Ravens backup Running Back Ricky Williams is retiring and this time it appears to be for good.

I found this tidbit of information of interest to Ravens fans.

Former Ravens left tackle Jonathan Ogden, who will be eligible for the first time since his retirement in 2008. Ogden was frequently referred to as a first-ballot Hall of Famer throughout his career. He was an 11-time Pro Bowler, a nine-time All-Pro and a Super Bowl champion.

Ogden was considered by many to best at his position and his election would represent the first player to enter the Hall as a Baltimore Raven. I could not think of a better first representative a quiet man who played his position with strength and excellence while portraying himself as an exemplary role model off the field as well.

Vote J.O. in 2013!

MATT BIRK of the Baltimore Ravens was named the 2011 WALTER PAYTON NFL MAN OF THE YEAR. The award recognizes a player’s off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence.

NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL and JARRETT AND BRITTNEY PAYTON, the late Walter Payton’s children, honored Birk on-field before the kickoff of Super Bowl XLVI.

“I am honored and truly humbled to be named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year,” said Birk. “This award is not about the recipient, but rather a celebration of the decades-long tradition of NFL players using their unique platform to touch lives and make a positive and lasting impact in the communities in which they work and live. Walter Payton left a legacy that went beyond the playing field. He continues to be an inspiration and example of what a complete NFL player should aspire to become. I am grateful to have played for two organizations, the Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens, which encourage and support their players’ community efforts. I have always considered it a privilege to play in the NFL and serve the communities that support our game.”

Birk, who just completed his in 14th NFL season, is the anchor of the Ravens offensive line and an undisputed leader on and off the field. The perennial Pro Bowl center has started 96 consecutive games, the NFL’s second-longest active streak among centers. In 2011, Birk helped pave the way for Ravens running back Ray Rice to score a franchise-record 15 total touchdowns and rush for a career-high 1,364 yards, also leading the league with 2,068 yards from scrimmage.

A family man and father of six with a passion for emphasizing the importance of education, Birk has focused a great deal of his energy on promoting literacy among the youth around him. The Harvard graduate’s “Ready, Set, Read!” program, an initiative of his H.I.K.E. Foundation (hope, inspiration, knowledge and education), reaches close to 100,000 children in the Baltimore area and motivates students to read at home through an incentive-based system. Birk’s work carries well past the many initiatives and successes of his own foundation. He is committed to bettering himself, his team, his community and the world. Birk has agreed to donate his brain and spinal cord tissue to the Center for Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University’s School of Medicine to help assist in researching the effects of repeated head traumas. Birk is an eight-time Man of the Year (seven with the Vikings, one with the Ravens), and was a finalist for the national award in 2008.

Ravens: Draft Notes

Priority: Offensive Line

There are many variables going into the draft and offseason for the Ravens. Obviously, the team will need to lock up RB Ray Rice and QB Joe Flacco to long-term contracts. Then there’s guard Ben Grubbs, one of the top offensive linemen. Can the team afford to sign Grubbs along with Rice and Flacco? There’s been talk that the Ravens could use the franchise tag on Grubbs. GM Ozzie Newsome has some challenging work ahead of him to pull all this off.

Offensive line is an area where the Ravens should strongly consider in the 2012 draft (April 26 – 28). There’s been speculation that the team might pull the trigger on an inside linebacker in this year’s draft. Of course Ozzie Newsome won’t pass on the best player available, yet inside linebacker might not be a priority position. If you noticed when Ray Lewis missed four games linebacker Jameel McClain (unrestricted free agent) filled in well.  If you look at the offensive line, it is a unit in need a bit of a makeover heading into 2012.

Unless the team lands a free agent center, chances are Ozzie Newsome will want to solidify the offensive line in the draft.  Center and guard will be on the forefront. GM Ozzie Newsome hinted in the year end press conference that the team will most likely add a new center next season.  Matt Birk hasn’t made a decision on retirement, so his status is unknown. Andre Gurode (10 year veteran) filled in well this year at center and guard.  Yet he is a stop-gap measure, not a long-range solution.  Bryant McKinnie played well at left tackle, and should do well again next season. Like Gurode, McKinnie is not a long-term solution.  A point we picked up on in our radio show was that the offensive line was somewhat uneven in their performance. There were many games they were pretty solid, but there were also times where Flacco had no time to throw. Typically, edge rushers gave both tackles (RT Oher and LT McKinnie) problems. Case in point, the Houston Texans who got to Flacco numerous times in the Wild-card match-up.  And what about all those 3rd and short or goaline running plays where they couldn’t pick up a yard?  Chances are strengthening the offensive line in the draft will be a priority.

