Samari Rolle

If you like the Ravens and you like sushi, you should be twice as happy about the recent signing of free agent cornerback Samari Rolle, whose name sounds like it would taste delicious on a plate with wasabi and pickled ginger. In honor of the newest Raven, we pondered just what a sushi Samari Roll should look and taste like. Here are some of our suggestions. Pick your favorite, then submit your own ideas. Tempura eggplant and sauted purple onion, to match Samari's new uniform color, with eel (hopefully he's slippery on the field)

One aspect missing from the buildup of Sunday's AFC North clash between the Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals is the lack of barbs usually crafted by wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. Ochocinco, a former Bengal who is now employed by the New England Patriots, once sent deodorant to the Ravens secondary to help the defensive players from sweating while trying to shadow him. He used to keep a pre-game list in his locker of the defensive players he planned to target, and he added former cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle and current inside linebacker Ray Lewis in the past.

The recent disclosure that he has epilepsy has put Samari Rolle in the middle of a media storm. But weathering those distractions in addition to beating the odds is not surprising. considering the Ravens cornerback's given name. I read somewhere that your first name means "strength." Where does the name come from? It's Swahili. My dad was really into African stuff back when I was born. My brother and I have African names. His is Samora Machel. He's named after the African nationalist who died in a plane crash.

The Ravens terminated the contract of veteran cornerback Samari Rolle today. Rolle, who will be 34 before the start of the season, missed all of last season with a neck injury. In 2007, Rolle was diagnosed with epilepsy. In 2008, Rolle played 10 games, with injuries again limiting him. He still had three interceptions. After spending his first six seasons with the Tennessee Titans, Rolle joined the Ravens as an unrestricted free agent in March 2005. The 6-foot, 175-pound Rolle has 31 career interceptions.

Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan is crossing his fingers. With a little luck, he might get starting cornerbacks Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister on the field for the first time Saturday night against the St. Louis Rams. Both have missed big chunks of training camp because of injuries, and this would be an ideal opportunity for them to get some playing time. Most teams prefer to play their starters three quarters in the third preseason game and then play them very little in the fourth and final game before the season opener.

Grace Rolle remembers the crash and the silence that followed. "You've heard of a mother's intuition?" she asked recently. "I heard a loud noise, and it sounded like somebody fell. After about two minutes, I thought that it didn't sound right. When I went downstairs to the garage, the papers were strewn everywhere." Then she saw her son, Samari, on the ground, conscious but dazed. "His lip was busted, his tongue was messed up and his neck was swollen," she said. "They have sharp, concrete stairs.

Samari Rolle wants out. Because of his age, it was hard on his body to work through coach John Harbaugh's long practices, especially late in the season. The Ravens will probably ask Rolle to take a pay cut, and he will probably ask them for his release. ( For more, go to baltimoresun.com/ravensinsider)

Yourturn Last week, we asked which injured Raven has been missed the most this season, and defensive end Trevor Pryce was the top pick: DE Trevor Pryce (50.8 percent) OT Jonathan Ogden (42.7 percent) CB Samari Rolle (4.7 percent) PR-KR B.J. Sams (1.8 percent) This week's question: Which is the Ravens' toughest game after the bye week? A. Nov. 5 at Pittsburgh B. Nov. 25 at San Diego C. Dec. 3 vs. New England D. Dec. 9 vs. Indianapolis To vote, go to baltimoresun.com/ravenspoll

CHARLIE BATCH STEELERS QB HT: 6-2 WT: 216 YEAR: 10 vs. ED REED RAVENS S HT: 5-11 WT: 200 YEAR: 6 Don't be fooled by Pittsburgh backup quarterback Charlie Batch. He can play and play well. He has good arm strength and pocket awareness. Like starter Ben Roethlisberger, he can make plays on the run. The last time the Ravens faced Roethlisberger, he beat them with the long ball. With starting cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle out, Batch will go deep also. Reed is the only major weapon left on the back end of the defense.

The Ravens terminated the contract of veteran cornerback Samari Rolle today. Rolle, who will be 34 before the start of the season, missed all of last season with a neck injury. In 2007, Rolle was diagnosed with epilepsy. In 2008, Rolle played 10 games, with injuries again limiting him. He still had three interceptions. After spending his first six seasons with the Tennessee Titans, Rolle joined the Ravens as an unrestricted free agent in March 2005. The 6-foot, 175-pound Rolle has 31 career interceptions.

