Network

I wasn't there for the 7 a.m. start, but I've seen almost all of the NFL Network's Super Bowl Sunday pre-game coverage. And as of 1 p.m. (EST), I am here to tell you it is outstanding. Warren Sapp, elected into the Hall of Fame Saturday, brought even more energy and joy than usual to the telecast. He was inspired. Michael Irvin was stoked to Super Bowl level, and Steve Mariucci was better than he has ever been. Deion Sanders: superb. Melissa Stark: through the roof in poise, knowledge and the 10,000 skills a show host needs to make a TV conversation seem like the easiest and most natural thing in the world.

Catonsville-based Alpha Omega Technologies performs work for one federal agency, and it wants more contracts - a daunting goal for a small company in a time of tight budgets. But the head of the 25-person software firm thinks he has a leg up after months of assistance from industry veterans, introductions to federal decision-makers, advice about how to get a foot in the door with the National Security Agency, and lots of specifics about how other companies succeeded or got tripped up in pursuing and handling federal work.

When the Ravens and Joe Flacco agreed in August to put off negotiations on a long-term contract extension, the thinking was that the organization would wait to see what the quarterback could accomplish in the final season of the five-year contract that he signed as a rookie after he was selected in the first round of the NFL draft in 2008. Now that Flacco has averaged 284.3 passing yards, tossed eight touchdowns against zero interceptions, and posted a 114.7 passer rating in three postseason games, Kurt Warner thinks the Ravens are going to have to open up the wallet to retain Flacco.

In addition to the Ravens on the field for Super Bowl XLVII, Baltimore viewers are going to see some familiar faces on the NFL Network's coverage leading up to the game. Starting Jan. 28 through gameday Feb. 3, the channel will offer 140 hours of game-related coverage, and such one-time Baltimore-based broadcasters as Melissa Stark, Amber Theoharis and Brian Billick will have significant roles. Here's the channel's release: For the 10th year, NFL Network is on-location providing comprehensive, wall-to-wall coverage of Super Bowl week.

If you are one of the few people who missed the Ravens' 38-35 double overtime win against the Denver Broncos in Saturday's AFC Divisional playoff round or you simply want to relive the exhilarating moments again, the NFL Network is planning to re-air the game Monday night at 8. Unlike previous rebroadcasts that are limited to 90 minutes, the network will replay three hours of the contest that took 4 hours, 11 minutes to determine a winner....

At 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Baltimore will have a new sports radio talk lineup on WJZ-AM (1300) with the launch of CBS Sports radio at that frequency on the dial. The CBS-owned station will run 24/7 with syndicated talk, while its sister station, 105.7 The Fan, will continue with its locally produced and hosted lineup of sports talk. Chris Oliviero, senior vice president of CBS Radio, says Baltimore is one of the cities where his network has both an AM and an FM sports-talk station, and that it could be a model for the future of CBS Sports Radio.

With a 10-5 record and the AFC North title in tow, the Ravens are currently the No. 4 seed in the AFC postseason. A win against the Cincinnati Bengals and a New England Patriots loss to the Miami Dolphins Sunday, and the Ravens would leapfrog the Patriots for the No. 3 seed. The difference in seeding could mean a divisional playoff game on either Jan. 5 or Jan. 6 against either the No. 5 seed Indianapolis Colts (10-5) or the No. 6 seed Bengals (9-6). No Ravens player or coach will say which team he'd rather face, but NFL Network analyst Jamie Dukes said if he was a member of the Ravens, he would prefer Indianapolis over Cincinnati.

Georgetown Prep sophomore goalie Joey Altemus has committed to the admissions process at Bucknell, according to Inside Lacrosse. Last summer he was selected to the Maryland Freestate Games 2014/15 Top 44 team, attended Jake Reed's Blue Chip Camp and played in the Baltimore Summer Kickoff, UP Lax and the Brine Shootout, for both Georgetown Prep and Blackwolf. This fall, he attended University of Maryland Invitational, UP Lax and the Philly Invitational. Altemus, who also plays varsity hockey, considered Loyola, Lehigh and Richmond as well.

At the beginning of the season, NFL Network analyst Jamie Dukes predicted that the Ravens and San Francisco 49ers would meet in Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans in February. While his selection of the 49ers - currently 9-3-1 and the No. 2 seed in the NFC - looks strong, the 9-4 Ravens have dropped two winnable games, fired offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, and may be forced to play the 10-3 Denver Broncos this Sunday without their two top three inside linebackers and the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year in outside linebacker Terrell Suggs.

As the patient and sympathetic host of shows like "Food 911" and "How to Boil Water," Tyler Florence has been a welcome presence on the Food Network for 16 years. But some fans have trouble pinning him down, Florence said. They'll say, "What do you do? You're not the Italian guy, you're not the New Orleans guy. " The chef will be in the Baltimore area Saturday, signing copies of his new cookbook, "Tyler Florence Fresh," which was to be released Tuesday. Florence's ninth book is a departure from his previous titles.