Terrell Suggs has joined his future Hall of Fame teammates in an elite class.

Suggs was named the Associated Press 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, joining Ray Lewis and Ed Reed as the three Ravens who have won the award.

The award was presented Saturday night as part of the “NFL Honors” awards show in Indianapolis in the buildup to the Super Bowl.

He was selected by a nationwide panel of 50 media members. He earned 21 votes, seven more than second-place finisher Jared Allen of the Minnesota Vikings.

Suggs marks the fourth time that a Ravens player has won the award in the lasts 12 seasons, more than any other team in the NFL during that stretch. Lewis won the award in 2000 and 2003 and Reed won it in 2004.

Suggs shined on a Ravens defense that was one of the best in the league, finishing the season ranked as the third best unit overall and second-best against the run.

The other players receiving votes were DE-DT Justin Smith of San Francisco, DE Jason Pierre-Paul of the New York Giants, linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman of San Francisco and Green Bay cornerback Charles Woodson.

The staff has had time to make sense of the Ravens 23-20 loss to the Patriots that stopped them short of a trip to the Super Bowl. They discuss the off-season, Chuck Pagano’s move to the Colts, Free Agency, the Draft, all this and more!

Join Matt Jergensen, Gene Winner, and Ben Zinman for the season final of the Roundtable.

First he reiterated his support for Cam Cameron and the direction of the Ravens offense. He felt that the group was steadily improving and that making a new hire would destroy any sense of stability in that area. He also praised the development of Joe Flacco and admitted that he still doesn’t get why he’s criticized so much. He feels that Flacco is just hitting his stride and is entering a “sweet spot” in his career with the years five through ten as a professional.

General Manager Ozzie Newsome spoke about attempting to re-sign Ray Rice and Ben Grubbs this season and Joe Flacco’s extension looming for next season. It sounds as if Grubbs probably won’t be back due to cap constraints.

He also discussed the Ravens off-season needs – Offensive Line, Receivers, and Pass Rushers.

The line had an uneven season and with the contracts of both Matt Birk and Grubbs up this season it looks like the Ravens will have some new faces up front again. Of course as Newsome, said you can never have enough pass rushers and that means maybe they attempt to get a bookend on the other side for Terrell Suggs. I also think that this is the last season for the Sergio Kindle experiment. If he isn’t able to make an impact he may not be here in 2012. But I was most interested by the comments about the receivers. Lee Evans is set to make under 5 million next season, could he be released to clear up cap space?

All members of the staff took time to consider the following categories and in case of ties I’ll list both winners. As usual please leave your comments below.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: RAY RICE

Unanimous decision among the staff. The offense runs through him and why not when he is threat to break a long run at any time as well as turn a short screen into a big gain. He lead the NFL in total yards from scrimmage and became a solid red zone option.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: RAY RICE

When Rice got the ball in his hands enough the Ravens often came out on top, that’s no coincidence.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: TERRELL SUGGS

“Sizzle” was a unanimous selection for his ability to get to the Quarterback, (14 Sacks-Career High) to turn the opposition over, (7 Forced Fumbles -2 Interceptions) provide leadership, and a new university for Ravens fans to apply in the coming Fall.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: TORREY SMITH

Gene Winner was behind the 5th round pick DE, Pernell McPhee to pick up the honor. He had 6 sacks and was a solid contributor in the line rotation. But Torrey Smith finally became that vertical deep threat that the Ravens have lacked for so many years. After his breakout three touchdown game against St.Louis he became an important cog in the Ravens offensive machine.

BEST FREE AGENT PICKUP: VONTA LEACH

There were several viable candidates for this award which only meant that Ozzie and company did a very good job finding pieces to build a Division winning team. Bryant McKinnie, Ricky Williams, Andre Gurode and Bernard Pollard all made their presence known. The bruising Leach signaled at least somewhat of a return to the Ravens rushing roots as he opened up holes for Rice and Williams.

WORST FREE AGENT PICKUP: CHRIS CARR / MARK LEVOIR

Sorry but Lee Evans is not available for this award as he was acquired through trade. Otherwise he’d have it locked up. Chris Carr battled injuries almost all season and the Secondary managed anyhow as Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams both had very good seasons. Levior was quickly released after only a few weeks

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR: PAUL KRUGER / LARDARIUS WEBB

It took Kruger a few seasons but he finally seems to have found a role as a pass rusher in the Ravens defense. Webb arrived in 2011 and his three Post-Season Interceptions showed the national audience that he’s a bona fide starter in the NFL.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF THE YEAR: JAMEEL MCCLAIN / TERRENCE CODY / CARY WILLIAMS

There were too many players that could have gotten this one. McClain has shown steady improvement over the past several years and won the Inside Linebacker spot next to Ray Lewis. Terrence Cody still needs to show improvement but he’s stepped up well enough as the starter in his second season. Cary Williams went from the practice squad to the starting lineup with a mix of athletic ability and a nose for the ball.

