Jameel Mcclain

Minutes before a news conference with Ravens coach John Harbaugh and the recently re-signed Jameel McClain, Baltimore announced the identity of the mystery fourth free agent they locked up today. The Ravens have signed veteran safety Sean Considine, who has played 83 career games in seven NFL seasons. In 2011, he spent time with both the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals. He has also spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Philadelphia Eagles, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2005.

Although some of the Ravens' biggest names were missing from the team's OTA (organized team activity) today, more than 80 on the 90-man roster were in attendance at the Owings Mills training facility. Heading the list of  no-shows: Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice, who was given the franchise tag, is not expected to practice until he gets a new long-term contract; LB Ray Lewis; OLB Terrell Suggs; S Ed Reed; DT Haloti Ngata; C Matt Birk; and fifth-round draft pick Asa Jackson, who can't attend until his school (Cal-Poly)

Despite the absence of 12-time Pro Bowler Ray Lewis, the Ravens defense has been instrumental in helping the team win all four games that the inside linebacker has missed due to a turf toe injury on his right foot. That's not startling to the players tasked with maintaining the high level of play that unit has come to expect from every member. “It's hats off to the system, and it's hats off to guys who work hard and prepare the way they prepare,” free safety Ed Reed said.

Two years ago, Albert McClellan was starting at Marshall University. On Thanksgiving night, he was starting in place of Ray Lewis. McClellan, an undrafted rookie who spent the 2010 season on the Ravens practice squad, started in the team's 16-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers Thursday night. He filled in for Lewis, the 12-time Pro Bowler who missed his second straight contest due to an injured toe on his right foot. “I was excited, starting my first NFL game,” McClellan said.

Cory Redding became the first Ravens' free agent to find a new home today as the veteran defensive end agreed to a three-year, $10.5 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts. The deal was first reported by ESPN. In Indianapolis, Redding will reunite with Chuck Pagano, the Colts' head coach who was the Ravens' defensive coordinator this past season. Pagano is installing a 3-4 hybrid defense in Indianapolis, and it was expected that the he would go after a couple of his former players that have flourished in the system.

There could be change for the Ravens this offseason, especially with former defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano becoming head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. With Pagano in Baltimore, there were only two other AFC head coaches who knew the Ravens system and the value of certain players. But both New York Jets coach Rex Ryan and Cincinnati's Marvin Lewis have been joined by Pagano.  There will be a bidding war, or at least threats, on several of the Ravens other unrestricted free agents.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady won't soon forget Ravens backup inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe . Ellerbe decked Brady in the first quarter, sacking him for a loss of 9 yards during the Ravens' 31-30 victory Sunday night at M&T Bank Stadium. And Ellerbe combined with defensive tackle Haloti Ngata to split a sack for a loss of 7 yards in the fourth quarter. "I always love to blitz when you get to come free," said Ellerbe, who finished with eight tackles and 1.5 sacks . "When the hole closes up on you, I don't like that.

PITTSBURGH - Byron Leftwich completed less than 50 percent of his throws and earned a 51.3 passer rating in the Pittsburgh Steelers' 13-10 loss to the Ravens on Sunday night at Heinz Field, but the 32-year-old quarterback earned a measure of respect from a few Ravens defensive players. Asked if Leftwich is still dangerous in his 10th year in the NFL, Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata replied, “He definitely is dangerous. You saw him throw down the field. [He is] great at throwing that deep ball.

NEW ORLEANS - Walking around the Mercedes-Benz Superdome with just a trace of a limp, Lardarius Webb paused for a moment, took a long look around and smiled. His thinking: What's the point of being bitter? Out for the season since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee back in October, the cornerback is contributing to the Ravens' Super Bowl run the only way he can. Planning to root for his teammates and offer scouting tips Sunday night, Webb has his fingers crossed that the team's veterans get to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Among the variety of reasons why prognosticators think the Ravens will have the advantage against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday is Byron Leftwich's long windup. Leftwich's passing motion has been compared to that of a baseball pitcher and may rival New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow's for its elongated windup. While critics question how Leftwich can release the ball quickly enough to execute offensive coordinator Todd Haley's scheme, the Ravens said they aren't giving much weight to that theory.