Receivers

We all know the Ravens have struggled to draft and develop wide receivers in their 15-year history. But as my Baltimore Sun colleague Jamison Hensley pointed out this weekend in an article on the subject, it’s not for a lack of trying. The Ravens have drafted 16 wide receivers over the years, from Jermaine Lewis in 1996 to David Reed last year. Here’s a link to Hensley’s story , which is a good read. General manager Ozzie Newsome said at least week’s draft luncheon that the Ravens will take a wide receiver with one of their nine picks, and with T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Donte’ Stallworth set to become free agents, that probably isn’t a smokescreen.

State officials approved more than $161 million in school construction funding Wednesday that will allow school systems in the Baltimore area to undertake renovation projects, tackling problems that include sweltering and overcrowded classrooms and dilapidated buildings and amenities. The Maryland Board of Public Works approved the last round of construction dollars being doled out to schools for fiscal year 2013. The state approved $187.5 million in funding in January, bringing the total amount for school construction projects to nearly $350 million, a more than $85 million increase from fiscal year 2012.

When it comes to star power in NFL free agency in 2012, there might not be a more stacked position group than wide receiver. But much like the running back class, this year's bumper crop of free agent wide receivers will likely be thinned when some teams exercise their right to place the franchise tag on pending free agents. DeSean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles has already received the franchise tagm and the long list of other free agent wideouts who could get tagged includes Vincent Jackson of the San Diego Chargers, Wes Welker of the New England Patriots, Dwayne Bowe of the Kansas City Chiefs, Marques Colston of the New Orleans Saints, and Steve Johnson of the Buffalo Bills.

Towson University will receive $2 million in state and private grant funds to start a new program designed to increase production of math and science teachers. The initiative will be based on the 15-year-old UTeach program, which more than doubled the output of math and science teachers at the University of Texas in Austin and is widely regarded as a model for training teachers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. UTeach offers financial incentives for math, science and computer science majors to train and enter the workforce as teachers.

In the weeks leading up to April's NFL draft, I will highlight four players at each position whom the Ravens could target at different stages in the draft -- from their top pick to their Mr. Irrelevant. In this post, I will focus on wide receivers. Remember, I'm not saying the Ravens will take a wideout with their first-round pick. I'm just giving you a player whom they might consider if they decided to go that route, and it is definitely a possibility with T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Donte’ Stallworth slated to become unrestricted free agents.

The addition of wide receivers Lee Evans and Torrey Smith presented quarterback Joe Flacco with two more weapons, and was supposed to make the Ravens more dynamic on offense. But after two weeks and one discouraging loss, the Ravens are already facing familiar questions about their downfield passing attack. In a disappointing 26-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans, Flacco threw for 197 yards and a touchdown, but he never got much going down the field. Anquan Boldin and Lee Evans combined for five catches and 91 yards and Smith, the former University of Maryland standout, remained without a catch in his rookie season.

The Cincinnati Bengals will meet the Ravens Sunday without wide receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens . That, however, doesn't make the task any easier for the Ravens defense. On--field antics and chatter could be non-existent without Ochocinco ( bone spur in left ankle) and Owens (torn meniscus in left knee), but the Ravens insist that Andre Caldwell , Jerome Simpson and slot receiver Jordan Shipley are worthy adversaries. "You know, he and Owens are both great wide receivers," defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said Thursday.

As soon as the Ravens signed receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh shortly before the season, problems were expected from him, or one of the team's other two prima donna receivers, Derrick Mason or Anquan Boldin. One of those moments came in the fourth quarter Sunday when Mason got into a fight with quarterback Joe Flacco on the sideline in Charlotte, N.C., at one point grabbing Flacco's face mask. The two had to be separated by teammates, and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron brokered the peace.

Lee Evans did not catch a pass despite being targeted four times by quarterback Joe Flacco in the Ravens' 35-7 thumping of the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, but that doesn't mean that the wide receiver was ineffective. Coach John Harbaugh said Evans' speed forced the Pittsburgh defense to monitor him closely, which carved out opportunities for his teammates on underneath and intermediate routes. "Lee opened up a couple crossing routes for us where he takes the top off the coverage, and if they don't run with him, Joe's going to throw to him," Harbaugh said during his post-game media session on Monday.

The Ravens have stated that adding another wide receiver to the mix is one of their top offseason priorities. As my colleague Jeff Zrebiec reported this weekend from the 2012 NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh pretty much shot down the notion that the team would pursue one of the top unrestricted free agents on the market next month and general manager Ozzie Newsome said the Ravens aren't going to attempt to...

