Haloti Ngata

Defensive lineman Haloti Ngata left the game in the second half after injuring his knee and did not return. He said after the game that doctors did not determine whether or not he suffered any ligament damage, so he'll go back to Baltimore to get it evaluated further. "I'm just happy our younger guys were able to step up and do their part," Ngata said.

With his towering height and impressive wingspan, defensive lineman Chris Canty is one of the most imposing players on the Ravens roster. Canty had a dominant minicamp, disrupting passing lanes and shoving offensive linemen into the backfield. He looked explosive and showed no lingering effects from a knee injury that bothered him last season and drew scrutiny from teams during free agent visits, including the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans. "The knee is not a problem at all," Canty said as the Ravens wrapped up their mandatory minicamp.

Forbes released its list of the world's highest-paid athletes on Monday, and one of the biggest names on the Ravens defense is ranked 12th on the list. I'll give you a hint: It is not Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs or Ed Reed. Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, who signed a five-year, $61 million extension with the Ravens last September, earned $37.1 million in salary and bonuses over the past 12 months, which was more than any other athlete playing a team sport . Throw in the $200,000 that he made in endorsements and Ngata raked in $37.3 million.

The difference between lining up over left tackle and the left shoulder of the left guard may not seem vast, but Haloti Ngata admits he felt lost in space when asked to play the five-technique defensive end position in 2012. “Playing defensive end, it's too much space for me,” Ngata said Tuesday evening. “I like the guys around me.” That's why Ngata got downright giddy, at least by his standards, when asked about the free-agent signings of defensive linemen Chris Canty and Marcus Spears and the draft selection of big nose tackle Brandon Williams.

Haloti Ngata has squashed ball-carriers and bowled over quarterbacks throughout his Ravens career, and on Wednesday night, it was unveiled by NFL Network that his peers consider him one of the game's best players. The Ravens defensive tackle was voted as the ninth-best player in the NFL entering the 2012 season. He was ranked the third-highest among defensive players on the NFL's annual list of the top 100 players in the league behind New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (fifth)

The word was out. There was no way you were blocking him with one guy. He was already one of the most disruptive defensive players in the NFL, and now he was emerging as a front-runner for the AFC Defensive Player of the Year . About a third of the way through the 2011-12 season, those things were being said and written more about Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata than linebacker Terrell Suggs. However, it was Suggs who set a career-high with 14 sacks and a franchise-record with seven forced fumbles on his way to winning the NFL's top defensive honor.

The difference between lining up over left tackle and the left shoulder of the left guard may not seem vast, but Haloti Ngata admits he felt lost in space when asked to play the five-technique defensive end position in 2012. “Playing defensive end, it's too much space for me,” Ngata said Tuesday evening. “I like the guys around me.” That's why Ngata got downright giddy, at least by his standards, when asked about the free-agent signings of defensive linemen Chris Canty and Marcus Spears and the draft selection of big nose tackle Brandon Williams.

Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata was fined $15,000 for his second-quarter hit on New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez that led to Jarret Johnson's fumble return for a touchdown in the 34-17 victory Sunday. No penalty was called on the play, but the league assessed the fine on Ngata for roughing the passer. Replays showed that Ngata led with his helmet while hitting Sanchez in the back. Johnson picked up the ball and ran it in from 26 yards out for a touchdown, giving the Ravens a 27-7 lead.

Dealing with a sprained right knee and right shoulder injury, Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata didn't play a single snap during the Ravens' 55-20 win Sunday over the Oakland Raiders. Ngata was active, but missed his first game this season as he was rested ahead of key upcoming games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Diego Chargers. "We were hoping that we wouldn't have to play him," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "It turned out that we didn't have to play him. " Ngata was limited to two tackles over the previous two games, including no tackles against the Cleveland Browns.

Haloti Ngata appeared during the portion of Thursday's practice open to the media. The three-time Pro Bowler had participated in Wednesday's session on a limited basis because of an injured shoulder. Offensive tackle Jah Reid, who practiced fully Wednesday and has yet to play this season because of a strained right calf, was also active. Free safety Ed Reed did not make an appearance during the open viewing, but he might have made his way to the field after reporters were ushered away.

