Cody regarding a number of university and athletics department issues, which we will not discuss publicly," Kevin Anderson, the school's athletic director, said in the prepared remarks.

COLLEGE PARK -- More than a dozen former Maryland football players made their way onto the field at Byrd Stadium on Wednesday, likely for the final time in their playing careers. It was the Terps ' pro day, and the players were looking to show off their capabilities to 14 NFL scouts on hand. It's a nerve-racking experience. The players took part in a series of drills that tested their speed, agility and athleticism in hopes that their performance will lead to a team calling their name during April's NFL draft.

HERNDON, Va. -- Defensive lineman Eric Williams of the Detroit Lions announced last night that he has been traded to the Washington Redskins.According to Williams, the Redskins gave up running back James Wilder and a fourth-round draft choice to get him.The Redskins did not confirm the deal until several hours after Williams announced it because they had problems contacting Wilder, who is in the process of moving. The trade is also contingent on Wilder and Williams passing physicals today with their new teams.

The Ravens lost their second defensive lineman this week after learning yesterday that rookie tackle Martin Chase would miss an estimated four to six weeks with a severely sprained right ankle.Chase, a fifth-round draft pick who suffered the injury Saturday, will be re-tested after about three weeks. The good news is a test on his sore knee from a previous injury revealed nothing serious.On Sunday, the Ravens lost backup defensive end Mike Frederick for two weeks to a knee injury.Zeier's atonementIt didn't take backup quarterback Eric Zeier long to make up for a bad day.At yesterday's morning practice, Zeier looked sharp.

COLLEGE PARK - When all of the variations of Maryland's new football uniforms were unveiled last year, they were nearly as conspicuous for what didn't appear on the jerseys as what did. Gone were players' names on the back of the jerseys - a decision that figured prominently in what might be called the "Maryland Makeover. " It was part of an updating of the football program's uniforms and field markings. But coach Randy Edsall confirmed after practice Tuesday that the names on the jerseys are returning, and he explained the program's thinking about the change.

Ravens linebacker Adalius Thomas was all smiles this afternoon, a day after limping off the practice field wearing a pained expression. Thomas sat out of today's afternoon workout with a hyperextended right knee suffered near the end of Tuesdays morning workout, an injury that appeared to be serious. But a magnetic resonance imaging test revealed no ligament or meniscus damage. "I was very scared," Thomas said. "The first thing that went through my head was 'Dang, I'm going to need a year of rehab,' because of the way it felt.

Dwan Edwards' first week as a Raven was a blur. In April 2004, the defensive lineman was drafted in the second round. Two days later, he became a father. By the end of the week, he was flying cross-country for his first minicamp. It didn't seem like life would ever slow down ... until it quickly did. For three seasons, Edwards was inactive for half of the Ravens' games, standing on the sideline in street clothes while his teammates played. Instead of lining up against offensive linemen, Edwards had to face questions about when - or if - he would play.

Before defensive lineman Trevor Pryce considered signing a free-agent deal with the Ravens, another R-word popped into his head. Pryce, who spent his first nine seasons with the Denver Broncos before joining the Ravens before the start of last season, said he thought about retirement rather than endure the rigors of another training camp in a different city with a different coaching staff. RAVENS@BENGALS Season opener, Monday, 7 p.m., ESPN, Ch. 13, 1090 AM, 97.9 FM Line: Bengals by 2 1/2

Maryland defensive lineman Isaiah Ross has been suspended for a year for violations of university policy. Another player -- offensive lineman Pete White -- is leaving the team although he remains enrolled at the school. Ross is also still enrolled. Maryland would not offer details about Ross. The only offense cited in the university's "Policy on Conduct and Ethics for Student-Athletes" and the "Drug Policy for Student-Athletes" that specifically mandates a year-long suspension is a third violation of the drug policy.

Although cameras will attempt to capture every move by New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and other key players like Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, running back Ray Rice and inside linebacker Ray Lewis, the grunt work on the offensive and defensive lines figures to be pivotal in Sunday's AFC championship game. "Pretty much every game is decided in the trenches, and then by guys making plays," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "Whoever wins the trenches has a great chance to win the game.

For a big man, Vince Wilfork moves around a lot. On one snap, he can be at left defensive end or tackle. On another snap, he can be at the same position on the right side. Sometimes, Wilfork can line up directly over the center. But he's always in somebody's head - one big, mean, nasty 6-foot-2, 325-pound headache. "Vince Wilfork is a beast," said Ravens running back Ray Rice about the New England Patriots' top defensive lineman. "He is a flat-out beast. He handles double-teams.

Maryland shooting guard target Dion Wiley had a huge game Saturday at the National Hoops Festival at DeMatha. The four-star junior scored 26 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and added two assists and two steals in Potomac's win over St. John's (D.C.). Rivals.com's Eric Bossi wrote that Wiley " has one of the quickest triggers in the class of 2014 . " At times the four-star wing's ball handling is a little shaky, and he has to develop more of a midrange game, but there's no question he's a high-major scorer.

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher shot his girlfriend -- the mother of his 3-month old daughter -- multiple times Saturday morning, drove about five miles from their home to the team's practice facility near Arrowhead Stadium and killed himself in front of Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Scott Pioli, Kansas City police say. Belcher, 25, and his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, 22, had been arguing when Belcher shot her just...

Every morning, Monday through Friday, blogger Matt Vensel will hook you up with reading material -- mostly on the Ravens but with some other Baltimore sports stuff, too -- to skim through as you slug down coffee and slack off at the start of your workday. That way he'll have an excuse to do the same to start his workday, too. RUNNING IT BACK Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron defended his use of running back Ray Rice on Thursday. … The Ravens are still waiting for a few high draft picks on defense to emerge . … Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata sat out Thursday's practice . … Offensive lineman Jah Reid is preparing to get some playing time at left guard . … Mike Preston writes that the Ravens are at a crossroads here at the midpoint of the 2012 regular season.

For a big man, Vince Wilfork moves around a lot. On one snap, he can be at left defensive end or tackle. On another snap, he can be at the same position on the right side. Sometimes, Wilfork can line up directly over the center. But he's always in somebody's head - one big, mean, nasty 6-foot-2, 325-pound headache. "Vince Wilfork is a beast," said Ravens running back Ray Rice about the New England Patriots' top defensive lineman. "He is a flat-out beast. He handles double-teams.

They had a chance to get a player they wanted, so the Ravens pounced. The team traded with the Washington Redskins up four spots to the 52nd pick in the second round of yesterday's NFL draft to select Notre Dame defensive lineman Anthony Weaver, a player who will likely be a starter. Washington received the Ravens' 56th pick in the second round, 87th pick in the third round and 159th pick in the fifth round. The Ravens received Washington's 96th pick in the third round to go with the second-round selection.

During the 2011 college football season, 79 players from the Baltimore area suited up for Football Bowl Subdivision programs . This year, that number will increase by 10. Eighty-nine athletes from this area - Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County - are listed on FBS rosters this fall. The ACC leads the way with 30 local players. Maryland is responsible for the biggest chunk of that figure with 16 players, while Virginia Tech (4)

COLLEGE PARK - When all of the variations of Maryland's new football uniforms were unveiled last year, they were nearly as conspicuous for what didn't appear on the jerseys as what did. Gone were players' names on the back of the jerseys - a decision that figured prominently in what might be called the "Maryland Makeover. " It was part of an updating of the football program's uniforms and field markings. But coach Randy Edsall confirmed after practice Tuesday that the names on the jerseys are returning, and he explained the program's thinking about the change.