Middle Linebacker

With the Cleveland Browns assured of their fourth consecutive sub-.500 campaign and their eighth in the past nine years, it might be surmised that the Browns have nothing left to play for with just two regular-season games remaining against the Ravens on Christmas Eve and the Pittsburgh Steelers on New Year's Day. That's not the approach that Cleveland middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson is taking as the Browns prepare to visit M&T Bank Stadium on...

Having already lost two defensive starters and two key reserves to free agency, the Ravens moved today to keep an unheralded yet steady member of their defense, agreeing to terms with inside linebacker Jameel McClain. “It's great," McClain said at a news conference. "It's an honor to be back and be part of this organization, to be able to represent these fans and this city. It is great. It's a good time for me and my family right now.” Terms were not disclosed, but a source confirmed that it is a three-year deal.

It might be the most difficult question that an NFL general manager has to answer, and though the day might not be here yet, the day is fast approaching when Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens will have to answer it, consequences be damned. When do decide to draft Ray Lewis' successor? Making the transition away from away from an aging Hall of Famer who has also been the face of your franchise for more than a decade is a prickly endeavor, and history has shown it can divide the fanbase as well as the locker room.

When Brian Cushing was in elementary school, just 8 years old, Ray Lewis was a rookie linebacker with the Baltimore Ravens. Cushing became a fan then and, as the Texans' middle linebacker admitted Wednesday, remains one now. "Ray's the best that's ever played," Cushing said. "He's the guy I grew up watching. He's the guy I wanted to model my game after. " Cushing is now 24 and regarded as one of the NFL's best, a recent second-team All-Pro selection. Meanwhile, Lewis is 36, and he's angling for his second Super Bowl ring.

It might be the most difficult question that an NFL general manager has to answer, and though the day might not be here yet, the day is fast approaching when Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens will have to answer it, consequences be damned. When do decide to draft Ray Lewis' successor? Making the transition away from away from an aging Hall of Famer who has also been the face of your franchise for more than a decade is a prickly endeavor, and history has shown it can divide the fanbase as well as the locker room.

Ask Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis about his favorite hit, and his eyes light up and he flashes a grin.There was the time he ran down San Diego slot receiver Eric Metcalf from behind from the far side of the field after Metcalf had caught a 20-yard pass over the middle in full stride. Earlier this season, he outmaneuvered two blockers and tackled Pro Bowl running back Marshall Faulk for no gain on a screen pass.But the best?"The best hits always come under fire and nobody sees them, like when you hit a running back so hard his eyes roll back in his head.

COLLEGE PARK - Just a week into fall practices, one thing is apparent about Maryland's linebacking corps: sophomore D'Qwell Jackson is no E.J. Henderson. At least, not yet. Suggesting that Jackson might someday reach that level, however, is not as far-fetched as it might sound. Just ask Terps coach Ralph Friedgen. "I think his instincts are just as good as E.J.'s," Friedgen said yesterday after Maryland completed the first of two practices. "He's looked very good so far. He's a real sure tackler.

Ray Lewis was causing trouble in the middle again. Lewis, who had one tackle last week in limited action, recorded a team-best five stops, including three for losses, during his one half of work last night. The Ravens middle linebacker led a first-unit that held the New York Jets to 104 yards of offense and no points in the first half of their 10-0 victory. "Every time he steps on the field, he wants to set the tone," coach Brian Billiek said. The game didn't start off perfect for Lewis, who was called for pass interference in the first quarter.

ASHBURN, Va. - Washington Redskins middle linebacker Antonio Pierce is realistic about his chances of being invited to the Pro Bowl. "I don't really see it happening," Pierce said. "When you've got a guy like [the Chicago Bears' Brian] Urlacher - I think he's missed, what, six games - he'll still go to the Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl is a lot about names. Sometimes the coaches and players might vote fairly, but you've got the fans and other people involved and they vote for who they know." Pierce, 26, may be an unknown commodity to a lot of people and even some NFL teams, but to the Redskins, the fourth-year pro from Arizona has been invaluable.

Already feeling the effects of outside linebacker Peter Boulware's shoulder injury, the Ravens waived two players yesterday, including third-year middle linebacker Tyrus McCloud.The Ravens were involved in serious trade talks about McCloud with three teams until the 4 p.m. deadline imposed by the NFL to reduce the roster to the mandatory limit of 53 players. The Ravens were also involved in some inquiries about possibly trading reserve quarterback Tony Banks, who might lose his No. 2 job to Stoney Case.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is trying to walk the line without falling off the edge — and possibly taking down his team, as well. Everything seems to be great in the purple Kool-Aid world of the Ravens. The team has won the AFC North title. The Ravens have a bye in the opening round of the playoffs, giving them a chance to heal, and they will get a home playoff game for the first time since 2007. But here's the problem: The team's two potential Hall of Famers, middle linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed, haven't played well, and the Ravens haven't addressed the issue.

