Offensive Tackle

The Ravens now know they don't need to draft a starting offensive tackle this weekend. Jonathan Ogden told The Sun last night that he plans to return to the Ravens for his 12th season. Ogden, the 10-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle, had been contemplating retirement since the Ravens' playoff loss to Indianapolis. Although team officials always remained optimistic about Ogden coming back, he made it official two days before the NFL draft, boosting the Ravens' chances of repeating as AFC North champions and returning to the playoffs.

1. Raiders What they need -- A quarterback for the worst offense in the NFL, along with a tackle who can block for him. What they might do -- It's unlikely anyone will bowl them over with a trade offer, so the Raiders have to decide which quarterback they like better - LSU's JaMarcus Russell or Notre Dame's Brady Quinn. Sun's pick -- QB JaMarcus Russell, LSU 2. Lions What they need -- Lots of defense and a quarterback for the future. What they might do -- Trade down for extra picks and a defensive impact player.

Regardless of what offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden decides about retirement and what the team does in the NFL draft in a few weeks, Ravens offensive line coach Chris Foerster already knows that the 2007 season will be one of transition. The team's starting left guard, Jason Brown, is going into only his third season and was fortunate enough to start 12 of 16 games last season. Third-year player Adam Terry has started only two games and will play either right or left tackle, depending on Ogden's decision.

The Ravens have begun negotiations with Denver Broncos veteran offensive tackle Harry Swayne, who visited the team's Owings Mills training complex yesterday and is expected to meet with the Washington Redskins today.The Ravens will try to begin filling some of their most pressing needs during the remainder of the week, with a visit today from former University of Maryland standout and New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Clarence Jones, and Seattle Seahawks tight end Christian Fauria scheduled to visit tomorrow.

Ravens coach Brian Billick said yesterday starting left guard Everett Lindsay will move to right offensive tackle in place of the injured Harry Swayne, while rookie Edwin Mulitalo will make his first start at left guard Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.The Ravens had contemplated using No. 2 tackle Spencer Folau on the right side, but Billick made the decision after Folau worked out with the team yesterday. Billick said Folau is still limited because of a knee he sprained earlier this season.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The rivalry wouldn't cut it in the WWF, and it's an anomaly in today's NFL.No staring, no posing, no taunting. No name-calling, no finger-pointing, no trash-talking.Just respect.Just two warriors staging 578-pound collisions on snap after snap, then acknowledging each other's passion and skill when it is all over.They actually had breakfast at the Pro Bowl, Michael McCrary and Tony Boselli did. They actually share a mutual admiration, one as genuine as it is rare.McCrary: "He just loves to play the game.

After a week of adjusting their offense, defense and special teams, the Ravens yesterday began preparations for Thursday night's nationally televised game at PSINet Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs, which should include Pro Bowl left offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden.The Ravens officially listed Ogden, who has a sprained neck, as questionable for the game, but the 6-foot-8, 335-pound fourth-year player went through a full workout yesterday as the team returned to practice for the first time since Friday morning.

The Ravens signed veteran Denver Broncos offensive tackle Harry Swayne to a four-year, $13.2 million contract yesterday, including a $5 million signing bonus, and they have had preliminary talks with two teams about moving up into the top six of the NFL draft in April to possibly select a quarterback.The addition of Swayne virtually filled two holes for the Ravens, enabling the team to move swing guard/tackle James Atkins to left guard next season. With Swayne and the recent addition of Charles Evans at fullback, the Ravens still want to find a big wide receiver such as North Carolina State's Torry Holt or Ohio State's David Boston, or a young quarterback to build around like Syracuse's Donovan McNabb or Oregon's Akili Smith.

Sign of progress: Remember how Ravens coach Brian Billick laid into his offense for lapses in concentration 11 days ago and made it practice for an extra 25 minutes? Yesterday marked a crisp, up-tempo workout that ended 25 minutes early.More progress: The butterfingers are disappearing steadily, as the dropped passes so common in camp's early days are fading. Yesterday's practice featured a superb, sliding grab on the sideline by Webster Slaughter and a great end-zone catch in a red-zone drill by Justin Armour, who is catching everything.

It seems like Spencer Folau plays a new position almost every day. One day he is at left offensive tackle, the next day right guard. Then it's over to left guard and then to right tackle.Thank goodness the Ravens already have a water boy."As of this point, he has received more work than we anticipated, which is good for him," said coach Ted Marchibroda.Folau, the Ravens' second-year tackle from the University of Idaho, has become a prized commodity for the team in the last two weeks. With season-ending knee injuries to guard Sale Isaia and center Jeff Mitchell, the 6-foot-5, 300-pound Folau has become the Ravens' top reserve and another project the team hopes will follow in the footsteps of starters Orlando Brown, an offensive tackle, and center Wally Williams.

