Wally Williams

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Oilers coach Jeff Fisher does not have much of a legacy with a franchise that has moved three times in three years, but he will be remembered in Baltimore as the person who probably ended Ted Marchibroda's career as Ravens coach.If Marchibroda, in the final season of a three-year contract, had any possibility of acquiring an extension, it probably was buried in the aftermath of the Ravens' 16-14 loss to the Oilers yesterday before 31,124 at Vanderbilt Stadium.

PITTSBURGH -- Napoleon had Waterloo. The Ravens have Three Rivers.Custer had Little Big Horn. The Ravens have Three Rivers."When you are going to play the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium, you know you are going into a war zone," Ravens assistant coach Earnest Byner said."

1 The Ravens' special teams played poorly again, particularly Harper Le Bel, who unleashed five bad snaps on punts.2 The Ravens' offense had no consistency and rushed just 18 times for 36 yards, the lowest total in the team's three-year history in Baltimore.3 The Ravens were 1-for-15 on third-down plays, failing to convert until their final drive of the game.They said itThe winners..."The other team has been the one that has come up with the one big play that's killed us, but we didn't let that happen."

On a muggy August night in Maryland, it might be a good idea to walk the beach in Ocean City.It wouldn't be a good idea to play a football game. The weather would be too steamy.That may explain why the Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles didn't play very well last night.The Ravens wound up posting a 23-6 win, but the victory wasn't as impressive as the score. The Ravens' first-string offense produced only a field goal before departing after the first series of the second half.The tone was set in the first quarter, when each team was penalized three times.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Ravens answered several questions about their 1998 team last night in a 33-0 preseason win over the New York Jets before a crowd of 47,906 at Giants Stadium.And the most promising sign came from Jermaine Lewis, who showed he can be just as effective as an outside receiver as he was in the slot position a year ago.This could be the anticipated breakout season for Lewis in his bid to be a complete receiver.Last night, he set the tone with a 97-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter, and then hauled in a 31-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline as the Ravens led, 20-0, at halftime.

Wally Williams won't suffer. He'll receive a guaranteed $3.062 million this season, then the long-term contract he is seeking, as long as he stays healthy.Who will suffer? The Ravens will suffer. They often fail to keep their own free agents, but the loss of Williams would be the worst blow yet.Williams isn't Steve Everitt or Derrick Alexander or Antonio Langham. Williams is a gifted center, a team leader, an asset in the community. He wants to be in Baltimore, and the Ravens are chasing him away.

Ravens center Wally Williams said he definitely will miss at least the first two weeks of training camp and possibly more because his agent and the team have not agreed on a long-term contract.Williams said the NFL's collective bargaining agreement doesn't force the Ravens to pursue a deal with him as their franchise player, but it also doesn't require him to report until the 10th game of the season. Williams said he plans to report in shape and be ready to play all 16 regular-season games for his guaranteed salary of $3.062 million.

The Ravens have yet to re-sign center Wally Williams to a long-term contract, but at least they know they will not be competing with a potential list of bidders for Williams on the open, free-agent market.Special master Jack H. Friedenthal ended a dispute regarding Williams' status yesterday by upholding the Ravens' franchise player designation of him.The ruling virtually assures that Williams will remain a Raven, at least for the 1998 season. As a franchise player, Williams must be paid $3.052 million, the average salary of the NFL's five, highest-paid offensive linemen, in 1998.

1. Pressure quarterback Neil O'Donnell because their secondary can't cover the New York receivers.2. Run the ball inside behind Wally Williams and Jeff Blackshear so they can control the clock.3. Score early. If the Jets start stinking up the field, the fans will turn on the home team.Pub Date: 11/02/97

Do you think Wally Williams is eager to complete his comeback from the injury that has kept him on the sideline since April?Listen to the Ravens' center talk about his return to the lineup on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, especially how it will affect the team's suspect running game."