Leon Searcy

As right tackle Leon Searcy underwent surgery, the Ravens did some quick mending of their own. Training camp became a homecoming of sorts yesterday as the loss of Searcy until mid-October meant the promotion of a trusted colleague. Harry Swayne, who unceremoniously lost his starting job to Searcy this off-season, reassumed his spot on the right side - albeit accompanied with some ribbing from his teammates. So while the switch may admittedly be a step backward for the Super Bowl champions, they've already moved on. "From the offensive line standpoint, we haven't dropped a beat," Swayne said.

Letting Je. Lewis go huge mistake by Ravens For a team with as many hard-working and intelligent front-office members as the Ravens, the loss of Jermaine Lewis represents a terrible error in judgment. Though the team clearly had severe salary cap issues, handing over a two-time Pro Bowl player like Lewis to the expansion Houston Texans makes absolutely no sense. If you look at the team, you have an overpaid quarterback coming off a terrible season (Elvis Grbac), an overpaid punter (Kyle Richardson)

Thumbs up: Yesterday marked the end of training camp. The Ravens will return to their homes and training facility in Owings Mills. Thumbs down: The number of injuries suffered during camp. Those to Leon Searcy (triceps) and Jamal Lewis (knee) were the most serious, with Searcy scheduled to come back around the sixth game and Lewis to miss the season. Trainer's room: Cornerback Duane Starks (knee), defensive back Gary Baxter (knee), offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden (ankle), defensive tackle Tony Siragusa (knee)

If Leon Searcy returns with sound body - and presumably a different price tag - the injured right tackle may receive a second chance with the Ravens. Two weeks ago, Ravens senior vice president of football operations Ozzie Newsome had a meeting with Searcy and informed him that he was tentatively in the team's plans for next season. "We still feel like a healthy Leon Searcy can be a productive player for us," Newsome said. "A healthy Searcy again could be one of the top 10 right tackles in this league."

A look at the key signings and departures from the first phase of free agency: Ravens In: Elvis Grbac, QB; Leon Searcy, RT; Jamie Sharper, LB. Out: Trent Dilfer, QB; Tony Banks, QB (Cowboys); Jeff Mitchell, C (Panthers); Kim Herring, S (Rams); Priest Holmes, RB; Keith Washington, DE (Broncos). Skinny: Established their three priorities and knocked each down one by one. Grade: A. Bengals In: Jon Kitna, QB; Kevin Henry, DE; Tony Williams, DT; Rich Braham, C; Tom Carter, CB; Matt O'Dwyer, G. Out: Michael Bankston, DE; Scott Mitchell, QB. Skinny: All that money and no high-profile free agent willing to bite.

T Leon Searcy vs. DE Rob BurnettTony Boselli gets the big money and most of the attention at left tackle, but Jacksonville right tackle Leon Searcy fills an equally critical role on the Jaguars' much-respected offensive line.Ravens left defensive end Rob Burnett is not short on respect for Searcy, against whom Burnett has competed since 1993. The way their individual battle plays out today could help determine if the Ravens can beat the Jaguars for the first time in team history.The Burnett-Searcy rivalry goes back to the days of the old Cleveland Browns, who drafted Burnett in the fifth round out of Syracuse in 1990.

Time: 9 tonight, chs. 2, 7. Line: Titans by 6 1/2 . Vs. spread: Jaguars 1-4; Titans 1-4. Series: Tied 5-5. Last meeting: Titans won, 33-14, on Jan. 23, 2000, in AFC championship game at Jacksonville. Outlook: The Titans punish defenses with a powerful running attack, and just when a defense is woozy from being battered, QB Steve McNair can throw a nice deep pass. Tennessee also has Jacksonville's number. The Titans defeated them three times last year, twice in the regular season and once in the playoffs.

Position: Offensive line. This unit has lost left tackle Jonathan Ogden (sprained right ankle), left guard Edwin Mulitalo (sprained right knee and ankle) and right tackle Leon Searcy (torn tendon in left arm), and only center Mike Flynn remains at his projected starting spot. The team will be watching the right side, where guard Bennie Anderson and tackle Sammy Williams could be the future tandem. Veteran: Backup quarterback Chris Redman. The third-round pick in 2000 didn't live up to expectations in his first extended game action in a year.

Time: 4:15 p.m., chs. 45, 5. Line: Redskins by 4. Vs. spread: Redskins 3-3; Jaguars 1-5. Series: Redskins lead 1-0. Last meeting: Redskins won, 24-12, on Sept. 28, 1997, at Washington. Outlook: Jaguars QB Mark Brunell has more interceptions (eight) than TD passes (seven). Those statistics say plenty about the Jaguars. Washington is playing impressive football, having won four straight games against teams with a combined 17-10 record. Washington has never played at ALLTEL Stadium but will enjoy the amenities, mostly a Jaguars team that too frequently self-destructs.

