Jamie Sharper

On the Ravens' moving to extend Terrell Suggs' contract Players like Suggs may want to also consider the fates of such free agents as Duane Starks, Gary Baxter, Edgerton Hartwell, Jamie Sharper and Kim Herring. While many of these players enjoyed a nice payday via free agency, they also will look back and see their best (at least most competitive) seasons were in the purple and black. Suggs will get a nice payday, and let's hope he gives us some kind of a hometown discount. This is the guy you have to break the bank on - a young Pro Bowl-quality defensive end.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Ravens linebacker Jamie Sharper turned in a fine performance against the New York Jets yesterday, recording 11 tackles, the highest output of his young career.Does Sharper -- benched two weeks ago in favor of fellow rookie Cornell Brown -- believe he has reclaimed his starting position once and for all?"Coaches are going to make decisions that players don't like, but that's their job," Sharper said. "I just have to go out and practice hard and make plays in the game.

Player name (Games played) DT Sam Adams (20) FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo (8) DB Robert Bailey (20) QB Tony Banks (14) OL Orlando Bobo (7) OLB Peter Boulware (20) LB O.J. Brigance (20) OLB Cornell Brown (18) DE Rob Burnett (20) TE Ben Coates (20) DT Lional Dalton (20) LB Anthony Davis (18) WR Billy Davis (20) QB Trent Dilfer (13) TE Pedro Edison (0) FB Chuck Evans (5) G/C Mike Flynn (20) OT Spencer Folau (13) FB Sam Gash (19) SS Corey Harris (20)

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome has earned his reputation as one of the league’s best talent evaluators due in large part to his success with hitting on first-round selections such as Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Chris McAlister, Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata. But how has he fared in the second round? Looking at the Ravens’ 14 second-round picks since their inaugural season in 1996, there are a handful of underperforming players and just one Pro Bowl player -- current starting running back Ray Rice.

Records: Ravens 5-4; Bengals 2-6. Line: Ravens by 6. Vs. spread: Ravens 4-4; Bengals 4-4. Series: Ravens lead 6-3. Last meeting: Ravens won, 37-0, on Sept. 24 at PSINet Stadium. Quick hits: Ravens allowing NFL-low 2.8 yards per carry and have not allowed 100-yard rusher in 26 games, also tops in NFL. ... Ravens aim for sixth straight AFC Central road win. ... RB Jamal Lewis had first career 100-yard rushing game in last meeting with Bengals in Week 4. ... ... Bengals RB Corey Dillon is averaging 5.2 yards per carry, tops among AFC players with at least 350 yards.

Best hit: FS Rod Woodson, stuffing Arizona RB Michael Pittman at the Ravens' 7 to force a first-quarter fumble and send Pittman to the bench with a concussion. Pittman's helmet came off on the hit. Worst fake-out: CB Chris McAlister, who bit on a stop-and-go pattern and allowed David Boston to get past him for a 56-yard pass play in the second quarter to the Ravens' 38. Best stuff: DT Sam Adams, who dived into the guard-center gap to stop Cardinals QB Jake Plummer on a fourth-and-one sneak in the second quarter.

Thumbs up: Guard Bennie Anderson knocked Ray Lewis backward on a running play to Tellis Redmon during 11-on-11 drills. Thumbs down: Cornerback Alvin Porter was in position but failed to break up a pass to Ron Johnson, resulting in a 40-yard gain. ... Tight end Terry Jones dropped what would have been a 20-yard reception. Quotable: "I don't have time to watch games where we have former players. I don't think my satellite covers that many games." - Ravens coach Brian Billick on if he planned to watch former Ravens Jamie Sharper and Jermaine Lewis with the Houston Texans last night.

Peter Boulware, DERound: 1st, 4th pick overallSize: 6 feet 4, 255 poundsSchool: Florida StateHometown: Columbia, S.C.Career statistics: 151 tackles, 32 sacksQuote: "You need players who can run, change direction and take down the other team's quarterback. We got that." -- Marvin Lewis, Ravens defensive coordinatorJamie Sharper, LBRound: 1st, 34th pick overallSize: 6 feet 2, 240 poundsSchool: VirginiaHometown: Richmond, Va.Career statistics: 495 tackles, school recordQuote: "He's a guy we might have picked in the first round."