4 TAKES: “Is hiring Jim Caldwell as QB Coach the right move? 

The Baltimore Ravens recently hired former Indianapolis head coach Jim Caldwell as their quarterback coach. As described, “The 57-year-old Caldwell was fired by the Colts on Jan. 17 following a 2-14 season. He went 26-22 in three years with Indianapolis, including a Super Bowl appearance.” Caldwell worked with QB Peyton Manning for 10 seasons.  The Ravens interviewed Caldwell “four years ago when he was being interviewed by the Ravens for their head-coaching job.”

Is this is a good move? Will Caldwell improve Flacco’s game? The Baltimore Gridiron contributors give their ‘Take.’

Jonathan Scruggs: 

Peyton Manning was a very good quarterback that was turned into a great one by Jim Caldwell. At least, that’s according to Peyton Manning. I don’t see any way in which this situation hurts Joe, unless Caldwell is really here to try and win an Offensive Coordinator position and creates a rift between Flacco and Cameron. But I don’t really buy in to all that cloak and dagger stuff. At least not always….

Gene Winner:

Some coaches are technicians. That is, Caldwell may have had his ups and downs as a head coach, but as far as his work as a quarterback coach he has a proven track record.  I don’t see this move hurting Flacco’s progress. As far as the dynamics of working with a new coach, Flacco has proven he can roll with the changes within the organization. The key will be the play calling by Cam Cameron –he has to open up the playbook for Flacco to be successful.

Matt Jergensen:

I like this move for several reasons. First we needed a Quarterbacks coach. I never quite understood the logic of letting Jim Zorn go and then not replacing him. That decision allowed Cam Cameron to have total control of the offense with only one dissenting opinion in the room. Second, Caldwell may have been a questionable Head Coach but he’s been acknowledged as a “Quarterback Whisperer” who has been able to coax the best out of players at the position. He should be able to help Flacco continue to improve on his weaknesses. Third, I still don’t buy that Cam Cameron was “under fire” last season but with Caldwell in house and with experience as an Offensive Coordinator if Cameron’s unit sputters out of the gate in 2012 the Ravens have options.

Ben Zinman:

Recent history indicates Jim Caldwell has done well developing a QB and helped create an offense that was able to go to two Super Bowls, winning one, in addition to being in the playoffs from 2002-2010. If the relationship between Cam and Joe is a little frosty then the addition of Caldwell should be a positive step in the right direction and hopefully increase the Ravens ability to score in a variety of situations.

It’s a question that I’ve been asking for the past several days and I’m slowly realizing that I’m in the minority in my opinion that Baltimore should have not re-signed Cam as the Offensive Coordinator.

Most fans point to the simple fact that Ravens were a few seconds and a dropped pass away from playing this weekend in a Super Bowl. Plus if Billy Cundiff makes a relatively easy Field Goal who knows what happens in Overtime. Why get rid of Cameron now when the team was so close to achieving its goal of a championship?

While that point has some validity I prefer to look at Cam Cameron’s entire 4-year run as the leader of the Baltimore offense in assessing if he should be retained and not just one or a few games.

Luckily for me there are others that do agree with me, like Scot Kleinfeld at Ravens 24 x 7 who lays out quite a compelling argument as to why Cameron should not have been brought back.

Let’s Take a Look at the Numbers.

* Includes playoff games

So just ask yourself this question, Is this offense better than it was when Cam Cameron inherited it?

I’m not sure how you can answer yes to that question. This group has scored fewer points over that span while the 3rd Down Conversion rate and Red Zone percentage have remained constant. Another glaring negative is that the team averages scoring less than 20 points in almost half their game every season. Is that the sign of an offense headed in the right direction?

I don’t think so.

I can understand the concept of continuity especially from a franchise that usually has it’s coaches on one side of ball get promotions almost every season. I can also acknowledge the fact that Cam has been a part of a lot of success with John Harbaugh, 49 Wins (Including playoffs) is pretty impressive an he deserves some credit. However I also think a case needs to be made for improvement over time and I just haven’t seen it. Not when you have better personnel.

So what do you guys think? Do you agree with the Ravens decisions to rehire Cameron?