Stover

As they do every week, Ravens kicker Matt Stover, long snapper Matt Katula and holder Sam Koch got together at practice Friday in Owings Mills for what has become a ritual -- going through the routine of a game-winning field-goal attempt. "We found an open field and we said, `Game-winner, Cardinals,' " Katula recalled yesterday. Practice made for a perfect ending -- again -- for Stover and the Ravens yesterday in their 26-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals at M&T Bank Stadium. Though Stover had done it a dozen times before in an 18-year NFL career, seeing his 46-yard attempt sail through the goal posts as time expired was just as exciting as -- and possibly more satisfying than -- doing it for the first time with the Cleveland Browns in 1991.

SO-SO Quarterback Kyle Boller got off to a good start with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Demetrius Williams in the end zone and another long pass that Leo Bookman caught during one-on-one wide receiver-cornerback drills. But during 11-on-11 drills, Boller hurt his right hand when center Chris Chester snapped the ball too early. Three snaps later, Boller tried to step up in the pocket to avoid a pass rush and bumped into tight end Kendrick Ballantyne. BIG TACKLE The hit of that day was registered by cornerback Derrick Martin, who leveled P.J. Daniels as the running back tried to turn the right corner at the line of scrimmage.

Matt Stover achieved a temporary truce this week with the leader of the Baltimore Colts alumni group after an NFL Players Association memo threatened to exacerbate a conflict between retired players and the union. Stover, the Ravens' kicker and player representative, met with Bruce Laird, president of Baltimore's NFL alumni chapter, on Wednesday to restore dialogue. At the heart of the retired players' discontent is their belief they do not have a voice in union decisions, and their distrust of the efforts of Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFLPA.

Matt Stover has seen the future, and it could be full of shallow kickoffs.The Ravens kicker understands the philosophy behind the league's decision to force specialists to use brand-new footballs. Like most rule changes the NFL has implemented over the years, an interest in offense is behind the modification.New footballs do not travel as far as the broken-in variety, which means offenses can be expected to start drives with better field position. Stover said he has seen data showing that the average preseason kickoff has gone between the receiving team's 5- and 8-yard lines.

Brian Billick has an image of being a high-tech coach when it comes to using state-of-the-art computers in his coaching techniques.But when it comes to screaming on the sideline, the Ravens' coach is strictly old school.He could have done Mike Ditka proud with his use of blue language during some of his sideline tirades Sunday in the overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons, notably when Matt Stover missed a second-quarter field-goal attempt.Billick, though, is in no danger of becoming Iron Brian.

Ravens right tackle Everett Lindsay admittedly lost too many battles Sunday against Cincinnati Bengals defensive end John Copeland. So Lindsay vowed he would not fall into the same trap Sunday against Jacksonville Jaguars ends Joel Smeenge and Renaldo Wynn.That trap is self-doubt. Sometimes, when a lineman gets beat early in a game, his confidence begins to dissolve and his play becomes defensive. That's the way Lindsay described his performance in Cincinnati.Lindsay, who started the first eight games of the year at left guard, started at right tackle two weeks ago against the Jaguars and played well.

And now, the edited transcript of Sunday's interplay between the Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals as Matt Stover prepared for his game-winning 50-yard field-goal attempt with four seconds left."

The kicking competition between incumbent Matt Stover and challenger Scott Bentley figures to intensify in Atlanta tomorrow night."It's like I'm the starting kicker. I have to think like that," Bentley said. "I have to stay grounded and do my job. To coaches and the media, it's a competition between kickers. Kickers compete with themselves."Bentley said he will get the first two chances at field goals and extra points and will kick off twice, all before Stover can counter. Last week in the preseason opener in Philadelphia, Stover kicked off twice -- neither attempt went inside the 10-yard line -- and went 1-for-2 on field-goal attempts.

CINCINNATI -- Matt Stover vindicated himself in a troubled season yesterday by kicking a 50-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Ravens past the Cincinnati Bengals, 34-31, at Cinergy Field.A game between two of the NFL's worst teams may have been the most exciting of the year. It featured a punt return for a touchdown, long passes, a goalshed an 11-play, 37-yard drive led by quarterback Tony Banks that began at the Ravens' 31-yard line with 1: 43 left in the game.Stover -- who almost lost his job to Joe Nedney earlier this season after having to hold off Scott Bentley in training camp -- had made only one of four previous attempts from 50 yards or more this season.

