Kelly Gregg

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones recently told my Baltimore Sun colleague Kevin Richardson that his brother, Ravens defensive tackle Arthur Jones, " would do great in the octagon . " The 2010 fifth-round draft pick won two New York state championships in high school and has been doing MMA training with Bones this summer . But in a locker room wrestling match during the season with veteran defensive lineman Kelly...

Watching video, Terrence Cody's eyes gloss over the other members of the Ravens' defense until he homes in on a familiar figure. Kelly Gregg usually isn't hard to find. He's the short and squatty guy in the middle of everything, constantly keeping his feet, fighting to surge forward and attracting attention that opponents would prefer paying to Haloti Ngata, Ray Lewis or Terrell Suggs. Gregg was Cody's teammate last season, but now the Ravens' current starting nose tackle watches the team's former one regularly on film, analyzing his footwork and marveling at the leverage he generates while taking on blocks by significantly bigger men. "Kelly can tell if somebody is pulling or not and if it's going to be a run or pass.

When Kelly Gregg and I stroll into the Owings Mills Red Robin on a recent muggy summer afternoon, I contemplate telling our waitress that she might want to alert the cooks, just in case they need backup. I've been dreaming of this moment for months, maybe even years, since hearing tales of Baltimore Colts writers describing the eating habits and antics of Art Donovan, the beefy, everyman hero of his time. Donovan could eat 25 hot dogs in one sitting. He once ordered three pizzas, polished off two of them, then saved the third for breakfast the next morning.I want Kelly Gregg to be the modern-day Art Donovan - telling stories about fishing and wrestling in central Oklahoma as he orders a third plate of ribs and then dips them in gravy.

Terrence Cody isn't a highlight machine or a stats maniac, but the nose tackle has been a factor in the defense's performance this season. Sandwiched by two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and defensive Cory Redding, Cody has stabilized the Ravens' three-man front in their 3-4 defensive alignment. And despite the lack of statistics, Cody's play has not escaped the attention of his coaches. “Is he becoming dominant in there? He dominates in there quite a bit,” coach John Harbaugh said during his weekly briefing on Monday.

The Ravens were interested in keeping nose tackle Kelly Gregg , but they couldn't match an offer from the Kansas City Chiefs. Gregg reportedly will earn twice as much with the Chiefs than he would have with the Ravens, who were offering him $1.5 million. The Ravens officially released Gregg on Thursday, creating $3.5 million in salary-cap room. "Kansas City just gave him an offer that he couldn't refuse," coach John Harbaugh said. "We just wish him the best. Obviously, it's the best thing for his family financially, and we're happy for him. " Playing in Kansas City was a factor for Gregg, whose family lives in Oklahoma.

Each Wednesday we'll bring you a Q&A with a Ravens player to help you learn a little more about the team. Today's guest is defensive tackle Kelly Gregg, who is tied for fourth on the team in tackles with nine and is part of a defense that ranks first in the NFL against the run. Gregg chatted about playing in his first regular-season game in more than a year, matching up against one of the toughest offensive lines in NFL history and "noodling." Question: The season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept.

Entering his second year as the Ravens' defensive coordinator, Greg Mattison says little has changed, but some of his players disagree. They notice a more comfortable and confident Mattison, one willing to take more chances. There remains one constant, though. "He's a tough guy, has skin like an armadillo," defensive tackle Kelly Gregg said. The transition of a year ago was a huge success for Mattison, 60. The Ravens survived a shaky first quarter of the season, especially in pass defense, and finished 2009 ranked No. 3 overall, the seventh straight year the Ravens' defense has finished in the top six. The Ravens also had the NFL's best run defense, allowing only 3.4 yards per carry, were ranked fourth in turnover ratio (plus 10)

When Kelly Gregg and I stroll into the Owings Mills Red Robin on a recent muggy summer afternoon, I contemplate telling our waitress that she might want to alert the cooks, just in case they need backup. I've been dreaming of this moment for months, maybe even years, since hearing tales of Baltimore Colts writers describing the eating habits and antics of Art Donovan, the beefy, everyman hero of his time. Donovan could eat 25 hot dogs in one sitting. He once ordered three pizzas, polished off two of them, then saved the third for breakfast the next morning.

Kelly Gregg attacked his offseason knee rehabilitation with single-minded devotion - scuttling through all the minicamps, pressing all that iron, going deep into therapy without mishap. But the moment of truth - the moment the Ravens knew their Buddha-like nose tackle was back - came one morning at practice when they saw him perform his ritualistic frog jump. "He squats down like a frog almost, with his hands on his knees," said defensive tackle Trevor Pryce, "and he bounces up and down, three or four bounces to squat his weight.

