Lawrence Phillips

Let's get this clear right away: It is indecent that the Ravens want Lawrence Phillips badly enough to trade up for him in today's NFL draft.It should offend anyone's sensibilities that the Ravens are willing to make Phillips a high pick and sign him to a huge contract less than a year after he battered and bloodied his former girlfriend and dragged her down a stairwell in her apartment building.Heaping glory and riches on a young man so soon after such an incident only diminishes the crime and makes it easier for others to feel safe in committing it, knowing there is life on the other side, particularly if you can run with a football.

Kevin Hardy is no longer "the other" University of Illinois linebacker. Now, he's simply the best in college football.Two years ago, when the Illinois sports information director was gathering the starting linebackers for a photo, it was announced over the loudspeaker: "Will Dana Howard, Simeon Rice and John Holocek report to the end zone?" Then, after a short pause: "And Kevin Hardy."When the sports publications came out during the 1995 preseason, it was Rice who drew all the honors. Not Hardy.

Nebraska running back Lawrence Phillips has yet to carry the ball in the NFL, but his impact is being felt around the league.About six teams are considering Phillips as one of the top five picks in tomorrow's draft. At least four others are interested in using him as trade bait to improve their draft position.The NFL has conducted an intense investigation into Phillips' off-the-field problems, and he has become the media focus in almost every city he has visited in the past 14 days.Is he that extraordinary?

It took 18 years for Damon Matthews to go from high school champ to attempted-murder suspect.Sometime around 11 p.m. Wednesday, according to city police, Damon Matthews lost it -- breaking into his estranged wife's house and stabbing her 10 times in the back, wrist and head.Harriette Matthews is in serious condition at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center, and Damon Matthews is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail in the city jail, charged with assault with intent to murder, assault with a deadly weapon and violating a restraining order designed to prevent such a tragedy as Wednesday night's stabbing.

Baseball Cubs: Optioned P Chris Gissell, P Mike Meyers, P Ruben Quevedo, P Nate Teut, P Jay Yennaco, IF Eric Hinski, IF Jason Smith, OF Ross Gload and OF Jaisen Randolph to Triple-A Iowa and IF Nate Frese to Double-A West Tenn. Returned IF Bobby Hitt and C Yoon-Min Kweon to minor-league camp. Devil Rays: Reassigned P Bill Pulsipher, P Delvin James, P Derrin Ebert, P Victor Zambrano, OF Carl Crawford, OF Chris Hatcher, C Paul Hoover and IF Ron Wright to minor-league camp. Lent P Santos Hernandez to Mexico City of Mexican League.

Buyer, beware!That may be the theme of the NFL's annual collegiate draft.With the draft only three weeks away, teams with the top picks seem to be more interested in trading down than picking a player.Once Peyton Manning decided to stay in school, this draft was without any franchise players.Sure, the highest-rated player, Orlando Pace of Ohio State, is being touted as one of the best offensive line prospects ever. He may even be better than Jonathan Ogden, the Ravens' top pick and the fourth overall selection last year.

Sept. 1Ravens 19, Raiders 14Defense. Special teams. Vinny left, Vinny right, Vinny up the middle. Running games are overrated.Record: 1-0Sept. 8 at Pittsburgh 1 p.m.Steelers, embarrassed by Jaguars, are tough at home, and, of course, there's that "hard-drinking, menacing crowd" to deal with.Sept. 15 at Houston 1 p.m.Houston, we have a problem: The quarterback stinks. Will Chris Chandler be the starter, or will Air McNair take off?Sept. 29 New Orleans 1 p.m.Ravens' secondary can expect a test from Chris, er, Jim Everett (just kidding, big fella)

The Ravens, who are considering troubled running back Lawrence Phillips as an addition to their offensive backfield, have yet to decide whether to bring him to Baltimore for a meeting with team officials, although NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Phillips will be fined regardless of which club chooses to sign him.Phillips and his agent, Mitchell Frankel, met for an hour yesterday with Tagliabue at his New York office. According to a statement from the league office, Tagliabue advised Phillips that, as a result of his past misconduct, he will be "subject to a substantial fine this season if he does contract with an NFL club and resume play in the NFL."

LET YOUNG ATHLETES earn, then learn. In a perfect world, LeBron James and Morgan Pressel would attend college. They would make new friends, experience the joys of academia, and, eventually, learn the difference between Dostoyevsky and Gwen Stefani. But this isn't a perfect world and there's no room for Pollyanna in professional or amateur (whatever that means) sports. Yet, in the past few weeks - with the NBA raising its age limit and Pressel and Michelle Wie taking high school vacation to compete in the U.S. Women's Open - some are once again complaining that young athletes are turning professional too soon.

Ravens run offense versus Rams run defense:Despite injuries to starters center Steve Everitt, left guard Jonathan Ogden and right tackle Orlando Brown, Ravens still have too much firepower up front for the Rams. St. Louis is ranked 23rd in the NFL in rushing defense allowing an average of 125.6 yards. Look for Ravens runners Bam Morris and Earnest Byner to have good days.Edge: Ravens.Ravens pass offense versus Rams pass defense:The Ravens Vinny Testaverde is one of the hottest quarterbacks in the league right now, and currently the top rated in the AFC. Receivers Michael Jackson, Derrick Alexander and tight end Eric Green should get impressive numbers against the Rams, who are ranked 28th in the league in passing allowing an average 251.1 yards.