Fans of every local team had something to talk about this week. The O's young ace. The Ravens' latest move. The Capitals' rejuvenated goalie. And the end of the road for one Terps team, and a fresh start for another. [1] Future Orioles ace Brian Matusz -- and by future, I mean in a month or two -- continued his impressive spring this week. In Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Cardinals, he allowed three runs in six innings and held star sluggers Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday hitless.

Each week, Baltimore Sun reporter Jamison Hensley will answer fans' questions about the Ravens. To submit a question, e-mail sports@baltsun.com. Write "Hey, Jamison!" in the subject field and provide your name, the city you live in and phone number so we can verify the e-mail. HEY, JAMISON: I see two, maybe three, rebuilding years ahead before the Ravens are competitive again, especially the way Ozzie [Newsome] picks "best available" rather than for need.

Each week, Baltimore Sun reporter Jamison Hensley will answer fans' questions about the Ravens. To submit a question, e-mail sports@baltsun.com. Write "Hey, Jamison!" in the subject field and provide your name, the city you live in and phone number so we can verify the e-mail. HEY, JAMISON:: I see two, maybe three, rebuilding years ahead before the Ravens are competitive again, especially the way Ozzie [Newsome] picks "best available" rather than for need. In addition, the Ravens seem to never grab good free agents, but look for the castoffs like Chris Carr and Domonique Foxworth.

It's tempting to look back over the first six games of the season and wax nostalgic for the Ravens' defense of old, but it might make more sense to be grateful that coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron seemed to realize from the outset that the offense had to take center stage. Nobody came right out and said that at the time, and nobody is going to admit that now. The company line held that defensive coordinator Greg Mattison would pick up right where Rex Ryan left off and there would be sufficient depth to overcome the loss of Bart Scott, Jim Leonard and - most likely - Samari Rolle.

Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle sits in his home in Florida and wears a neck brace. In 12 years in the NFL, he has never seen so many players at one position with a similar injury. During the past two seasons, starting safeties Ed Reed and Dawan Landry, starting cornerback Fabian Washington and Rolle, who had been expected to play nickel back, have all had major neck injuries. Rolle had surgery a couple of weeks ago and is out for the season. The other three players remain on the roster, but the secondary has struggled in 2009, giving up big plays and missing a lot of tackles.

Any relief the Ravens might have gotten in the secondary is nearly gone as veteran cornerback Samari Rolle contemplates retirement. Rolle, though, has one major piece of advice for his partners in the defensive backfield. And Rod Woodson, the former Pro Bowl safety and cornerback with the Steelers and Ravens, agrees with him. There is no way to compensate for a weak secondary that is ranked No. 22 in the NFL, allowing 241 yards per game. Somebody has to make plays. "Everybody in the NFL watches film," Rolle said from his home in Florida.

Early word from a Ravens insider, and a very good one, is that Samari Rolle will be the starting cornerback when training camp opens regardless of any possible draft picks or free agents. After Rolle's poor performance last season, the Ravens believed he regained his confidence by the end of the season, and that he was only partially to blame for some of the long balls he gave up. Of course, safety Ed Reed blew several assignments while failing to give Rolle support over the top. I can understand Rolle still being the starter, but I'd have someone challenging him for the starting job as well.

Jamison Hensley Ravens, 20-17 Four seasons ago, the Ravens intercepted Sage Rosenfels three times. This will be a repeat. David Steele Ravens, 24-20 With a rookie coach and QB and a banged-up roster, can they win three straight on the road? Yes. Edward Lee Ravens, 24-20 The Ravens welcome back Samari Rolle - and another win. Peter Schmuck Ravens, 27-13 The Ravens' third straight road victory will turn on a big play by the special teams. Ken Murray Ravens, 28-13 The road is no longer barren for these Ravens.

The Ravens are not expecting Samari Rolle to play for the remainder of the season. The veteran cornerback has been on the physically-unable-to-perform list with a neck injury since the preseason, and there was some hope Rolle, 33, would be activated and return as the defense's nickel back or even a starting cornerback. But coach John Harbaugh said during his weekly media briefing Monday that the hope had dimmed. "I can't speak for Samari in that sense, but I would say right now based on what the medical people are saying, I'm not very optimistic at all that he'll be able to play this year," Harbaugh said.

The Ravens are not expecting Samari Rolle to play for the remainder of the season. The veteran cornerback has been on the physically-unable-to-perform list with a neck injury since the preseason, and there was some hope that Rolle, 33, would be activated off the list and return as either the defense's nickel back or even a starting cornerback. But coach John Harbaugh said during his weekly media briefing Monday that the hope had dimmed. "I can't speak for Samari in that sense, but I would say right now based on what the medical people are saying, I'm not very optimistic at all that he'll be able to play this year," Harbaugh said.