Josh Bynes

Troubled inside linebacker Rolando McClain informed Ravens officials Wednesday that he will retire from the NFL, a decision he reached before participating in one practice with his new team. McClain signed with the Ravens on April 12, was arrested just nine days later and then made the surprising decision Wednesday to call it quits on his playing career at the age of 23. Taken eighth overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 2010 draft, McClain played just three seasons, his career marred by on-field inconsistency and off-the-field legal issues.

Troubled inside linebacker Rolando McClain informed Ravens officials Wednesday that he will retire from the NFL, a decision he reached before participating in one practice with his new team. McClain signed with the Ravens on April 12, was arrested just nine days later and then made the surprising decision Wednesday to call it quits on his playing career at the age of 23. Taken eighth overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 2010 draft, McClain played just three seasons, his career marred by on-field inconsistency and off-the-field legal issues.

In his first career start at inside linebacker, Josh Bynes led the Ravens with a career-best 13 tackles (11 solo) and broke up one pass in Sunday's 34-17 loss to the Denver Broncos. That Bynes has even returned to the field is a remarkable story considering his ordeal in the preseason. He suffered a cracked vertebrae during a goal-line scrimmage close to the beginning of training camp. He needed six weeks to recover, was waived by the team on Aug. 31, and then added to the practice squad the next day. Bynes was promoted to the 53-man active roster Oct. 17 when the Ravens moved 13-time Pro Bowler Ray Lewis to the injured reserve list with a designation for return.

Each weekday through tomorrow, 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 inside linebacker: Current inside linebackers under contract : Jameel McClain, Rolando McClain, Albert McClellan, Josh Bynes, Bryan Hall, Nigel Carr Chances that the Ravens draft an inside linebacker in first three rounds : High.

When Jameel McClain suffered a serious neck stinger late in the third quarter of the Ravens' 31-28 overtime loss to the Washington Redskins last Sunday, the responsibility of wearing the helmet that transmitted defensive coordinator Dean Pees' calls did not go to veterans like free safety Ed Reed, strong safety Bernard Pollard or inside linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo. That honor went to Josh Bynes, an undrafted free agent last year. And if Ray Lewis (torn right triceps) and Dannell Ellerbe (right ankle, left foot, both thumbs)

Ravens center Matt Birk missed practice for a fourth consecutive day Thursday. The reason for his absence has not been disclosed, though head coach John Harbaugh said on Tuesday that the 36-year-old is at the stage of his career where he doesn't have to practice every day. Rookie Gino Gradkowski has been filling in for him at center. There was still no sign of defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (hamstring) and offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie (back). Neither has practiced in training camp so far, though Harbaugh said Wednesday that Ngata is getting closer.

The Ravens had eight players not participating in the early portion of today's practice and all were expected absences. Those eight players are wide receiver David Reed (knee), tight ends Ed Dickson (shoulder) and Dennis Pitta (broken hand), offensive tackle Jah Reid (calf), linebackers Josh Bynes (back) and Terrell Suggs (Achilles), defensive end Pernell McPhee (personal matter) and defensive tackle Ryan McBean (ankle). Coach John Harbaugh said yesterday that McPhee is away from the team to deal with a death in his family.

As the Ravens near the end of training camp, Tuesday began at the team's headquarters in Owings Mills without Ed Reed and Torrey Smith. The eight-time Pro Bowl free safety and starting wide receiver were not present during the first 30 minutes of practice. Smith has been battling a sprained ankle suffered in Thursday night's 31-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, but it's unclear if Reed is also dealing with an injury. He could have been given the day off - much as left guard Bobbie Williams (swollen right ankle)

Rookie linebacker Courtney Upshaw returned to practice after missing the past seven workouts because of a right shoulder sprain. Upshaw, the team's first of two second-round picks in April, was one of several Ravens to return to the practice field today. Running back Anthony Allen , guard Marshal Yanda , linebacker Jameel McClain and defensive end Pernell McPhee , who all left practice early yesterday, were also on the practice field. Nose tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu also returned after missing Monday's practice.

