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.

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.

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.

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 .

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome is back to his old theme: "right player, right price. " He is hustling around the NFL these days searching flea markets and basements trying to find player bargains to fill out his roster to start the 2013 season. The Ravens, who have little salary cap room, might be able to sign a big-name free agent like linebacker Elvis Dumervil or James Harrison if they cut a veteran or two, but they're basically in the hunt for stop-gap veterans who still might have a year or two left.

Long before the Ravens went on their Super Bowl run, coaches and team officials had grown tired of watching opposing ball carriers tear through the middle of the line of scrimmage and pick up yards down the field. The Ravens defense fell from the NFL's elite this past season and the primary reason was its struggles against the run, normally one of the strengths of this group. The Ravens allowed 122.8 yards per game on the ground, the highest total in franchise history. The Ravens had one of the top-10 ranked rush defenses for nine straight seasons before the 2012-13 group ballooned to 20 th , the second worst ranking in franchise history.

The Ravens lost two more starters from their Super Bowl roster on Tuesday -- and then cut veteran safety Bernard Pollard on Wednesday -- bringing the total of departed starters to six. The Ravens did, however, sign a versatile defensive lineman who, if he doesn't step into the starting lineup as a five-technique end, could at least play significant snaps in their defensive line rotation. The Ravens signed Chris Canty to a three-year contract worth $8 million, including $2.8 in guaranteed money.

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.

As soon as the Super Bowl ended and quarterback Joe Flacco signed a long term contract, the real business was going to begin as far as reshaping the Ravens. Several of the team's big name free agents were going to ask for more money, and there wasn't going to be a lot to give. The latest is Dannell Ellerbe, the best inside linebacker in free agency. There is no doubt that the Ravens want him back, but at what price? Ellerbe wants a $25 to $30 million contract worth about $6 million per season, and the Ravens want to pay about $5 million a year.

The NFL offseason heats up on Tuesday when the free agency period begins and the NFL draft will take place next month. In anticipation of those events, blogger and reporter Matt Vensel will look at six key positions the Ravens might address in free agency and the NFL draft in the days leading up to the start of free agency. Asked about the team's offseason needs last month, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said he wanted to strength the middle of the defense.