Quinn Sypniewski

The Ravens signed four of their 10 rookies, including fourth-round running back P.J. Daniels, to three-year contracts, the team announced yesterday. Also, as reported yesterday by The Sun, the franchise released sixth-year fullback Alan Ricard. Daniels, the 132nd overall choice, gained 3,340 yards to finish his career as the fourth-leading rusher in Georgia Tech history and scored 23 rushing touchdowns. His 16 100-yard rushing games ranks second in school history. The team also reached three-year deals with tight end Quinn Sypniewski, punter Sam Koch and cornerback Derrick Martin.

Quarterback C- Injuries can't be used as an excuse. Steve McNair was erratic again. He hasn't hit a level of consistency yet this season. Coach Brian Billick is right. He is the only guy in town who thinks McNair is playing well. Running back B Willis McGahee always seems to fall forward, gaining yards. He is tough to bring down and is getting better on cutback runs. Now, the Ravens just need to take the ball out of McNair's hands and put it in McGahee's, just like they did in 2000 with Trent Dilfer and Jamal Lewis.

UNPREPARED TO PLAY Whether it was overlooking the Buffalo Bills or looking forward to the bye week, the Ravens didn't show up with any focus. Of their 11 penalties, five were offside on the defense and two were false starts on the offensive line. Tight end Quinn Sypniewski fumbled deep in Ravens territory, and rookie Yamon Figurs misplayed three returns. SOLID RETURN FOR MCGAHEE In his first game back in Buffalo since being traded to the Ravens, running back Willis McGahee was one of the few Ravens to show up. More elusive than he had been all season, McGahee gained a season-high 114 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter.

Matchup Vs. spread -- Bengals 3-3-1; Ravens 4-3. Series -- Ravens lead 12-8. Last meeting -- Bengals won, 42-29, on Nov. 27, 2005, at Cincinnati. Rankings Ravens offense -- Overall (26), rush (20), pass (24) Ravens defense -- Overall (3), rush (1), pass (16) Bengals offense -- Overall (18), rush (24), pass (12) Bengals defense -- Overall (21), rush (25), pass (17T) Ravens injuries QUESTIONABLE -- CB Corey Ivy (abdomen). PROBABLE -- TE Todd Heap (thigh); WR Clarence Moore (foot)

Three days after his coach suggested that Todd Heap would be able to play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, the two-time Pro Bowl tight end has been all but ruled out. Heap has not practiced for the past two days after tweaking a strained hamstring in the Ravens' 22-3 win over the St. Louis Rams, and coach Brian Billick acknowledged a downgrade in Heap's status for Sunday's game. "Unlikely for Sunday," Billick said when asked if Heap would be able to play. The loss of Heap and Daniel Wilcox, who also has missed the past two days of practice because of a sprained toe on his left foot, leaves the Ravens with just one healthy tight end, Quinn Sypniewski, on the active, 53-man roster.

Ray Lewis sidestepped questions about his future with the Ravens, saying yesterday that he is focused on team issues and not individual ones. The nine-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker is entering the final year of his contract and could become a free agent for the first time. Lewis and the Ravens are negotiating an extension, but the sides are not believed to be close. "That [contract] stuff is irrelevant from what we're trying to do now," Lewis said after the first practice of mandatory minicamp.

The three-day Ravens minicamp at Owings Mills is an audition for many free agents but especially for those at tight end. With Quinn Sypniewski out for the season after suffering a freak knee injury at an organized team activity three weeks ago, and Daniel Wilcox still recovering from toe surgery, rookies Joe Reitz and Scott Kuhn are looking for a chance to fill the role of the team's third tight end. Kuhn, who played at Louisville, broke his thumb during...

The Ravens' emotional outbursts late in Monday night's 27-24 loss to the New England Patriots not only took some of the attention away from their best game of the season but it also reinforced their reputation as an out-of-control team on the field. Five years ago against the New Orleans Saints, cornerback Chris McAlister ripped off Donte Stallworth's helmet and threw it into the end zone after getting tangled up with the receiver. Two years ago in Detroit, linebacker Terrell Suggs got so incensed after he was flagged for a questionable roughing-the-passer penalty that he jumped into the face of referee Mike Carey.

From the messy opener in Cincinnati to Sunday's debacle in Seattle, the Ravens have simply lost their grip on the season, as well as on the ball. The Ravens have lost 25 fumbles this season, which leads the NFL (by eight) and shatters the team record (by six). To make matters worse, these fumbles have come at critical times and have come from usually reliable players. With the Ravens down 12-10 in the opener in Cincinnati, quarterback Steve McNair's throwing arm was hit, and the ball fell into the hands of linebacker Landon Johnson, who returned it 34 yards for a touchdown.