If Leon Searcy returns with sound body - and presumably a different price tag - the injured right tackle may receive a second chance with the Ravens. Two weeks ago, Ravens senior vice president of football operations Ozzie Newsome had a meeting with Searcy and informed him that he was tentatively in the team's plans for next season. "We still feel like a healthy Leon Searcy can be a productive player for us," Newsome said. "A healthy Searcy again could be one of the top 10 right tackles in this league."

Ravens right tackle Leon Searcy won't play Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and when or if he plays this season should be determined today. Searcy did not practice yesterday. Instead, he had tests on his left arm, which is still recovering from a torn triceps muscle suffered during an intrasquad scrimmage in training camp. The team had hoped to have Searcy back for his first game as a Raven on Sunday. If tests on his arm reveal further damage, there is a chance Searcy will need surgery again.

Right tackle Leon Searcy says his sabbatical did not hinder his progress. Searcy said it would have been a long shot for him to play Sunday at Cleveland even if he was able to practice with the team last week. Searcy served a one-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct code and was banned from the Ravens' training facility all week, though he said he worked out on his own. He made his return yesterday and plans to get back to rehabilitating his left arm this week. Searcy tore his triceps early in training camp and was projected to miss the first six games.

AFTER 60-SOMETHING PRACTICES, three preseason games, several HBO documentaries, 15 new, four-syllable Brian Billick words and enough injuries to apply for a Red Cross relief package, the Ravens' 2001 season has come down to this: If the team can develop a competent offensive line, it has a shot at winning a second consecutive Super Bowl title. That's it in a nutshell. The defense is dominating enough to keep the Ravens in most games and put them in the playoffs. They have enough talent at quarterback and receiver to take some of the load off the running game without Jamal Lewis.

Offense Quarterbacks (3) Starter: Elvis Grbac. Backups: Randall Cunningham, Chris Redman. Skinny: Grbac is beginning to show a comfort level, completing 57 percent of his passes despite lapses from pass protection and drops by receivers. The Ravens' plan is to have Redman continue his development by taking the second-most number of reps with the first-team offense in practice but turn to Cunningham first if Grbac goes down. Tallbacks (2) Starter: Terry Allen. Backup: Jason Brookins.

Survival is the prevailing motivation for the Ravens in today's Super Bowl XXXV rematch. In an atmosphere completely different than the teams' last one, the Ravens (0-2) end their preseason against the New York Giants (1-2) in a weekday matinee that will be overseen by replacement officials. The only intrigue at PSINet Stadium is whether the starters can escape healthy and whose bubble will burst among the borderline players. For coach Brian Billick, he would prefer taking a loss on the scoreboard rather than one to his roster.

Thumbs up: Yesterday marked the end of training camp. The Ravens will return to their homes and training facility in Owings Mills. Thumbs down: The number of injuries suffered during camp. Those to Leon Searcy (triceps) and Jamal Lewis (knee) were the most serious, with Searcy scheduled to come back around the sixth game and Lewis to miss the season. Trainer's room: Cornerback Duane Starks (knee), defensive back Gary Baxter (knee), offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden (ankle), defensive tackle Tony Siragusa (knee)

Ravens offensive tackle Leon Searcy will be required to undergo a clinical evaluation that could lead to counseling under the NFL's personal-conduct policy in the wake of his arrest on a domestic violence charge. Searcy, signed as a free agent in March, was charged with battery when Lake County (Fla.) sheriff's deputies were summoned to his Clermont, Fla., home after his wife, Sonya, placed a 911 call Friday morning. According to the league's personal-conduct policy, any person "arrested for or charged with conduct prohibited by this policy will be required to undergo an immediate, mandatory clinical evaluation and, if directed, appropriate counseling.

Right tackle Leon Searcy says his sabbatical did not hinder his progress. Searcy said it would have been a long shot for him to play Sunday at Cleveland even if he was able to practice with the team last week. Searcy served a one-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct code and was banned from the Ravens' training facility all week, though he said he worked out on his own. He made his return yesterday and plans to get back to rehabilitating his left arm this week. Searcy tore his triceps early in training camp and was projected to miss the first six games.

Position: Offensive line. This unit has lost left tackle Jonathan Ogden (sprained right ankle), left guard Edwin Mulitalo (sprained right knee and ankle) and right tackle Leon Searcy (torn tendon in left arm), and only center Mike Flynn remains at his projected starting spot. The team will be watching the right side, where guard Bennie Anderson and tackle Sammy Williams could be the future tandem. Veteran: Backup quarterback Chris Redman. The third-round pick in 2000 didn't live up to expectations in his first extended game action in a year.

At this rate, the offensive line meetings could be held in the trainer's room. The Ravens watched their second starting lineman go down in three days, as left guard Edwin Mulitalo suffered a sprained ligament in his right knee as well as a sprained right ankle yesterday. Wearing a brace around his wrapped knee, Mulitalo did not practice in the afternoon and has been listed as day-to-day by trainer Bill Tessendorf. Ravens coach Brian Billick hasn't ruled Mulitalo out for Thursday's preseason game against the Carolina Panthers.