Dallas Griffiths was immediately intrigued by a scholarship offer from Maryland last spring, and his affinity for the Terps grew stronger after an official visit to College Park in September. But when it came to making a decision about his college future, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound middle linebacker abided by a strict timeline.  “He knew he didn't want to drag it out too long, but at the same time, he wanted to take some visits and have an opportunity to discuss things with his family,” said Robert Craft , Griffiths' coach at North Florida Christian School in Tallahassee.

With the Cleveland Browns assured of their fourth consecutive sub-.500 campaign and their eighth in the past nine years, it might be surmised that the Browns have nothing left to play for with just two regular-season games remaining against the Ravens on Christmas Eve and the Pittsburgh Steelers on New Year's Day. That's not the approach that Cleveland middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson is taking as the Browns prepare to visit M&T Bank Stadium on...

Middle linebacker Ray Lewis is officially out for the Ravens today against the Cincinnati Bengals, ending his streak of 57 consecutive regular season games played. Lewis, 36, hasn't practiced all week because of a toe injury. It will the first time Lewis misses a game since he sat out the final two games of the 2007 regular season with a finger injury. Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, who has been inactive four consecutive games, will start at middle linebacker in Lewis' place.

The Ravens are prepared to go into Sunday's AFC North showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals without their emotional leader and top tackler.  Middle linebacker Ray Lewis, 36, missed a third straight day of practice today with a toe injury that he sustained in last Sunday's 22-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and at least at this point, it appears that he won't play Sunday. But Ravens officials have learned not to rule Lewis out. UPDATE: Lewis is listed as questionable for the game on the Ravens' injury report.

The Ravens are prepared to go into Sunday's AFC North showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals without their emotional leader and top tackler. However, they learned long ago that it would be foolish to rule out middle linebacker Ray Lewis too early. Lewis, 36, missed a third straight day of practice Friday with a toe injury he sustained in last week's 22-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and he appears likely to be sidelined Sunday, if not longer. But his history and pain tolerance have prompted the Ravens to list him as questionable for the game against Cincinnati at M&T Bank Stadium.

The education of Tyrus McCloud is about to accelerate.Ever since he was drafted by the Ravens in the fourth round last year, McCloud has longed for a chance to start at middle linebacker, the place where he established himself as one of the nation's best at Louisville.Following a freakish injury to Ray Lewis, McCloud gets his wish tomorrow night against Cincinnati before a sellout crowd at Ravens stadium and a national television audience.McCloud has one request. Don't expect a reincarnation of Lewis, who will be nursing a dislocated left elbow while watching the game from the sideline.

The Ravens are prepared to go into Sunday's AFC North showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals without their emotional leader and top tackler. However, they learned long ago that it would be foolish to rule out middle linebacker Ray Lewis too early. Lewis, 36, missed a third straight day of practice Friday with a toe injury he sustained in last week's 22-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and he appears likely to be sidelined Sunday, if not longer. But his history and pain tolerance have prompted the Ravens to list him as questionable for the game against Cincinnati at M&T Bank Stadium.

About a month after last season ended, Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano received a text from a friend that read: "I'm watching one of your players run in the sand for an hour. " Later that morning, another text flashed on Pagano's phone: "Now, I'm watching your player swim 30 minutes in the ocean. " When Pagano finally asked for the name of the player, it was as if he already knew the answer: Ray Lewis. The enduring face of the franchise is entering his 16th season - a feat impressive for any NFL player, much less an inside linebacker - and the secret of Lewis' longevity is really no secret at all. The 36-year-old Lewis prides himself on outworking everyone, whether it's on the field, in film study or inside the weight room.

Here's how big Ray Lewis is: Even as he waits out the NFL lockout, doing his usual aggressive offseason workouts and chilling in front of his 400-inch flat-screen TV, football people keep heaping praise on the Ravens' All-Galaxy middle linebacker. First the NFL Network, after a survey of players, ranked him the fourth-best player in the league and the best defensive player going into this season. And Wednesday, The Baltimore Sun's crack Ravens Insider staff voted Lewis as the all-time best inside linebacker in Ravens' history.