As his fellow defensive linemen worked through various in-game situations at Ravens' minicamp Tuesday, Haloti Ngata remained mostly on the sidelines. The mammoth defensive tackle ran some sprints and performed a variety of stretches but he spent most of the workout off to the side watching his teammates. It's not exactly where the Ravens want to see one of their most accomplished defensive players. However, training camp is still about a month and a half away and Ravens head coach John Harbaugh believes that Ngata is "right where he needs to be. " "He's in good shape.

Having signed all their draft picks except first-rounder Matt Elam , having shored up their biggest perceived weakness with the signing of linebacker Daryl Smith and with very little salary cap room to do much else, it's hard to imagine the Ravens being too active over the next five weeks before the start of training camp. However, something clearly has to be worked out with the status of Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach . As my colleague Aaron Wilson reported last week, the Ravens, who took Leach's potential successor, Kyle Juszczyk, in the fourth round of April's draft, are expected to craft a proposal to adjust his contract, which carries a $4.33 million salary cap hit for the coming season.

After missing the first two weeks of organized team activities, fullback Vonta Leach and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata are out on the field today, participating in the final session before next week's mandatory minicamp. However, there is no sign of guard Marshal Yanda , linebacker Terrell Suggs or defensive end Chris Canty . None of the three have been participants during the OTA sessions open to reporters the past three weeks. Suggs and Yanda did both attend the Ravens' White House visit yesterday.

Cut by the Ravens in early April, linebacker and special teams standout Brendon Ayanbadejo still hasn't ruled out playing in the NFL during the 2013 season. He works out daily and keeps himself ready in case a team calls and the situation is right. But right now, the 36-year-old is far too busy with other endeavors to be consumed with whether his 10-year NFL career is over.   “There's not anything that I have to do right now so If the football angle has exhausted itself because there's no more options in football, then that will come to a close on its own and then there will be a point where I have to announce my retirement.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Former Ravens center Matt Birk, a Minnesota native, threw out the ceremonial first pitch Saturday night before the Orioles faced the Twins at Target Field . Birk also took part in a pregame Pepsi home run contest. Birk came in second, hitting two softballs over the wall (from a center field plate). The Twins mascot, T.C., won. Birk, 36, retired from football after helping the Ravens to the Super Bowl title this year. His former teammate Haloti Ngata threw out the first pitch at a game at Camden Yards earlier this week .

Each weekday through April 24, the day before the first round of the NFL draft, The Sun will look at where the Ravens stand at each position, the likelihood that they will address that spot early in the draft and some of the prospects that they may consider. Today we'll examine the defensive line: Current defensive linemen under contract : Haloti Ngata, Chris Canty, Marcus Spears, Arthur Jones, Pernell McPhee, Terrence Cody, DeAngelo Tyson, Swanson Miller Chances that the Ravens draft DL in first three rounds : Decent.

Haloti Ngata recorded 31 tackles, a sack and an interception in his rookie campaign last season. Sports Illustrated recently named him one of the league's top 10 defenders under the age of 25. What do you find more satisfying - a bone-jarring hit or an interception like the one you had in last season's opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? I would rather get a big hit than an interception. I don't want to hurt a guy, but I want him to feel me and know that I'm there. Do you feel like there's more pressure on you to perform?

Haloti Ngata participated on a limited basis for the second straight day. The three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle has been bothered by an injured shoulder. Offensive tackle Jah Reid (strained right calf) practiced fully for the second consecutive day. The Dallas Cowboys, Sunday's opponent, practiced for the second straight day without both of their punters. Chris Jones and Brian Moorman are dealing with a left knee and right groin injury, respectively. Starting rookie cornerback Morris Claiborne also did not participate because of an illness.

The significance of replacing Ed Reed resonated strongly with new Ravens free safety Michael Huff, a feeling he imparted to the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Before Huff officially signed his three-year, $6 million contract, he texted Reed to let him know that his old job was in good hands. Reed left Baltimore and joined the Houston Texans last week when the nine-time Pro Bowl selection signed a three-year, $15 million contract. “It means a lot,” Huff said Thursday afternoon during an introductory news conference at team headquarters.

The Ravens continued the renovation of their defense on Wednesday, signing former Oakland Raiders safety Michael Huff to a three-year deal worth $6 million. He is the fourth defender the Ravens have signed in free agency, along with pass rusher Elvis Dumervil and defensive linemen Chris Canty and Marcus Spears. With the Ravens being forced to pinch pennies and cut ties with a couple of valuable veterans due to their tight salary cap situation, we have been talking a lot about the “right player at the right price” this offseason.