Receivers

TEMPE, Ariz. -- They started out as a group of misfits.One had a reputation for dropping balls, and the other caught only three passes a year ago. Another one was the subject of trade rumors, and the fourth is a top special teams performer. The fifth is the most celebrated of the group, a rookie who is really a quarterback.And this is the bunch team owner Dan Rooney called the best in Pittsburgh Steelers' history?John Stallworth and Lynn Swann, meet Yancey Thigpen, Andre Hastings, Ernie Mills, Kordell Stewart and Corey Holliday, the starters in Pittsburgh's famed four- and five-receiver sets.

For one of the few times in his four years with the Ravens, coach Brian Billick publicly challenged a unit of his team and specifically called out one of his primary players yesterday. Billick usually is diplomatic when questioned about the production of his wide receivers in general and Travis Taylor in particular, but his patience apparently has worn thin. He demanded an increased performance level for Sunday night's game in Cleveland. "The receivers need to show up," Billick said. "The receivers need to take accountability and say it's about time we impacted a game.

While Ravens receiver Ron Johnson is trying to recapture his old form, coaches might view staying an extra 20 minutes after practice on one of the coldest days of the season, like he did yesterday, as a good start. "I just want to get back to how I played before when I was in college or when I first came here in camp," said Johnson, who is dealing with a case of the drops. "I've just got to get back to that mentality. I don't know how I'm going to get there, but that's my goal. I just want to have fun and not put too much pressure on myself."

College basketball Elmore, Adams among 12 in ACC Tourney Legends Class Maryland's Len Elmore is among 12 former standouts named to the 2011 ACC Basketball Tournament Legends Class. Elmore, who played from 1972 to 1974, started all three seasons at center for coach Lefty Driesell and is still the Terrapins' all-time leading rebounder with 1,053 career rebounds and a 12.2 average. He helped the Terps to a three-year record of 73-18, a 1973 NCAA tournament berth and the 1972 National Invitation Tournament title.

Maryland introduced a football recruiting class Wednesday that is heavy on offensive linemen and includes a trio of promising receivers. The 20-member class was assembled even as one head coach was ousted and another hired. Randy Edsall's first class retained the bulk of players recruited by former coach Ralph Friedgen, who departed in December. "The biggest thing we wanted to do is keep that core intact," said Edsall, the former Connecticut coach. The class features five offensive linemen and a handful of recruits from the talent-rich immediate area.

The Ravens won't have to worry about juggling their wide receiving corps for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys at M&T Bank Stadium. Anquan Boldin, who appeared to injure his right knee in the third quarter of Sunday's 9-6 win against the Kansas City Chiefs, was present and active at Wednesday's practice at the team's training facility in Owings Mills. Boldin, who led the offense in both catches (four) and yards (82) and did return to the contest, was joined by Torrey Smith, who had been listed on last week's injury report as dealing with an ankle issue.

Don Brown, whose attacking defense was one of the most improved units among Football Bowl Subdivision teams in 2010, will return for his third season at Maryland and his first under new coach Randy Edsall. A former head coach at Massachusetts, Brown, 55, had been rumored to be among several assistants on Ralph Friedgen's staff who were considering joining former offensive coordinator James Franklin at Vanderbilt. There was also speculation that Brown was being considered for a head coaching job at Elon University.

The run on wide receivers should start early in Saturday's NFL draft, but the Ravens are confident that they can land a quality pass-catcher. Wide receiver is considered the strongest position in this weekend's draft, and the top four - Tennessee's Donte Stallworth, Hawaii's Ashley Lelie, Florida's Jabar Gaffney and Louisiana State's Josh Reed - should be selected in the first round. There is even a chance that six receivers could go in the opening round because the free-agent market hasn't offered much at the position.

More with less. That's the strategy Maryland is adopting this season with Torrey Smith. The wide receiver ranked sixth in the nation last season in all-purpose yards (182.7 per game). He led the Terps in receptions, receiving yards and kickoff returns. Coaches want to use Smith efficiently this season. They have told him they want to rotate in other receivers more than last year -- partly to give Smith a breather and partly because other pass-catchers have matured. "I probably won't play as many snaps as last year," Smith said Monday night after scrimmaging with his teammates on the first day of two-a-days.

** Joe Flacco was absent from the second day of the Ravens' three-day, mandatory minicamp, but the quarterback had a good reason. He had rushed to Philadelphia to be with his wife, Dana, who went into labor Wednesday, coach John Harbaugh said. He said the team was still waiting to get an update from Flacco, whose availability for Thursday is uncertain. ** Rookie running back Bernard Pierce did not participate after tweaking his hamstring during Tuesday's session, Harbaugh said. Harbaugh said the injury is not considered serious and that Pierce should be back in time for training camp.