Preston

The Ravens looked at other players before selecting Alabama outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw with the No. 35 overall pick. The Ravens were really impressed with Georgia Tech receiver Stephen Hill, but they had rated Upshaw signicantly higher. The Ravens also liked Clemson outside linebacker Andre Branch, but they thought he was more of a better fit for a 4-3 instead of the 3-4 run by the Ravens. Upshaw will be a SAM or strong side linebacker for the Ravens and will challenge Paul Kruger for playing time.

So far, all is good as far as left offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie and the Ravens. The word from The Castle is that the often-troubled McKinnie has been attending conditioning sessions and working hard. His weight is down and reasonable, and the expectations are high that he will be ready when the team opens training camp in late July. That would be perfect for the Ravens because they wouldn't have to move other players around, like guard Kelechi Osemele or right tackle Michael Oher, to fill in for McKinnie.

On May 26, 2004 PRESTON; beloved husband of Thelma Watson; brother of Mary Mc Callum. Visitation at Calvin B. Scruggs Funeral Home, 1412 E. Preston St., on Thursday, June 3 from 2 to 7 P.M. Family will receive friends on Friday at Faith Baptist Church, 833 N. Bond St., from 10:30 to 11 A.M. at which time funeral services will begin. Interment Garrison Forest Veteran's Cemetery.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome was having a great offseason as far as acquisitions and building the team, but the Ravens are embarrassed by linebacker Rolando McClain's announced retirement. The old mantra about "In Ozzie We Trust" should be changed to "In Ozzie We Trust, Most Of The Time. " The Ravens blew it on this one. They went out and signed a knucklehead who remained a knucklehead. At this point, we don't know why McClain retired at age 23, and to be honest, I'm afraid to ask. I really don't want to know, and I'm just glad he is out of here.

On January 7, 2007, MILDRED MAGNESS PRESTON of Bel Air, MD. Beloved wife of the late Edwin R. Preston. Services will be held at Mt. Carmel Church, Bel Air, MD on Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 11:00 A.M. Interment will be in the adjoining church cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Thursday, from 10 to 11 A.M. prior to the service. Those who desire may contribute to Mt. Carmel Chapel of Bel Air United Methodist Church, 21 Linwood Avenue, Bel Air, MD 21014. Memory tributes may be sent to the family at mccomasfuneralhome.

If there isn't a run on quarterbacks in the first round, then the Ravens might trade out of it and gain more picks. We are hearing there have been a number of teams that have already contacted the Ravens about possibly sliding back to No. 32 in the first round.  It wouldn't be suprising if Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome moved back. With 12 picks, they have a lot of options one way or the other. 

On January 30, 2006 HARRY C. PRESTON, formerly of Baltimore, beloved husband of Anna B. (Granruth) Preston, father of Lois Crusan, Harry Preston Jr., William Preston, Phyllis Bobay, and James Preston, brother of Chester Preston. He is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Friends may call at the Boal Funeral Home, Westernport, MD, Thursday 2 to 4 and 6 to 7 PM, where funeral services will be held Thursday at 7 PM.

The Ravens filled one area of need by selecting Florida safety Matt Elam in the first round Thursday night, and now they might go after a middle or outside linebacker. Finding a middle linebacker is more of a pressing need, but the Ravens will stay with their philosophy of taking the best player available. A few inside linebackers the Ravens have an eye on are Notre Dame's Manti Te'o, Louisiana State's Kevin Minter and Florida's Jonathan Bostic. They also like Connecticut outside linebacker Sio Moore and Kansas State's Arthur Brown.

Every year ESPN zeros in on one player who was expected to go in the first round and doesn't. It really is unnecessary. Last night, we had to endure the countless camera shots of a disappointed Geno Smith, West Virginia's star quarterback. We had to watch him doodle on his cell phone or some other electronic device as team after team picked someone else in the first round. I understand ESPN is trying to capture the emotion, but these are 21- and 22-year-old kids. They have waited for this moment all of their lives, but sometimes enough is enough.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome is known for his coolness and he seldom gushes about a draft pick. He got a little excited when the team made UCLA offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden the franchise's first draft pick in 1996, but there wasn't much jubilation when the team selected Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs or Chris McAlister. And then came Thursday night. As members of the Ravens' front-office staff walked to the podium at The Castle to talk about first-round pick Matt Elam, the safety out of Florida, Newsome appeared ecstatic, at least for Newsome.

If there isn't a run on quarterbacks in the first round, then the Ravens might trade out of it and gain more picks. We are hearing there have been a number of teams that have already contacted the Ravens about possibly sliding back to No. 32 in the first round.  It wouldn't be suprising if Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome moved back. With 12 picks, they have a lot of options one way or the other. 

The Ravens will be keeping an eye on Oklahoma left offensive tackle Lane Johnson. He is rated the third-best at the position in the draft, and a lot of the experts have predicted he will go in the top 10 picks, but the Ravens might trade up for him at a reasonable cost. The Ravens have some options because they have 12 picks. Johnson is athletic, durable and the pro scouts like his demeanor. He plays with the nastiness of a defensive lineman. After investing so much money in quarterback Joe Flacco during the offseason, the Ravens need a top player to protect his blind side.

If the Ravens started the season today, they would play Kelechi Osemele at left offensive tackle, and that would be a problem. Osemele, who started at right tackle and left guard last season, could be a left tackle down the road, but he has to improve his foot speed during this offseason. He struggled with speed rushers on the outside as a right tackle and it would be worse for him on the left side if there isn't significant improvement. Osemele is a tremendous talent. He is athletic, has good bend and punch and the ideal torso to be a left tackle.

Despite being the defending national champion and winning nine of 11 games this season, Loyola needs to make a statement in 2013. The Greyhounds have had other opportunities to do that this season, but they lost by two goals to No. 4 Maryland and one to No. 2 Duke. No. 8 Loyola gets another chance when No. 1 Denver (9-2) comes to the Ridley Athletic Complex on Saturday afternon, and this outcome will be heard around the college lacrosse world. "We don't have a win against a Top 5 ranked team on our resume.

For years, McDaniel had the enviable comfort level of knowing that when the score was tight, the offense could turn to Gibbs Preston and then D.J. Rickels to take charge on attack. With Rickels graduating after last season, a void opened on attack. Sophomore Pat Bivons (10 goals and seven assists) and senior Pat Woglom (13, 1) have tried to fill the role, but coach Matt Hatton said the team is still looking for that go-to leader. “I don't know if it's necessary, but it's nice to have someone behind the goal or goal-line extended that wants the ball in his stick in critical situations,” he said Thursday morning.