Joe Flacco took a couple of steps to his right, spotted Ed Dickson about 10 yards down the field and lofted a pass between two defenders that the young tight end hauled in. After Dickson was touched down and the Ravens' offense retreated back to the line of scrimmage, Flacco yelled out a play that ended with his other primary tight end, Dennis Pitta, making a catch along the left sideline. Flacco wore a red jersey, black gym shorts and no shoulder pads, and his notoriously calm demeanor, which earned him the nickname "Joe Cool," was even more casual than usual.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh will be honored tomorrow for his support of the U.S. Army. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno , the Chief of Staff of the Army, will present Harbaugh with one of five Outstanding Civilian Service Awards during a ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va.  The program honors those who have passionately supported the U.S. Army. The citation that will be presented to Harbaugh by Gen. Odierno, the Chief of Staff of the Army, will read:  “For outstanding service to the United States Army, Soldiers, families, veterans and military communities.

Skechers USA, which claimed its shoes could make you thinner and tone your muscles, agreed to pay $40 million to consumers in more than 40 states, including Maryland. Regulators in those states and the Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement with the California-based company which was accused of making unsupported claims. Skechers made Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups and Resistance Runner athletic shoes.  The shoes cost up to $100 a pair. If you bought a pair of those shoes, get info on how to make a claim for a partial refund online with the FTC  at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2012/05/consumerrefund.shtm  or by calling 1-866-325-4186.

The Ravens may lack experience at the wide receiver position, but they certainly don't lack depth. How much quality exists within that depth remains to be seen. The Ravens' roster currently includes 13 wide receivers, but nine of them have never caught a pass in an NFL game. Only two of them - Anquan Boldin and the recently-signed Jacoby Jones - have played for more than one season. Seven of them were undrafted and none of them were taken in the first round. That's why when training camp starts in mid-July, the battle to secure one of the final one or two wide receiver spots might be one of the most hotly-contested competitions in camp.

Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. will renew Fox Broadcasting Co. affiliations with 19 of its television stations in an agreement that also allows Sinclair to purchase a Fox-owned station in Baltimore. Under the agreement with Fox, Sinclair has the option to buy WUTB, Fox's MyNetwork station in Baltimore, for up to $52.7 million between July 1 and March 31, 2013. Sinclair negotiated for the option to strengthen its position as owner of a Fox affiliate in Baltimore, one of the broadcaster's most important markets, David Smith, Sinclair's chief executive and president, said in a statement.

ADVERTORIAL CONTENT The allure of city living continues to draw interested homebuyers to downtown Baltimore. With its historic landmarks and social centers like the Inner Harbor, it's no wonder so many are looking to call downtown Baltimore their home. In response to the growing demand for new construction homes in the city, Ryan Homes has opened the doors to the lowest-priced new townhome and condominium community in Baltimore, Wyndholme Woods. Perched on a hilltop with a picturesque wooded setting, this metropolitan oasis combines the convenience of an urban lifestyle with the charm of low-maintenance, suburban living.

Let's jump in the time machine and flash back in time to the early 2000s when Tom Cruise wasn't a known crazy person, "Freedom Fries" were an innovation in redneck culinary circles and men under the age of 40 wearing visors in public was considered to be socially acceptable. Thanks to Al Gore's Internet invention, fantasy football was starting to blow up -- and we were advised to select running backs with our first 13 or so picks. Back to the future, the NFL has become a passing league.

The Ravens got younger and faster at wide receiver this year, but three weeks into the season, they are mostly young and still learning on the run. If Lee Evans misses Sunday's game in St. Louis as expected with an ankle injury, Anquan Boldin will be the team's only wide-out with an NFL reception (he has 657 of them). The other three available receivers are all rookies: Torrey Smith, still looking for his first pro catch; Tandon Doss, looking to play in his first game; and LaQuan Williams, who has been on the field for one offensive play to date.

Tommy Streeter will never forget the pain he felt the weekend of the NFL draft. Projected by some analysts to be a second-day pick, Streeter remained on the board until late in the sixth round. But shortly after the Ravens ended his disappointment, his phone rang. Linebacker Ray Lewis was reaching out to the Miami Hurricanes wide receiver and welcoming him to the family. “I basically told him that I was ready to make that next step, ready to train,” Streeter said Sunday, the final day of the team's three-day rookie minicamp in Owings Mills.

The reassurance that he was 100 percent healthy following an offseason operation on a double hernia didn't come for Torrey Smith while running a route or going up to catch a pass. It came while the former University of Maryland standout was playing basketball this offseason, both in his charity game and one hosted by his teammate, Anquan Boldin . “I played in my basketball game and had like five dunks. I played in Anquan's and had like five dunks,” said Smith who was at Ray Rice Day today at Calvert Hall.