The winners"You have to give credit to [the Ravens'] coaches because they came back from halftime and made adjustments, and it was hard for us to move the ball." Willie Davis, Oilers wide receiverthe losers"It's all about performance. We have the talent on this team to win games, but for some reason or another, we just haven't gotten it done as a team." Matt Stover, Ravens kickerPub Date: 12/07/98

The Game: Ugly trends - bad penalties, big plays allowed - have arisen in three close defeats PG 2 The Analysis: Ravens pay dearly for not bringing back veteran Matt Stover PG 3

It's apparent that Ravens coach John Harbaugh wants second-year player Steve Hauschka to win the place-kicking duties, which is why he has given Hauschka until Thursday night against the Atlanta Falcons to nail down the job. I suspect that if Hauschka fails, Harbaugh believes veteran Matt Stover has stayed in shape and is good enough to prepare for the regular-season opener in a short amount of practice time. Hauschka apparently had taken the lead over rookie Graham Gano, but he couldn't take control of the job against the Carolina Panthers on Saturday night.

Christina Gochnour, daughter of John and Jean Gochnour, of Pasadena, Maryland, wed Daniel Stover, son of Jeff and Barbara Stover, of Sarver, Pennsylvania, on April 4, 2009. The couple was wed in an outdoor ceremony at the MGM Grand Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. The wedding reception was also held at the MGM Grand Resort. The wedding party consisted of Maid of Honor, Amanda Hoffman, friend of the Bride, and Best Man, Bill Kress, friend of the Groom. The couple remained in Las Vegas for their honeymoon.

Matt Stover has come to grips with his life after football. If his phone rings in late July or August, he is prepared to continue his career as one of the NFL's best kickers. And if not ... "Then my last kick for the Baltimore Ravens against Tennessee, wow, what a way to go out," Stover said. It was another classic Stover moment. With the outcome of the game in doubt, Stover trotted out on the field before a boisterous crowd of 69,143 at LP Field to kick the game-winning 43-yard field goal with 53 seconds remaining as the Ravens edged the Titans, 13-10, in the AFC semifinals last season.

Matt Stover, the Ravens' kicker for their entire existence, said last night that he is no longer wanted by the team. Stover, a free agent, said he approached the Ravens with an offer he had received from the New York Jets on Monday. The Ravens informed him they were moving on, according to the kicker, 41, the only player remaining from the team's relocation from Cleveland. "At that point, we knew for sure their direction was not to keep me," Stover told The Baltimore Sun last night. "They want to go in another direction."

JOE COOL: On the Ravens' final drive, Joe Flacco completed two of his three passes, connecting on a 23-yard pass to Todd Heap to convert a third down and hitting Mark Clayton for 8 yards to set up the winning kick. STOVER DELIVERS: Matt Stover converted the first playoff game-winner of his 19-year career, hitting a 43-yard field goal with 53 seconds remaining. The kick was more impressive when you consider he was limited all week in practice because of a sore right ankle. STUBBORN DEFENSE: After giving up a touchdown in the first quarter, the Ravens allowed the Titans to get inside their 40-yard line six more times but surrendered only one field goal.

This season, Frank Walker had garnered more attention for his mouth - talking and otherwise - than his skills as a cornerback. Walker got a chance to demonstrate why the Ravens coveted him in the offseason as he led the defense with six solo tackles, forced a fumble and broke up two passes in the Ravens' 27-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars at M&T Bank Stadium yesterday. "Whenever [defensive coordinator Rex Ryan] calls on me, I try to be ready," said Walker, who signed two-year, $3.5 million deal in March.

In his 19th season in the NFL, Matt Stover rarely gets surprised. So even before the release of rookie kickoff specialist Steven Hauschka from the active roster Tuesday, the veteran kicker had been preparing to assume all the kickoff duties for Monday's game against the Houston Texans. Stover said the expected returns of cornerbacks Fabian Washington and Derrick Martin from one-game suspensions factored into his preparation. Stover said he is looking forward to the additional responsibilities.

Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Flacco continues to make progress, but he should be the starter against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7 only if Troy Smith and Kyle Boller aren't healthy enough to play. Flacco played with more confidence last night in the Ravens' 10-9 loss, and he made some strong throws downfield, but he is still not ready. When the preseason started, Flacco was mesmerized by the speed of the game and he couldn't even find his primary receiver. He is up to par on that now but has trouble finding his secondary receivers.

1 -- RAVENS 3, DOLPHINS 0 Again, no opening-drive TD The Ravens extended their dubious streak of 19 consecutive games without an opening-drive touchdown, but at least they got on the scoreboard first courtesy of Matt Stover's 27-yard field goal. Another potential scoring drive ended with back-to-back sacks of quarterback Kyle Boller. The Ravens have scored just 23 points in the first quarter -- fewest in the NFL -- this season. Scoring RAVENS: FG Stover 27, 9:28. 2 -- RAVENS 13, DOLPHINS 3 Mason TD builds 10-point lead Stover kicked another field goal, but the Dolphins trimmed the deficit in half when Jay Feely nailed a 23-yard field goal.