Minutes before the Ravens were scheduled to begin practice at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, the organization announced it had signed Stevie Baggs Jr. to the roster. The 30-year-old linebacker has spent time with the Arizona Cardinals and the Detroit Lions, but has played mostly in the Canadian Football League. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 241 pounds, Baggs is a pass-rushing linebacker. The Ravens have been practicing at less than full strength at linebacker. Rookie outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw (bruised right shoulder)

The NFL has released some intimate audio and video from the sidelines of Super Bowl XLVII, and one of the most interesting exchanges was filmed on the Ravens sideline before the final play of Baltimore's 34-31 win. As Sam Koch prepared to boot a free kick to San Francisco 49ers return Ted Ginn Jr., quarterback Joe Flacco told his teammates to run onto the field and tackle Ginn if it looked like he was going to score. This, of course, is illegal and could have resulted in an automatic touchdown, but Flacco wasn't sure about the rule.

On Sunday, the Ravens play the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, and they will attempt to win their second Lombardi Trophy with a roster largely constructed with homegrown players raised in the Ravens Way. The vast majority of those players have been acquired in the past five years, though there are a handful of Pro Bowl players and franchise building blocks that have stood the test of time -- including that No. 52 guy. Here is a...

Despite an encouraging week of practice and a desire to return, Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis won't play Sunday against the New York Giants. Lewis, who hasn't played since Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys because of a torn right triceps, was not activated before Saturday's 4 p.m. deadline, making him ineligible to face the reigning Super Bowl champions. It will be the ninth straight game Lewis has missed. The 37-year-old has practiced the past three weeks, and several team sources indicated Thursday that they were hopeful Lewis would return against the Giants.

The Ravens will again wait until Saturday afternoon to make a decision on Ray Lewis , but early indications are that the inside linebacker will attempt to play Sunday against the New York Giants. Lewis, who is trying to come back from a torn triceps that he sustained in the Ravens' Week 6 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, practiced for the third straight week and he wants to return. The Ravens also possess the roster flexibility to accommodate him on the 53-man roster with Jameel McClain (neck)

In his first career start at inside linebacker, Josh Bynes led the Ravens with a career-best 13 tackles (11 solo) and broke up one pass in Sunday's 34-17 loss to the Denver Broncos. That Bynes has even returned to the field is a remarkable story considering his ordeal in the preseason. He suffered a cracked vertebrae during a goal-line scrimmage close to the beginning of training camp. He needed six weeks to recover, was waived by the team on Aug. 31, and then added to the practice squad the next day. Bynes was promoted to the 53-man active roster Oct. 17 when the Ravens moved 13-time Pro Bowler Ray Lewis to the injured reserve list with a designation for return.

Ahmad Bradshaw has said that he plans to play Sunday, which should cause some concern for the Ravens. The New York Giants running back leads the team in rushing, piling up 869 yards and five touchdowns on 196 carries. And in his only meeting against the Ravens on Nov. 16, 2008, Bradshaw averaged 10.7 yards on just nine carries, rushing for 96 yards. That might not bode well for a Ravens defense that just surrendered 118 yards and one touchdown to the Denver Broncos' Knowshon Moreno in last Sunday's 34-17 loss.

The Ravens may have to meet the Denver Broncos Sunday without their top three inside linebackers in Ray Lewis (torn right triceps), Jameel McClain (neck stinger) and Dannell Ellerbe (right ankle, left foot, both thumbs). That would leave the defense with just three healthy inside linebackers in Josh Bynes, Brendon Ayanbadejo and Albert McClellan. Both McClellan and Bynes are undrafted players, and Ayanbadejo is 36 years old. Dean Pees acknowledged that there is a difference between that trio and the group of Lewis, McClain and Ellerbe, but the defensive coordinator said the biggest impact is a reduction in the number of packages the Ravens can employ.

Like coach John Harbaugh promised, several of the Ravens' veterans will not be playing in tonight's preseason opener at the Georgia Dome against the Atlanta Falcons. Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed will sit this one out. Veteran  Brendon Ayanbadejo will start at middle linebacker in place of Lewis and Emanuel Cook will start at safety in place of Reed. The other Ravens scratches include rookie running back Bernard Pierce (hamstring), wide receivers Patrick Williams (leg)

Continuing a pattern from last week, Ray Lewis has been present during the portion of this week's practices open to the media. But the 13-time Pro Bowl inside linebacker is still on the injured reserve list with a designation to return, which is why defensive coordinator Dean Pees isn't making any assurances about Lewis' return for Sunday's game against the New York Giants. “It'd be great to have him back,” Pees said after Thursday's practice. “I said that a couple weeks ago when we first started kind of seeing him come back.