TOUCHDOWN TOWN: : Maybe things would have turned out differently if members of the "Over-30 Club" had practiced, but the offense scored five of eight times during a drill in which the offense had the football at the 2-yard line on third-and-goal. Running backs Ray Rice and Jalen Parmele and wide receiver Jayson Foster scored on the ground. YELLOW FLAG WATCH: : The Ravens committed five penalties, including three in the first eight snaps of the first live, full-team exercise. The offense was flagged twice for false starts and once each for illegal formation and delay of game.

MORE YELLOW: Continuing a disturbing trend from Thursday's preseason-opening win against the Washington Redskins, the Ravens committed an alarming number of penalties. The offense was flagged four times (three for false starts and one on tight end Isaac Smolko for pass interference). The defense jumped offside twice, and rookie cornerback Lardarius Webb was whistled for pass interference. TOUCHDOWN TSUNAMI: During a live, full-team, two-minute drill, the offense scored three touchdowns.

DEFENDING THEIR TURF: Linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo sacked Troy Smith, and cornerback Chris Carr got to quarterback Joe Flacco. Carr also intercepted a pass from Smith intended for wide receiver Justin Harper. CATCH OF THE DAY, PART ONE: Wide receiver Yamon Figurs raced past cornerback Evan Oglesby up the right sideline and grabbed a long pass from quarterback John Beck with his fingertips. CATCH OF THE DAY, PART TWO: Tight end Edgar Jones got his left hand on a high pass from Smith and caught it while falling to the turf.

FIRST MELEE:: Nine days into training camp, the Ravens got into their first scuffle. After offensive tackle Joe Reitz got tangled up with a defensive lineman, the offense and defense both converged into a mob. There was some shoving, but no punches were thrown. FRUSTRATED FLACCO:: In the first couple of team drills, Joe Flacco got pressured and couldn't find an open receiver, which led to his scrambling more than throwing. Later, he overthrew an open Demetrius Williams in the end zone.

DEFENSE GETS THE UPPER HAND: Even with Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Trevor Pryce and Kelly Gregg getting the morning off because they are 30 or older, the defense recorded three interceptions (two by rookie cornerback Lardarius Webb) and limited the offense to five field goals in eight possessions beginning inside the 35-yard line. OFFENSE HAD ITS MOMENTS: The news wasn't all that bad as quarterback Joe Flacco floated a perfectly placed pass to tight end Todd Heap for a 27-yard touchdown, and quarterback John Beck connected on a 25-yard strike with Justin Harper.

Mark Clayton won't return to practice for a couple of weeks. The wait is much longer for Adam Terry. Terry, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in the offseason, is experiencing lingering problems with the knee, and the club is leaning toward shelving the fifth-year offensive tackle for the entire 2009 season. "It just looks right now that he's got some new issues with the knee from a healing perspective," coach John Harbaugh said Tuesday after the team's morning practice at McDaniel College in Westminster.

The Ravens agreed to a five-year deal with their first-round selection, offensive tackle Michael Oher, late Wednesday night, joining the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Jets as the only NFL organizations to come to terms with their entire rookie draft classes. Terms of the contract were not released, but Oher, the 23rd overall pick in April's draft, is expected to fly in from Memphis, Tenn., today and travel to the team hotel in Westminster. He is expected to sign the deal, take a physical and join the club on its administrative day. If there is no obstacle, Oher could suit up and practice Friday, when the franchise has its first full-team practice.

The Ravens explained Tuesday that veteran offensive tackle Willie Anderson decided to retire because his legs could no longer carry the workload. There are no such questions about Michael Oher. The Ravens' first-round pick worked at right tackle with the first team, the second team, the third team ... Throughout team drills of Tuesday's passing camp, Oher continually showed why the Ravens aren't sweating Anderson's departure. He looked strong, athletic and surprisingly polished. "I won't say [the NFL]

The Ravens did the unexpected Saturday - something team officials never envisioned before the start of the NFL draft - when they moved up to select Mississippi offensive tackle Michael Oher with the 23rd overall pick. While many predicted the Ravens would target other positions in the first round - tight end, wide receiver, cornerback and inside linebacker - they reacted aggressively to grab Oher, trading a fifth-round pick to the New England Patriots to jump three spots. Oher (pronounced oar)

The NFL draft is full of suspense for the Ravens on Saturday because of their position in each round. Because they are drafting so late, much of what they do will be decided by who picks in front of them. But the Ravens are right in planning to choose the best player available. If you listen to many fans, you would think the Ravens are only one player away from the Super Bowl because they reached the AFC championship game last season. That's so far from the truth. Because of parity and how quickly things change in the NFL, you're never one player away from the Super Bowl.