Good morning --Kelly Gregg --Thought of challenging Haloti Ngata to a match race?

Apparently the Pittsburgh Steelers complained about the Ravens chop blocking, and it was only a matter of time before NFL teams called the Ravens out. The Ravens are using a blocking scheme similar to the one used in Denver when John Elway was the quarterback and Terrell Davis was the featured running back. Back then, many  teams complained about the Broncos' chop blocks. When the Ravens played the Denver back in the early 2000's, the Ravens often complained about how the Broncos illegally chopped defensive linemen.

Longtime run stopper Kelly Gregg is officially gone and Terrence Cody is undeniably the man in the middle, latest in a line of nose guards who play traffic cop for the Ravens. Built more like the massive Tony Siragusa than the shorter Gregg, Cody had an uneven rookie season: He arrived overweight, quickly suffered a knee injury that required surgery and spent the first month of the regular season trying to work that big body into shape. Once he got on the field, however, he began to show why he was a steal late in the second round of the 2010 draft.

Kelly Gregg, the second-leading tackler in Ravens history, said there are no hard feelings in parting ways with the team. Gregg signed a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs after the Ravens released him Thursday. The Ravens created $3.5 million in salary cap room by cutting Gregg, who had been the Ravens' starting nose tackle since 2002. "I go back to the salary cap purge in Baltimore when we let Rob Burnett go," Gregg said. "We didn't think that would happen, but it did. It's a business.

The Ravens were interested in keeping nose tackle Kelly Gregg , but they couldn't match an offer from the Kansas City Chiefs. Gregg reportedly will earn twice as much with the Chiefs than he would have with the Ravens, who were offering him $1.5 million. The Ravens officially released Gregg on Thursday, creating $3.5 million in salary-cap room. "Kansas City just gave him an offer that he couldn't refuse," coach John Harbaugh said. "We just wish him the best. Obviously, it's the best thing for his family financially, and we're happy for him. " Playing in Kansas City was a factor for Gregg, whose family lives in Oklahoma.

The ink was barely dry on the new agreement between National Football League owners and players when word came out of Ravens headquarters that the team was releasing four popular players, including their two top receivers. Already the day the deed was done is being called Black Monday. If the four month lockout did not drive home the message that professional football is all about money, then showing the door to Derrick Mason, Todd Heap, Kelly Gregg and Willis McGahee, some of the most beloved Ravens, certainly did. These veteran players had to go, Ravens general manger Ozzie Newsome said, to give the team the financial flexibility to sign younger, more sought-after players, especially offensive linemen.

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones recently told my Baltimore Sun colleague Kevin Richardson that his brother, Ravens defensive tackle Arthur Jones, " would do great in the octagon . " The 2010 fifth-round draft pick won two New York state championships in high school and has been doing MMA training with Bones this summer . But in a locker room wrestling match during the season with veteran defensive lineman Kelly...

On the Pro Bowl selections Kelly Gregg definitely should be there. Everyone says he's underrated. They're liable to take it out on the Steelers. Big Ben better duck and cover. Just the league hating on the Ravens again.

We ask the Ravens the questions that really matter. MARK CLAYTON Favorite 2007 movie -- Tie Transformers and Live Free or Die Hard Favorite pre-game meal -- Baked Potato. "I eat it like an apple." Favorite basketball player -- Allen Iverson. "He's a beast KELLY GREGG Favorite 2007 movie -- 300 Favorite pre-game meal -- Omelet Favorite basketball player -- Steve Nash DANIEL WILCOX Favorite 2007 movie -- Transformers Favorite pre-game meal -- Fettuccini Alfredo with Sun-Dried Tomatoes Favorite basketball player -- Michael Jordan

New coordinator Chuck Pagano takes over a Ravens defense that closed out the 2010 season ranking 10th in yards allowed and third in points given up. So, what does he need to do to make it a Super Bowl defense? Pagano says improve in "crunch time. " The Ravens surrendered nine leads in the fourth quarter this season, including three double-digit ones (10 points against Buffalo, 10 at New England and 15 at Houston). In the final 35 seconds of games, the defense gave up three touchdowns and one field goal.

Chiefs WR s Dwayne Bowe and Chris Chambers vs. Ravens CB s Josh Wilson and Chris Carr: The Chiefs are a running team, but they have two big, physical receivers in Bowe and Chambers. Wilson and Carr don't have great size, but have outstanding speed, which will be tested by Chambers and Bowe. If given time to throw, Chambers and Bowe could have big games against the Ravens. Edge: Chiefs. Chiefs G s Ryan Lilja and Brian Waters vs. Ravens DT s Kelly Gregg and Haloti Ngata: Kansas City likes to run the ball and Lilja and Waters are keys.