Jamal Lewis

Before trying to figure out why the subtractions from the Ravens are outweighing the additions so far, a brief disclaimer: The next-to-last thing anybody should do is judge an NFL free-agent period after its first eight or nine days. The very last thing, of course, is judge a draft as soon as the picks are made. Both laws get violated regularly, including right here. With free agency just having started, the Ravens are really asking for it. So many important players going out. So few known quantities coming in. So much hope resting on the in-house promotions.

When running back Willis McGahee stepped into Ravens headquarters yesterday, the landscape of the team's offense changed. Coach Brian Billick talked about how the Ravens can more frequently spread out teams with three receivers because McGahee can run out of single-back formations. Billick spoke about how the team can break out the screen and swing passes again because McGahee is so effective in space. Those are the types of changes to expect as the Ravens go from a bashing-type runner (Jamal Lewis)

There's always someone better and younger out there for your favorite NFL team and its fans. That's what this time of year is all about in America's favorite sport. And that's why it's so easy for a player who has meant as much to a franchise and its fans as Jamal Lewis has meant to the Ravens and Baltimore can just be cut loose and his position given away. Of course, maybe Lewis didn't mean all that much to people here. In a poll on The Sun's Web site, votes ran close to 75 percent against bringing him back to run the ball for the Ravens next season.

Daylight-saving time begins this weekend. Did you get the memo? You have to "spring forward" and it isn't even spring yet. That's because, by act of Congress, daylight-saving time comes three weeks ahead of schedule. (It usually begins on the first Sunday of April.) If you think you'll have trouble remembering all this, let me know (410-332-6166), and my staff and I will give you a wake-up call Sunday morning. Some people worry that the early start to daylight saving will have Y2K effects.

Entering last season, the Ravens had a lot of questions about right offensive tackle Tony Pashos and fullback Ovie Mughelli. After yesterday, those two had only one question: Where do I sign? The NFL brags about parity, and the Ravens were pared down in the first day of free agency as they lost their starting right tackle to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and fullback to the Atlanta Falcons. Early into this offseason, the Ravens have also cut starting running back Jamal Lewis for financial relief on their salary cap, and Pro Bowl outside linebacker Adalius Thomas reportedly signed with the New England Patriots last night.

After hearing how linebacker Adalius Thomas and offensive tackle Tony Pashos will find big-money contracts elsewhere, you have to wonder which players are the Ravens expecting to sign? That's the question being asked by linebacker-defensive end Jarret Johnson and the other Ravens who became unrestricted free agents today. The Ravens have had preliminary talks with all 11 of their free agents, but like they have done in the past, they will allow them to test the market. Although there is a chance that the Ravens could sign one player today, this has the makings of an unusually slow start of free agency, which creates an uncertain future for their free agents.

This little operation the Ravens have to execute with Jamal Lewis, they're going to have to execute very cautiously, very gingerly, almost delicately. Kind of the way Jamal has run the ball the past couple of years. Ouch! Way out of line. But c'mon, don't act like you didn't think that even before you read it. Give the Ravens credit - they are, by every indication, trying not to make this a coldblooded, cold-hearted farewell to one of the best players in franchise history. They're trying to keep him, but just at a price they can live with.

The Ravens cut running back Jamal Lewis yesterday, but the salary cap-related move doesn't signal the exit for the franchise's all-time leading rusher. Faced with few options in the free-agent market, the Ravens will continue talks in an effort to bring back Lewis, whose production has declined the past few seasons. "We are involved in negotiations with Jamal Lewis, and there has been good dialogue," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "Jamal has been a significant contributor to us in the last seven seasons.

The worst thing the Ravens can do this offseason is to maintain the status quo, which could be disastrous. Instead, the No. 1 priority should be to upgrade the running game and then re-sign several of the team's possible unrestricted free agents. The Ravens also need to insert new personnel on the offensive line, find a starting cornerback and, of course, add overall depth. The most glaring difference between the Ravens and the three other final teams in the AFC playoffs was offensive effectiveness.

RAVENS KEYS TO VICTORY 1. WIN TIME OF POSSESSION Sometimes, the Ravens' best defense is their offense. By controlling the clock -- whether it's Jamal Lewis running the ball or Steve McNair hitting the shorter routes -- the Ravens will keep the ball out of the hands of Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. 2. BE AGGRESSIVE ON DEFENSE The Ravens can rattle the Colts by hitting Manning and jamming their receivers at the line. (See: New England Patriots' playoff game plan against Indianapolis.) 3.