SPORTS
By Jeff Zrebiec, The Baltimore Sun | June 5, 2013
The 2012-13 Ravens will be well represented Wednesday when the team travels to the White House to be honored by President Barack Obama for its 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 3. Linebacker Ray Lewis , who retired following his 17th season in Baltimore, and safety Ed Reed , who signed a free-agent deal with the Houston Texans in March after playing 11 seasons for the Ravens, are both expected to...
NEWS
By John Fritze, The Baltimore Sun | June 5, 2013
When Rep. Chris Van Hollen struck up a conversation recently with a U.S. Capitol Police officer he sees every day on his way to work, he immediately learned two things about the man: He's from Baltimore and he's a huge Ravens fan. And so the Montgomery County Democrat took a break Wednesday from the budget battles playing out in Congress to take Officer Aaron Smith to the White House, where President Barack Obama honored the Super Bowl ...
SPORTS
By Jeff Zrebiec, The Baltimore Sun | May 22, 2013
Joe Flacco is no longer barraged with questions about former offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, finding consistency or even his capability to win the big game. Now the owner of one of the richest contracts in the history of the sport and two weeks away from receiving a sparkling Super Bowl ring, Flacco's status as the Ravens' franchise quarterback will probably never be this secure. Yet as he took the field Tuesday, the 28-year-old felt no different than he did during organized team activities the previous five years.
SPORTS
By Matt Vensel | May 15, 2013
The Ravens could have as many as seven or eight new starters on defense when the 2013 season begins. You can produce a number of statistics that suggest why they may have felt compelled to overhaul their defense. Here is a good one: The Ravens whiffed on 87 tackles during the 2012 season, according to Football Outsiders. Aaron Schatz, who wrote about broken tackles in this recent post , explained that Football Outsiders define a broken tackle as one of two events: “either the ball-carrier escapes from the grasp of the defender, or the defender is in good position for a tackle but the ball-carrier jukes him out of his shoes.” Schatz added that “if the ball-carrier sped by a slow defender who dived and missed, that didn't count as a broken tackle.” Based on Football Outsiders' charting, done by more than two dozen people, only three NFL teams missed more tackles during the regular season.
SPORTS
By Matt Vensel and The Baltimore Sun | May 2, 2013
I couldn't help but notice a trend with Baltimore's 2013 draft class, especially because Ravens officials made a point to mention to reporters that both of their second-day picks were “red-star” players on their draft board. The Ravens, as much as ever, seemed to put a premium on character when deciding whom to pick this year. “The biggest thing is we have a great understanding of the type of football players that [coach John Harbaugh] wants in his locker room, that he and his coaching staff want to work with,” general manager Ozzie Newsome said Saturday.
SPORTS
By Matt Vensel | April 30, 2013
On Saturday evening, Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked about fourth-round draft pick John Simon, who was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2012. Harbaugh raved about Simon's attitude and work ethic. “I think Urban Meyer has a thing on YouTube -- have you seen it? -- where he talks about John Simon,” Harbaugh said, referencing Meyer's news conference after his Ohio State team narrowly defeated California, 35-28, this past September. “It's worth pulling up and taking a look at it. It probably says it all.” That afternoon, Simon, who was a defensive end for the Buckeyes but will play outside linebacker for the Ravens, was barely able to play because of a shoulder injury.